Tim McGraw’s big 2016 single is “Humble and Kind,” a song written by Massachusetts singer and songwriter Lori McKenna.
“Humble and Kind” basically offers a little checklist of reminders about how best to act in order to be a good person. It’s pretty sound advice, and a rare bit of authentic wisdom on the radio, where humility is in short supply. Even Oprah’s a fan!
It might strike some as smarmy, but it if you open yourself up to it, you could find yourself getting choked up. McGraw, of course, has been releasing records for 25 years, so the fact that he’s still on the charts is noteworthy. But the sub-genre of the heart-warming life-lesson song is nothing new for McGraw; he had a big hit with “Live Like You Were Dying” in 2004, a song whose title basically explains itself.
Unlike the bro-country that has sprouted up in the 21st century, McGraw is, on the whole, more heartland than hard-rockin’ or hip-hoppin’. McGraw isn’t necessarily a classic-country preservationist, but he’s more apt to tip the cowboy hat to Kristofferson than to try and sport a backwards ballcap and roll with Florida Georgia Line.
Tim McGraw comes to Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Saturday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. $59 to $149. 860-226-7711 and mohegansun.com.
