'American Song Contest': Meet former firefighter Tyler Braden who will represent Tennessee

Tyler comes from a long line of musicians and is now set to make his own mark on the 'American Song Contest' stage!

PUBLISHED APR 4, 2022

Tyler Braden performs during Next Nashville Writer's Showcase at Marathon Music Works (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

State pride is the name of the game when it comes to 'American Song Contest!' Hosted by none other than Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, NBC's newest reality singing show sees musical acts representing all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and the nation’s capital battle out to see who comes out on top, while celebrating 'the depth and variety of different styles and genres across America.'

Looking for more contest-based reality shows? You might want to check out -- 'Masked Singer', 'American Idol' and 'Alter Ego'.

'American Song Contest': Rhode Island's Hueston makes semifinals after 'soulful' performance

Among the performers this week is Tennessee's Tyler Braden. Here's what you need to know about him!

Who is Tyler Braden?

Tyler Braden will be representing Tennessee on 'American Song Contest' His hometown is Montgomery, AL, while he currently resides in Nashville, TN. Although Braden is a retired firefighter, music was an integral part of his childhood and upbringing. “My parents, my aunts, my uncles, everyone in my family pretty much sang,” he said while talking to Country Swag. “One of my uncles is a full-blown Elvis [Presley] impersonator.”

Despite being a fan of music across genres, he believes that he is a country boy at heart. “I was always a bigger fan of country,” he said in the same interview. “Like leaving shows and leaving practices, I was still always listening to country in my truck," he added

As per his NBC bio — "Tyler Braden was inspired to pursue a musical career from a young age by legend Hank Williams. He moved from his small town in Alabama to Nashville to pursue a career in music, teaching himself guitar and working as a firefighter in the meantime. He’s now a budding star with more than 70 million streams to his name and a growing list of major tour credits. In January 2022, Braden made his Grand Ole Opry debut setting the tone for big things to come this year, including representing Tennessee on “American Song Contest.” Tennessee is where his music career really found its footing and he says he owes it all to the state. Tyler is prepared and excited to represent it in the best way he knows how.

Is Tyler Braden on Instagram?

Yes, you can follow the artists on Instagram at @tylerbradenmusic.

'American Song Contest' airs on Monday, at 8/7c on NBC. You can vote for your favorite performances on the NBC website, the NBC app, and TikTok. You can also stream your favorite artists' songs on your preferred music streaming app.