via Jovin Webb, with permission
America first met singer-songwriter Jovin Webb on American Idol in 2020. He was 28 and ventured an Allman Brother’s tune, “Whipping Post”—never an easy vocal task. Webb’s audition was exceptional. Among other praises from the three judges, the legendary Lionel Richie offered of Webb’s voice: “that is what barbecue sauce sounds like.”
It was an opportunity Webb almost blew.
“Almost missed it,” he recalled, due to failing to check his email. “Almost blew my chance. But I’m a firm believer in that things have their time…But it just blew me up…that show—I’m thankful for what they did. I was constantly showcased. It opened many doors that I didn’t even know that I needed to have open.”
Flash-forward four years and the Louisiana native—our final guest of Season 5 on The Load Out Music Podcast—is dishing out the barbecue sauce by the gallon, proving that he is far more than just a reality show contestant.
One element of Webb’s success, he noted, is the Louisiana culture from which he comes.
“Music and food and gathering is a huge part of this culture,” Webb said. “And there’s always a want for it. You always have an avenue to find work….an opportunity to show your work and get a job doing it. I think a lot of the competition in New Orleans has put a fire in my belly to really hone in on what I’m doing.”
A native of Baton Rouge with roots in gospel and blues, Webb brings a rich and deeply emotive quality to every performance. But his path to success hasn’t been easy, marked by personal hardships and a struggle to keep his music dreams alive. Yet, his perseverance and passion have set him apart as a voice of true grit and soul.
Looking ahead, Webb’s gritty vocals and dynamic style promise to make him one of the world’s most exciting new blues and roots artists. His recent debut release album Drifter is a stunning 12-track collection that blends blues, soul, and southern rock—showcasing his raw, powerful vocals and deeply personal storytelling.
“The album is a blues album but it has elements of soul, country and southern rock and roll,” he notes of his diverse style. “That kind of gives me more avenues to go down.”
He recalled playing with country singer Laine Hardy, and how, despite not being a country artist, the two of them were able to fit incredibly well and put on an exceptional show.
“What I’m doing is bridging the gap,” Webb said.
Bridging the gap indeed, with a remarkably diverse skill set and well of experiences. Enjoy a terrific conversation with a rising star, Jovin Webb, on the latest Load Out Music Podcast.