The bright lights of Las Vegas were burning at full strength during the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival, presented by Capital One and streamed live on Hulu. But backstage, away from the roar of the crowd and the glare of the spotlight, Tim McGraw carried himself with a quiet ease that comes only from decades at the top of his craft.
The country legend sat down with ET’s Deidre Behar for a candid conversation that revealed not only where his music is headed but also how his family keeps him grounded and why his fans can’t stop talking about his bold new look.
Always a Student of the Game
At this point in his career, McGraw could easily rest on his laurels. With countless awards, sold-out tours, and a legacy secured in the history of country music, no one would question if he slowed down. But McGraw made it clear that slowing down is the last thing on his mind.
“I’m always learning,” he said. “Always trying to get better. A student of the game, even now. I’m looking for better songs, writing better songs, just always trying to do something better.”
That hunger, even after three decades in the business, is part of what makes McGraw so enduring. His new music, still under wraps, is shaping up to reflect that same restless creativity that has kept him relevant since his first hits in the 1990s.
The Power of Family
Yet for all his ambition, McGraw’s greatest joy clearly comes from home. Earlier this year, he was visibly moved when his three daughters — Gracie, Maggie, and Audrey, whom he shares with wife Faith Hill — surprised him on stage with a performance that brought him to tears.
“My girls are incredible,” he said, his voice warm with pride. “Growing up in the circumstances they grew up in, we tried to shield them from a lot of it. But of course, some of it bleeds in. Still, they’ve stayed so grounded. They keep us grounded, too.”
For McGraw, that’s what matters most. “As a parent, that’s the best thing you can hope for,” he added. “The cherry on top is that they’re quite talented, too.”
A Bold New Look
Fans have been buzzing all year about another big McGraw headline — his new shaved head. Social media exploded the moment he revealed it, with reactions ranging from shock to pure adoration.
Laughing at the attention, McGraw shrugged off any deeper meaning. “Honestly, it was hot this summer,” he explained. “I just decided to get rid of it. Nothing more to it than that.”
Still, there was one reaction that mattered most. “My wife loved it,” he said with a grin. “And when my wife loves something, I’m going to keep it.”
A Legend Still Reaching Forward
As he prepared to take the stage in Las Vegas that night, McGraw was both relaxed and focused. His set list blended the songs that made him a household name with the fresh material he’s eager to share. To the audience, it was another night of music. To McGraw, it was something deeper: another step in a lifelong journey of growth, discovery, and connection.
Whether he’s singing about heartbreak, hope, or the simple strength of family, Tim McGraw has always found a way to remind fans of what country music does best — it tells the truth. And even now, with a career most artists could only dream of, he’s still looking for ways to tell it better.
Because for McGraw, being on stage isn’t about proving himself anymore. It’s about sharing a piece of his heart — and that, more than anything, is why fans continue to follow him wherever he goes.