Josh Grider Has Built a Country Career on His Own Terms

Josh Grider isn’t chasing trends — he’s chasing truth. With a distinctively smooth baritone voice and songwriting chops sharpened by two decades on the road, the Texas-by-way-of-New-Mexico troubadour has carved out a lane that’s part roots-country, part Americana, and all heart.

Long before “independent artist” was a buzzword, Grider was already doing it the hard way — writing his own songs, booking his own gigs, and releasing albums on his own dime. Having landed both recording and publishing deals over the course of his career, he keeps finding himself back where he started. Independent. And now, as the music industry morphs around him, he’s doubling down. New music is on the way in 2025 and 2026, all self released and all on his own terms.

But Josh Grider isn’t just a troubadour — he enjoys working behind the scenes too, currently producing rising Texas talent Gunnar Latham, adding his veteran instincts to a new generation of storytellers. With cuts on newer artists like Braxton Keith, Willie Tate, and Justin Schools - among others - Josh continually proves he is just as comfortable in a writing room as he is performing his own songs.

Still, the stage remains home base. Grider plays constantly — solo, with his longtime friend Drew Kennedy as the Topo Chico Cowboys, as part of the beloved Red River Songwriters collective, and in a deeply personal duo with his wife Kristi. Each configuration shows a different side of the same coin: thoughtful, melodic, soul-baring country music that sticks.

There are no gimmicks here. No label machines. Just songs that matter, players that mean it, and an artist who never stopped believing in the power of a good story and a well-worn guitar.