After the release of two full-length albums on a major label, Tyler Farr is trying his hand at something new … being his own boss. The “Redneck Crazy” singer released his new independent 6-song EP, Quit Bein’ Country, in November and has already been stirring up a buzz with the new tunes that finds him returning to the heart of what defines him – faith, family, small-town life and real storytelling. “It’s scary, but it’s kind of cool too because you can do your own thing,” Tyler tells Country Beat, leaning back in his chair at his work shop of his Tennessee home. “If you want to put something out, you can put something out. There’s a lot of great songs on there and some really good writers on there, too. It would be nice to have a few more hits. If I do, I do. If I don’t, I don’t. That’s fine too.”
Tyler co-produced the music on Quit Bein’ Country with music veterans Jim Catino and Julian King, the same guys responsible for producing early hits such as “Redneck Crazy” and “Suffer in Peace.” The new music not only showcases Tyler’s growth as a songwriter since hitting the music scene over a decade ago, but also his voice which is filled with richness and powerful baritone following his unexpected vocal surgery in 2016. “I feel like right now I’m probably singing the best I’ve ever had, and I feel like my writing is getting better and better,” notes Tyler. “I’ve taken care of my voice for the most part. It’s a lot better ever since I’ve had that vocal surgery, and I quit drinking whiskey, so that kind of helped. But I’ve definitely written some of my favorite songs over the past 10 years. I’ve been writing nonstop.”
The EP is filled with A-list songwriters in Nashville including Josh Thompson, Deric Ruttan, Jonathan Singleton, Brad Tursi and more. The project features recent hit “Coming to a Bar Near You,” as well as Tyler’s take on the Charlie Daniels classic “Simple Man.”
Prior to Tyler’s independent journey, he worked along side pal, Jason Aldean, on the release of his Only Truck in Town EP on Jason’s imprint label, Night Train Records. They released a couple songs from that project, including the title track, which caught the ears of country radio and fans alike. However, as soon as traction began building, the bottom fell out. Covid hit and shut everything down, including the music business. “That hurt because one of my super powers is winning people over when I’m face-to-face and around them. Zooming is just not the same,” Tyler says. “It was going on the road and inviting the local radio out, and then after the show bringing them on the bus to hang out with them and me just being my dumb-ass self and cutting up and that’s what I did. A lot of times, it would work. Your goal is to make them want to root for you and be like man he’s a good dude or he’s funny. Obviously I have to have talent, but that’s a big thing, and whenever Covid hit, we didn’t play any shows. It just stalled.”
Tyler is now making up for lost time with his live shows as he launches his 2026 Quit Bein’ Country Acoustic Tour in February, once again taking the music out directly to his fans and acquiring some new followers along the way. “I feel like there were a lot of people, especially the younger generation, who didn’t get to hear me, which is good,” explains Tyler. “Because I can put out stuff now and if it’s a hit, they’ll hear it. I feel like there’s a lot of fans I haven’t got to reach. We’ve got a built-in fan base. We can still pack out places. We are blessed to have that, but I would like another solid go at it.
“Country fans are very loyal,” he continues. “You don’t have to have the No. 1 song in the country. They aren’t watching the charts. They just want you to keep putting out music because they’re fans. I remember after Covid, when we started playing again, I kept thinking no one’s going to show up to these shows. Everyone was like what do you mean? I was like we haven’t had a hit. But then last summer, I played a place somewhere in this little town and like 10,000 people showed up out in the middle of nowhere.”
One life-changing event that happened during Covid, however, was perfect timing: the birth of his daughter, Hollis Caroline Farr, born January 27, 2021, which Tyler says was a definite “plus” for him and his wife, Hannah. “I got to see her for basically the first five years of some of the most important times of her life so it’s not all bad,” says the proud daddy. “Yeah I haven’t had a hit in some years now, but there’s no way I could run a tour like I was doing back in the height of ‘A Guy Walks Into a Bar’ with my daughter at home … I mean I could, but it would make me feel like a terrible dad.”
