Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Schott.
Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
There hasn’t been a time in my life where I haven’t been thinking of music. I really developed a love early on for bluegrass and country through the world-class banjo player and a great friend of ours, Jim Lloyd, who taught me my first guitar chords. I wrote my first song in the fall of 2021 and I won my 5th grade talent show with it, where I realized how much I loved live performance. Shortly after I received my first guitar and songwriting notepad from my grandfather at age 11, I made my national debut on PBS during the airing of “My Favorite Appalachian Folk Song”, performing two originals at a theater in Virginia. By age 12, I had formed my own band to play local honky-tonks and festivals, where I was discovered by my future producer and mentor, Tom Yankton. We met at a benefit show in New Bern, North Carolina, and it was an introduction that helped lead me to Nashville, Tennessee, where I debuted on Broadway and began connecting with local writers and musicians.
My career took flight in 2025 as I recorded my first project in Music City alongside Nashville’s A-list musicians. Between April and August of that year, I opened for Sawyer Brown, Parmalee, and Chris Cagle, performed countless festivals, and joined the Nashville Nights Songwriting Organization headed by Grammy-nominated songwriter Blue Foley. This marked my first year of fully scheduled music releases, including fan favorites like “Can I Hold Your Hand” and “Grandpa’s Cover,” along with my debut EP, “Dusty Jones”. I have since performed at venues and events such as Camp Lejeune, the historic Dosey Doe Big Barn in Houston, Texas, the Lucknow Music Festival in Dunn, the Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival, SwanFest in Swansboro, and the Rural Retreat Heritage Festival in Virginia.
I launched into 2026 headfirst by playing three nights at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red on the Las Vegas Strip. This summer, I’ll be hitting the road with my full band and touring throughout North Carolina in support of my next major release—a five-song EP titled *That’s My Honky Tonk*, available on May 29.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As amazing as just turning 15 can seem in the music industry, there have actually been a lot of pushbacks, especially for someone my age performing live like I do and playing the kind of music that not many kids my age listen to. Funny enough, that’s exactly what I wrote my song Young Man’s Six String about!
I do believe that with enough hard work and dedication to my craft people will hopefully see more and more that this is not a novelty act or a kiddie play in any way, and that I don’t use it as a crutch in my career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a North Carolina based singer, songwriter, and entertainer with a passion for traditional country music. I am known for my raw vocal talent, innate ability to connect with audiences through my songwriting, and my energy-packed live shows. I am most proud of how far my songwriting and performances have come, and I also feel those things are what sets me apart.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important thing I have learned is that although work can be hard, you can’t replace passion. It is something I learned from my grandfather at a very young age, and I have kept that at the forefront of my values on and off the stage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://michaelschottmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelschottmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Michael.Schottmusic1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUcNS9UYxvWPOAuLj6MXhTA
