Guest Post Q&A by Braden Hull

Listen to “Trucks Are For” HERE. 

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I was blessed this week with the opportunity to talk with musician Braden Hull, an up-and-coming country artist who is turning heartbreak into healing with his song, “Trucks Are For.” Let me tell you if you haven’t had the opportunity to listen to his Music stop and runto YouTube and look it up its such a fun song.

Braden was kind enough to answer some questions for Greatful Moments, giving us a chance to learn more about the man behind the music, the experiences that have shaped his songwriting, and the heart he has for giving back to his community.And that brings us right back to what Greatful Moments is all about: being Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce you to Braden and share a little of his story with you. I hope you enjoy getting to know this up-and-coming star as much as I did. His song is One of Those Slap-Your-Knee, Sing-Along Songs that you can’t wait to share with everyone you know.

When I first listened to “Trucks Are For,” I found myself laughing out loud because it is a sing-along song that just makes you smile. I found myself looking at Braden and thinking he reminded me a little bit of Charlie, a little bit of David, and a little bit of a redneck.

And I say that with a whole lot of love! We have a four-by-four pickup truck, and there are some times I’d like to put Charlie and David’s stuff out on the front porch and tell them they could take the welcome mat with them! But then I’d go find them, so what good would it do?

I really did enjoy the song, and I know David is going to enjoy it too when I share it with him. I can even see him asking for it on a CD. Charlie isn’t quite as much of a country music fan, but he said, “That’s Dad to a T.” And honestly, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I wanted to know what was going through Braden’s mind when he wrote the song, especially because there is clearly more behind it than simply singing about trucks. Braden explained that he wrote “Trucks Are For” while he was moving from being heartbroken to finally being over the situation.

For him, trucks became part of the story because sometimes, when a relationship falls apart, moving on really does mean packing your things into the truck and leaving. Sometimes leaving a toxic relationship means packing your things, getting in the truck, and moving forward. There is something pretty powerful about taking that kind of experience and turning it into a song that makes people smile.

Music Can Be Its Own Kind of Therapy; As I read Braden’s answers, one thing that stood out to me was how personal songwriting is for him. He shared that songwriting is how he expresses his feelings. When something is heavy on his heart, writing gives him a way to work through it. He takes pride in the songs he writes and wants listeners to be able to go on that journey with him. I think many of us can understand that.

Sometimes we don’t know exactly how to explain what we are feeling until someone puts those feelings into words for us. A song can do that. A song can make you laugh, make you cry, remind you of someone, or help you realize that you aren’t the only person who has been through something.

When Listeners Share Their Stories: Braden told me that hearing from listeners who have connected with his music has also changed the way he looks at songwriting. People have shared their own stories with him and told him how a song helped them through something they were experiencing.

That means a great deal to him because he knows what it is like to use songwriting as therapy for himself, but he has also learned that music can become therapeutic for someone else. And that is one of my favorite things about music. A songwriter may sit down and write about one particular moment in his or her life, but once that song is released, it belongs to the listeners in their own way too. Someone else may hear those words and think, “That is exactly what I have been feeling.”

Braden Hull Isn’t Just About the Music: There was another part of Braden’s story that really caught my attention. Braden has been a firefighter for nine years, and through that work he has seen people during some of the lowest moments of their lives. That experience helped inspire Braden’s Christmas Wish, an effort created to help children who are facing circumstances they have no control over.

Braden shared that his own family once had a difficult year when someone stepped in and paid for Christmas. As a child, he remembers it as simply having a great Christmas. As an adult, he now understands what a tremendous blessing that gift was to his parents.

Now he wants to give other children that same feeling. He wants children who are going through difficult circumstances to know that their current situation does not have to define their future. As Braden put it, “the grass is greener on the other side.”

A Dream Tour With Sara Evans: Braden is also getting the opportunity to open more than 20 dates for Sara Evans, something he describes as a dream.

For him, the tour is about more than getting on a stage in front of a larger audience. He is looking forward to learning from Sara and her crew while introducing his music to new fans. And one thing he wants listeners to understand is that he is just a regular person, too.

He has experienced many of the same things other people have experienced. Those common experiences are part of what he brings into his songwriting. That may be one reason a song like “Trucks Are For” can connect so quickly. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it is simply a story about getting hurt, getting fed up, loading up the truck, and moving on.

Braden Hull: No Plan B– One of the things Braden said that really stuck with me was that he isn’t stopping. He doesn’t have a plan B.

He is continuing to write, continuing to perform, continuing to learn, and continuing to share his music with people who may see a little bit of their own story in his songs. And after getting to know a little more about the person behind “Trucks Are For,” I can understand why.

I’m always grateful when I get the opportunity to learn more about the person behind a song, book, product, or story that comes across my desk. With Braden Hull, I found someone whose music can make you laugh while still coming from very real experiences.

“Trucks Are For” may have started with heartbreak, but Braden has turned that experience into something people can sing along with. And behind the music is someone who is also using his experiences as a firefighter and a member of his community to help others. That is something worth talking about.

As for me, I’m going to share the song with David because I already know what is going to happen next. He’s going to hear it. He’s going to laugh. He’s probably going to say, “Yep, that’s me.” And then he’s going to ask me where he can get it on a CD. And Charlie will probably just shake his head and say, “That’s Dad to a T.” Then I can hear David saying can I meet him….

Sometimes the best songs are the ones that make you laugh because you recognize a little bit of yourself—or somebody you love—in them. And that is exactly what I found in “Trucks Are For.”

Listen to “Trucks Are For” HERE. 

A Personal Thank You to Braden

I have to admit, I am surprised that people are actually sending in all these guest posts and that I have had the opportunity to meet and learn about so many different people through them.

But getting the opportunity to talk with a musician—someone I can honestly say David and Charlie would have liked—was pretty amazing.

To me, this was truly a Godsend.

Braden, I want you to know how much I appreciate what you are doing, not only with your music but also for the people in your community through your work as a firefighter.

That part of your story holds a very close place in my heart.

When my daughter Suzanne passed away, it was the firefighters and policemen who were there that night and tried to save her. So when I hear about someone who has chosen to serve his community as a firefighter, I don’t take that lightly. I know there are people behind that uniform who are willing to run toward situations most of us would run away from.

I appreciate you for that.

I also want to wish you the very best with your music. I hope “Trucks Are For” is just the beginning of many more songs, opportunities, and adventures for you.

And hopefully, one day, I’ll get the chance to see you play live.

Although I have to admit, I’m just a little bit jealous that you get to be out there with Sara Evans!

Thank you, Braden, for taking the time to answer my questions and for allowing Greatful Moments to introduce you to our readers.

I’m grateful for the opportunity.

And who knows? Maybe one day David and Charlie will be standing beside me at one of your shows, singing along to “Trucks Are For.”

Now wouldn’t that be something?

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates