Ty Herndon Opens up About Addiction, Recovery and His Journey Back

In the Aug. 16 issue of Country Weekly, Ty Herndon opened up about the ups and downs of his life and career. Herndon’s latest album, Journey On, was released in June.

 

Journey On touches on some issues that are very close and personal to Herndon, who also introduced fans to his songwriting skills on the record.

 

“I needed to talk about the last 10 years of my life,” Herndon said. “I needed to write this record.”

 

In the exclusive Country Weekly interview with Deborah Evans Price, Herndon disclosed in detail how drug addiction almost killed him and his career.

 

“I’ve really never told this before, but when I recorded the majority of What Mattered Most, I was not sober,” Herndon said of his 1995 debut album, which included his first No. 1 hit single. “That should have been the most bright and shining time in my life, but everything I’d worked my whole life for was crumbling all around me.”

 

In 2004, after battling a four-year methamphetamine addiction, Herndon hit rock bottom while in Los Angeles. “I just had a little talk with God, laying there on my face because I didn’t even feel worthy to talk to God at that point. I felt the hand of God touch my head and gave me just enough strength to know that I needed to get on that plane [back to Nashville],” Herndon said.

 

With Journey On, co-produced with Wayne Haun, Herndon blends his contemporary Country and Christian influences with lyrics that showcase his rediscovery and commitment to his faith and spirituality. Herndon, Haun and Dove Award-winning songwriter Joel Lindsey collaborated on the song “When We Fly,” a duet with Lizzy Long that earned Herndon a 2010 Dove Award earlier this year in the Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year category.

 

Journey On marked a transitional point for Herndon and his 15-year career, which has seen sales of more than four million albums and multiple No. 1s on the Country charts, including “What Mattered Most,” “Living in a Moment” and “It Must Be Love.” Herndon’s new single and title track, “Journey On,” is receiving airplay at Christian and Country radio.

 

“There was so much I wanted to say to fit where I find myself spiritually and emotionally, and I wanted to sing about that,” Herndon said. “When I was singing songs that someone else had written, I found that I wasn’t in my strongest voice. I am very, very proud of this record.”

 

In February 2010, Herndon became the flagship artist for Nashville-based label, FUNL Music. The label plans to release a new Herndon Country album later this year.

 

For more information about Ty Herndon, visit his official website at www.TyHerndon.com.