203: Hearts Don't Break (feat. Blake Proehl)

Welcome back to this week's episode of Unlocked. I am super excited about today's episode. I know I say that every time, but I genuinely am excited. We have on Blake Pearl and hopefully I set his name right. - Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. - Of course. So your story is very unique and interesting. I like, when I, I think I came across you on social media, that's how I found you and then I told my girl, like, "Web have to have him on." I think it would be fun. - But tell me a little bit just about, like, where, how would people know you? - Okay, so I think my last name comes from my dad. My dad played in the NFL for like 17 years. Super balls, four super balls played for 17 years. So like a lot of times, if I'm at like an airport or anywhere in public and I say, like, Blake Pearl, they'll be like, "Oh, is your dad Ricky Pearl?" So I would say that's like number one. - Honestly. - Wow, okay. - So, yeah, I mean, - You grew up in like a sports family. - I did. - 'Cause your brother also played sports. - He did, he played football as well. We both kind of wanted to be like my dad. So we both went full head esteemed football. - And what were the year, like, when did your dad play from what year to what year? - I know he retired in 2007. I don't know. Oh, I think he was drafting like 90. Well, let's subtract 90. 'Cause like, 2007, 17 years, 90 plus 17 is, right? 2007, that makes sense. - Yeah, we'll go with that. And how old are you? - I'm 27. - 27, okay, so you're a baby. - Yeah. - I guess I feel not like a baby, but I guess so. - Okay, so, and when, so your dad obviously played in the NFL for a long time, I feel like you grew up and you lived, breathed, died like football. That's what he did. And then you got drafted. - Well, you did not get drafted. - You did not get drafted. There was that you thought you were. - I thought I was gonna get drafted. - You declared that you were going to draft. - And then I signed a free agency deal, like, undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. - Okay. - And what was that feeling like? I mean, it has to be hard, right? - It is. It's like, it's hard to explain really. I mean, you can probably imagine like, you work your entire life to make it to the NFL. So like, a lot of kids don't even get the chance to even try out or go to a training camp. So for me, like, I just wanted the door to open. - Yeah. - Well, it also has to be hard to, right? Like, the pressure of coming from-- - Exactly. - Of Father. - Yes, there were times like in high school and college, where I'd catch like a touchdown or something and be like, that's a touchdown. Ricky, I mean, Blake Pro, and I'm like, bruh. - Stop. - You know what I'm saying? So like, I always did feel like I had that shadow, but like, my dad was the best dad ever. So like, it was never like hard feelings. - No, it's nothing against him, but it's also, we are all like this. Like, I can relate to that, like, growing up on TV. And people are be like, oh, that's Todd Chrisley's daughter. And I finally got to a point where I was like, no. - Yeah. - I'm Savannah. Nice to meet you. - Yes, so you understand. - Yeah, so it does get hard. There is some kind of, it's nothing against your father by any means, but there is some kind of like, searching for your own identity. Like, no, this is me, and this is what I stand for. - 100%. - And so when you declared for the draft, and you didn't get drafted, like, were you almost positive? Like, all right, I'm getting drafted. - Um, I would say like, they have, they come out with like, where they think you'll get drafted at. And it was like, anywhere from like, if I was drafted really early for my stock, it'd be like, round three. And then it could go all the way up to round seven, obviously. But I really didn't go in. I learned from a young age to lower my expectations. And then I'd be happier on the backside. So I mean, I was, I remember being like pretty upset 'cause like, every kid who plays football, like their dream is to have their name called in the draft. And so that just kind of gave me like an extra chip on my shoulder, which like, I love having anyways. So honestly, I was upset, but I just, like I said, I wanted that door to just open. - Yeah. - And I got that door open and that's all I really needed at the time, so. - And when you signed as a free agent, you obviously then have to like, earn your spot, right? Like it's not, you gotta work twice as hard. - Yeah, it's not being handed to you. It's not like you have to prove, okay, I deserve a spot here. And what was that like? Like what did that look like? - Um, I mean, really just like, every day in the building, like showing up early, being the last one there, like watching extra film, just kind of working your tail off, like showing the coaches that you're there and you're taking it seriously. 