Takin ' A Walk" Nashville with Sarah Harralson and Country Music Artist Chris Young

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Takin' a Walk" Nashville with Sarah Harrelson and Country Music Artist Chris Young

Host: Sarah Harrelson
Guest: Chris Young
Released: October 30, 2025
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode of Takin' a Walk Nashville features a heartfelt conversation between host Sarah Harrelson and acclaimed country artist Chris Young. The discussion centers on Chris's milestone 10th studio album I Didn’t Come Here to Leave, released October 17th, and coinciding with the 8th anniversary of his induction into the Grand Ole Opry. The episode explores Chris’s creative process, meaningful songs from the new album, his deep-rooted ties to the Nashville and Murfreesboro communities, his charitable initiatives, and exciting plans for his first-ever holiday tour.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating 8 Years with the Grand Ole Opry

• [02:42-03:36] Chris reflects on the significance of eight years as a Grand Ole Opry member and the serendipity of timing with his album release.
  • "I can hardly believe that it's been that long that I've been a member of that family. And incredibly grateful that they asked me to join..." – Chris Young [03:11]
• [03:36-04:02] Chris shares a humorous, memorable Opry moment involving Vince Gill.
  • "I realized that I had picked up Vince Gill because he asked me to join... and I'm like, I should probably put him down. He's a Hall of Famer!" – Chris Young [03:45]

2. Creative Process Behind the New Album

• [04:02-06:02] Discussion on the making of I Didn’t Come Here to Leave and working with Black River Entertainment and co-producer Andy Sheridan.
  • Chris emphasizes recording with the same band throughout, creating a cohesive sound.
  • Personal, relaxed vibe: “At one point when we were doing the vocals, I walked out of his [Andy’s] house and his wife was filming his kids making an action movie in the front yard...” [05:12]
  • "It is one of my favorite things that I've ever done." – Chris Young [05:51]

3. Meaningful Tracks and Family Inspiration

• [06:02-07:35] Sarah asks about particularly heartfelt songs, highlighting “Just Keep Living.”
  • Chris reveals the inspiration:
    • “Just Keep Living, obviously, is about my dad. Very, very personal, very meaningful to me... even when things are bad, you still gotta push through and see the beautiful things in life...” – Chris Young [06:23]
  • On balancing personal tributes:
    • "I made a song about my dad. I had to make a song about my mom because if I don't mention my dad and my mom, one of them is going to be mad." – Chris Young [07:12]
  • “Jesus, Mama, Country Radio” was written for his mother [07:35]

4. Holiday Tour Announcement

• [07:35-09:17] Chris announces his first-ever holiday tour, It Must Be Christmas, a 15-show acoustic event.

  • Motivation:
    • "I've never done a Christmas tour before... a lot of people have asked for it. So I was like, okay, here we go." – Chris Young [08:12]
  • Talks about his relationship with Black River Entertainment and rapid momentum of album + tour

• Favorite holiday song:

  • "For my money, it's probably 'The Christmas Song'... that to me is just encapsulating of the spirit of the season." – Chris Young [09:24]

5. Giving Back to the Community

• [09:45-11:19] Chris reflects on giving back to Middle Tennessee State University by funding the Chris Young Cafe, a performance and teaching venue.
  • Purpose: Giving students a real-world space to hone their craft, not just a classroom.
  • “They want a place where they can engage and learn trial by fire style...” – Chris Young [10:25]
  • Also supports scholarships for MTSU students.

6. Personal Life and Nashville Favorites

• [11:19-12:37]
  • Chris discusses participating in the local community, including hiking with friends and their dogs.
    • Jokingly mentions not wanting to reveal favorite walking spots:
      • "Well, I don't really want anyone finding me, but that's true." – Chris Young [11:56]
    • Reveals he has a “very, very large German Shepherd who hates anyone that rings the doorbell.” [12:22]
  • Friendly banter about fellow “unicorn” Murfreesboro natives