Tyler often reflects back to the moment he found out Hannah was pregnant with a little girl and the instant fear that went through his mind. When Hannah’s doctor revealed to the news to the couple, Tyler’s first words were memorable … “oh, shit.” “Hannah was like you don’t want a girl?” Tyler recalls. “I was like no, it’s not that … I don’t even have you figured out yet, and we’ve been together like 13 years! How am I going to raise a little girl? If I were to go back, I would say [I want] a girl now, after having one. I got pretty lucky. Hollis is very polite. If she drops something, she’ll go sorry momma, I didn’t mean to … yes ma’am, yes sir, which a lot of that is my wife and me teaching her, but she’s something.”
Hollis has been the muse behind some of her daddy’s new songs, including “Quit Bein’ Country.” The time spent with her are moments Tyler cherishes, and like any good daddy, he’s leaving his thumbprint on raising her right. During the warmer months, the two spend their time together riding around his 200-acre property looking for deer and turkeys and creating memories neither one will forget. “I taught her how to pee outdoors like a boy,” Tyler says with a hearty laugh. “One day she drops her pants and starts peeing and she goes momma look, I’m peeing like Daddy does! My wife’s like oh my God!”
Even though Hollis has spent much of her five years getting to know some of Dad’s famous pals including, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, there are two that take the cake – Dolly Parton and Lainey Wilson. Luckily for Hollis, Tyler and Lainey’s fiancé are close hunting buddies and are arranging a day where his “lil munch” will get to meet her idol. Even though Hollis has spent many nights at her Daddy’s shows, including appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, it’s just not the same as the feels she gets when it’s Lainey or Dolly. “To her, I’m just Daddy,” Tyler says as a warm smile spreads across his face. “And I’m just fine with that.”
While Hollis loves singing her father’s songs – and can sing them quit well – she recently revealed to Tyler her future aspirations as she grows up. “Last year she told me, Daddy I don’t think I want to be a singer when I grow up anymore,” he recalls with a grin. “I was like I was unaware that you wanted to be a singer. She was like no, I think I want to be a redneck like you and shoot turkeys and bucks! I’m like well … I did my job! That personality and sass is all starting to come out, but she’s in a really fun age right now.”
During his gaps in music and touring, Tyler is enjoys fulfilling his duty as being part owner of the hit hunting TV series Buck Commander, giving him the perfect opportunity to spend time in the woods doing what he loves. “I’d probably be more successful if all I did was country music, but I like hunting,” Tyler says, smiling.
Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson, who also happens to be the founder and CEO of Buck Commander, invited Tyler to be part owner of the franchise in 2019. The other five famous faces rounding out the Buckmen crew includes Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, as well as retired MLB players Ryan Langerhans, Tombo Martin and Adam LaRoche. “We are basically a group of kids in a man’s body,” he says, laughing. “We just prank the hell out of each other and hunt and cut up a lot. We all have a lot in common. We love the outdoors. Love God. Still like to have a beer now and then and have a good time … or beers. I shouldn’t say ‘beer’ … I don’t know one time I’ve been at deer camp and have had a beer [laughs]. So I do that every fall.
“My life revolves around my family, hunting and country music,” Tyler adds, pointing out there’s a reason for certain gaps in his touring schedule. “You start off the first of the year duck and geese hunting, which is right after deer season. Then in the Spring, you start turkey hunting. After turkey season, you start fishing and dove season. Then you start shooting your bow, and archery season starts. It’s the circle of life.”
Other fall plans for Tyler in 2026 entail the release a full-length album, which will consist of his newly-written tunes inspired by his family and passion for the outdoors which he hopes will resonate with his core country fans, gain him some new fans and become important staples in country music. “The goal this year is to just keep going through all the songs I’ve been writing and putting together this album,” he says. “If I got a good [record] deal offer from a big label and if it was the right deal, I would take it, but right now I’m pretty content with just being an independent artist. There’s a lot less stress to it.
“What’s funny,” he adds, “is if I were to get another hit right now, I’d be considered in the New Artist category, which is hilarious!”
Until then, those looking for Tyler can find him doing the same thing he’s always been doing – writing songs, playing shows and of course, hunting. “I didn’t work my ass off all those years to not enjoy my farm and my family. But this should be a pretty good year for me. I’ve always said I was going to keep doing this until I couldn’t do it at full potential anymore. I’m probably a little more deaf than I was when I first started, but until I feel like I can’t do my best, I’m going to keep doing it.”
