Hardy, the singer-songwriter with an uncanny way of blending country and hard rock influences, is in a constant state of motion. Between the launch of his Jim Bob World Tour, penning his own hits and collaborating with other artists, the musician barely has any free time. Then, of course, there’s the other very important thing that’s been consuming his attention – a new baby girl born in March.
“We’re finally over the hump,” the proud papa beams during an exclusive conversation with SNSMix (full video can be found below). “She’s doing great. Last night she actually slept like eight and a half hours, which is crazy. So we’re getting anywhere from six to – if we’re lucky – eight hours a night now. We’re super lucky. It’s been really good.”
So, when does his daughter pick up a guitar?
“Oh man, I don’t know. I think maybe around 13 or 14 I’ll introduce it,” the rocker confesses. “I never want to make my kid feel like she has to [be a musician], you know? But I’ll probably put a gun or a rifle in her hand before a guitar, I’ll tell you that much.” (laughs)
Hardy Explains the “Jim Bob Mentality”
Born and raised in Mississippi, Hardy has consistently infused his lyrics with imagery from the South. Such is the case for his latest track, “Jim Bob,” a thunderous rock tune that chronicles a character determined to “live this redneck life until it kills me.”
While the name Jim Bob came from a buddy back home, the character embodies a defiant spirit that resonates with fans across rural America.
“Jim Bob is more of a depiction of a lifestyle than an actual person,” Hardy explains. “There are all kinds of people who are the same in their own way. They’re like, ‘This is my life, and this is how I’m going to live it. And fuck off if you think any differently.’ That’s the Jim Bob mentality.”
And Jim Bob isn’t going anywhere. From live albums to hidden visuals, fans can expect to see Easter eggs for years to come.
“Yeah, man. I think the Jim Bob Easter egg will stick around for the rest of my career,” the singer admits. “We’ll keep him in certain things. It’s like the hidden Mickeys at Disney World – those little Mickey Mouse things hidden all over the place. Maybe we’ll do something like that. A hidden Jim Bob. I love that idea.”
Hardy’s Musical Brotherhood With Jelly Roll, Nickelback and Creed
Hardy’s ascent to fame in recent years has coincided with the rise of another Southern superstar, Jelly Roll. The two men are frequent collaborators and close friends, and still regularly catch up despite their busy schedules.
“Jelly’s got a great head on his shoulders, especially now,” Hardy notes. “Every time we talk, we’re just chatting about music or whatever – we don’t really get too deep. But he’s definitely one of those guys you could call in the middle of the night if you needed to talk. He’s one of those people you know you can relate to.”
Hardy shares that sense of camaraderie with Nickelback and Creed, two artists he collaborated with at separate points in 2024. When pressed on why he believes those groups in particular receive flack from fans, Hardy offers a quick response.
“Because they wrote hits. I really think that’s what it boils down to,” the singer declares. “Anybody’s easy to make fun of when everybody else likes them. That’s when the hate starts – when the masses start liking something. It becomes this weird hipster jealousy. ‘I discovered them first, so I’m not going to like them anymore.’ That’s just how people are.”
Hardy Offers High Praise for Sleep Token
Though he admits to being a “huge fan” of Creed growing up, Hardy’s latest obsession is a certain masked group from the U.K.
“I’m the biggest Sleep Token fan in the world,” he confesses. “I think they are so sick. It’s the freshest stuff I’ve ever heard. So they’re number one on my list right now.”
Whether he’s writing country hits or mosh-pitting to metal, Hardy is one of the most versatile voices in modern music. And if “Jim Bob” is any sign of what’s coming next, fans should be ready for a ride that doesn’t play by the rules.
Hardy will be taking over Skratch N’ Sniff radio this Memorial Day weekend for his ‘Big Ol’s Jim Bob Mix,’ featuring Southern rock mashups, remixes and plenty of his own tunes. Listen on Skratch N’ Sniff stations across the country.
