Inside the Wild Story Behind HARDY’s New Song “McArthur” With Wallen, Church, and McGraw
- All Country News
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
HARDY has built a career on sharp edges, heavy hooks, and lyrics that hit like truth told a little too loud. But even by his standards, the origin story behind his new collaboration “McArthur” reads like a country song itself: a late-night drink, a risky text, and a chain reaction that pulled in three of the genre’s biggest names, Morgan Wallen, Eric Church, and Tim McGraw.
And according to HARDY, it all started with a gut feeling and a bold send button.
The superstar songwriter-turned-headliner recently shared how the powerhouse collaboration came together, revealing that “McArthur” was born in a writing room stacked with serious Nashville muscle, Josh Thompson, Jameson Rogers, and hitmaker Chase McGill before taking on a life of its own after hours.
“I wrote it with a bunch of great writers,” HARDY explained. “Josh Thompson, Jameson Rogers, and Chase McGill, who’s one of the most talented songwriters in town. And when we finished it, I knew it was something special.”
But knowing you’ve got a great song and convincing country royalty to jump on it are two very different things.
After a beach trip, HARDY found himself back in his hometown preparing for deer season, whiskey in hand, staring down a decision that would change the trajectory of the track.
“I had a pretty stiff whiskey drink and said, ‘Forget it, I’m gonna send it to Eric Church right now,’” he recalled. “It was a leap of faith. I’ve never made a move that aggressive before, like, ‘Hey, we should do this song together.’”
The gamble paid off almost instantly.
Church, known for being selective and fiercely protective of his artistry, didn’t exactly leave HARDY on read.
He responded so fast it almost felt like he didn’t even listen to the whole song,” HARDY said with a laugh. “It was like 30 seconds, and he said, ‘I’m in.’ Then he asked who else should be on it.”
From there, the dominoes fell quickly.
HARDY reached out to Morgan Wallen, who also signed on without hesitation. With three voices locked in, the conversation turned to who could round out the lineup and the answer felt obvious.
Tim McGraw.
“I had just recently gotten Tim’s phone number,” HARDY said. “Again, massive leap of faith. I sent it to him. He loved it. And the rest is history.”
What emerged is more than just a collaboration, it’s a generational summit. Each artist brings a distinct weight and texture: HARDY’s grit, Wallen’s melodic instinct, Church’s firebrand soul, and McGraw’s enduring gravitas. Songs with that kind of lineup don’t happen by committee, they happen by conviction.
And in true songwriter fashion, HARDY says he has a very specific and very Nashville way of measuring whether a song really lands.
“If a lot of people in town text me and say, ‘Screw you for that song,’ that’s usually a good sign,” he joked. “That means it hit.”
By that measure, “McArthur” isn’t just a win, it’s a strike zone splitter. A song born from instinct, courage, and a slightly buzzed moment of bravery, now carried by four of country music’s most commanding voices.
Sometimes the biggest collaborations don’t come from boardrooms or label strategy. Sometimes they come from a songwriter, a late-night drink, and the decision to take the shot.
ALL COUNTRY NEWS
Country Music News & Entertainment