• March 30, 1984
• Justin Moore grew up in the small town of Poyen, Arkansas and began performing during his junior year of high school. He moved to Nashville after graduating from high school, and began writing songs there.
• Moore was introduced In Nashville to Scott Borchetta, an industry executive who was planning to launch The Valory Music Co. Borchetta promised to give him a record deal if he would be patient. Moore was kept waiting until his wedding when his manager walked up right before he and his bride cut the cake, handed him the contract and told him to sign it right there. Three months later he was on tour with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr.
• Moore met his wife Kate of Houma, Louisiana when they were teenagers during a senior trip vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. Kate stole his heart at a campfire in her black-and-white floral dress. "We were the ones who weren't acting all crazy and the fool. We were cleaning up our drunk friends," Moore recalled to The Boot. "It's kind of cheesy, but we just sat around and talked and hung out. We've been together ever since."
• After becoming a father, Justin moved back to Poyen, Arkansas, as he and Kate decided they wanted to raise their children in his hometown rather than Nashville. "People think I am nuts," the singer admitted to People magazine. "But I want my girls to run through the cow pasture to my mom and dad's house. I want them to go to school where I went to school. It's important to me to see them growing up and having a normal childhood."
• He is an avid supporter of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Moore explained to Sports Illustrated: "When you grow up in Arkansas they don't have any pro teams. No teams matter to the state, even though there are other D1 schools - it's about the Razorbacks. It's different than growing up in a place like Pittsburgh, New York or a lot of other towns across the country. You don't have anything but the Razorbacks. You are kind of born into it."
• John Osborne was Justin Moore's first guitar player in Nashville, years before John found stardom in his own right as one half of duo Brothers Osborne. "I believe he was in another band at the time, but he was also playing side guitar for me and spot dates that I'd go do," Moore explained in a podcast. "We've been great friends ever since then."

Comments

More Songfacts:

DowntownPetula Clark

When Petula Clark reached #1 in the US with "Downtown" in 1965, she became the first female singer from England to hit #1 in the US during the Rock Era (after 1955).

We're Not Gonna Take ItTwisted Sister

Musically, the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It" is based on the Christmas tune "O Come All Ye Faithful."

You Don't Know How It FeelsTom Petty

MTV reversed the word "joint" in Tom Petty's "You Don't Known How It Feels" so it was unintelligible, but gave the video a VMA anyway.

Just Give Me A ReasonPink

Pink wrote "Just Give Me A Reason" about how one partner can feel jilted over something trivial, like how her boyfriend passes her the butter.

E.T.Katy Perry

Katy Perry's song "E.T." came from a beat originally intended for the rap group Three Six Mafia. When her producer accidentally pulled up the beat, Perry asked to use it.

Cat's In The CradleHarry Chapin

Harry Chapin's wife Sandy wrote the lyrics to "Cat's In The Cradle," which were actually about her first husband.

Editor's Picks

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.