Kip Moore

Biography

Kip Moore (born April 1, 1980) is an American country music singer and songwriter signed, as of September 2024, to Virgin Music Group. Moore previously recorded for MCA Nashville, where he released five studio albums for the label and charted a total of twelve entries on Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including the number-one "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" and four additional top-ten hits. He has also written songs for Frankie Ballard, Thompson Square, and James Wesley.

Early life and education

Kip Christian Moore was born on April 1, 1980, in Tifton, Georgia, to Bonnie Moore (née Mann) and Stan Moore. He was raised there, in a family of six children (two brothers and three sisters).
Moore initially began to follow the path of his father, a golf pro; he earned a scholarship in that sport, to Valdosta State University in Georgia. (His father died in September 2011, just months before the release of Moore's debut album.)
Moore is quoted as having said that he "started playing guitar...we when [he] was 17", an event assigned to a period when he was attending Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama. While at Valdosta State, "music began to exert a greater hold on his life" than his sport; he reportedly made his first public performance at a Mellow Mushroom restaurant in Valdosta, Georgia. During that period he "toured with a band and began to consider a musical future".

Career

Sometime after graduation (see Personal life), Moore moved to Nashville, Tennessee. One report has him there in 2004, with songwriter and producer Brett James helping him to sign a publishing deal. He is also said to have spent eight years in Nashville before signing a record deal, which eventually came with MCA Nashville. His song, "Mary Was the Marrying Kind", debuted at number 58 on Billboard's country singles charts, before peaking at number 45.
On September 27, 2011, he released his second single, "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck". The song was followed by the release of his debut album Up All Night×Up All Night12 April 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Drive Me Crazy4:052Beer Money3:383Somethin’ ’Bout a Truck3:354Everything but You3:575Crazy One More Time4:256Where You Are Tonight4:167Hey Pretty Girl3:368Reckless (Still Growin’ Up)4:379Up All Night4:2810Fly Again4:1811Faith When I Fall4:4212Mary Was the Marrying Kind3:3713Motorcycle4:15 in April 2012. Moore co-wrote every song on the album, and Brett James produced it. A month later, "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" hit number 1 on the Billboard country charts. "Beer Money" was the album's second single, followed by "Hey Pretty Girl". These songs also reached the country Top 5. Up All Night was the most commercially successful album for a debut country male artist in both 2012 and 2013.
Moore co-wrote two tracks on Thompson Square's self-titled debut album which was released in February 2011: "All the Way" and "Let's Fight", the latter of which was their debut single. He also co-wrote James Wesley's 2012 single "Walking Contradiction". He also co-wrote Frankie Ballard's 2016 single "Cigarette".

Wild Ones (2013–2016)

In October 2013, Moore announced his fifth single, "Young Love×Young Love1 January 2013 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Young Love4:41". It charted at number 22 on the Country Airplay in March 2014. After it underperformed, it was followed by "Dirt Road×Dirt Road15 April 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dirt Road3:23", which failed to make Top 40. Moore then decided to "scrap" his second album and compose new material. Moore then released "I'm to Blame×I'm To Blame3 February 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1I'm To Blame2:16", the lead single to his 2015 album, Wild Ones×Wild Ones21 August 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Wild Ones3:242Come and Get It4:573Girl of the Summer3:594Magic3:385That Was Us4:016Lipstick4:207What Ya Got on Tonight3:028Heart’s Desire4:239Complicated3:0410I’m to Blame2:1811That’s Alright With Me3:3812Running for You3:3513Comeback Kid3:1414What I Do3:3115Backseat3:2416Burn the Whole World Down4:04. In 2016, Kip released his first EP titled Underground×Underground28 October 2016 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1All Time Low3:442My Kind3:233Midnight Slow Dance (Live)3:324Separate Ways (Live)4:155My Baby's Gone (Live)4:16, featuring tracks “My Kind” and an acoustic version of “Midnight Slowdance”.

Slowheart (2017–2018)

On February 10, 2017, Moore released "More Girls Like You×More Girls Like You10 February 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1More Girls Like You2:34" as the lead single from a then-unannounced forthcoming album.
On June 21, 2017, Moore announced the album's title, Slowheart×Slowheart8 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Plead the Fifth3:232Just Another Girl3:483I’ve Been Around3:374Fast Women3:395Bittersweet Company3:296Sunburn3:417More Girls Like You2:358The Bull3:099Blonde3:2910Good Thing2:5011Last Shot3:4812Try Again4:0313Guitar Man5:23, and its release date of September 8, 2017.
On November 16, 2018, Moore released his second EP titled Room to Spare: The Acoustic Sessions×Room to Spare: The Acoustic Sessions16 November 2018 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Plead the Fifth2:532Tennessee Boy3:123Love You to the Moon3:434It Ain't California4:135Wish It Was Me3:206Come Home with You3:247Part of Growing Up3:12. Three singles were released in preparation for the EP: "Tennessee Boy," an acoustic version of "Plead the Fifth," and "It Ain't California." The EP consists of seven acoustic tracks.

