Sam Grow on How His Devotion to His Wife Ultimately Saved Him: 'Jack Daniel's Was My First Love' (Exclusive)

The country artist, who rarely records a song he didn't write, also discusses why he's made 'Loretta' his latest single

Sam Grow rarely records a song he didn’t write.

But when Grow first heard the beginnings of the tune originally written by songwriter Johnny Gates, the Kansas-bred singer/songwriter instantly knew that "Loretta" was a song he couldn’t pass up.

"It's just still one of my favorite songs that I've ever heard… ever," says Grow, 36, about the song whose official visualizer video premieres exclusively on PEOPLE. "I invited Johnny out on a writing trip with me in Muscle Shoals, and as we were writing other songs, he started talking about 'Loretta.'"

Certainly, over one year since her death, Loretta Lynn remains an inspiration to countless country music artists. And it was her spirit that ultimately breathed new life into the song that Gates originally wrote in 2020.

"What a gift it was to get to cut this song," says Grow of the song Gates had originally released as a single for himself. "I got to record it and now it's going to be a single for me, so I'll get to sing it every single night, which makes me very excited."

Certainly, Grow says that getting to illuminate the legacy of a country legend is also a big source of excitement for him.

"I'm a huge fan and advocate for the Opry," says Grow. "So naturally, it's in my blood to appreciate anyone who comes up through that time and who kind of built the church of country music. And I don't think you can discuss any of that without discussing Loretta Lynn."

The gorgeous new song also serves as a reminder to Grow of a time when he in fact was missing true love in his life. "I'm extremely happy and in a relationship now," says Grow, referring to his wife Kelsey, whom he married in November of 2022. "When I listened to ['Loretta'] I started thinking about how, if anything ever happened to us, how would I feel? That would be the only way I could describe it. It's a different kind of yearning."

But times haven't always been this good for Grow.

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"Dating a musician is not an easy thing," says Grow, who released his first studio album Love and Whiskey in 2019. "There was a time in my life that I was easily out on the road 250 days out of the year. I'd gone through another inevitable breakup and was having a rough time with it, and I got a direct message from my now-wife that basically said, 'I just want you to know that I realize that you're going through a very difficult time, and I just want to let you know that God told me to pray for you.'"

From there, the two became friends. And then, they became a whole lot more.

"I realized pretty immediately after kissing her for the first time that she was different than anyone I'd ever dated," remarks Grow. "So within 30 days of kissing her, I bought a ring in anticipation of knowing that she was my forever."

Grow says it was that love that changed everything for him, including his love for anything other than her. "Nothing is more important than that relationship," he says. "And for the first time in my life, I realized that there was nothing that I loved more than my wife. I mean, Jack Daniel's was my first love."

He wrote about his struggles with alcohol in an Instagram post this past June as he explained the meaning behind his newest tattoo.

"When my wife met me I was a drinker.. not just a casual one, not just a “on the weekends” kind either. An entire bottle of Jack Daniels became the norm on a daily basis and my closest people in my life worried constantly about the state I was in. I didn’t drink cause it was cool, I drank to numb out," Grow captioned the photo.

"I am SUPER sensitive using words like 'alcoholic' or 'sober' as I was a kid that went to Al-Anon sessions dealing with other family members.. but it is safe to say I had a problem and had zero intention of ever stopping. In the early stages of dating, my wife recognized this quickly.. she used to say her least favorite part of me drinking was when she could watch the light leave my eyes.. that it broke her heart in half."

He continued, "After what was one of my show nights, which commonly I drank even heavier, the next day she told me something that completely changed the game for me.. while nursing my millionth hangover and bathing in yet another bath of regret.. she told me she wanted to talk."

"She started by saying first that she was going to help me through it.. I WAS capable.. and most importantly she told me that no matter what, she wasn’t going any where… that she would stick with me.. and in that moment I was overwhelmed with gratitude but also sadness.. I told her how thankful I was for her not running, I also told her how sorry I was for losing myself.. to which she replied.. none of what you’ve done matters.. it’s over.. the next steps are what counts on fixing things.. 'Forward, baby. Always Forward,'" Grow wrote.

"Since then those words have been our motto and what has kept me from slipping in to bad habits again.. I now can have a bourbon to enjoy one.. not to black out. I am a blessed man to be in that position as I’ve known many that couldn’t and can’t do that. So tonight I got this tattoo (in her hand writing) as a daily reminder that you aren’t defined in the mistakes you’ve made in the past.. but you are defined in the steps forward you take for change."

Grow concluded, "If you’re fighting a battle right now, know that my heart and prayers are with you and please stop getting caught up in what you’ve done.. and start to FORGIVE YOURSELF and work on what you’re going to DO. Love y’all 🖤"

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Today, the love that Grow now finds in his life is seemingly directing the music soon to be included on Grow’s upcoming album, Avalon Avenue, set for release on Jan. 19. But there is also a place inspiring the music too.

"Muscle Shoals has its own vibe and energy, and it feels reminiscent of when I first came to Tennessee almost 10 years ago,” says Grow of recording in the iconic FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

"Nashville had that feel you could just feel in the streets. There weren’t the big hotels or anything like that yet. It was just this creative energy. And when I first pulled into Muscle Shoals, I could just feel it there too. So that’s where I wanted to make this album."

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