At just 14 years old, Maddox Batson is rapidly making a name for himself in country music. The rising star has seen a surge in popularity this year with the release of his hit singles “Tears in the River” and “I Wanna Know.” His recent headline performance at Nashville’s Whiskey Jam has further cemented his status, while his co-written song “Tough” was recently featured as a duet with Lana Del Rey and rapper Quavo.
In an exclusive interview with PopCulture.com, Batson shared insights into his musical journey and the unexpected turns his life has taken. Reflecting on his initial interests, Batson revealed, “I wasn’t really incorporated in music, I used to do basketball.” He explained that while his parents were musically inclined, sports had been his primary focus until a diagnosis changed his path.
“I got diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease in my right knee,” Batson said. “I literally could not play any sports anymore.” Faced with a summer devoid of activities, Batson and his father turned to music, leading to viral success on TikTok. “I remember one live performance where I had almost 12,000 viewers watching at once,” Batson recalled. “It was just crazy.”
