Bryan Martin Faces Addiction and Redemption on “Tug O’ War” Out Today
BRYAN MARTIN
RELEASES HIS MOST VULNERABLE SONG YET
“TUG O’ WAR”
TODAY, FEBRUARY 6
VIA AVERAGE JOES ENTERTAINMENT
AN UNFLINCHING LOOK AT ADDICTION, REDEMPTION, AND THE CONSTANT PULL BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG
NASHVILLE, TN (February 6, 2026) — Acclaimed, chart-topping country artist Bryan Martin releases “Tug O’ War,” his most vulnerable song yet, today, Friday, February 6 via Average Joes Entertainment. With Martin’s gritty, blue-collar vocals and hard-hitting honesty, the song lays bare the daily struggle between sobriety and temptation. Written by Martin, Lydia Vaughan, Sam Martinez, Will Bundy and Heath Warren, the song strikes a chord with those who know how thin the line can be between falling and rising.
STREAM “TUG O’ WAR” HERE.
“It’s about that internal battle,” shares Martin. “Every day choosing not to pick up another drink, you know, and feeling like you need it…feeling like you gotta have it to play a show or do whatever you need to do; to get through your anxieties and your struggles. You always feel like you got that angel on your shoulder and devil on your back. I think a lot of people can relate to this song.”
Martin adds: “Many that follow me know that I battled with alcohol and drug addiction. This fame came out of nowhere. I was a songwriter, you know, and we sat down and we just got real brutally honest about everything. I think it was the day after I came off the Morgan Wallen tour. We wrote this song when I was just being brutally honest about my battle. One minute I’m trying to be the party, the next minute I’m partying too much. And I just think it’s one of those things where a lot of people can relate to that internal tug of war. So, I hope this song helps a lot of people and I hope they know they ain’t alone.”
Following the success of his Platinum-certified anthem “We Ride,” which has garnered over 500 million streams and soared into the Top 3 at country radio, Bryan Martin earned a 2024 MusicRow Awards nomination for “Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year.” In 2023, the Cherokee Indigenous American artist reached a career milestone by stepping into the “sacred circle” for his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry. Martin’s career-defining moments, including “We Ride” landing at No. 3 on Billboard’s “Country Airplay” chart and the music video accumulating more than 85 million views, have solidified his growing presence in country music. At 37, Martin continues to redefine the country music ladder with over 1.4 billion career streams, millions of monthly listeners, and a grit-soaked sound that resonates across a vast audience. Furthermore, he has shared the stage with Jason Aldean and Chris Young, and brought stadiums to life alongside Morgan Wallen on the blockbuster “One Night At A Time” Tour, cementing his reputation as a rising force in country music.
However, Martin’s rise didn’t come easy. Born and raised in Logansport, Louisiana, his journey began in church, singing as a child. By eight, he was covering George Strait at local fairs, encouraged by his mother, who had performed alongside legends like Faron Young and Alison Krauss. But life took a hard detour. He pursued bull riding, worked hay fields, and battled substance abuse, hitting rock bottom at 19. A near-fatal car accident reignited his passion for songwriting, pushing him to make his guitar pay off and confront his struggles head-on.
Albums like If It Was Easy (2019), Self Inflicted Scars (2022), Poets & Old Souls (2023), and Years In The Making (2025) reveal a true artist who has survived the darkness and emerged with songs that speak to the heart of the working-class experience. With each new release and tour date, Martin proves that the best songs don’t just tell stories — they live and breathe in the spaces between struggle and triumph. With his signature rough-edged voice and raw, honest storytelling, Martin continues to demonstrate his talent for turning profound emotion into unforgettable music.
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Photo Credit: Courtesy of Average Joes Entertainment
