Tim McGraw Reveals His Most Nerve-Racking Moment

Even country music stars get anxious, and Tim McGraw recently revealed one of the most nerve-racking moments in his career. As he explained to his label, Big Machine, one particular awards show has generated some very memorable moments: The Oscars. “I’ve been so fortunate to be able to do a lot of cool things, you know, movies and TV shows,” McGraw said. He then reflected on wife Faith Hill’s first Oscar performance as a major career highlight.

Then, McGraw brought up the Oscars performance that had him the most on edge due to its significance. “Gettin’ to perform the Glen Campbell song from the documentary on the Oscars was a big highlight, and probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life,” he said. The documentary, “I’ll Be Me,” released in 2014.

McGraw Performed The Song on an Empty Stage

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McGraw took the stage at the 2015 Oscars to perform “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” a song written for the documentary. In an announcement before the event, McGraw said, “I’m honored to be asked to sing this powerful song from one of the true legends of the music industry.” Campbell was a country music titan, so it’s no surprise McGraw would be anxious about performing one of his songs.

However, as the singer explained to his label, the audience members and performance conditions upped the stakes even more. “On that stage by myself, lookin’ out and seeing all those movie stars, and having to sing that song for Glen Campbell and his family was pretty nerve-racking,” he said. McGraw performed on a virtually empty, dim-lit stage, delivering an unforgettable rendition of the song.

The Singer Shared Some Heartfelt Reflections After The Performance

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In a call with USA Today, McGraw shared his feelings after the performance, and what he hoped it accomplished. “I could not have done anything more to make myself as naked as possible in front of all these people,” he said of the way the performance unfolded. “I put myself in a position where I had to be dead-on perfect.” Luckily for McGraw, many fans believed he accomplished exactly that.

Although Campbell himself couldn’t attend the Oscars, his wife and children were in the audience. Nevertheless, the “I Like It, I Love It” singer hoped Campbell could appreciate the impact it had. “I hope he saw how well his song has done and how it has touched people,” McGraw said. The song — and the documentary — both sought to shine a light on Campbell’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. “This is Glen Campbell’s most heroic legacy, the best legacy he could ever leave the world,” McGraw said of the singer’s contributions to Alzheimer’s awareness.