Garrett Bradford came onto the Texas music scene with his breakout single, "This Way of Life," featured on the hit TV show Yellowstone (Season 3, Episode 9), which catapulted him into the spotlight. The next day, "This Way of Life" became the most Shazammed country song in the U.S., climbing up the iTunes charts and peaking at #32 on the iTunes Country Top 40 Chart.
Garrett’s story is deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of Western culture. Born into a family entrenched in the rodeo and ranching world, he grew up surrounded by the traditions and rugged spirit of Texas. His father, a fourth-generation Texan, orchestrated some of the largest horse sales in the U.S., while Garrett’s mother, hailing from Montana, moved to Texas to train horses and found her match in Garrett’s father. Garrett’s formative years were spent on the ranch, where he developed a profound appreciation for livestock, hunting, and fishing. His childhood was an adventurous blend of rodeo travel and hands-on experiences with bucking bulls and broncs.
Garrett’s musical journey began at a young age, and though initially hesitant, his experience in the Children’s choir at First Baptist Church became a defining moment when he was cast in a lead role. This sparked his passion for singing and performing. Surrounded by classic country music in his household, Garrett’s love for the genre deepened during this time. His interest in guitar began when his uncle introduced him to the instrument, teaching him a few Hank Williams songs. When his uncle ran out of songs to teach, Garrett’s father recognized his dedication and bought him his first guitar at age 11. Garrett wrote two songs on the very first day.
Not long after, Garrett met his best friend JD, whose family had recently moved to Texas from Nashville. JD’s father, Dan Roberts, was a seasoned songwriter and opened Garrett’s eyes to the possibility of turning his passion into a career. With Dan’s mentorship, Garrett began honing his songwriting skills and, during his senior year of high school, recorded his first batch of original songs in Nashville. After high school, he attended Tarleton State University, where he continued writing and playing small shows. After a year, he left college to start a tree business with his best friend, Colt Bruce. During this time, Garrett played any gig he could find, from flea markets and rodeos to county fairs, bars, and boat marinas.
The road wasn’t always smooth; a life-altering car accident in 2014 resulted in the loss of his best friend, Colt Bruce, and subsequent personal trials led him to focus more intensely on songwriting. During this challenging time, his perseverance, combined with the support of influential friends like Taylor Sheridan—renowned writer, producer, and director known for co-creating Yellowstone and its prequels 1883 and 1923, as well as Landmen and Lioness—was instrumental in reigniting his music career.
In 2023, Garrett’s songwriting prowess was formally recognized when he won the Texas Songwriter U contest, a prestigious discovery and development program hosted by Jack Ingram, Liz Rose, BMI, and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association. With a following of over 60k monthly streams and a track record of more than 600 acoustic and full band performances, Garrett is celebrated for his ability to keep the dance floor packed and the audience engaged.
Garrett is also starting to earn a name for himself in Nashville, where he continues to refine his songwriting skills and collaborate with some of the industry’s most respected writers, including Leslie Satcher ("Troubadour"/George Strait, "Prove You Wrong"/Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Maren Morris), Tom Douglas ("House That Built Me"/Miranda Lambert, "We Made Love"/Alabama, "I Run To You"/Lady Antebellum), and Phil O’Donnell ("Give It All We Got Tonight"/George Strait, "Doin' What She Likes"/Blake Shelton, "She Won't Be Lonely Long"/Clay Walker). His music, deeply influenced by his Texas heritage, brings authenticity and edge to the country music scene.
Balancing his time between Nashville and Texas, Garrett remains devoted to crafting songs and performing. He is gearing up to release his two-part album, Honkiest of Tonkers, this upcoming year. The first installment is set to debut on February 21, 2025, followed by the second on April 11, 2025. He has an exciting future ahead as he continues to carve out his place in the music industry.
