<\/p>\n
Almost seamlessly, Josh Ross has made the chart-topping transition from hard-hitting college defensive back to one of country\u2019s top heartbreak balladeers. His success now seems to be moving even faster than his 40-yard dash time.<\/p>\n
Trading Cover 2 defenses for creating a music playlist that now attracts nearly three million monthly Spotify listeners<\/a> is quite the achievement for an artist who first picked up a guitar after football-related injuries kept him from pursuing the sport any longer.<\/p>\n Last year became a landmark year for Ross: After dropping his debut album, Later Tonight,<\/em><\/a> he hit No. 1 on U.S. country radio with \u201cSingle Again,\u201d<\/a> and racked up multiple CCMA awards\u2014Canada\u2019s version of the CMAs\u2014including Entertainer of the Year. Now a veteran on major tours, he\u2019s opened for Jelly Roll and, before he begins headlining his own Later Tonight<\/em><\/a> tour in February, Ross is set to take the stage at Luke Bryan\u2019s annual \u201cCrash My Playa\u201d in Mexico.<\/p>\n And the accolades keep coming\u2014Ross was also recently named one of Country Radio Seminar\u2019s 2026 New Faces of Country Music. Not bad for a former college athlete who originally didn\u2019t see music becoming his full-time gig. \u201cI would sing at parties or karaoke or whatever it may be, but I didn\u2019t take it seriously at first,\u201d Ross admits. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the cool thing. Sports was the cool thing.\u201d<\/p>\n These days, Josh Ross<\/a> still carries an athlete\u2019s drive, but he\u2019s adapted that intensity for a new purpose. Success in the studio and stage has forced him to make some sporting sacrifices for the sake of his long-term career. An avid BMX fan, Ross admits to being more risk-averse for the safety of his career as well as his body. \u201cI have two bikes, but I don\u2019t ride one\u2014it wouldn\u2019t be good,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n That trade-off doesn\u2019t mean Ross has let go of his football mentality.<\/a> The gym remains a second home of sorts, but his training goals have now shifted from performance on the field to the stage. Singing hit songs for 90 minutes takes precedence over knocking receivers to the turf, and this reality means less power cleans and more cardio to stay strong throughout a demanding yearlong tour.<\/p>\n \u201cWith music, just like football, you knock down what\u2019s in front of you and keep running forward.\u201d<\/p>\n As a defensive back at Ontario\u2019s Western University from 2012 to 2016, Josh Ross relied on his speed to make an immediate and intimidating impact on opposing offenses.<\/p>\n \u201cMy thing was to go out at the beginning of the game and try and hit somebody as hard as I could,\u201d Ross says. \u201cThen they don\u2019t want to come across and catch the ball again. That was always my tactic, whether that was smart or not.\u201d<\/p>\n At 6\u2032, 185 pounds, Ross says his athleticism came from an equal blend of speed and strength. He recalls being clocked at 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash. His weightroom numbers were equally impressive, benching 225 pounds for 12 reps while boasting a power clean PR of 285 pounds.<\/p>\n He\u2019s still proud of those numbers\u2014and says he may one day try to match them\u2014but after a recent workout came a sobering reminder of how much music has pulled him away from his former athletic peak.<\/p>\n \u201cIn London, I went one morning and wanted to just let out some energy, and I started doing power cleans and stuff like that,\u201d he says. \u201cThe next morning, I woke up and thought, I have not been this sore in my shoulders and lats and traps for so long. Every once in a while, I still feel like I can do it, but I definitely can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Instead of prioritizing explosive, max-effort, dynamic training as he did during football, Ross now follows a more traditional bodypart-split routine. The simplicity helps these days,\u00a0 especially with the grueling travel schedule that goes with being a top-selling country artist. He brings a set of dumbbells on the road, but will adjust his workouts to fit whatever the accommodations provide\u2014be it a fully equipped fitness center or a limited hotel gym.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I just do back and biceps, shoulders and chest, and a leg day\u2014those kinds of splits,\u201d he explains. \u201cPlus I\u2019ll mix in a little core work at the end and maybe a bit of cardio.\u201d<\/p>\n Although his job no longer requires him to cover 110 yards from sideline to sideline, Ross admits that touring more than 100 days a year requires a new kind of conditioning to keep hitting high notes without gasping for air by encore time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe best way to train for singing is to sprint and then stop and sing a verse, then sprint again and sing a verse,\u201d he says. \u201cInterval style training would translate well for this.\u201d<\/p>\n No longer training for football means Ross sometimes finds balance away from both the weight room and the stage. Sometimes, that\u2019s as easy as a bit of catch-and-release at a local pond. \u201cIf I have an hour to kill, I\u2019ll go try out and see what there is,\u201d he says. Like other artists, Ross enjoys the occasional round of golf,<\/a> though he admits managing his swing is tougher than music. \u201cI wish I could say I was good at golf,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ll play. I\u2019m not great, but I enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n If there\u2019s one sport he\u2019d choose to pursue after football, Ross says motocross\u2014a passion passed down from his father\u2014would still top the list. \u201cIf I could pick one sport in the world that I could have been a professional at, that would have been it.\u201d While the risk of injury keeps him off the bike now, he\u2019s glad to share his passion with like-minded bandmates. \u201cI still watch Supercross on TV when we\u2019re on the road or on the bus,\u201d he says. \u201cSome of the guys are super invested in it as well, which is cool.\u201d<\/p>\n The bonding between Ross and the band extends beyond watching BMX videos. Getting stronger together, he says, plays a part in a stronger performance come show time.Ross makes a point to schedule workouts, whether it\u2019s a quick morning session before interviews or a late afternoon exercise routine. \u201cIt\u2019s been good to find a routine on the road. I think that\u2019s the hardest part about being in weird time zones and schedules.\u201d<\/p>\n On most show days, Josh and his band try to hit a local gym together for a late morning or midday workout, focusing on body-part-specific training. While it\u2019s hard to build massive muscle on the road, keeping everyone accountable helps foster camaraderie\u2014no matter where the tour takes them. \u201cWe try to find a local gym, get back by one or two, then it\u2019s sound check around three,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ll even run if we can.<\/p>\n Because of the unpredictability of touring life, self-discipline, Ross says, becomes one of the keys to staying in top shape year-round, which makes nutrition a critical part as well. While traveling, he focuses on protein-rich meals and keeps pre-made options on the bus to avoid late-night fast food stops. Protein shakes and bars help keep him fueled and healthy while on the road.<\/p>\nInstead of Hitting Wide Receivers, Josh Ross Now Trains to Keep Hitting the High Notes<\/h3>\n
Balancing Fitness and Band Life on the Road Requires Teamwork<\/h3>\n