Leon Bridges caught up with Billboard’s Chelsea Briggs on the red carpet at the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year Gala on Friday (Feb. 8) to chat about his Grammy nominations, his dream collaborations and how the evening’s honoree Dolly Parton has influenced his career.
The “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand” singer tells Briggs that getting nominated for two Grammys felt great, adding that he never shaped his music to be included in the Grammys, so it’s “rad” that people are recognizing his work.
Asked what it is about sophomore album Good Thing that he thinks resonated with people, the singer points out that with that record, he was able to expand his range more. “There’s so many different styles of R&B on it that I think people really gravitated towards,” he says.
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As for what is coming next for Bridges, he reveals he’s looking forward to touring and making new music in 2019, and that he would love to collaborate with Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, Young Thug and Drake.
Bridges and Briggs also discuss the evening’s honoree Parton, as Briggs asks Bridges how the “Jolene” singer has influenced his career. “I’m a Texas boy, and so I’m all about marrying country music and R&B,” he replies. “Her story’s incredible. I feel like it’s parallel to mine, in a way, just coming from nothing and making a name for herself in the country world.”
You can watch the full video interview with Leon Bridges above.
