Josh Ross Continues Training For an All-New Type of Gameday

From Football to Music: Josh Ross’s Unlikely Journey to Country Music Stardom

Josh Ross, a former college defensive back, has made a seamless transition from the football field to the music stage, becoming one of country music’s top heartbreak balladeers. With nearly three million monthly Spotify listeners, Ross’s success is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft. After dropping his debut album, Later Tonight, he hit No. 1 on U.S. country radio with “Single Again” and racked up multiple CCMA awards, including Entertainer of the Year.

Ross’s journey to music stardom began after a series of football-related injuries forced him to re-evaluate his priorities. He started playing guitar and writing songs, eventually teaching himself piano through YouTube tutorials. Growing up in Ontario, Ross first experimented with lyrics by journaling about daily life, a habit that led to his earliest songwriting attempts. Although he stopped playing football, Ross found that success in music required the same relentless mindset: “Football taught me that if you want something, you’ve got to grind.”

Adapting to a New Kind of Training

These days, Ross still carries an athlete’s drive, but he’s adapted that intensity for a new purpose. Success in the studio and stage has forced him to make some sporting sacrifices for the sake of his long-term career. An avid BMX fan, Ross admits to being more risk-averse for the safety of his career as well as his body. Instead of prioritizing explosive, max-effort, dynamic training as he did during football, Ross now follows a more traditional bodypart-split routine. The simplicity helps these days, especially with the grueling travel schedule that goes with being a top-selling country artist.

Ross makes a point to schedule workouts, whether it’s a quick morning session before interviews or a late afternoon exercise routine. “It’s been good to find a routine on the road. I think that’s the hardest part about being in weird time zones and schedules.” On most show days, Josh and his band try to hit a local gym together for a late morning or midday workout, focusing on body-part-specific training. While it’s hard to build massive muscle on the road, keeping everyone accountable helps foster camaraderie—no matter where the tour takes them.

Balancing Fitness and Music on the Road

No longer training for football means Ross sometimes finds balance away from both the weight room and the stage. Sometimes, that’s as easy as a bit of catch-and-release at a local pond. “If I have an hour to kill, I’ll go try out and see what there is,” he says. Like other artists, Ross enjoys the occasional round of golf, though he admits managing his swing is tougher than music. “I wish I could say I was good at golf,” he says. “I’ll play. I’m not great, but I enjoy it.”

The bonding between Ross and the band extends beyond watching BMX videos. Getting stronger together, he says, plays a part in a stronger performance come show time. Because of the unpredictability of touring life, self-discipline, Ross says, becomes one of the keys to staying in top shape year-round, which makes nutrition a critical part as well. While traveling, he focuses on protein-rich meals and keeps pre-made options on the bus to avoid late-night fast food stops. Protein shakes and bars help keep him fueled and healthy while on the road.

Josh Ross

From Injuries to Music Stardom

Football played a major role in Josh Ross’s life, but back-to-back ligament tears in his right ankle required reconstructive surgery and two separate rehab stints. The time away forced Ross to come to a necessary realization that the sport was only a temporary part of his personal evolution. Those injuries ultimately shifted his passion from zone coverage to covering tunes onstage. As he gradually stepped away from football, Ross turned to music as a new outlet, teaching himself guitar and even some piano through YouTube tutorials.

By 2019, Ross was living in Nashville full-time, and all the hard work began to pay off. He relied again on teamwork—this time with groups of writers—and soon the hits started coming. In 2022, his single “First Taste of Gone” gave him his first taste of national recognition. That year, he was a Rising Star nominee at the Canadian Country Music Awards and performed at the Grey Cup halftime show. Two years later, Ross officially achieved breakout status, following up the success of “Single Again” with the popular “Hate How You Look,” setting the stage for the first leg of his Later Tonight tour.

A New Chapter in Josh Ross’s Journey

These past two years have been especially good for Ross—I definitely feel like I’m on the right track. Between special venues, awards, and my first number one at US country radio, there have been a lot of wins, and I’m very grateful for all of them. With his Later Tonight tour kicking off in February, Ross is ready to take his music to the next level, and his dedication to fitness and music will undoubtedly play a crucial role in his continued success.

Read more about Josh Ross’s journey from football to music stardom Here

Image Credit: www.muscleandfitness.com