'You have to love it'

COEUR d’ALENE — The Lake City can tip its hat to one of it's own this week.

Colby Acuff takes the stage Tuesday at the Grand Ole Opry — the Yankee Stadium of country music.

Not bad for a kid from Coeur d’Alene, and even he can’t quite believe it.

“For someone like me to go play at the Opry, I thought I had a better chance to make my debut on Mars,” Acuff said, laughing.

The stage is where he belongs. It is there he is at home.

“The live music side of it is just ingrained in me,” Acuff said in a phone interview with The Press.

Son of Pat and Heidi Acuff of Fernan Village, he grew up in Coeur d'Alene. He took up the piano at age 5, the guitar at 11 and fronted his first band at the ripe old age of 12.

Acuff was a frequent and popular artist as a teenager at area events before later hitting the road. He performed at bars and honkytonks, paying his dues in a fiercely competitive industry where failure is more likely than success.

Since turning professional three years ago, though, the country road of his career leads straight to stardom.

In July 2021, Acuff signed with Sony Music Nashville. He also signed a deal with Make Wake artist management.

He has opened for country music superstar Lainey Wilson, and his recent album, “Western White Pines,” has done well. His single, “If I Were the Devil,” has been a hit.

“That kind of blew up,” he said.

His current national tour started in February and he’ll play more than 100 shows.

It includes performances Aug. 19 at the Knitting Factory in Boise, Aug. 25 in Moscow at the Summer Country Showdown, and then the Farm Jam on Sept. 1 in Colville, Wash.

“Things have been moving really fast,” Acuff said.

The Opry’s historical and cultural significance “means a ton” to Acuff. He considers Tuesday's time in the spotlight as a career highlight and possibly a big boost.

“It’s the gate to starting your career in country music,” he said.

The vocal star credited the “amazing musicians" in his band — drummer Josh Herbert bassist Stefan Jarocki, keyboardist Erik Bowen and lead guitarist Jack Lee — for much of his success.

“They make me sound a lot better than I am,” Acuff said.

With a beard and cowboy hat, Acuff looks like a character in "Yellowstone." He considers his repertoire more “mountain music” than country.

“It’s not really like a cowboy thing,” he said.

While the country music scene sounds great, Acuff said it’s far from glamorous; especially for someone just starting out. It’s long hours on the road, little sleep, fast food and loading and unloading equipment. It’s out late, up early and doing it all again the next day.

The necessary struggles of an up-and-coming artist.

“It’s pretty brutal,” he said.

But, when talking to the now-26-year-old who spends much of his time in the spotlight, it's obvious he wouldn't change a thing.

“I’m extremely grateful to be in this position," Acuff said. “This is the time when memories are made."

Because, as far as Acuff is concerned, he’s living the dream.

“I love doing exactly this,” he said.

Long into the outlaw scene and influenced by the likes of legends Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, he admires the contemporary chops of Sturgill Simpson, Eric Church and Luke Combs — artists staying true to the beat of their own drum.

“It's the stuff that's authentic, the stuff that’s real,” Acuff said, before explaining his own path.

Growing up, he recalled listening to '50s rock and roll music booming from his dad's turntable. He was introduced early to bluegrass.

He started writing songs at 16 and has more than 300 to his credit.

He considers himself a songwriter first, before a musician.

Words and lyrics are often the result of what he sees and hears on any given day.

“It’s truly just observation,” he said. "And putting it down."

Not coincidentally, hard work is an Acuff trademark.

To support his musical hopes, he worked different jobs. His CV includes landscaping, real estate, operating a front-end loader for a land company and getting his line wet as a fly fishing guide — all while writing and recording songs.

Survival in the lean years meant playing birthday parties to pay the rent.

“You have to love it," he said. “You make it in the trenches."

As for the key to success?

“Go out there and play every single show you possibly can,” he said.

Music was the one thing he felt called to do. Something he had to do. His purpose in life, if you will.

“I was actually good at it,” he said.

About three years ago, he gave up all those other jobs so he could focus on music. It was a good decision.

“I never wake up and don't want to go to work,” said Acuff, a University of Idaho grad.

He says he wants his music to represent North Idaho, a place known for the outdoors — hunting, fishing, camping, mountains, lakes and rivers.

"We represent that very well,” he said.

While playing the Grand Ole Opry seems like a storybook ending, Acuff believes even better days are ahead.

“Hopefully, this is just the beginning,” he said.