Gavin DeGraw: ‘Martina McBride will be a friend for life’

Gavin DeGraw has a friend for life in Martina McBride after he recorded a duet with the country legend on her last album.
The 39-year-old singer-songwriter teamed up with McBride for her 2014 album Everlasting, and the pair sang a cover of Sam Cooke’s 1962 hit Bring It On Home to Me. The duo also performed on stage together, singing DeGraw’s Soldier in a duet he called overwhelming.
“Her singing is so good,” he told the Digital Journal of his former collaborator McBride. “When I first met her, I was in her husband’s studio in Nashville, and Martina came in and said hi to us. Obviously, I kept in touch with them, and when I found out she was putting together the Everlasting album, I wanted to be on it.
“We recorded it, and she has been a great friend and ally ever since,” he added. “Last time I played the Ryman Auditorium, we sang Soldier together. When she came out, she blew me away.
“I was overwhelmed, because I didn’t know that she even knew my music. I was so flattered.”
DeGraw is touring the U.S. with fellow musician Andy Grammer, with the pair kicking things off in New York on 28 August (16). “Andy is a great musician, a great guy and a great entertainer,” he said of his co-headliner. “I’ve toured with Andy before and we’ve played everywhere.”
Reflecting on his career, the country crooner said his success is down to his family, friends and devoted fans. “Success means doing what you love to do for a living, and to have family that loves you unconditionally and supports you, and gives you honest guidance,” he shared.
“I am the luckiest guy in the world. I have fans who have literally been with me since day one. They do that from the purest place, and having that kind of affection from your fan-base, is something that nobody could ever buy.”
And, when asked to reflect upon the last 10 years of his life, the singer was honest in his reply.
“I see a whole bunch of little mistakes, and then a few big victories. The fact is that you need to tumble along the way to have the moments that really turn into the the highlights,” he said.