Cardinals Legend Adam Wainwright is Now a Country Singer Opening for Zac Brown Band & Playing the Grand Ole Opry
As a World Series Champion with the Chicago Cubs, admitting admiration for a St. Louis Cardinal feels akin to rooting for the Packers. Yet, here I am, hat in hand, after sitting with Adam Wainwright for an hour talking baseball and music, ready to confess my newfound respect for him. No, not for his curveball, which, let's face it, has haunted many a Cubs batter's dreams. My hat tip is for a curve of a different kind- his foray into country music.
Wainwright's pivot from pitcher's mound to music stage is the kind of plot twist you'd expect in a feel-good sports movie, not real life. After an illustrious 18-year career with the Cardinals—a tenure that can only be described as a thorn in the Cubs' side—Wainwright hung up his cleats in 2023. But instead of fading into the annals of MLB history, he's strumming his way onto the country music scene with his debut album, Hey Y’all.
Bleeding Cubbie blue, we're programmed to boo anything Cardinal red that moves. But hearing Wainwright's story about his earnest venture into country music, teaching himself how to play guitar on long road trips, rain delays, and off-days in the clubhouse, even the staunchest of us can't help but pause. After all, transitioning from dominating on the diamond to the vulnerability of the vocal booth is no small feat. It demands a nod, even if begrudgingly.
Hey Y’all isn't just a friendly salutation, it's Wainwright's musical hello to the world, a collection of 13 tracks co-written with industry LEGENDS like Gary Baker (Lonestar, Alabama) and Greg Barnhill (Tim McGraw, Amy Grant). Each song, a narrative of Wainwright's journey from youth to family man, peels back the layers of the athlete to reveal the musician.
Together, the three of them worked on Wainwright's debut single, "Time To Fly".
Wainwright's not just dabbling in music; he's diving in headfirst. A performance at the Grand Ole Opry? Check.
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An opening act for the Zac Brown Band in St. Louis? Check.
The man who once orchestrated a many defeats at Wrigley Field, (12 to be exact) is now orchestrating melodies that resonate with anyone who's ever faced a curveball in life—literal or metaphorical.
You'll see in the interview, but talking with Wainwright for 10 minutes it became more than apparent what makes him tick. Despite his musical ambitions, he made it abundantly clear that his top priority is family. Turning down concert gigs to prioritize his wife and five kids? That's the kind of fatherhood ballad that wins over any crowd. It's a reminder that beneath the competitive exterior beats the heart of a man who values time with his family above all.
He's a really solid guy.
And his music's not too shabby either.
So, here's my concession, Adam Wainwright, the pitcher, might have been a nemesis on the field, but Adam Wainwright, the country music artist, is hitting all the right notes off it. It's a testament to the unpredictability of life's pitches. Sometimes, you end up rooting for the person you least expected.
So, from one Cubs fan to a Cardinal legend turned country crooner- Best of luck, Waino.
His debut album Hey Y'all drops on April 5th.
You can Per-order and Pre-save it here.
\HEY Y’ALL TRACK LIST:
1- Hey Y’all
2- A Song Will Bring You Back
3- Hero In Your Eyes
4- One Day They Won’t
5- A Good Story
6- If You Would’ve Stayed
7- If You Knew Georgia
8- I Like Coming Back
9- American Hearts
10- El Camino
11- I’m Just Reminding Me
12- Hit The Ground Running
13- Show ‘Em All
All 13 tracks co-written by Adam Wainwright, Gary Baker, and Greg Barhill, with Jeff King as a co-writer on “American Hearts” & Matt Johnson as a co-writer on “Hit The Ground Running.”
UPCOMING SHOWS:
April 6 - Chaifetz Arena - St. Louis, MO
April 8 - Rock N’ Roll Drive-In - Cape Girardeau, MO
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June 2 - Confluence Music Festival 2024 @ World Wide Technology Raceway Illinois 300 - Madison, WI
August 10 - Washington County Town & Country Fair - Washington, MO+
denotes show with Zac Brown Band
+denotes show with Travis Tritt & Niko Moon