'Cause a lot of kids like, once they get there, they're like, oh, I made it. And like really that's like not even, it's literally just the beginning. So for me, it was just like showing up in every way that I can, like in the building and like showing the coaches that like, I should have been a draft pick. Like to me, it was showing my own coaches, my own teammates that I should have been the one drafted. You know, and that's kind of how I've always been, I've always had like a chip on my shoulder. - And what about, what about your dad during that process? Was he like helping you along that? - Yeah, so sir, he's also extremely competitive, so he also thought I should have been drafted and like all this stuff, but yeah. - That's the typical dad. - Yes, of course, like he's your biggest fan. So, man, I mean, he helped me all the way up to that point and passed that point, like as a wide receiver, I played the same position he did. - Okay. - So from a young age, like there's videos of us like running routes and him like coaching us from a really young age, which is really cool. So it was like a full circle moment, yeah. - And so when was it that you had your injury? - So I went through OTAs 'cause you go for rookie mini camp in like May, right after the draft kind of, like in February. So we're there in May, you go through OTAs. I had a great couple of weeks there and then you come back for training camp in July around this time of year, like all the teams - Yeah. - It's around this time. And I had a great training camp and towards the end of training camp, we usually like go and practice like another team. - Okay. - Like at your facility, and the first day, it was against the Denver Broncos and I just absolutely obliterated my knee. So in my first, it was like during a one-on-one drill. - Okay. - And my first one-on-one was against like one of their proble safeties and I had routed them up pretty good and caught the ball. So I was feeling myself a little bit, yeah. Especially as I got undrafted rookie. I'm like, this is how I'm gonna show them. And then the second one, I just went a little too fast and a little too hard on it and tore everything in my knee pretty much. - Yeah, because what? You tore your ACL? - Yeah, it was ACL. MCL Maniscus, Pateler Tenden. So they did a lot of reconstructing that had to take out like my hamstring, Tenden, my quad, Tenden and like rear range. - So there was no way after that. - Yeah, I mean, I just remember them like looking at me after and just being like, I don't know how we're gonna fix this one 'cause like it's not just ACL. Like they're very good at just like ACL. Now they can turn you around in four to six months. - Yeah. - This was like, we're gonna have to like call in some like favors slash like help surgeons around the state and like see who can like kind of get creative in a way. So that was like the worst news to me. Like right when I get there, like everything falls apart in a way. - And did you get like when you entered your name, did you get hit by someone? - No, it was not in contact. - Yeah. - So I was like. - You don't even have anyone to be pissed off. - No, there's nobody to be pissed off at. It was like, man, like this must be in the cards. Like God, God has this plan for me. I don't know what it is. But yeah, when that moment happened, I literally felt like my whole life like shifting. It feels like it sounds like super dramatic, but I just remember like laying there and just being like, oh, no, you know? - Yeah, and I feel like, and you've described that moment as just like kind of shutting down after that. - Yes, oh, 100%. Like, so what happened was, since I was playing such good ball, they had told me afterwards that like I was on track to make the roster, which is like really cool to hear, but also like. - A lot of anger. - Yeah, it's like a little bit of both like, wow, like I did it, like I was gonna be like, as a free agent, like I would have made the real, like the team, the active roster, and then there's the other side of you where you're just like angry, 'cause like, now you don't even know if you'll ever play again. But they wanted me to stay there and like, be around the team and like, hopefully come back. So I kind of became like, they're like, they're a project in a way. So I had like two surgeries that ended up taking 16 months to like come back. So I was there all year, lived in an apartment like on the facility grounds. It's like almost a campus. In Minnesota, they have some of like the best facilities. So I was there all day all night. Like I got so familiar with the training staff and like I'd be in meetings and like, I had like an electric scooter. So I would just be like, me, like rolling around the entire facility and that's in that time period is when my friend like gave me a guitar and was like, hopefully this will like, hope the time pass. And I always love music from a young age, but like didn't really like care about like doing it. And nobody in my family does music. So that was like, I use that time to like learn guitar and try to heal. - Well, I think too. That's an impossible situation. I can't imagine being around everyone doing what you want to do and you can't do it. - Exactly. - That's, it