Exclusive Chat with Mitch Rossell on His New Hit "Texas Hold'em"

Mitch Rossell’s star continues to rise in the country music scene with his latest release, "Texas Hold'em." This touching song showcases his songwriting talent and ability to captivate listeners with heartfelt storytelling.

From his humble beginnings in East Tennessee, Rossell has soared to new heights, collaborating with icons like Garth Brooks. His contributions to hits such as "Ask Me How I Know" and co-writing credits on songs like "That's What Cowboys Do" highlight his impact on the genre.

Rossell's Grand Ole Opry debut in December 2022, accompanied by a surprise introduction from Brooks, marked another milestone in his career. Tracks like "All I Need To See" and "Ran into You" featuring Trisha Yearwood have garnered millions of streams on Spotify alone, solidifying his place in the hearts of country music fans.

In a recent exclusive interview with Men's Journal Country Music, Mitch Rossell shared insights into his journey and unwavering passion for music. Enjoy.

MJ: You’ve been writing and releasing songs since 2011. Was that when this all began for you?

Mitch Rossell: Yes, since about 2010 or 2011. I came to Nashville around the end of 2009 and started playing downtown for tips about six months in, and I haven’t really looked back.

MJ: You’ve written some great songs for other artists, in particular for Garth Brooks. Tell us how that all came about. Did you have him in mind when you were writing them?

Mitch Rossell: No. “Ask Me How I Know” was just an honest song for me that I wrote on a Saturday by myself. I had gotten to know Garth, and we had been talking for a while. I knew him pretty well at the time. I sent him a batch of songs for an EP I was going to cut, and he was going to help me produce it. I was going to use his studio, get his advice, and see if he could help me narrow down some songs.

“Ask Me How I Know,” in the first batch. He was hesitant to cut it. He called me to his house, we sat down, he told me he really loved the song. I asked him if he wanted to cut it. He said yes, but he had never been in this position before. He had cut songs that other artists had written that had just been an album cut, but even then, [he] waited until they had a chance to cut it before he asked to cut it.

He told me that he just believed in me as an artist, and [he] knew that this was a hit, not an album cut. He told me, 'It’s a hit, and I just don’t know if I want to take it from you.'  I told him that nothing would ever top him cutting one of my songs, so I told him I’d rather he have a hit with it. I twisted his arm a little bit, and he cut it, and that was that. Garth is just an incredible human.

MJ: How did you meet Garth, by the way?

Mitch Rossell: It was a complete and totally blind email through his pitch email for a record. I sent some songs to him completely cold. I told him I’m a nobody, I’m not signed, I don’t have anything going or anything worth talking about. I didn’t think he would even listen to it because I knew he was getting thousands of emails, but he did, and about a week later, he responded, and that started the whole conversation.

MJ: Where do you get most of your ideas for your songs?

Mitch Rossell: Something real, for sure. Even if it’s from somebody else, something I’ve seen. You know, early on, I’d written songs that were clever, but they were just written if that makes sense. You know, there was no emotion attached to it. I got too clever, almost. Sure, you might be able to show off some cool rhyming, cool lines, and tricky stuff, but that’s not the point of music. I really try to lock in, especially when it’s not something I’ve lived. I try to attach it to something I have lived and some sort of emotion that I can tap into.

MJ: Tell us about your new album coming out.

Mitch Rossell: I’m working with a new producer, Jacquire King. I actually met him over a round of golf, oddly enough. We just cut four tracks and will be working on more, so it should come out at the end of August or somewhere around then.

MJ: I know you’ve released it on streaming, but let’s talk about your song that’s coming out on the radio soon, “Texas Hold’em.”

Mitch Rossell: It’s the type of song that I love, which is a story. I love to write a great story to make you feel something, and I think that it’s one of those hooks. I just released another song, “Hollywood”, that’s similar to “Texas Hold’em” which could probably get cheesy quickly if you don’t write it from a real place. It has to have a genuine feeling to it, and I’m hoping we captured that. Based on the feedback, I think we did, but I’m excited to get more feedback and have more people hear it. I think it’s a pretty unique song, and I’ve never heard that hook used the way that we used it, which is always a blessing.

MJ: As you continue to succeed in performing and writing your own material, will you continue writing for other people?

Mitch Rossell: You know, it’s never been something I really sought out, but it’s just happened. God has a really funny way of putting people and things in your path. So, I won’t count that out. If it’s the right person who hears a song of mine and wants to cut it, I’m always open to it. I wouldn’t necessarily say I write just for that, but I’m always open to it.

MJ: When did you know that you wanted to perform and that music was what you wanted to do?

Mitch Rossell: I was a little later on the performing side. I knew I wanted to write, probably my sophomore year of college. I didn’t start playing my guitar until around my freshman year of college, then I started writing songs pretty quickly, and I loved it. At that time, I didn’t think it was a realistic dream; I wasn’t raised to think that way.

So that took a minute, and I was then introduced to a guy who became like a mentor early on, a guy named Mark Gray, who has sadly passed now. Mark had several hits he wrote; he was a great artist and a great piano player. He just took me under his wing, helped critique songs that I was writing, gave me advice on things, and instilled a lot of confidence in me. That’s when I decided I wanted to do it.

After that, I graduated college and moved to Nashville. I got on a gig in downtown Nashville at Tootsie’s in the main room. I had been doing YouTube videos and gained a following from that, but even with that, I still didn’t know if I wanted to do the artist thing. But when I played that first real show, the place was packed, the energy and the whole thing; I just loved performing. It was a special experience.

