Emerging Country Star Reflects on Overcoming Addiction and Personal Tragedy
David Tucker, the rising pop/country artist, is making waves with his new single, “Forgetting Her,” which marks a poignant chapter in his journey of recovery and self-discovery. The song is not just a testament to his vocal prowess but also a powerful reflection of his tumultuous past.
At just 27 years old, Tucker has navigated a series of personal challenges that would test even the most resilient. Losing his 10-year-old brother at the age of 12 was a heartbreaking start. Coupled with an undiagnosed autoimmune disease and a near-fatal car accident shortly after moving to Nashville, Tucker’s path has been fraught with pain and hardship.
But perhaps the most significant battle Tucker faced was with addiction. “The only thing I wanted was to be out of pain,” Tucker told PEOPLE. His struggle with pain pills intensified following his car accident, leading to a deep and consuming addiction. “When you’re on stuff for that long, your body itself gets addicted. Your body fuels for it,” he explained.
The repercussions of his addiction were severe. Tucker lost many of his close relationships and saw his burgeoning career come to a halt. “I lost pretty much everyone in my life, my career was put off, everything was put on hold,” he recalled. “I was just in a very dark and lonely place. I didn’t know how I could put the pieces back together.”
Despite these overwhelming obstacles, Tucker has emerged on the other side of his struggles. “I went through therapy for several years and did a lot of training and exercises to be able to move forward from those moments,” he shared. His perseverance has paved the way for a new beginning. “There’s always been this fire inside me. It’s never given me the option to quit.”
His new single, “Forgetting Her,” co-written with Jake Saghi and Qvint, showcases Tucker’s evolution as an artist. “We wrote ‘Forgetting Her’ in about 30 or 40 minutes,” Tucker recounted. “I always thought a lot about this song. It kind of changed the whole game of the way I write things and the way I put songs together and even how I sing.”
Tucker’s journey extends beyond his music. He is actively involved in supporting others who face similar struggles, frequently speaking to students in the D.A.R.E. program about his experiences with addiction. “Not only did I have to go through it, endure it and then figure out how to come out of it, but now I’m also helping other people that walk through very similar shoes,” he said. “In a way, I am able to be a light to their path and their darkness.”
However, Tucker remains candid about the ongoing nature of his battle. “At the end of the day, it’s truly a choice,” he acknowledged. “You decide and make the choice to either take a step forward from it or a step back into it.”
Though he continues to face challenges, Tucker’s resilience and commitment to his recovery and music career highlight a remarkable journey of transformation and hope.