has to take a toll on your mental health for sure. - Yes. - And I know here on this podcast, we were very open about, it's okay to not be okay. And it's okay to struggle and it's okay. to admit those things. And I think that had to have been a moment where you're like, what the hell is going on in my life? Yeah, that was definitely the darkest season of my life so far. I was just, yeah, especially, you know, I've learned to like Minnesota, but it's dark and cold. Like, have you been to Minnesota? No, I have not. I don't really think there's a need for me to go to Minnesota. It's like, it's like negative like 20 in like January. That's brutal. So like, imagine you like not being able to walk very well and there's just like foot of snow like starting in October. So it's like both of those things and it was like just dark and like the sun goes down like 3.30. That's different. So like everything together. But man, yeah, it was really, it was a really tough season. And I didn't really like know that many people up there. Obviously like when I got the call from Minnesota, I had to pull out Apple Maps and I was like, where, where is that? You know what I'm saying? Because like I knew it was like somewhere over by Canada, but I didn't know where it was. So I just remember like, I just didn't know anybody. And I ended up getting like really close to some teammates finding like one of my best friends to this day. And that was like really cool to see like looking back. Well, now you look back and you're like, okay, it wasn't wasted. I came out of it with something. Yes. And it always, you always do like if it's a dark season, like I truly believe this for everyone. Like it could be the worst season of your life. There's always like something that usually comes out of it. You know, you look back on your like that was needed in some way. Yeah. 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Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little extra cashback. Progressive casually insurance company and affiliates, National average 12 month savings of $946 by new customer surveyed who saved with progressive between June of 2024 and May of 2025. Potential savings will vary. Like you said, you picked up a guitar for the first time during that time, which is awesome and insane. All at once, like to not have any family members that are in that interior that play an instrument. And then you basically just started teaching yourself, right? Oh, YouTube University. I mean, I was YouTube can teach you anything like I just remember like just YouTube and everything like how what is a guitar chord like and I also was like at the same time I thought piano was cool. So I had a little keyboard. I was kind of just like dabbling and anything and everything to pass time like honestly because like we had a pretty like college football is like hours are like 5 a.m. to like 10 30 p.m. a night every day seven days a week year round college ball. See I love watching college ball. I hate college ball is is fire. Yeah, it's like NFL like when you get there, I remember like everyone coming out of like especially like D1 you so used to just being around the clock and NFL like you have a day off, you have half days, fast Fridays like you have a lot of time. So you have to be professional, but like at the same time like I had way too much time. Yeah. So like you know, so I was rehabbing and then I didn't have anything else to do. So that's why like I had so much time to like learn music and like trying to learn how to sing. Like at first it was just playing the guitar and then I was like I'm gonna sing with it. And yeah. So and now you had a video and it was a video that kind of like went viral and it was you with your grandmother at her house right in North Carolina. So yeah that's the picture for us there. Yeah, so I I was home for Christmas and I went to go see my Nana, her name's Nana. We call her Nana. And she's hilarious. She's just one of the funniest like Southern ladies like honestly. I think she's the reason why like people liked the video because of her accent and stuff. Deep Southern accent. And I just set up the the camera up on like this flower pot and she has like a grand piano in her living room just for like show because she's bougie. Yeah. We love a bougie queen. And I just started I remember like learning these like four chords to in case you didn't know by Brett Young. And she was like reading behind me and I was like uh Nana can I play the piano and she was like can you and I was like I don't know I'll try and I just basically started singing. And that was it like it's really that simple. It's a short video and wow. I had just when I that was like around the time when I had started to learn probably like two months in. And somebody had told me to download TikTok at the time. And I didn't have TikTok. There's like there's no reason to have TikTok. Like yeah. Um when you're playing sports like it's not you're not really like worried about that stuff. So I downloaded it and I was like this app is crazy. What's