Country music artist Justin Moore to make history as first to perform at F&M Bank Arena

If high school Justin Moore had plans of playing in front of thousands at an arena, it would have been him showing off his jump shot, not performing on stage singing songs with his biggest fans.

But plans change, and this Friday, Moore brings "The You, Me and Whiskey Tour" to the F&M Bank Arena, making history as the first artist to perform in Clarksville's newly-constructed arena.

For some people, being a country music star with more than 10 Billboard Country Airplay hits is a dream that starts young. For Moore, the thought of singing professionally didn’t come until he was in his late teens.

PHOTOS: Clarksville celebrates new F&M Bank Arena with grand opening

Before that, his biggest passions were baseball and basketball, playing as a point guard for his high school team.

“If I was 6-foot, 6-inches instead of 5-foot-6, I’d probably be doing something with sports to be honest,” Moore said while sitting at his home in Arkansas.

But he isn’t. Instead, he is spending time with his family in between stops on his tour, talking about the history of his career and what he hopes his fans feel after his show.

Like many artists, Moore got his start in church. Growing up, he sang in the choir and impressed people with his voice, which sounded like someone on the radio, according to his listeners at the time.

“I thought everyone could sound like people on the radio,” he said. “Not being boastful, I just didn’t realize it was unique.”

It wasn’t until his dad asked if he ever thought about singing professionally that the thought it was something he could do for a living.

He joined his uncle’s Southern rock band performing at VFW clubs and Moose lodges, where he fell in love with performing and decided to give a music career a chance.

In 2007, Moore made the move to Nashville, releasing his first record that he says "flopped." Two years later, he got his first No. 1 hit with his song “Small Town USA.”

“I just remember thinking to myself ‘If I don’t ever do anything I can go back home and not have to go back with my tail between my legs. I can say I made it, I have a hit record,’” he said. “But then you don’t want to be a one-hit wonder, I wanted to have another one and another one. And here we are 16 years later, still doing it.”

Since then, he’s released 15 songs that have spent weeks on Billboards Hot 100, including “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,” “Why We Drink” and his latest, “You, Me, & Whiskey,” featuring Priscilla Block.

He's received multiple Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and American Country Awards nominations, won the ACM New Artist award, performed at the Ryman Auditorium and sung with many artists like Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert and Riley Green.

And this Friday, Moore makes history in Clarksville with the first concert being held at F&M Bank Arena, joined by Tyler Braden and Jake McVey.

“It’s really cool we get to do that,” Moore said. “I hear it's a beautiful arena, and hopefully we’ll leave some good juju there.”

Question: What was your first arena concert?

Moore: Shania Twain in Arkansas the late 1990's.

Question: Favorite touring memory?

Moore: Probably the first one we did in 2007 with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. For a hillbilly from Arkansas who grew up on Southern rock, that was as good as it gets.

Question: What do you hope your fans leave feeling Friday night?

Justin Moore: I hope they feel like they got their money’s worth. That’s our goal every night on stage.

Question: Favorite Song to perform this tour?

Moore: “Stray Dogs”

Question: A song that your fans go crazy when performed?

Moore: "Bait a Hook"

Question: Favorite Artist you've performed with?

Moore: My favorite artist of all time is Dwight Yoakam, who I met and played a lot of shows with.

Question: Favorite Artist?

Moore: That’s a lot. A few are Tim McGraw has always been very kind to me, Keith Urban very, very sweet, Blake Shelton and I are good friends.

Question: How does it feel looking out on stage and everyone singing your songs?

Moore: It’s the most rewarding thing to see people’s faces light up and sing along. When I’m 75, 80 years old sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch.

If you haven’t already gotten your ticket for Friday’s historical show at F&M Bank Arena, you can get them on Ticketmaster.

Reporter Kenya Anderson can be reached at kanderson@nashvill.gannett.com or on X at KenyaAnderson32.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Justin Moore brings his 'You, Me & Whiskey' tour to Clarksville