7. Hopes for Listeners and Final Thoughts

• [12:37-14:14]
  • Chris shares his philosophy about music and his hopes for what fans take from the album.
    • “You listen to the album and you hopefully fall in love with one of those songs or all of them. I don’t care. I just want you to enjoy the music.” – Chris Young [12:51]
    • On artistic intent and letting go:
      • “A little bit of that is out of your control as a creator... But I think I made something really special with this album.” [13:51]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Opry & Vince Gill [03:45]:

  • "I realized that I had picked up Vince Gill because he asked me to join as a member of the Grand Ole Opry... I'm like, I should probably put him down. He's a Hall of Famer!" – Chris Young

• On Creative Collaboration [04:37]:

  • “We used the same band the entire time... actually being able to have one cohesive band, because I haven't done that in a long time.” – Chris Young

• On Song Inspired By His Dad [06:23]:

  • “Even when things are bad, you still gotta push through and see the beautiful things in life and realize that we're all blessed. So just keep living.” – Chris Young

• On the Album’s Impact [12:51]:

  • "You leave with what you need to take with you. It's not up to me now that it's done now. So you, you listen to the album and you hopefully fall in love with one of those songs or all of them. I don't care. I just want you to enjoy the music." – Chris Young

• On MTSU’s Chris Young Cafe [10:14]:

  • “They want a place where they can engage and sort of learn trial by firestyle a little bit... And so I wanted a space that they could utilize that was on campus.” – Chris Young

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:42] – Chris on Eight Years at the Opry
• [04:02] – Creative vision and production process for I Didn’t Come Here to Leave
• [06:23] – "Just Keep Living" and its personal meaning
• [07:35] – Holiday tour announcement and Christmas reflections
• [09:45] – Giving back to MTSU: The Chris Young Cafe
• [12:37] – What Chris hopes listeners take from his new album

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Conclusion

This engaging episode delivers an inside look at Chris Young’s musical journey with warmth, candor, and characteristic humor. Whether discussing the technical intricacies of recording, the legacy of the Grand Ole Opry, or his love for family and giving back, Chris remains authentic and down-to-earth. The episode will resonate with fans looking for insight into his creative process, as well as those drawn to the broader sense of community and connection that defines Nashville’s heart.

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Transcript

[Chris Young]

The Taking a Walk Nashville podcast with singer songwriter Sarah Harrelson. I want people to listen to the whole thing and take what they want. You leave with what you need to take with you. It's not up to me now that it's done now. So you, you listen to the album and you hopefully fall in love with one of those songs or all of them. I don't care. I just want you to enjoy the music.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Hi, this is Sarah Harrelson, your host of Takin A Walk Nashville. Join me today as I have a congratulation conversation with Chris Young. Chris is named one of Billboard's top 20 country artists of the Decade. With a love for the craft which never wavers and a booming baritone that won't quit, this multi platinum singer songwriter is forever looking forward with his newest and tenth studio album I Didn't Come Here to Leave that released on October 17th. This album release date also coincides with another special milestone, this Grammy nominated vocalist 8th anniversary of his induction into the Grand Ole Opry.

[Chris Young]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Chris Young]

Taking a walk Nashville.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Hi Chris, thank you so much for being on Taking a Walk Nashville today. How are you?

[Chris Young]

I'm doing well, how are you?

[Sarah Harrelson]

I'm good. Thank you so much for being here. Let's talk about your latest, intense studio album. I didn't come here to leave. It was just released on October 17th, and this release date is pretty special because it coincides with another milestone of yours, which is celebrating your 8th anniversary of your induction into the Grand Ole Opry. Congrats. What does it mean to be celebrating eight years with the Opry?

[Chris Young]

I mean, it's incredible. I. I can hardly believe that it's been that long that I've been a member of that family. And incredibly grateful that they asked me to join and asked me to join Black river for this album. I mean, all of those things coinciding, I couldn't have, I don't think, actively planned. It just sort of fell that way. So it was really cool.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Yeah. And this year, we're celebrating 100 years of the Opry. Do you have a favorite Grand Ole Opry moment?

[Chris Young]

Me realizing that I had picked up Vince Gill because he asked me to join as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and I had him, like, up in the air, and I'm like, I should probably put him down. He's a Hall of Famer. I probably shouldn't be just, like, grabbing people and picking them up.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Well, I'm sure it's a special and emotional moment for you, so I understand that, and congrats again, Chris. I want to talk more about your new album. There's a lot of fun anthem songs on it like Pour Some Whiskey on It and more heartfelt songs like I Hope it's okay, and your debut release on your new label, Black River Entertainment, Till the Last One Dies is out. And you could. You co produced this song with Andy Sheridan. What was it like going through the production process of this song? What was your vision for it?

[Chris Young]

Yeah, I would say you would have to ask him and me at the same time, since it co produced this, like, I took all of my gear down for any of the studio nerds out there. My Bach 251, my 1073 vintage, and my CO1B and recorded in his own studio. All the vocals for this, we used the same band the entire time. I was so grateful for those guys for doing all of the sessions and. And actually being able to have, like, one cohesive band, because I haven't done that in a long time. Normally, it's sort of like, piecemeal as you're. As you're going through the process of making a record. It was really, really cool making this record with Andy. He's such a good dude. Like, at one point when we were doing the vocals, I walked out of his house and his wife was filming his kids and they were making an action movie in the. In the front yard of their house. So it was just a very much dig in, make the record we wanted to make and we had the time to do it. So it was. It was a lot of fun. And it is. You can't say it's, oh, this is the best record I've ever made. Here's my favorite record that I've ever made. That gets said a lot, but I would say it is one of my favorite things that I've ever done.

[Sarah Harrelson]

I'm sure each album that you record is a different kind of process, and each one is special in its own way. And just listening through this album, there's other deeply heartfelt songs on this, like, what would you take? And Just Keep Living. Can you tell us what the song Just Keep Living means to you?

[Chris Young]

Just Keep Living, obviously, is about my dad. Very, very personal, very meaningful to me, but I. I do think it's encapsulating of, hey, even when things are bad, you know, you still gotta push through and see the. The beautiful things in life and realize that we're all blessed. So just keep living.

[Sarah Harrelson]

This song was definitely one of my favorites to listen to on the album and pulled at my heartstrings. Is there a particular song on the album you're most excited for people to hear?

[Chris Young]

That's one of them for sure. Obviously, the title track. I didn't come here to leave to pivot into something that's more up tempo and fun and happy. You know, it's just a big party song and, and a lot of fun. And then I guess since that song is about my dad overcoming cancer, just keep. I made a song about my dad. I had to make a song about my mom because if I don't mention my dad and my mom, one of them is going to be mad.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Which one's about your mom then?

[Chris Young]

Jesus, Mama, country radio.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Oh, of course. It has to be. I love it. So you've been doing a lot of touring this summer, but I think your fans should be excited because this winter you are launching your first ever holiday tour. It Must be Christmas. An acoustic evening with Chris Young. With 15 headlining shows running November through December. So fans should definitely look up on your website if you're in their area for a special holiday concert. What does Christmas mean to you?

[Chris Young]

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. Hands Down. And I just. I've never done a Christmas tour before. I've never done that. And a lot of people have asked for it. So I was like, okay, here we go. I guess this is what we're gonna do this year. And it's funny because I was supposed to be off most of this year and then this new record label, Black River Entertainment, stepped up. I took a bunch of meetings with a bunch of people. No, I didn't. I canceled all of them after I had the first meeting with Black River. They. They are an incredible record label. Just really felt comfortable with them and decided that's where I wanted to be. I. I hit the ground running making the album and then I was like, let's do a Christmas tour. Let's do it. That'll be fun. It'll be some. Be like a bow on the end of my first year with that label. So very excited. Looking forward to those shows and they're going to be really cool.

[Sarah Harrelson]

We're excited that you're going to get everyone into the holiday spirit. Do you have a favorite holiday song you like to perform?

[Chris Young]

I don't know. I. I would say for my money, it's probably the Christmas song, the chestnuts roasting on it. I mean that to me, that song is just encapsulating of the spirit of the season.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Yeah. Is that one on your It Must Be Christmas album?

[Chris Young]

It is.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Let's talk about how you have been giving back to the community since we are on Tikini Walk, Nashville. So you are a Middle Tennessee State University alum, and a few years ago you gave back to your alma mater by funding and opening the Chris Young Cafe, an on campus teaching and performance venue for students, which is so wonderful. And by doing this, what is your hope for music students that use the space?

