Tim McGraw, ‘One Bad Habit’: Story Behind the Song

Tim McGraw has a Top 10 hit with his current single, “One Bad Habit.” The song, from his surprise Poet’s Resumé EP, out last year, was written by Marc Beeson, Aaron Eshuis and Tony Lane. McGraw knew right away he wanted to include it on his newest project, even if he needed to rework it a bit to make it sound like his own.

“I love that record,” McGraw says on the Eden and Amadeus podcast. “It was one of those records that was interesting when we went into the studio. I loved the song. I was trying to figure out what to do with it because the demo was way different than the record we ended up making. It was slower and a whole different sort of arrangement. And we went and sort of dug in deep on that song because we felt like it was a really great song.”

McGraw only released one song, the title track, from his Standing Room Only album, also out in 2023. The Louisiana native concedes he could have added it onto that record, but he didn’t feel that it went well with the 13-track project.

“It just didn’t fit in the order of what we were putting together,” McGraw explains. “And then we had this whole other group of songs that we wanted everybody to hear and that was one of them so that’s why we put out the Poet’s Resumé EP so we could get that song out, a couple others in there too.”

McGraw, who celebrated his 46th No. 1 hit last year, seems poised to soon celebrate his 47th chart-topping hit in the near future, but he is far more focused on what is ahead than what is behind him.

“I hear about it from my management, they tell me that this happened or that happened,” McGraw  says on Country Countdown USA. “I’m like, what’s next? I’m always looking forward. I don’t look back. I figure when I’m sitting in my rocking chair, maybe I’ll reflect. But I’m not good at reflecting. I still feel like I got a lot more in me.”

Now 57 years old, McGraw’s age serves as motivation for him to work harder than ever before.

“I still feel pretty young,” McGraw reflects. “I still feel pretty vibrant. I feel like I want to make music, keep working on my craft. If I ever get to the point where I think I’m good, I should hang it up.”

McGraw honored his wife of almost 28 years, Faith Hill, in the video for “One Bad Habit.” Watch the video below. Find all of McGraw’s music and upcoming shows at  TimMcGraw.com.