Braden Hull is a rising singer/songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, who hails from Lexington, North Carolina. I first met him at CRS 2026, where he immediately impressed me with his remarkable story. Hull never set out to be a musician; he wanted to be a fireman. When he was 14, he joined his local junior fireman program, and by the time he was 16, he was a fully certified volunteer fireman. He later got his EMT certification, opened a landscaping company, and did some DJ work on the side.
He started writing songs as a hobby. Hull shared, "I thought they were good songs because I wrote them, but it was my dad who said, 'You've really got something here. You can really write a song.'"
Then he posted a video of himself singing one of his songs, and a musician friend encouraged him to record some of his songs. He recorded "Falling Out of Love" about his parents' divorce, and when he played it for his mom for the first time, she cried while they recorded it. When they posted the video on TikTok, it blew up.
Since he was just 20 years old, Hull decided to "go all in" with the songwriting and singing. "[Firefighting] will always be there if I go back," he thought,
In December of 2024, Hull signed with Melody Place Records, and in January 2025, he moved to Nashville. He has only been releasing music since 2025, with tracks that oscillate between party tunes like "Alcohol 101" and sentimental songs like “One More Cast,” written about fishing with his grandfather.
But it was his song, "End This Way," that really connected with listeners. He explained, "I got my heart shattered last year, and I had never been heartbroken before. I just found this girl and fell for her and fell in love. And it just didn't work out. So, after that, I was pretty devastated."
Through his tears, Hull wrote the first verse, and later, he and his buddies finished the song in 45 minutes. It is his honesty in the song that draws people in.
But Hull is not one to remain miserable, so he released the mega party song, "Ain't No Reason Not To," as in There ain't no reason not to/ Have one or two/ Keep pouring til the morning light.
He explained, "I love being vulnerable and opening up and sharing my stories and what I've been through in life through songwriting. But I also love having a good time. I love going and drinking with my friends. I love going out to the bars. I love being social. I love crowds. You know, and that's the two parts of me that everyone sees."
Now his latest single, "Trucks Are For," combines these two sides of Hull. He honestly addresses the pain of moving out after a breakup, with the resolution of moving on. With the words Empty the closets, fill up the boxes, that's why God made Fords/ Let me tell you mud ain't the only kind of something you can get stuck in/ That's what trucks are for, you see the path moving forward despite everything that has happened.
"There's a lot of nostalgia in the song, 'Trucks Are For,'" he reported.
Hull admits he is still in the process of discovering himself as an artist. He refuses to remain in one lane as he is influenced equally by singers like Gavin Adcock and Bruno Mars. But what sets him apart is his innate ability to write an authentic song that many can relate to. And others in the industry are starting to notice.
Since signing to Melody Place Records, home to country star Sara Evans, Hull has been onstage alongside country music hitmakers Craig Morgan, Little Texas, Vince Gill, Whey Jennings, and breakout stars Gavin Adcock and Vincent Mason. In addition, he recently toured with Six Pack Coverage, traveling to major college campuses across North America. Now he is opening for Sara Evans' We Got The Beat Tour through the fall of 2026.
He stated, "It's hard to believe that in my third year (doing music) that I am getting to be on the road with Sara, but she and her team are great to me. I'm very blessed that she wanted to support me in my career and help me get started. There's a reason why the big crowds still come out to see her after all these years."
Not only that, the small-town musician also gives back to his Lexington, NC community, honoring his roots and supporting others. Last year, he hosted and headlined the inaugural “Braden’s Christmas Wish” benefit concerts to raise money and provide a Christmas for families in need during the holidays. He will be doing it again in 2026.
Hull said of his success, "I genuinely believe that if you're going to make it in this industry, the first thing you've got to find is at least one person that believes in you and believes in you just as much as you do. I found a whole team who believes in me."
But obviously, the folks at Melody Place Records wouldn't have hitched their truck to Hull's wagon if they didn't see the same thing I saw: a singer/songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve and is capable of and willing to write about these big feelings without any hesitation. That's why I know he is going to make it.
Make sure you listen to "Trucks Are For" and follow Braden Hull on his social media to learn about new songs and shows.
Connect on Hull's website, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and all streaming services.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and TikTok.