Tristan Roberson is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about young country artists in Texas. The 18-year-old Frisco native has already earned four No. 1 songs on Texas radio and won multiple industry awards, including New Male Vocalist of the Year at the Texas Regional Radio Awards. What started with a guitar at age eight and a few videos posted online when he was 15 has grown into a full-time music career that continues to gain momentum. With his upcoming album, “Down for the Ride,” and a growing list of accomplishments, Roberson is proving that age is just a number. We sat down with him to talk about Texas roots, songwriting, and what’s next.
Texas has absolutely shaped my sound. Texas country music is very different from what you hear outside the state, especially compared to Nashville. Texas music tends to lean more toward rock influences, traditional country, and honky-tonk sounds. While I’m still learning about all the different aspects of the culture, I love being part of it. It has influenced how I write, how I perform, and the type of music I want to make.
Right now, Braxton Keith is someone I really admire. I met him at a country music festival in Monterrey, Mexico. I was nervous introducing myself, because I’ve been such a big fan of his work. When I walked up and introduced myself, he said, “I’ve heard about you.” That completely shocked me. He spent time talking with me, showing me around the festival grounds, taking photos, and just being incredibly kind. It was a surreal experience.
I also really enjoy Hudson Westbrook. As far as traditional country goes, George Jones, Ronnie Milsap, George Strait, and Keith Whitley are huge influences. Keith Whitley is probably my favorite country artist of all time.
I’ve had the opportunity to perform alongside some incredible artists. I’ve played shows with Braxton Keith and David Lewis. One memorable event was Bulls, Bands & Barrels at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. Hudson Westbrook was performing inside after the rodeo, and I was playing outside beforehand. Technically, we were on the same bill, and my name was on the poster alongside his, which was pretty cool. I’ve also opened for Aaron Watson at Gruene Hall, and that was an incredible experience.
It has to be Luckenbach. I had the opportunity to perform there with William Beckmann, and the show was sold out with several thousand people in attendance. The crowd was amazing, the energy was incredible, and the venue itself is such an iconic place in Texas music. Everything about that night was special.
I do a lot of writing with a guy named Steve Dean. I met Steve during my first trip to Nashville. I attended a songwriter showcase at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and after the event, I introduced myself and gave him one of my business cards. I told him I’d love to write with him someday if he was interested.
About a year later, I remembered that conversation and decided to reach out. I called him, reminded him who I was, and he said, “I remember you. Your card is still sitting on my desk.” From there we started writing together over Zoom and eventually became frequent collaborators. We’ve written several songs together, including my Texas radio No. 1, “Can’t Get Over You.” Steve has become one of my main songwriting partners, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything he’s taught me.
I started realizing the caliber of people I was working with and the accomplishments they’ve had in the industry. The funny thing is they’re all just normal people. They’re incredibly talented, but they’re also genuine, kind people who have become friends. I’m incredibly blessed to be in those rooms. I truly believe God’s timing has played a huge role in my career. I’ve been fortunate to meet the right people at the right moments, and I’m very grateful for that.
One of the first videos I posted on Instagram was a cover of “Something in the Orange.” It received around 8,000 views, which (at the time) felt huge to me. I got a lot of positive feedback, and it motivated me to keep posting. That was probably the first moment I thought, “Maybe I can really do this.”
I post three times a day on Instagram, and sometimes as many as six times a day on TikTok. People think social media is easy, but creating quality content takes a tremendous amount of work. You’re constantly recording, editing, planning content, and finding ways to keep people engaged. The reality is social media is one of the most important tools artists have today. You can be incredibly talented, but if people don’t know who you are, it’s difficult to grow. It’s how people find new artists, how songs go viral, and how fans stay connected.
You’ve already won several awards (including Texas Regional Radio Report Male New Artist of the Year and Texas Country Music Association Emerging Artist honors). What do you think separates you from some of the other young artists coming up right now?
All I can say is I’m true to myself. I don’t necessarily like being labeled as “the young guy.” It’s part of my story, and I’m grateful for it, but I don’t want it to define my entire identity as an artist.
I’ve gone through a lot in my life. My parents’ divorce was difficult, and there were situations that forced me to mature quickly. I think those experiences gave me perspective and helped me grow up faster than most people my age. People often tell me they forget I’m only eighteen. I get comments all the time that I seem older than I am.
A lot of energy. I’m constantly moving around the stage, and I expect my band to bring that same energy as well. I’m there to play great music, but I’m also there to entertain people. I also love improvisation. I give my band members freedom to make solos their own, and that means every show has something unique about it.
The new album is called “Down for the Ride.” There are 14 songs, and a lot of them include racing and NASCAR references, which is where the title came from. We recently filmed promotional content at Texas Motor Speedway. One of the coolest experiences was getting to ride in the passenger seat of a retired NASCAR race car around the track at about 180 miles per hour. It was absolutely wild. The entire album is built around that racing theme, and I’m really excited for people to hear it.
I’m a huge gamer. I play a game called Rust, and I have more hours in it than I want to admit. I also love fishing, hanging out with friends, and I enjoy playing a little poker, too. Every now and then, I’ll make a trip to Oklahoma and try my luck, but lately it hasn’t been going quite the way I’d hoped.
I cook a pretty mean steak. I’d definitely consider that one of my hidden talents.
My goal is to become a national country music artist. I’d love to be selling out arenas and stadiums, putting out music people connect with, and continuing to grow my career.
At the same time, I trust God’s plan. I’m going to keep working hard, keep writing songs, keep touring, and see where the journey takes me. Whatever happens, I’m grateful to be doing what I love.
Visit tristanrobersonmusic.com to learn more about Tristan Roberson and to keep up with his tour schedule. And don’t forget – the new album is out now!
Important Note! VOTING is open for the 2026 Texas Country Music Awards through August 15. Anyone can vote, but TCMA member votes are doubled. Go to texascountrymusic.org
Tristan Roberson is nominated in the following categories:
Male Artist of the Year
Country Album of the Year – “One Night in Dallas”
Country Single of the Year – “I Can’t Get Over You”
Two band members are also nominated:
Guitarist of the Year – Carlos Gutierrez
Drummer of the Year – Zach Demers
