American heartland singer songwriter Jon McLaughlin launched into the national music scene last year with his first major label release, Indiana, touring with Kelly Clarkson, earning a nod from US Weekly as one of their 2007 “Hot Guys of Summer,” and performing his Oscar-nominated song “So Close,” from the film “Enchanted,” during the 80th Annual Academy Awards.

His first album certainly made an impact. The song “Another Layer” appeared on the soundtrack for the motion picture “Bridge to Terabithia,” and “Beautiful Disaster” was used in the 2007 movie “Georgia Rule.” His single, “Human” was used in episodes of “Scrubs” and “Ghost Whisperer” and can be heard in promos for the show “Flashpoint.”
And now the artist that FOXNew.com’s Roger Friedman said “could be the next big thing” is back with his sophomore release, OK Now. The new album releases from Island Records October 7th in the mainstream market and October 14th in the Christian market.
The first single from the album, “Beating My Heart,” is currently impacting Hot AC radio. Jon says that the song is his “meaning of life” song, adding, “All I need to keep in mind in life is that it’s not about the little things that get me all stressed out, which is easier said than done, obviously. My life should be about my faith, trying to react to situations and treat people the way Jesus did…living the way He lived.”
And now that know more about Jon McLaughlin professionally, I thought it would be fun to get to know him personally. Here are some personal tidbits Jon shared with me (and one I dug up myself):
5 things you probably didn’t know about Jon McLaughlin:
1) “I have NEVER played baseball. I think I’m the only guy in America …” he muses.
2) His favorite meal is Mt. Dew and Hot Tamales candy.
3) He can’t stand condensation on the outside of a drinking glass – “I always wipe it off with my napkin” – and one of his pet peeves is half-open drawers.
4) The lowest grade Jon ever got in school was in gym class. (Well, maybe if he’d played baseball …)
5) Jon recorded a song with Jason Mraz and Van Hunt for the Randy Jackson duets-album Randy Jackson’s Music Club, Vol. 1. The track is titled “Something to Believe In.”
To learn more about Jon McLaughlin, visit his website.