Metro Detroit native Mac Watts performs for the hometown crowd during a show Nov. 25 at the Cabbage Patch Saloon in Grosse Pointe Park.
By: K. Michelle Moran | Grosse Pointe Times | Published December 10, 2024
GROSSE POINTE PARK — If it hadn’t been for hockey, Mac Watts might have never become a country musician.
Driving his son to far-flung hockey tournaments, Jim Watts would put on his own favorite music — classic country — and that became the soundtrack for the next few hours.
“I’d put him in the car and we’d drive to Toronto and I’d play Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard,” Jim Watts said.
It apparently left an impression, because when Watts — who could have been a college hockey star — decided to give up hockey as a young adult, the lifelong music aficionado picked up a guitar and taught himself to play. The Bloomfield Hills native, 35, who moved to Nashville in 2017, returned home to metro Detroit for Thanksgiving and played an intimate concert for family and friends Nov. 25 at the Cabbage Patch Saloon in Grosse Pointe Park.
Watts — who quips that he grew up listening to “Motown, country and Irish drinking songs” — said he also listens “to a lot of blues and soul music.” He said some people have described his songs as Americana or alt-country. His influences today include country artists like Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Dierks Bentley and Kip Moore. Whatever anyone wants to call it, his music comes from the heart.
“It’s just my stories put into music,” Watts said.
If his face or voice seem familiar, it could be because Watts was hired to perform a modern version of the Tubby’s Submarines jingle for a commercial a couple of years ago.
He was recently tapped by Los Angeles artist The Booth to record the vocals to a tune called, “All Country Songs Sound the Same,” which dropped in November.
In early 2025, Watts plans to release a new original song, “On My Own.”
“I’m very excited about it,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.”
Watts said the song was his opportunity to express his gratitude to all the people who’ve supported him over the years.
“I’ve been through a lot of hard stuff,” Watts said. “If you’re going through hard (times), surround yourself with good people and keep going. It’s my way of saying thank you.”
As an independent artist, Watts primarily releases singles online, although he does have an EP available. His music is available on all standard streaming platforms.
Jordan Dyer, of Waterford, one of Watts’ best friends, has known him since kindergarten.
“The way he’s been able to put it all together is impressive,” Dyer said.
Dyer said Watts’ dad handed Watts a guitar after someone at the Watts’ family hunting cabin in the Upper Peninsula quit playing. Dyer and Watts’ other best friend, Ryan Esper, of Commerce Township, were stunned by how quickly Watts went from novice to skilled musician.
“Next thing we know, he’s performing in front of hundreds and hundreds of people in Nashville,” Esper said. “He’s been an inspiration to all of us — he’s truly living out his dream.”
Tom Watts, of Royal Oak, Mac’s uncle and godfather, said music is an important part of the Watts family tradition of visiting the hunting cabin for Thanksgiving and possibly coming home with a deer. His nephew is keeping that tradition alive.
“He goes up to the hunting cabin and he’ll be strumming guitar and playing for us,” Tom Watts said.
Watts was the regional finals winner for the Nash Next America’s Talent Search Contest in 2018. In metro Detroit, he has performed at some legendary venues, including Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit and Pine Knob (formerly DTE Energy Music Theatre), where he was one of the artists on the 2019 WYCD Hoedown festival lineup. With his band, Watts has opened for artists such as A Thousand Horses, Parmalee, Phil Vassar and Scotty McCreery.
“They’re incredible players and amazing people,” Watts said of his band, with whom he performs regularly in Nashville and tours during the summer. Although his schedule for 2025 was still being put together at press time, Watts said he always comes back to Michigan for shows.
“Touring’s fun — a lot of fun,” Watts said. “I get to travel all over the country and meet new people.”
Besides his band, he’s joined by an adorable miniature pinscher rescue dog named Nelly.
“I rescued her, but she rescued me,” Watts said of Nelly, who’s believed to be about 3 years old.
Jim Watts is proud of his middle child.
“He can stand on stage in front of 10,000 people or 50 people and he puts on a great show,” Jim Watts said. “Not many people live their dream.”
It’s not an easy path — musicians in Nashville rely on tips when they perform — but Watts is happy to be playing music full time these days.
“I could have done so many other things, but I love this,” he said.
For more about Mac Watts, visit his website, macwattsmusic.com.