Learning from one of the best.
Despite having the #1 song in the country right now, Oliver Anthony is the definition of a rookie in the music business.
The Virginia native (whose real name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford) burst onto the scene this month when a video of his song “Rich Men North of Richmond” posted by Radio WV went mega-viral, racking up 50 million views in just three weeks.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind for Anthony, who played to a packed crowd at a farmer’s market in North Carolina just days after the song was released, and has revealed that he’s turned down $8 million offers as no doubt everybody in the music industry wants a piece of the viral sensation.
Dealing with the fame and all that comes with being in the music business is hard enough to navigate for veteran artists. But for somebody who became a superstar quite literally overnight, you’ve got to imagine that it’s nearly impossible to deal with.
But Anthony revealed that he’s got a seasoned vet in his corner who’s giving him advice as he navigates this new life: Jamey Johnson.
It shouldn’t really be a surprise that the two have formed a connection. The country music superstar joined Anthony during his show at the farmer’s market for a duet of Johnson’s “In Color.”
And since then, he’s apparently kept in contact with the newcomer to guide him along the way.
During his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Anthony said that he feels like he’s being pulled in ten different directions now that he’s experienced such success, but that Johnson has been helping keep him grounded and given him good advice:
“There’s been a lot of good people come out of the woodwork, like big names…I don’t want to say his name on here and disrupt his privacy but there’s one guy in particular.
Well, everybody’s seen me meet him at one point if that gives you a hint at all. But he’s just a really good dude.”
At that point Rogan quickly figured out that Anthony was talking about Johnson – though Anthony didn’t want to admit it.
“He’s everything you’d think he is. He’s just been a big help, like almost kind of a, I don’t know if you’d want to say a father figure in the industry, but there’s been some very good-hearted people.
Despite all the craziness and all the people that have come out just clawing at me…there’s been a lot of that. There’s also been a lot of just really down to earth people that just have the interest of me trying to preserve whatever it is I’ve created here and turn it into something to help keep me on the train tracks.
It has been a wild couple of weeks, but it’s been a lot of fun.”
There’s no doubt that Oliver Anthony is going to have to deal with a lot – and a lot of people wanting to take advantage of him – as he sets out on his journey in the music industry.
But it’s good to know that he’s got one of the best who’s helping him out and giving him advice along the way.
