Dustin Lynch loves Cincinnati. Here's why he feels a strong connection to the Queen City

Dustin Lynch is a country music superstar.

After entering the Grand Ole Opry in 2018, Lynch has continued releasing hit after hit after hit. “Ridin’ Roads” became the No. 1 song on country radio back in January 2020, and "Thinking 'Bout You" spent six weeks at No. 1 in 2021.

Lynch is currently on his Party Mode tour, and he chatted with The Enquirer ahead of his stop at Cincinnati’s PNC Pavilion at Riverbend on Saturday, in which he pledged his merchandise sales to help with the Hurricane Ian relief efforts. The singer discussed how he stays in shape for his concerts, his connection to Cincinnati and more.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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How has your first tour since COVID-19 been? Has it just been like a months-long party?

Dustin Lynch: It has been, yeah. This show’s very interactive. It requires us to be pretty active onstage. It’s physically demanding, for sure, on me. But at this point in my career, we understand how to go about touring and make the most of it, and make sure that we’re in the best shape we can be as the tour wears on.

What’s your routine to make sure you’re in shape for these physically demanding shows?

DL: I’m constantly doing some sort of physical activity, whether it’s traditional in the gym most days of the week. Having a farm in Tennessee, that keeps me pretty active and busy. It’s just really about being active.

The first thing we see go as singers is our cardio because it’s not the same as, ‘Hey go run a mile or jump in the gym and get your heart rate up.’ Jumping around onstage and singing is a completely different set of muscles. So, that takes a little bit to get back into it. But throughout our months off the road there, I’m constantly thinking about, ‘Hey, we got to make sure we get our lungs back,' and whenever we hit the road, at least be as close to concert shape as we can be.

Do you have a favorite story from your tour so far?

DL: Last weekend, the Stanley Cup was brought out by the world champ (Colorado) Avalanche out in Denver. Got a lot of big hockey fans on the band and crew, so getting to have that trophy backstage, those guys backstage, and bring them out and surprise the fans onstage with it was really cool. I was really proud that we got to pull that off.

Just a once in a lifetime experience for all of us, actually get to touch one of the most famous trophies in the world and drink out of it and take pictures with it. That’s something that nobody can ever take away from us.

What beer did you put in the Stanley Cup?

DL: I didn’t put any in. The players took it upon themselves to throw in a buffet of different beverages. It ended up being Bud Light and I think Happy Dad Seltzer.

As I started drinking out of the cup, I’m like, ‘You only get one chance to do this. I’m gonna try and drink it all,’ and I pulled it off. So, I was proud of that. The show needed a break, though, because, after that much carbonation, you got to burp yourself a little bit, but we got through it just fine.

'Party Mode' has been deemed one of the hits of summer. Can you discuss its popularity so far?

DL: It was a song that we really knew we could brand a tour around. It was something that really shines some light on where I’m at in my life, as far as just having fun. Off the stage, in my personal life, just going out and enjoying life.

I’m really proud of how that song has allowed us to brand not only this tour but honestly my career going forward, what people can expect when we come to town. We’re going try to provide the most fun we can.

Your latest single, 'Wood on the Fire,' goes in a much different direction, so what led you to go that route?

DL: The song is really about a relationship, it’s comfortable so you just keep going back to it. That Band-Aid’s been ripped off, but there’s still that comfort level you have with someone else. So, you keep going back to it and getting whatever you need to get out of it, even though it may not be good for the long term.

It seemed like a great time of year to release a song like that. As the weather cools, it seems like everybody always tries to find a significant other. If they’re single, at least link up with somebody for these fall and winter months.

I think they call it cuffing season.

DL: Cuffing season, exactly. I was going to say that, but I didn’t know if you knew what that was. Yes, it is definitely cuffing season.

When was the last time you were in Cincinnati? I saw you were here in 2015.

DL: It would have been more recent than that. We love Cincinnati. I actually have a couple of the songwriters on the bus this weekend that I’ve been to Cincinnati with. So, we’ve written some great songs, believe it or not, before and after shows in that town. It’s good to be back. We’re going to try and capture those vibes again when we roll through.

I’ve had such a great support system in Cincinnati. I've some great friends at country radio there that have been so supportive of our music through the years.

What’s it like to return to a place that’s part of your story and a city that has helped inspire some of your songs?

DL: Since my first day ever there on radio tour, I just felt a connection with the town. I’ve made a lot of friends through the years that live there. We've just had some of our best shows, our best response on tour, has been at Cincinnati a couple times. My very first show ever on a major tour with Keith Urban was at Riverbend. So, a lot of great memories from the early-on days of those shows, (where I was like), ‘Do I know what I’m doing? I’m onstage with Keith Urban right now. This is wild.’