going on? I just started like posting on it. And uh the it was like one of the like I don't even remember I probably had like 50 followers or something. It was one of my first videos and then I just posted it and I remember waking up and I'm like what is happening? Like TikTok is insane. It's crazy. You can grow. It's such a faster pace. Uh huh. Is insane. So that's what happened. I I think it got me to like three or four hundred thousand followers within a week. That's insane. Which was also crazy because I'm like I don't know what I'm doing at all. Yeah. And now there's like a bunch of people like wanting you to like let's like let's do this. Let's let's make this happen. And I'm like there is nothing to make happen. Like I'm still trying to come back and like make the team again eventually. You know. Yeah. So it was a weird like you're like it you felt pulled and then you saw the crazy overnight just success of people being like but we want music. Yes. That has to. That's insane. And so what was your grandmother's reaction? Uh she literally just like right when I started singing like if you look go look up the video like her I like broke her neck like her neck like changed like immediately direction and she just like looking at me the entire video and then right at the end she's like black. That's how she like says my name and then I just cut the video right there. That's amazing. So but she was like she just asked me a bunch of questions and she like it's funny because looking back when I was a kid like she I think that's why she has a grand piano in her living room like she loves music. Yeah. She loves it. And she would always try to get me to I think she like when I was a kid like her me in the car and would always like tell me she thought I could should sing and stuff which was so funny because no one thought anything. Yeah. Well that's I think that's where I was going to ask was like you definitely have music around you right? Yeah. I feel like you've said before like your family was always playing music like yeah I mean like but no one in the car like radio normal stuff. Yeah. I would always like dance and like sing and stuff when I was when I was a kid but nothing. What did your dad say when he heard you like actually sing for the first time? Yeah. Um he still has those demos on his phone like my first every time like recording in a microphone like he has those to this day and he'll like show them at like family gatherings and I hate it. You're like dad because like to be honest like and I'm really harsh on myself but like it was not good. I'm glad that people thought it was like somewhat good they must have heard through some things but it was it was no bueno on on this this side of things for me. Um so he he loves showing that to like torment me but he thinks it's amazing. Well of course it's your dad like so that's been pretty cool. A lot of people ask that question because they're like coming from such a you know football he's the one that like showed us football and like we that's what put food on the table for us. What's that hard for him to kind of transition you from football to music? You know like not really though like just because like he's a entertainer at heart like he's the guy like cookouts that are like standing on top of the table like everyone I need everyone's attention. Yeah. And that's kind of what being an artist is. Yeah. And so like if I have a show or something like he's there like he's front he's front row like if I told him to come up on stage like he's ready. He's ready all times. Like he needs that is hilarious. I need to meet and he loves he loves telling people like if I'm dancing or someone had a good show he's like yeah he got that from me like I would have been an artist. to like if I could sing to I'd do that like he's really he's amazing and how much your dad oh he's 57 okay yeah that is awesome yeah that's actually that's really crazy I also think to though with parents right it's like they could want especially coming from an insane football player you know you could see how you could be like pushing you pushing you pushing you in that direction but then I feel like as a parent when you see your child just like genuinely happy yeah loving what they're doing it's it's whatever yeah 100% and so when obviously that video went viral and you're still trying to make the roster like still trying to get back to playing football how long was it that you tried to like stretch the two um it was for so I was in Minnesota for like three years so like the first 16 months for me rehabbing and then I came back and I ended up so we had a coaching change so like the coaches that brought me in I got fired so we had a whole new coaching staff and like in the football world like you kind of like those coaches are kind of loyal to you and so when the new coaching staff comes in they're like who's this kind of seeing all over TikTok like trying to play on my football team you know what I'm saying oh that's gonna ask another another uphill battle because like not only is a