Drew Baldridge: Self-financed Country Star Sets His Sights on Another #1

Although working with a record label is the traditional route to music industry stardom, some artists have proved that you can still be successful when going it alone. Drew Baldridge knows this firsthand, having achieved his first number-one hit, “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” without label representation.

As American Songwriter reported in 2024, the song took the top spot on Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart just a year after its independent release, which occurred when the singer found himself without a contract after his original label ceased operations. Now, in 2025, Baldridge is trying to make history again. He already has the first self-financed country music chart-topper under his belt, and he’s potentially closing in on his second number-one.

Baldridge’s Next Potential #1 Was Almost a Luke Combs Single

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As of April 2025, Baldridge’s single, “Tough People,” is climbing the very same chart “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” conquered last year. However, another country star almost released the single themselves: Luke Combs. As Baldridge shared with People, Combs, one of the song’s co-writers, had already finished a recording of the track. Out of love for the song, Baldridge called Combs to ask if he could have “Tough People” instead.

Combs could have refused, but instead he responded with a touching message. “I remember Luke saying, ‘Dude, you wrote it, and you should sing it,'” Baldridge said. “‘It’s your song and I’ll root you on all the way to No. 1.'” In October 2024, BBR Music Group shared that Baldridge had partnered with the independent label for the release. As of this publication, “Tough People” is closing in on the top ten of the Mediabase Country Chart.

The Singer is Heading Out on a Summer Tour

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As he awaits his potential second number-one, Baldridge is preparing to head out on tour. His summer tour will take him all over the U.S., with his official website listing appearances from Florida to California. Fans can see him live starting April 26 and continuing through mid-October.

The tour includes stops at multiple music festivals, including Hoofbeat Country Fest in Wisconsin. Baldridge joins what is already set to be a busy tour season, with Morgan Wallen, Brad Paisley, and many other artists also planning to hit the road this summer.