[Chris Young]

One of the things that a lot of people overlook was when I was coming up and when a lot of people were. Were coming up in music, they're always constantly trying to find a place where they can hone their craft. And sometimes that's not a classroom. It's. It's especially for music, for people that want to be in management, for people that want to be in photography, videography, whatever that is. They want a place where they can engage and sort of learn trial by firestyle a little bit. And they want to be able to do it on their own terms. And so I wanted a space that they could utilize that was on campus, especially with the incredible programs that MTSU does have with the recording industry program, with a lot of their other programs that they do there, and so we transformed that space for them to use. And then also, you know, I. I do several scholarships for mtsu. Just growing up in Murfreesboro, I always thought that was important.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Yeah, I think that's wonderful. I'm a Belmont alum, and I think there's always a lot of funding available for the Belmont programs, but sometimes not as much for MTSU music business program. So I am so happy that this is how you give back to your alma mater. I think it's wonderful. And since we are on taking a Walk Nashville, and you're kind of a unicorn, being a Murfreesboro native. So do you have a favorite place in Nashville or Murfreesboro that you like to take a walk?

[Chris Young]

Well, I don't really want anyone finding me, but that's true. I. I do. Every now and then, me and my friends will go for a hike with our dogs because I think everybody in my friend group has a dog at this point. There's one guy that has a cat. And you know who you are. Ty Graham.

[Sarah Harrelson]

What kind of dog do you have?

[Chris Young]

I have a very, very large German shepherd who hates anyone that rings the doorbell. So just. I always like people to tell me they're coming over first.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Right. Well, there's definitely so many great places in Nashville to take a walk and to take a hike. What do you hope for people to take from your new album when they hear it?

[Chris Young]

You know, that's interesting because I do have a song called what would you'd take that? Very. For people to hear? Very, very special song. But I would say, you know, everybody gets so wrapped up sometimes in their music, and they're like, I gotta have this talking point. I gotta have this one, and I gotta do this, and I gotta push this thing. I want people to listen to the whole thing and take what they want. You leave with what you need to take with you. It's not up to me now that it's done now. So you. You listen to the album and you hopefully fall in love with one of those songs or all of them. I don't care. I just want you to enjoy the music. So I think people leave with what they're going to, no matter if it's. You know, you could spend a million dollars promoting the record and, you know, you see it with I. I. The only thing I know to compare it to the movies. You can spend a whole bunch of money making a movie. You spend a little bit of money making a movie. Sometimes that little bit of money that you made the movie with is going to be the things that people gravitate towards. And a little bit of that is out of your control as a creator, as an artist, as a person, as a team, like the people that work with me. But I think I made something really special with this album, so hopefully people take a whole bunch away with them.

[Sarah Harrelson]

Absolutely. I definitely think, you know, provoke a lot of different emotions in this album. Very excited for everyone to hear it. Chris, thank you so much for being on Takin A Walk Nashville today. Thank you for being here.

[Chris Young]

Absolutely. Thank you for the time. Thanks for listening to Taking a Walk Nashville with Sarah Harrelson and do check out our other podcasts from Buzz Night Media Productions. Music Saved Me Comedy Save Me and Take It a Walk, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway this fall. Take care of the little ones in the family with Baby Club Savings now through November 4th. Spend $25 on select Baby Club products and save $5. Shop for items like Pediasure bottles, Pedialyte powder packs, Huggies baby wipes, Huggies diapers, Gerber puffs and Gerber pouches. And save $5 when you buy $25 or more on participating products. Offer ends November 4th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details. Ah, greetings from my bath festive friends. The holidays are overwhelming, but I'm tackling this season with PayPal and making the most of my money, getting 5% cash back when I pay in four. No fees, no interest. I used it to get this portable spot with jets. Now the bubbles can cling to my.

[Chris Young]

Sculpted but pruny body.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Chris Young]

See paypal.com promoter points can be redeemed for cash and more.

[Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang]

Paying for subject to terms and approval.

[Chris Young]

PayPal Inc. And MLS 910457 this is an iHeart podcast.