new coach it new head coach like it was his first time being a head coach coach O'Connell and so like he has a lot to prove to and I kind of came into it I remember I came back in the middle of like week four they had just gotten back from like London and it was my time I was on injury reserve and it my practice window was opening you have 21 days to prove that you're like healthy slash like good enough to make the team again after being on a in a training room for 16 months like people don't really talk about that like if you're especially like coming from somebody who has zero stats like new coaching staff and everything like you step on the field and like you have to not only prove you're good enough but like prove you're healthy too and like I hadn't played football at all so like even a high school level football would feel fast to me so but not let alone like I'm on the Minnesota Vikings and like this year we went 13 and 4 so we're like really good yeah so I just remember like my first plan I'm like whoa like this is moving fast like this is some of the best best players in the world like and I have to step in and like prove myself and it was a god thing like he just took over like after one practice I just started like playing really well like it was insane so I ended up making the practice squad and my receivers coach at the time like he told me like after the season like he was like I thought for sure like you were getting cut like this coach does not play around and you hadn't played any football and it was one of the craziest injuries we've seen yeah so that was a god thing like I made the team and stayed there for the rest of the year so that kind of held off music a little bit like I started to write during that time but I was like on the team full force like I had a job you know yeah so but at the time I started like writing and then also going to practice every day and during that spring the next spring random artists will come into town and like ask me to come open for them so like some the first time ever really saying in front of people I was opening for Benson Oh holy cow that's insane so my little sister loves him it's like a whole like teen heartthrob thing now it's the wildest thing he's like the new Justin Bieber like hour you know yes crazy and he yeah I just remember like I was like late I didn't even really get a sound check because I had practice that day so I just like sped downtown holy cow so like and I felt practice to yeah and it was a yeah that was the first time I like saying in front of people and I just remember like getting up there I'm like this is not what it looks like like on Instagram stuff like all these people are staring at me it's not like football where you're like passively just playing a sport in there like showing you know I have to entertain these people so that was like a learning curve to but I just remember like falling in love with like just playing live music like singing live for people and connecting with people and telling them about my story and you could tell like people's eyes like lit up and like wanted to know more and also like kind of found like safety in my story because of like things that they've been through to and that's where like music started to like ramp up for me and like I had like loved football my entire life but like to be honest like music started to like overtake it for me like every show that I did and then what really happened is I had my first headline show the next summer it was in 2023 okay it was like July something 2023 and that was like the night that it just like skyrocketed for me where I was like I want to do this wow and I was still on the Vikings and then August of 23 right was when you kind of parted ways with the Vikings yes and what was that was that a you decision a them decision it was it was ultimately a them decision like I got cut and I had a pretty good camp but I my hamstring on the same side that they took from like I pulled that pulled that no TA so I had a hamstring problem and so it was kind of like a little bit of my mental like fighting yeah music football and then also like not fully healthy because like I never came back fully the player I was after the injury to be honest I was able to like play well but I wasn't able to be like who Blake pro was before mm-hmm visit goodgirlrx.com and use code unlocked 15 to get 15% off at checkout medical care is provided by license physicians not all patients qualify good girl rx is a female focused health and wellness company built around the belief that women deserve better access to care and better conversations about their health through our telehealth platform women connect with licensed medical providers from the comfort of their own home during your virtual appointment a doctor reviews your health history and goals and if clinically appropriate may discuss prescription treatment options as part of a personalized plan those options can include GLP1 medications like tris appetite as well as wellness therapies such as NAD depending on what your provider