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Momma and Jesus
2016 single by Tucker Beathard From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Momma and Jesus" is a song by American singer–songwriter Tucker Beathard. It was released as a single on November 7, 2016, serving as the second and final single from his EP Fight Like Hell.[1] The song follows the autobiographical themes present in much of Beathard’s early work, reflecting on his rebellious youth and his belief that only his mother and Jesus continued to have faith in him.[2] The single was accompanied by an official music video inspired by Jackass-style stunts Beathard and his brothers performed in childhood and teenage years. The video received notable media attention for scenes filmed in downtown Nashville and Music Row without permits, which led to a Nashville Police Department officer briefly chasing the crew.[3][4]
The song achieved minimal success on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in late 2016.[5] It was intended for Beathard’s planned 2017 major-label debut album Dear Someone, but the album was shelved by Dot Records the day before release due to creative disagreements.[6][7][8] "Momma and Jesus" became Beathard's final release with the label. He bought out his contract in January 2018.[9][10][11]
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Background and production
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"Momma and Jesus" was first released in demo form on Beathard's October 2015 EP The Demos Vol. 1,[12] which previewed his forthcoming studio material. A self-taught drummer from early childhood who later learned guitar, Beathard often developed songs around rhythmic motifs. He has said in interviews that the song’s opening riff inspired its direction, describing it as "like playing percussion on my guitar."[13][14] Beathard co-wrote the track with Deric Ruttan and frequent collaborator Jonathan Singleton. It was produced by Angelo Petraglia, who oversaw the material for the Fight Like Hell EP.[15][16]
The lyrics draw from Beathard's adolescence and his reputation as the troublemaker among his siblings. He explained that the title came from the phrase "God knows where I'd be without Momma and Jesus,"[17] and that he aimed to approach the idea with less conventional sentimentality, turning it into a narrative reflecting his past behavior.[18]
Release and promotion
"Momma and Jesus" followed Beathard's breakout debut single "Rock On".[19] Both tracks were included on the six-track EP Fight Like Hell released October 7, 2016.[20][21]
Beathard announced "Momma and Jesus" as his next single on October 18, 2016, with an official country radio impact date of November 7. It debuted as one of the week's most-added singles.[22] The single was promoted through a rigorous touring schedule of nearly 200 live shows, including performances on The Bobby Bones Show, The Dan Patrick Show, during his January 14, 2017 Grand Ole Opry debut at the Ryman Auditorium, and an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on January 31, 2017.[23][24][25][26][27]
Beathard added the track to nearly all shows on his Rock On College Tour, his first headlining tour through Big Ten campuses,[28][29] and it has remained a regular part of his setlist at nearly all concerts since.[30][31]
On December 8, 2017, Cowboys & Indians magazine listed Beathard's Opry performance of "Momma and Jesus" as their "Opry Performance of the Week".[32]
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Composition and lyrics
"Momma and Jesus" is a guitar-driven country rock song featuring a prominent riff shaped by Beathard's percussive playing technique. His vocal delivery carries a gritty, lightly defiant tone that complements the song's themes. The narrator repeatedly tests boundaries and avoids consequences, relying on the patience of his mother and his belief in Jesus to keep him grounded.[33]
Critical reception
"Momma and Jesus" received a range of reactions from music critics. Billboard called it "a good representation" of Beathard's musical and lyrical identity, highlighting its autobiographical themes and rock-leaning production. Rolling Stone described it as a track that "thumps along with devilish delight" while offering a self-aware look at Beathard’s younger years. Taste of Country praised it as a strong example of his "gritty grunge-country sound,"[34] and The Country Note referred to the single as "fearless", noting how it reinforced his artistic identity.[35]
Other critics responded more negatively. Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the single an F, calling it a "shameless rip-off" of Confederate Railroad's "Jesus and Mama" and accusing the song of promoting a "self-aggrandizing sense of entitlement." Coyne described it as "an ugly display of arrogance and narcissism."[36]
Music video
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The official music video for "Momma and Jesus", directed by Wes Edwards, premiered in January 2017. Conceived as a loose, stunt-driven visual inspired by Jackass and similar reality-comedy series, the video blends scripted concepts with largely unscripted footage of Beathard and his friends performing improvised stunts across various Nashville locations.[37] Beathard performed all of his own stunts, maintaining the home-video style authenticity that he said reflected his upbringing and the chaotic humor he shared with his brothers.
The shoot included a mix of coordinated and spontaneous set pieces, such as mini-bike races, trash-can bowling, and paintball fights carried out while wearing lingerie.[38] During filming of one stunt, a trash-can bowling sequence, label executive Scott Borchetta texted Beathard in real time to urge him not to injure himself.[39] Production briefly halted after the stunt coordinator quit mid-shoot, expressing concern over the degree of improvisation and the lack of controlled conditions.[37]
One of the final scenes filmed involved Beathard and a group of friends riding a pedal tavern down Nashville's Broadway strip without clothes. Neither Beathard nor the crew had notified the city or acquired filming permits, which led a uniformed Nashville Police Department officer to begin chasing after the group mid-take.[3] Beathard and several friends fled on foot to avoid the officer, and the encounter effectively ended production for the day. The incident became the most widely publicized aspect of the video, drawing attention from music media outlets that highlighted both the improvised nature of the shoot and the absence of formal planning behind some sequences.[40]
The video's mix of candid stunts, raw humor, and Beathard's willingness to portray himself as the reckless narrator of the song was frequently noted by reviewers, who described it as visually reinforcing the track's themes of youthful impulsiveness and near-constant mischief.[4]
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Charts
Personnel
Song credits sourced from AllMusic.[42]
- Tucker Beathard – lead vocals, guitar, drums, songwriting
- Deric Ruttan – songwriting
- Jonathan Singleton – songwriting
Production
- Angelo Petraglia – producer
- Wes Edwards – music video director[43]
References
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