Tim McGraw talks solo national tour, and how he embraced '1883' ranching: 'I ate a bunch of beef'

Country music star Tim McGraw shelved his signature black cowboy hat to ride on TV recently, starring with wife and fellow singer Faith Hill in the "Yellowstone" prequel series, "1883" (now streaming on Paramount+).

Now that his season as wagon train pioneer James Dutton has concluded, McGraw is hitting the paved highway on his first national solo tour in seven years, kicking off Friday in Rogers, Arkansas.

Don't expect the "I Like It, I Love It" singer to be rusty.

"I've done this for almost 35 years now," says McGraw, 54. "With the greatest band and crew in the world, it's going to be like riding a bike. It's just gonna feel like home."

McGraw talked wrapping up his wagon trail expedition and touring with USA TODAY.

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Question: What's going to be the biggest adjustment going from filming '1883' to touring?

Tim McGraw: After having that script in my head and now I'm working on a new album as well, the toughest thing is probably going to be remembering the words when we get on stage. But I feel like it will come back quickly.

Q: '1883' wagoneering might come in handy on tour in case of breakdown. Have you maintained your skills?

McGraw: My wagon skills are average. Faith became the expert. She spent most of her time driving the wagon and was pretty darn good at it. The scene where we're crossing the river, she hauled out on that wagon as I'm swimming on the horse trying to keep up. She had more fun doing that than anything.  I was scared to death for it. We did that scene at 3:30 a.m. in, like, 36-degree weather. We were soaked. And it was our 25th wedding anniversary. 

Q: How did you celebrate?

McGraw: We went home and went to bed as the sun was coming up to get ready for the next shoot. But it was certainly an exciting 25th wedding anniversary.

Q: Now that Faith is the family wagon-driving specialist, is she the full-time car driver at home?

McGraw: I'm not gonna comment on her driving skills. I've been married too long for that.

Q: You're back to beardless for the tour. What happened to your James Dutton beard?

McGraw: When I wrapped filming my final scene, at 4:00 on a Saturday morning, The first thing I did was go to the trailer and shave. I was so tired of that beard. As soon as I shaved and looked in the mirror, James was gone.

Q: And you haven't lost a step in the buff department. How did you keep so fit during that intensive shooting schedule?

McGraw: I only missed two workouts. I'd get up at around 2:30 a.m. to get in a workout, but it was tiring. That worked for the character. The more tired we got on the trail, the more tired we looked because we actually were tired. But I put on 10 pounds while we were shooting because we worked on a cattle ranch and had these great sides of beef roasting all the time. I ate a bunch of beef. 

Q: How did you. get rid of that?

McGraw: Just getting back home to my gym, eating healthy, and getting better rest. Better rest is probably the biggest key.

Q: Alexandra Kay's YouTube version of your "Don't Take That Girl" was a feel-good viral moment during the pandemic. Now she is one of your tour's opening acts. How did that come about?

McGraw: It was pretty cool running across Alexandra and (TikTok star) Brandon Davis. During  COVID, artists didn't get a chance to get their music out. They were doing cool, innovative ways of getting music out there and getting themselves known. For me, it's always cool when you take someone who has never been on a big tour before. You get to watch as they step out on stage in front of 30,000 people and feel that energy. Seeing their faces as they're walking off the stage is so rewarding to me. I remember that feeling when I was a young artist.

Q: It's a solo tour, but will Faith join you for stops along the way? 

McGraw: She'll be hanging out on tour, for sure. We spend, gosh, 98% percent of our time together. We're homebodies and we're empty nesters with our three daughters. We were joking the other night as we were hanging out watching TV that it kinda feels like we're kids with the parents gone now. So she'll probably enjoy a little break from me.

Q: Paramount+ has announced extra episodes for "1883." Does this mean you'll saddle up again? 

McGraw: I stay out of those conversations because I don't know. As far as we're concerned, we had a great run, a great season and we loved it. What happens from here out, that's up to somebody else. And then it will come down to us having to read material and see whether we like it or not.