determines is right for you every treatment plan is individualized medically guided and based on your specific needs not trends or one size fits all solutions I'm the founder of good girl rx and this is my personal experience for me the biggest shift wasn't just physical it was finally feeling heard supported and honestly cared for without shame everyone's journey is different results vary and not everyone qualifies but access to real medical guidance can be life-changing visit goodgirlrx.com and use code unlocked 15 to get 15% off at checkout medical care is provided by license physicians not all patients qualify then what in February of 24 you did American idol American Idol yeah okay and what was that like that was that was a fun time like honestly I didn't really expect anything from it I'm kind of a guy that just like we'll try it okay and I was gaining traction online so it was like why not like why not get more coming from like a football world and like not being in the music industry not knowing like most people think shows like American Idol or America's got talent is like the ticket yeah so I was like let's do it yeah so I went out there and did that and it was a really cool experience like I went way further than I thought I wasn't necessarily like ready for show like that I went for it and it was a it was a cool experience and it was there with you when you auditioned not it was there okay she and that's kind of what the audition was we like recreated the moment I say in case you didn't know on the piano and she like came in they like asked her to come in and stuff cuz I'm amazing they're like what are you doing here if you like a football player and I was like my grandma told me I'm good so I'm here and they're like are she here and then they like brought her in so that's amazing and how far did you make it and that top 24 so I was wow yeah I mean that's huge yeah people don't realize like people think what they watch on TV is just like all right this is how it happens no there are thousands it's crazy thousands of people who try out just to even get on TV yeah and then it was like I think that year was like 65 thousand people auditioned or something so yeah it was crazy hey it's good to be on a show like that to get you know some notoriety yes to pay attention to you but you do not want to win a show no you do not want to like I tell people that all the time like I genuinely think like the experience was exactly what I needed from yeah yeah I I uh Benton Boone was on American Idol did you know that no I did not know that he was on American Idol to a lot of people on American Idol and then they just like get off the show or like they got cut off the show and then like you never talk about it that for sure but it was a great I learned a lot like I'm very thankful for the experience I met some of my best friends this day on that show um but I'm definitely like way more than American Idol without a doubt so into I think you know your experience too but the judge is definitely yeah like Katy Perry right at the final judgment I think she She didn't think you fully believed in your own voice yet and asked if music was only what was left after football. And that's kind of a harsh question. It is. It is. She can be a little harsh, honestly, but honestly, I love critics, things like that. Just because it does make you wonder, is this what I want? For me, let's be honest, music did start as something to help me get through my injury, but what you can't measure is your experience headline shows with fans and creating fan relationships. And also, my fans have, I see it all the time every night, how much my music means to them, and things lyrics that I've wrote and melodies I've wrote that have helped people get through hard seasons of their life. And Katie can say what she wants, but that's the measure of success to me. Without a doubt. For me, you can get all the bells and whistles, the Grammys and all that stuff, and the competitive side of me wants those things. But for me, the most important thing is the connection with people live in the flesh. Well, I think it's also easy to, for people like her who are on their high horse of millions and millions of whatever, all the money, all the fans, all the records, to be able to, I'm not a Katy Perry fan by any means. She got some bangers. Don't really love what she stands for. It's just a really odd, I don't know, not a Katy Perry fan. I'm with you. But, and two, I just don't like, I feel like, for instance, like Luke Bryan on that show. Even if you're not good, I don't think he's really that harsh on people. You know? No, he's not. He's a sweet heart for sure. Yeah. And so is Lionel. Lionel and Luke. And honestly, like Katie, like in my audition was very, like she was my biggest fan because she thought I was like, Q and like, you know, she had like goosebumps and all this stuff. But yeah, I mean, she, Luke, Luke is like, definitely sweet heart and Lionel was extremely like wholesome and like, yeah, I love both of them. They're great. Love them. Yeah. And