Wild World (2019–2022)

In May 2019, Moore announced on social media "That's a wrap, record #4 is done". No release date had been officially announced, but on June 15 Moore announced he was checking mixes for his upcoming record, indicating the record may be released sometime in 2019.
On August 9, 2019, Moore released a much-anticipated lead single to his yet to be named upcoming album. "She's Mine×She's Mine12 August 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1She's Mine3:45" is a song Moore wrote over a decade ago, and finally released it in 2019.
On March 27, 2020, Moore released the title track for his anticipated fourth studio album titled Wild World×Wild World29 May 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1“Janie Blu” (Dan Couch, Kip Moore)2“Southpaw” (Westin Davis, Kip Moore)3“Fire and Flame” (Cary Barlowe, Brett James, Kip Moore, Will Weatherly)4“Wild World” (Josh Miller, Kip Moore)5“Red White Blue Jean American Dream” (Jimi Bell, Barton Davies, Luke Dick, Philip Lammonds)6“She’s Mine” (Dan Couch, Kip Moore, Scott Stepakoff)7“Hey Old Lover” (Dan Couch, Kip Moore)8“Grow on You” (Blair Daly, Westin Davis, Kip Moore)9“More Than Enough” (David Garcia, Josh Miller, Kip Moore)10“Sweet Virginia” (Kip Moore, Manny Medina, Erich Wigdahl)11“South” (Adam Browder, Dan Couch, Manny Medina, Kip Moore, Dave Nassie, Erich Wigdahl)12“Crazy for You Tonight” (Blair Daly, Westin Davis, Kip Moore)13“Payin’ Hard” (Blair Daly, Westin Davis, Kip Moore). Later that same day, Moore did an interview with Billboard about his new album. The album, which consists of thirteen tracks (twelve of which are co-written by Moore), was released on May 29, 2020. Another preview song, "Southpaw×Southpaw13 November 2020 · EP · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Southpaw4:042Wild Ones3:213Fire and Flame4:444Come and Get It4:555Fast Women3:386Comeback Kid3:14", followed on April 17, 2020.
In January 2022, Moore released a re-recorded version of "Crazy One More Time×Crazy One More Time3 January 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Crazy One More Time3:34", which was previously featured as an album track on Up All Night×Up All Night12 April 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Drive Me Crazy4:052Beer Money3:383Somethin’ ’Bout a Truck3:354Everything but You3:575Crazy One More Time4:256Where You Are Tonight4:167Hey Pretty Girl3:368Reckless (Still Growin’ Up)4:379Up All Night4:2810Fly Again4:1811Faith When I Fall4:4212Mary Was the Marrying Kind3:3713Motorcycle4:15. The new version was sent to country radio on January 24, 2022.

Damn Love (2023)

On February 24, 2023, Moore released the first single from his fifth studio album, "Damn Love×Damn Love28 April 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Damn Love3:112Kinda Bar3:173Neon Blue3:554The Guitar Slinger6:055Heart on Fire3:306Another Night in Knoxville4:357Silver and Gold4:598Peace & Love2:559Sometimes She Stays3:5910Some Things4:1211One Heartbeat3:3012Mr. Simple3:0413Micky’s Bar4:51". The album of the same name was released on April 28, 2023. "Kinda Bar×Kinda Bar24 March 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Kinda Bar3:17", the album's second single, was released on March 24, 2023.

Move to Virgin Music Group

On March 17, 2024, Moore announced that he and his longtime label MCA were splitting. At the same, he announced that he was working on his sixth studio album, which he expected to release independently. However, in September 2024, Moore announced that he signed a global deal with Virgin Music Group. For his work in promoting country music around the world through his international tours, Moore was awarded the 2024 International Artist Achievement Award at the 58th Annual CMA Awards.
Moore released his sixth studio album, Solitary Tracks×Solitary Tracks28 February 2025 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11High Hopes3:182Solitary Tracks3:593Pretty Horses3:364Livin Side3:585Around You3:546Half Full Cup3:467Bad Spot3:188Straight Line Boots3:269Rivers Don't Run3:5810Burn4:0411Like Ya Stole It3:3212Southern Son3:49Disc 21Learning as I Go3:182Alley Cat3:403Live Here to Work4:424Love and War3:125Flowers in December3:546Forever is a Lie3:267Wildfire3:228Tough Enough4:279Good Things Never Last2:5310Take What You Can Get3:4711Only Me3:57, on February 28, 2025. The album release was preceded by the promotional singles "Live Here To Work×Live Here To Work20 September 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Live Here To Work4:42", and "Learning As I Go×Learning As I Go18 October 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Learning As I Go3:18", and by "Flowers in December×Flowers In December22 November 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Flowers In December3:542Wildfire3:22", "Bad Spot×Bad Spot10 January 2025 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Bad Spot3:18", and "Around You×Around You31 January 2025 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Around You3:542Bad Spot3:183Flowers In December3:544Wildfire3:225Learning As I Go3:186Live Here To Work4:42".

Personal life

After college, Moore moved to a "little hut" in Hawaii, where he also took up backpacking and surfing. As of February 2025, Moore resided in South Carolina, dividing his time between there and Maui. Moore also co-manages a business, a lodging facility for outdoor enthusiasts, in Rogers, Kentucky.
Moore founded the charity, One Heartbeat, which aims to solving housing and other economic challenges faced by some families in the wake of rising costs and decreasing affordability."
In his free time, Moore enjoys carpentry, surfing, rock climbing and hiking.
Moore considers himself a private person. "I don't owe anybody anything to tell them about my personal life and that's how I’ve always felt. It's ways of protecting people around me, because the minute I say it, people will pry like crazy." Moore also considers himself to be a spiritual person. "....I have always had a faith about me. There have been times in my life where I’ve had to be really diligent and I’ve taken the time to wake up every morning, read a little bit of scripture, and meditate. That centers me in a different way."
Regarding social media, Moore has admitted that he "loathes" it and feels that he may eventually be "phased out" because he is not creating content aimed at new generations of country music fans.
Moore has never been married and has no children. He stated that "...it's not like I'm out doing really wild stuff. It's just that my focus has been so hyper-driven on the music that even when I'm off the road I'm always back in the studio writing and creating." "I've been a boyfriend maybe three or four times in my whole life. I hang out here and there, but I'm that kind of that person who longs for so much solo time, freedom, alone time. It does seem like a lot of guys my age in this business are getting married, but I'll probably be the last bachelor standing!"