CMA Fest 2025 was already serving everything this year, but when Gavin Adcock stormed Riverfront Stage last Thursday (June 5), it was clear we were witnessing a full-on moment — not just another performance. And we’re not talking small potatoes here: thousands of fans packed in, singing every word, jumping, screaming — giving full headliner energy, even if it’s still just the beginning for the Georgia native.
“It felt like a headline show, which was really what I was expecting,” Gavin told Celeb Secrets backstage after his monumental set. “Honestly, it’s an honor for people to show up and sing like that.”
Gavin’s come-up reads like a modern-day country fairytale — but with a few extra plot twists. From working on his family’s cattle farm and playing football at Georgia Southern University to finding his true calling while rehabbing a knee injury, he’s now racked up over one billion global streams and four shiny new RIAA plaques to match.
In one of CMA Fest’s most viral backstage moments this year — and one year to the day after signing his record deal during CMA Fest 2024 — Gavin was surprised on stage at Warner’s Heatwave House with not one, not two, but FOUR RIAA plaques — including a PLATINUM for “A Cigarette” and GOLD certifications for “Run Your Mouth,” “Deep End,” and “Four Leaf Clover.” Talk about a flex.
“It’s because of ALL OF YOU that Gavin Adcock has amassed over a billion global streams,” Warner’s Cris Lacy shared while presenting the plaques. Gavin, ever the humble Southern gent, shouted out his fans right back: “It’s unbelievable, y’all. I’ve been a country music fan my whole life. It’s an honor to make music for the great people of this country and play music in every state to every fan.”
His star may be rising fast, but Gavin’s keeping both boots planted firmly on the ground. “The last time we played was at Exit/In — 500 people,” he told us. “And then just barely over a year later we played the Pinnacle for 8,000 folks. That’s just mind-blowing.”
Despite the viral streams, sold-out tours, and now even stadium gigs, Gavin is all about keeping it real. “Just because you’ve got big stuff going on don’t mean you can’t do normal people things,” he said. “I go to Walmart. I go to Waffle House. I go to town. I get stopped every once in a while, but fans are usually like, ‘There’s no way that’s you.’”
He admits fame still catches him off guard sometimes. “I grew up in a small town, worked on the cattle farm, played sports, went to college… had my highs and lows. I try to tell fans: I’m just like you.”
Now, if you’ve been keeping up on TikTok (because duh, who isn’t?), you probably know Gavin isn’t afraid to turn even the messiest situations into music gold. Case in point? His recent viral single “Morning Bail” — which, fun fact, dropped immediately after a little run-in with law enforcement for reckless driving. But instead of letting that moment bring him down, Gavin saw it as the perfect opportunity to drop the track early.
“I got pulled over for reckless driving and they took me in,” Gavin shared. “After I got arrested, I said, ‘We gotta let this song out next week because we gotta turn this semi-low moment into a high moment.’”
Originally written months earlier, “Morning Bail” details a night of heartbreak-fueled drinking, wild antics, and an eventual trip to jail — extremely on-brand for Adcock’s fans. “It’s relatable to a handful of Americans, you know, in the history of this country,” he laughed.
Spoiler: It worked. The song did 2 million streams in its first week alone. Insane.
When it comes to his upcoming music, Gavin’s not afraid to get real — and dark. His next album, set to drop this August, is all about the messy reality of being your own worst enemy. “It’s basically like stages of me,” he told us. “I’ve had times where I was really down and out, and I was a problem. And I’ve had times where I’ve found the good in life.”
The vibe? Genre-hopping country with a heavy dose of rock, heartbreak, and a brutally honest take on self-destruction — aka the recipe his fans live for. “It’s the most quality set of music I’ve ever had,” he revealed.
While most artists drop albums every year or two, Gavin’s grinding at his own pace — releasing more than one song a month since his debut. And he has no plans of slowing down: “We have no plan to fall behind that cadence,” he said. “There’s another one coming in a few weeks, and then another one, and then around August we’ll let out an album.”
One thing Gavin refuses to do? Stay in a box. “There’s a bunch of genres in country music, and I don’t want to be pigeonholed to one genre within the genre,” he told us. Whether it’s country rock bangers or heartbreak anthems, Gavin’s creating his own lane — and fans are here for it.
In true main character energy, Gavin’s not just stacking streams — he’s taking his show on the road in a big way. He’s already selling out his own headlining tours, but this summer he’s leveling up by joining none other than Morgan Wallen on the I’m The Problem tour.
“I told my guys back when we were playing 250-cap rooms, ‘We’re gonna play stadiums one day. We’re gonna go all the way to the top.’ And now we’re here.” he told us, adding that his OG crew is still with him to this day. And now? Stadiums are officially checked off the vision board.
Gavin’s also breaking into country radio with “Never Call Again,” a song written with Colton Venner, Jack Rout, and Joy Beth Taylor. “We sent it to radio two weeks ago, and last week it was the second most-added song behind Lainey Wilson — and that wasn’t even its add date,” he said. “I’m hoping my co-writers get their first number one out of it.”
And of course, we couldn’t let Gavin go without spilling a little tea. His secret talent? “I’m a pretty good drinker,” he laughed. His go-to? “I drink a lot of Jack [for the shows]. But when I’m out, I really like Woodford and Sprite.” Honestly? The most relatable answer ever.
Gavin Adcock is living proof that country music’s future doesn’t have to play by old rules. He’s authentic, a little rowdy, totally relatable, and absolutely unstoppable — making him one of the genre’s most exciting new stars to watch. Stream the music. Grab your tour tickets. And if you see him at Waffle House? Buy him a Jack.
For more coverage from CMA Fest 2025, click here.