MJ: Is that when you started touring with Garth?

Mitch Rossell: It was before “Ask Me How I Know” came out. He had cut it, but it wasn’t out yet. I had asked him about opening for him in about 2016. His album came out in October or November, then that single was released in March. I was supposed to come out and try a show with him in September but was surprised in June when he asked me to come open for him in Vegas.

MJ: Wow, what was that like?

Mitch Rossell: Oh my gosh! I mean, the Tuesday before that Friday, I was opening for him; I was playing at Tootie’s in the Nashville airport for tips, then Friday, I walked out in front of like 18,000 people in Vegas ahead of Garth with just an acoustic guitar. I was pretty nervous, but they treated me really well! I tell people it was such a weird feeling. I couldn’t wait to get off the stage because I was so nervous, but as soon as I got off the stage, I wanted to get right back on. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

MJ: How did "America’s Got Talent" come about?

Mitch Rossell: It wasn’t something I sought out; they reached out to me. If I’m being transparent, "The Voice" and "American Idol" had reached out to me to just come try out. I just didn’t feel like it was a good fit for me. I didn’t see myself as just a singer. I felt like I had to do it all: write good songs, sing them, and play them. The whole thing that makes me me, ya know? So, I just didn’t think it was a great fit because I didn’t think I was a vocalist.

I would always say, 'Thank you. I’m very flattered that you would ask, but I don’t think it’s the right fit.' I was thinking the same thing when "America's Got Talent" reached out, but I talked to my manager. We had just released my song, “Son,” a couple of months before that. My manager told me, 'I know this is really not your thing, but that song needs to be heard, and this could be an opportunity to get it out there.' When he said that, I kind of woke up a little bit and decided he was right. The song is a lot bigger than I am, and it does need to be heard.

I went in with the mindset of just playing the song and giving it a chance to be heard. I had no idea how far I would get on "America's Got Talent."

MJ: How did "America's Got Talent" turn out for you? Did you tour with them for their live shows?

Mitch Rossell: I made it to the semi-finals with them. The top two went on to finals and the tour, and I was number three, so I didn’t make that.

MJ: Will you have any collaborations on your new album?

Mitch Rossell: You know, I don’t know. We have some ideas for a couple of things, maybe, but I haven’t made those asks yet because we are still shaping out which songs are going to be on the record and things like that. There are a couple of potential opportunities, but they may or may not end up being. It’s a little early to tell just yet.

MJ: Without giving anything away, can you tell us who would be your top person or the top few people you would like to collaborate with?

Mitch Rossell: I will give you my top three. I mean, Garth is definitely up there. I think he would do it on the right song, I just haven’t asked him yet as I want it to be the perfect song and I want him to really be into it. He may or may not. I would respect his answer either way, of course. I’ve had a song I’ve always had in the back of my mind if he does. We will see. 

The other two would be Cody Johnson and, of course, George Strait. I have a song right up their alley that’s never been played or released and I think either one of them would be incredible on it. I’m not at that level where I can count on getting somebody like that, but I’m going to make an effort and see. If they love the song enough, maybe they will join me.

MJ: You are such a great storyteller. Tell us about your music.

Mitch Rossell: I just love country music, and I don’t mind changing things a bit, but not taking the soul away from it. I can change my style a bit by wearing different jeans or a different hat or shirt or whatever, but you rip my heart out, and it’s not me anymore. I just think stories are the core of what country music really is and has always been. I hope we can get kinda more back to that. I know a lot of people are doing it, and I hope it can become more mainstream.

MJ: You had your Grand Ole Opry Debut last year. Were you just totally shocked when Garth made your introduction?

Mitch Rossell: Oh yeah, 100%. You never know with that guy. There is always the 1% in the back of your mind that you just never know what he’s going to do. The stories I could tell you of the things that he has done, just thoughtful things, going out of his way no one will ever know kind of stories. Garth is the most remarkable human being that I’ve ever met. So I wasn’t shocked to the point of like, 'Oh my gosh, I never would have seen that,' but I was definitely not expecting it.

MJ: So which was better, Garth introducing you or your Opry debut?

Mitch Rossell: I don’t think I can say, I really don’t. That is in no way a disrespect to the Opry because the Opry is the Holy Grail, but Garth is my favorite artist, my friend, and someone I cherish as a person beyond music. I would never do anything to compromise my relationship with him. No matter what musical advantage I could get, that’s what he means to me. It was just really special, and I don’t know if I’ll ever have a more special night than that.

MJ: Aside from writing, performing and touring, how much are you involved in the business side of things?

Mitch Rossell: I’m involved quite a bit as I am independent, so you have to do a little bit of everything. I upload it all. I create a lot of the artwork myself. I mean, it can be expensive to do and hire people, and I have three kids.

MJ: Staying on top of the business side is smart because, at the end of the day, it is a business, so you want to keep that control, right?

Mitch Rossell: It is. It teaches you a lot, and I think it helps keep you well-rounded. I may not always love every aspect, but I’ve learned to embrace them and enjoy it all.

MJ: Do you have a tour lined up?

Mitch Rossell: Not necessarily a tour, but we do have some dates, especially this summer. It’s a little lighter right now than in previous years. We have Ohio, Pittsburgh, Indiana, and, of course, the Nashville area lined up. This past winter, I played in Texas for the first time. They are my kind of people down there, and a lot of them like my stuff.

Mitch Rossell's music, including “Texas Hold’em,” is available on various platforms for streaming and download.