BRELAND No Longer Considers Himself an Underdog: ‘We’ve Had a Lot of Wins This Year’ (Exclusive)

Many acts have performed at halftime, but country music hitmaker BRELAND says he recently felt like he was up against some of the best.

“Now I’m really fired up after seeing all the Thanksgiving halftime shows,” BRELAND, 28, explains in an interview with PEOPLE minutes before taking his own halftime stage at Crown Royal’s special game day viewing party in San Antonio, Texas. “I mean, Ludacris was jumping off the ceiling, and Dolly looked like she was still 35, and Jack Harlow was there.”

BRELAND suddenly falls silent.

But yes, on Nov. 27, the platinum-selling singer-songwriter and rabid Philadelphia Eagles fan did find himself performing in front of a very special audience, with Crown Royal bringing together military members and their families for an evening of music and fun.

“I have some veterans and active military in my family, so I definitely know what that sacrifice looks like,” says BRELAND, who was joined at the event by NFL legend DeMarcus Ware. “A night like this means more than just a performance. You can provide a small service to people who provide a large and significant service to everyone else.”

BRELAND and DeMarcus Ware pose as Crown Royal hosts the NFL viewing party for the U.S. Army in San Antonio, Texas on Nov. 27, 2023.

Marcus Ingram/Getty

Being surrounded by a crowd of active military members and their families also serves as a reminder of the amazing life BRELAND is living right now, blessed with the luxury of spending time with his family during the holiday season.

“I have my first cousin who is currently serving, but he was not home yet any holidays for the last year and a half, and I talked to him at Thanksgiving,” he says. “He was telling me how difficult it was. He doesn’t have kids or anything, but it’s still a challenge and it’s a sacrifice they make to be safe, and that’s something I definitely have a lot of respect for.”

BRELAND makes the most of the unlikely country star: ‘I belong here. This is what I should be doing’

Using his fame to give back is something BRELAND has done many times in a career that began in 2019 with his viral hit “My Truck.” And now, with hits like “For What It’s Worth” and “Natural” firmly in his back pocket, BRELAND says he’s ready to start work on his second album in 2024.

“I’ve been in the studio for the last few weeks, roughly since I got back from Europe in October,” BRELAND explains of his current work on the follow-up to his 2022 debut album. Cross Country. “I was in a big creative pocket. I have a bunch of songs, even just from the last few weeks, that I’m pretty excited about. It’s just a matter of trying to get the right songs out at the right time.”

BRELAND performs as Crown Royal hosts the NFL viewing party for the U.S. Army in San Antonio, Texas on November 27, 2023.

Marcus Ingram/Getty

Having worked with the likes of Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley and Lady A in the past, BRELAND says he’s been actively looking for artists to work with.

“I’ve got some great sessions lined up over the next few weeks for the end of the year,” says BRELAND, who says he’s also considering collaborating with some of his talented siblings on his next project. “I’m hoping to have enough material that we can release something in early 2024. I’m not quite sure yet if it’s going to be a full-length album or not. But I’m definitely thinking about a full-length project and preparing creatively for it.”

BRELAND shines with the help of friends Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton and more

And while the accolades attached to BRELAND certainly speak for themselves, the New Jersey native says he’s still ready to prove his music deserves to be heard.

“It’s nice to have a competitive edge,” he says. “That’s one of the reasons why I like watching sports. Obviously, we’ve had a lot of wins this year as a songwriter with my first Grammy nomination for my debut album and a few other big moments — like being able to tour with Shania Twain and perform overseas. So it’s kind of hard to have that underdog mentality, but at the same time I’m pretty motivated regardless.”

But look at him funny, and you better watch out.

“If somebody gives me a dirty look or something, I’ll go out and play the craziest show ever or write the best song ever,” says BRELAND. “You have to create those little internal motivations.”

BRELAND performs as Crown Royal hosts the NFL viewing party for the U.S. Army in San Antonio, Texas on November 27, 2023.

Marcus Ingram/Getty

It’s what has kept him going since the days when he was just another teenager uploading videos of himself singing on YouTube.

“There’s still a 15-year-old version of me that got a hundred views on YouTube and thought it was a big deal, and at the time it was,” he says. “You never want to lose sight of what it is and what it really feels like to live your dreams. Obviously, more can always be done, but trying to keep everything in a healthy perspective and celebrate things as they come is significant.”

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Source: HIS Education