Tyler Childers is back in New Orleans, kick-starting his “On the Road” tour with musician S.G. Goodman. Performing in the Smoothie King Center on April 3, Childers continues to showcase the country music genre in a unique light that other proclaimed country artists tend to miss.
Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, Childers has made a profound impact on the country music genre through his refusal to conform to the stereotype of what a Southern country music artist should be. Many Southerners cannot relate to the “redneck, deer hunting” agenda that modern artists are pushing. However, Childers showcases the reality of what it means to grow up in rural America. Although all Southern experiences are different, many of us have been surrounded by or subjected to poverty, addiction, injustice, heartbreak and religion. Through his writings on all five, Childers has cultivated an audience in which being country comes without a mask.
“Bottles and Bibles,” Childers’ debut album tells the tales of heartbroken men who struggle with addiction and their personal relationship with God. Pushing back on the “religion fixes all” mindset, the title track of “Bottles and Bibles” tells the story of a priest who develops a drinking problem after his wife leaves him. Childers does not aim at religion; instead, he acknowledges the toxicity of many religious communities that hinder help rather than give it.
“Coal” reveals the lost hope of men who work in coal mines with a continuous reverence towards God. The coal miners regret never making something of themselves, resulting in mining for wages that don’t pay. These stories are important to share because although the greater America might see these lives as boring and mundane, many of these characters are our friends, family and neighbors. For Childers, this coal miner was his father.
Childers’ advocacy for human rights has created tension amongst country music lovers but has also started important conversations in Southern communities. In 2020, he released a surprise album called “Long Violent History.” The title track sheds light on the oppression and racism the Black community experiences in America through police brutality. Following the song’s release, Childers took to YouTube to put out a statement to his white American listeners. Childers states, “… We can stop being so taken aback by Black Lives Matter … We can start looking for ways to preserve our heritage outside of lazily defending a flag with history steeped in racism and treason.”
Not only does Childers advocate for the rights of people of color, but he also shows his support for gay rights in the song “In Your Love” from his most recent album “Rustin’ In The Rain.” The music video features love between two gay coal miners in what looks like the twentieth century. Although this has sparked tons of controversy among Conservatives, it opens discussions about homophobia being rampant amongst many Southerners. It’s one thing to be Southern, but to be queer in states that vote against your rights is even more challenging. In a country so divided based on race and sexuality, Childers makes it known that hatred and bigotry are not welcomed amongst his audience.
Through his music, Childers unites a community that has battled with religious trauma or is now finding comfort in religion, has battled with addiction or is overcoming it, has gone through heartbreak and love, or has been on the other side of the oppressor. Childers does not write to tell a story about deer hunting, but he does tell a story about what it truly means to be Southern.
