Just a young kid from Lawrence County, Kentucky, trying to chase a dream. Way back in 2013, there was man named Ray Wylie Hubbard (maybe you’ve heard of him) playing a gig at a place called Willie’s Locally Known in Lexington, Kentucky. Of course, the Texas singer-songwriter is one of the great cult figures in country music, particularly in the outlaw country music scene. Born in Soper, Oklahoma, and raised in Dallas, he first gained attention in the early 1970s as part of the Texas progressive country movement. He’s best known for writing “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother,” which became a hit for Jerry Jeff Walker in 1973 and cemented Hubbard’s reputation as a witty, sharp-edged songwriter. He wrote a number of songs for Walker, as well as Bobby Bare, in addition to more recent collaborations with artists like Eric Church, Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks and more. Anyways, let’s get back to the matter at hand… a summer night at Willie’s Locally Known in June of 2013. Ray Wylie was on stage doing his thing, but at some point during the middle of his set, Ray Wylie invited some red-haired local kid up to play a song. It was a little head-turner called “Whitehouse Road.” And while Ray Wylie’s drummer seemed to be pretty unfamiliar with the song, it seems like Tyler still left quite and impact. Of course, it’s impossible to know exactly how his performance was received unless you were there over a decade ago, but one of the comments I was able to dig up pretty much tells you all you need to know. “Ray Wylie Hubbard was amazing, who was the young Tyler guy that played one song?” Here’s a few more: “I wish I could start a record label and sign this cat that’s what I would do right now.” “He’s good!” “So good! Thank you for sharing!” And another said after the fact: “How come this guy isn’t a star! Smokes 90% of mainstream music.” That young Tyler guy smokin’ 90% of mainstream music was Tyler Childers… and these days, he’s smokin’ 100% of mainstream music. Check it out: Here in 2025, Tyler is a certified super star in the country music world, one who has managed to gain a massive audience by being unapologetically himself, and operating largely like an independent act would. He has no country radio play, no mainstream country music awards show appearances, no support from the Nashville corporate music machine… just unbridled talent, integrity, and the kind of songwriting that can stop you in your tracks. Like on his latest album, Snipe Hunter. Tyler Childers Scores Highest Charting Debut Of Career The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter scored his highest debut to date on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart with the release of his new album Snipe Hunter, which debuted at #7, earning 48,000 equivalent units. It’s his third top 10 in total, but it’s really cool to see him coming out of the gate with such a hot start with this project: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Billboard Charts (@billboardcharts) Of course, the record was produced by Rick Rubin, a legendary producer who has worked with everyone from Beastie Boys and Run DMC to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica, and he has a reputation for pushing artists well outside of their comfort zones and creating real magic. I was surprised, but extremely excited, to see him and Tyler were formally working together, and as was expected, they delivered something very unique and creatively different than anything Tyler has done before. Some of the reaction to it has been mixed at best, but I feel like it’s not shocking that having Rubin produce Snipe Hunter would mean Tyler’s going to do something outside of his norm… that’s kind of the point of getting someone like him onboard. That’s what he does best. “Nose on the Grindstone” TYLER CHILDERS TOUR DATES August 28—New Braunfels, TX—Applause For The Cause – A Benefit for Texas Hill Country Flood Relief September 19-20—Ashland, KY—Healing Appalachia September 22—Charlottesville, VA—John Paul Jones Arena September 24—Camden, NJ—Freedom Mortgage Pavilion† September 25—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center† September 27—Bristow, VA—Jiffy Lube Live† September 29—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium* September 30—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium* October 3—Cincinnati, OH—Riverbend Music Center+ October 5—Memphis, TN—Mempho Music Festival October 7—Cuyahoga Falls, OH—Blossom Music Center+ October 10—Nashville, TN—GEODIS Park^ October 11—Nashville, TN—GEODIS Park^ November 15—London, U.K.—O2 Arena~ *with special guest Medium Build ‡with special guests The Hold Steady and Medium Build †with special guests Medium Build and SOMA +with special guest Hayes Carll ^with special guests Charley Crockett and Cory Branan ~with special guests The Magic Numbers and Omni of HalosThe post WATCH: Ray Wylie Hubbard Invites An Unknown Tyler Childers On Stage To Perform “Whitehouse Road” Way Back In 2013 first appeared on Whiskey Riff.