Before Nashville knew his name, Jacob Hackworth was working the railroad in Missouri. On the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly, the country artist retraces the unlikely route from blue-collar shifts to barbacking on Broadway, DJ'ing party boats, and eventually co-writing a song that spent six weeks at No. 1.
It's a conversation about craft and patience in equal measure — why relationships open more doors than raw talent, how TikTok and radio shape modern country careers, and what changed when faith and clear thinking replaced the habits that were slowing him down.
About Jacob Hackworth
Jacob Hackworth is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter whose way into country music was earned the long way. He skipped college, made real money early with blue-collar work, and then bet on himself with a move to Nashville — the decision the episode frames as the turning point that changed everything.
His breakthrough came as a songwriter, including a six-week No. 1 hit written with Bailey Zimmerman, and he has been building from there — touring, releasing new music, and growing his own catalog. For Hackworth, the challenge now is sustaining momentum: staying creative, grounded, and clear-headed as the opportunities get bigger.
What Jacob Hackworth and Sean Kelly Talked About
- How Jacob Hackworth went from railroad work in Missouri to songwriting full-time in Nashville
- Why moving to Nashville — and barbacking on Broadway — became the turning point
- The story behind co-writing a six-week No. 1 hit with Bailey Zimmerman
- Why relationships and connections open more doors in music than talent alone
- How TikTok and radio shape the way country artists break through today
- The real tradeoffs between staying independent and signing with a label
- Why clear thinking, faith, and stepping away from substances sharpened his creativity
- What it takes to sustain momentum after your first No. 1 hit
Why This Conversation Matters
Music careers are usually told backward, starting from the hit. This episode tells one forward — through the railroad shifts, the bar jobs, and the rooms where relationships slowly turned into opportunities. For aspiring artists and songwriters, Jacob Hackworth's story is honest about what the climb actually requires, and encouraging about how far it can go.
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube
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About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
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