For Jordan Davis, life as a songwriter can sometimes be a balancing act. It’s an art that demands creativity and patience drive to keep moving forward and develop hit after hit such as “Bar None” and “Turn this Truck Around.” “If you want to call yourself a songwriter, you got to be able to sit down and write a song, and you’re not always going to have a great idea or something that you want to write,” Davis reflects. “So that’s where the job comes in of being a songwriter. Sometimes you gotta, strap up and get to work.”
But as his career has soared, so have the demands on his time and energy, as he explains on the latest episode of the Country Muscle Podcast. With a new album, Learn the Hard Way, out now, and a quickly selling out “Ain’t Enough Road” tour quickly approaching, Davis knew he needed to be at his best—not just creatively, but physically as well, especially with a sore lower back that he says was once guaranteed to flare up while on the road.
That’s where his partnership with trainer Alex DeRiggi has made all the difference. “There’s no days off, you know,” Davis laughs. “We don’t get great sleep. There are a lot of days out here where it’s easy to say, ‘Ah, man, we’ll get back on it when we get back to Nashville.’ And I think that’s one of the most important qualities of any trainer: being able to grab you by the shirt and say, ‘Put your shoes on. We’re going to the gym.’”
Their training sessions, whether at home or on the road, are designed to keep Davis strong, resilient, and ready for the rigors of the stage. “Seventy percent of our workouts are about being an athlete in some form or fashion—deadlifts, squats, hack squats, something dealing with strengthening my legs and lower back,” he explains. The result? Davis feels more prepared and energized than ever, ready to give fans the show they deserve night after night. “It’s been a year now—I’m stronger than I’ve ever been, and my back problems have gone away.”
You can check out all of Jordan Davis’ interview—as well as every other episode of the Country Muscle Podcast—on the Country Muscle YouTube Channel.
5 Takeaways from the Jordan Davis ‘Country Muscle Podcast’ Appearance
- Jordan Davis credits his Louisiana roots and LSU fandom for shaping his music, cooking, and competitive spirit. “I’m still very, very involved in all Tiger athletics,” he says.
- He’s deeply involved in LSU athletics and cherishes his connections to Tiger legends like Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. “It’s weird, because it’s all the guys that are retiring now, so it’s kind of a check-in on where I’m at. It’s like, oh, man, I ain’t getting any younger.”
- He avoids the stereotypical party lifestyle on tour, focusing instead on health, performance, and being a positive influence for his band and crew. “I luckily kind of went after a more athletic mindset of touring, as opposed to the party side of it.”
- Davis’ football background as a high school quarterback still impacts him today, both in his approach to life and in managing old injuries. “We ran the option, and I got beat up pretty good… I think a lot of that was maybe some of those hits coming back to ring the bell again in my late 30s.”
- His advice to up-and-coming artists: start healthy habits early, stay active on the road, and always strive to give fans the show they deserve. “Eventually you’re going to break down, so you got to get moving… preferably lift weights or get in a gym. Go walk, go run, go play golf, but don’t ride the cart. Go walk 18. It’s been great for me.”