so when you were voted off, that was, it was really shocking to a lot of people. Yeah. I feel like a lot of people didn't see it coming. Yeah. How did you see your fan? I saw it coming. Personally. I just like wasn't like her comment was not that out of the ordinary to me like, yeah, I wasn't, I just started, I was in a locker room like weeks before that. Like, yeah, maybe you're probably right. Like, I'm just, I'm out here last shouldn't even really be here. Yeah. These kids that I'm competing against have been doing this their whole life. Since there's, they have videos from when they're two years old, yeah, singing. I don't play, was running routes two weeks ago. Like, okay, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. It makes sense. For me, like, I was just having a, having fun and learning, you know? So two years, no label, you did everything independently and then you've recently signed with MCI. Yes. Okay. Explain to people like what that means to go independent to now signing with a big label. Yeah. Well, I mean, I'm still learning all that stuff too, but basically it just means you get a big team and a team that has, has had success in major amounts before and it creates like an environment where like, for me, like, it, I'm from the football, the locker room. Like, I love the camaraderie of like a team and it's given me a team where like, I can go in the office and like, shoot the shit with people and also like, they're guiding me on the path to success, you know what I'm saying? And for me, it was just figuring it out like in my room in Minnesota and now it's like people actually like working behind me and pushing me in the right direction, which is, which is really cool to see. And what do you think, like, what gained you traction with this label? Well, I mean, what do you mean, what do you mean? I think just like, what made them be like, okay, we want to sign you. Yeah. I think it was the songs that I've been writing. I moved to Nashville, like a year and a half ago. So and I lived right on Broadway full, full effect and started just like writing so much. Like I was writing double, pretty much double writing sessions like every day for five days a week and just like really like sharpening my blade on like learning how to write. And I just wanted to like be like a hit songwriter, really? Well, that's what people don't realize. I was like, that's where you make your money. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Yeah, it's so cool, too. It's like, because I've been in Nashville since I was like my 18th birthday. So being here 11 years now, you got out of there 18 who started Nashville. I did. I got out. Let's go. And being here, though, like one of my good friends at Taylor Phillips, he's insane, amazing. Like I watched him go from having nothing, working his ass off songwriting. And now he's like one of the top songwriters in country music. So you're getting a session? Yeah. You're getting a writing session with him? Hey, he's, he is all for helping be his like if you're talented, I'll sit with you. All right. But he is, when I tell you, everyone from like Lou Combs to Morgan Wallen to like all of their number one hits. That's awesome. He's most likely the guy behind it, but it took him. It's a grind. I think eight years, maybe to get there. It is a misconception in the music industry, like people think songwriters, like artists, like just kind of like they don't really do much. Yeah. But it's a grind. It's, um, coming from football like that transition is, it's, it's a way different of a grind. I'll say like not as physical. Yeah. I'm sure it'll, it'll get there, especially when I'm with football. And it's like you know what you have to do, like you have to like, like, yes, I have to work out. I have to train. I have to review plays. I have to, like you know what to do in music and in songwriting, it's luck of the draw. It is. Like yes, it's talent, but it's also, who knows who, who can get you in the room with this person, like being at the right place at the right time. It's much more unpredictable. It is. That's so true. And so it has to be hard going from someone who's like, all right, you go by the playbook to now just like, well, hopefully, you catch the ball. You get paid this. You're, you know what I'm saying? Like music is like, you have no idea what it's going to be. Yeah, no idea. And so you recently just had a new single that dropped, right? Mm-hmm. Yes. Last week. Okay. It's called Wild Magnolia. And it's, uh, it's just like a uptempo like pop country song, which is like literally the epitome of me as an artist, just like running around on stage jumping around. Um, and I also released a single before that called she got it. And it kind of just like ties back to my, my roots of like being from North Carolina. Yeah. And growing up near like Charleston, South Carolina, um, my parents live there now and just like the Magnolia trees and like all that stuff. Like it really just like is a kind of insight to like how I grew up and stuff like that. That's awesome. And