Although he’s barely old enough to drink, Preston Cooper packs a knowing and sense of music into his vocals that extends far beyond his years. When he worked for the U.S. Postal Service, Cooper was known as “the Singing Mailman,” belting out songs he loved as he walked up to 14 miles along his route in central Ohio. Performing hundreds of shows around the state since starting to play guitar as a freshman in high school, the now 21-year-old was already stage-honed when Brad and Brett Warren ran into him at a Toledo songwriting round in 2022.
After spending a couple of years traveling back and forth to Nashville, Cooper made the big move. A deal with Valory Music/BMLG came came together, and, with Brett Warren producing, “Weak” landed at Country radio, followed by the memorable “One More Place I’ve Never Been.” With a slot on Riley Green’s 2025 Damn Country Music Tour, the creative force who can hold his own with the Warren Brothers is on the verge of big things.
First record you bought/were obsessed with.
Traveller by Chris Stapleton. I bought it when I first moved to Nashville, and it’s been a huge inspiration ever since. The songwriting, soul and honesty in that record really shaped the way I see music.
What drew you to country music? Why?
The ability to tell real, raw stories through a song.
Favorite artist of all time.
It’s tough to choose just one. I grew up listening to Bob Seger, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Keith Urban, Bonnie Raitt and Tom Petty to name a few. They’ve all influenced me in different ways. Whether it be their storytelling, musicianship or overall sound, they’re all inside my songs.
If you were a superhero, which one would you be?
Spider-Man.
Dolly or Willie?
Both. There’s no way to choose one over the other.
How would you describe country music?
Country music is storytelling at its core. It’s about capturing life and delivering it with emotion and authenticity.
In 10 years, what do you want your music to mean to people?
I want my music to make people feel something, whether that be spiritually or mentally. In 10 years, I hope a young kid hears it and feels inspired to carry on that tradition.