so you have what you're going on tour with Nika Moon, Russell. Yes. Dickerson and Jacob in this week. Yes. So that's fun. Jake's awesome. I love him. Yeah. I actually haven't met him yet, but one of my best friends like plays golf with him and stuff and stuff. Yeah. He's, he's a cool guy. Yeah. And I think a good influence at this stage of his life. Now 10 years ago. Not so much. Maybe not. But now great. Yeah. Yeah. Like it's cool. I'm super pumped. That's my favorite like part of being an artist is the live scene like in just like partying live on stage just partying live on stage. Yeah. No. No. That's terrible. Terrible. Do you not see what has happened? Bailey Zimmerman. Yeah. For example. Oh, I love Bailey Zimmerman. I mean, yeah. He's great when he's not drunk or doned or trying to, you know, sing a few notes like, yeah, like learn from your peers. Okay. Okay. Let's not have it embarrassing moments to everyone's like I want my money back. I got you. Yeah. Let's won't do that. Yeah. No partying public. Literally. I didn't mean like actual like partying. Okay. I meant like, I meant like just like, you don't have to have substance to party. Okay. You can just dance and party too. Okay. All right. Well, let's keep it that way. Okay. I literally have friends who I know that set timers like they don't allow themselves to drink until like this time. Oh, that's great. Because they know like how it affects them. So they're like, nope, I got to get through this. And then I can start drinking and then it won't hit me until like the end of the show. And then I'm good. Wait, that's that's nice. Yeah. That's how you have to have the. That's a great like formula slash technique. Yeah, it is. That's like the old school guys. I'm loving that. Yeah, that's a young kids now. You guys, honestly, at times like people, what do you tell about you guys? Well, I'm just saying you okay, not you yet, but like sometimes like this one hit that like makes you like go skyrocketing and then you all like act like crazy people. Okay. Yeah. I can't won't do that. Women and the things. I'll stay away from that too. I've been here long enough. You know, natural small town. Yeah. Be careful with the women. Small community. Don't. Yeah. It's a very incestual town. Yeah. Yeah. But your dad and brother are still in the whole football world, right? Yes. Yes. Yes. My dad is a head coach for the battle hawks. It's a UFL team. Okay. And my brother is the receivers coach for that team. That's awesome. That has to be so fun for them to just be like working together. It's fun. They also like. you know, fight with each other daily. But they also love it. - That's amazing. I love that. What a fun like dynamic phase. - Yeah, it's a great dynamic. We have a good time. - Holidays have to be very eventful. - Yeah, so I was about to say very loud, eventful, entertaining. You'd love it. - That's, I love that. See, there's always something that happens at my family. - Yes. - Holidays, you never know. And that is freaking awesome. Well, thank you so much for just like coming on and sharing your story. I think it's, it's really exciting. It's really powerful. I think it just goes to show that like, you have your life mapped out for you and God kind of laughs, you know? - Yeah, oh yeah, that's my favorite part of the world. - But what was your thing? And now you're doing music full-time. - Yes. - And it's a pretty cool story. So where can people find you? - Yeah, I mean, they can find me. I don't have a like cool Instagram name. It's just like Pearl. - Okay. - It's just my name and all the social media stuff in there. - YouTube, Spotify. - Everything. - Apple music. - All streaming devices and all that cool stuff. - Anywhere you listen to music, you can find likes. So we'll make sure to tag him and tag all the social so you can find him and. - Thank you. And but I got one more thing. - What? - My first like my debut EP "Hearts Don't Break" comes out October 2nd. - October 2nd. That's awesome. - It's immaculate timing. - Exactly. Way to go. Come on. - Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. - Hello and welcome to Pluto Fo. If you know the name of the movie you'd like to see, just stream it for free on Pluto TV. We're all your blockbuster favorites or landing all summer long. Catch anchor man, the legend of Ron Burgundy. - Fantastic. The Matrix trilogy. - Welcome to the real world. - Mean Girls. - Side up. - Titanic. - I'm the key in the world. - And so much more for showtime. Express nothing. They're free 24/7. - That is so epic. - On Pluto TV, stream now. - Hey, never. - Hi, I'm Lauren and I'm Chandler. And we're the host of Pop Apologist Podcast. A weekly podcast devoted to celebrity gossip, Hollywood deep dives, real housewives drama, and anything and everything Taylor Swift. We're two sisters who make no apologies for our love of pop culture and the fact that a listers might be more to us than each other. Join us on your favorite podcast app every Wednesday for Pop Apologists. Pop Apologists. Your new favorite, sister, and celeb podcast.