On Board With: Rodney Atkins

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When he’s not putting out hit songs or touring, country music star Rodney Atkins likes to spend time on the water. Last summer, he partnered with Lowe Boats to play from one of its pontoons. We caught up with Atkins to find out more.

Growing up in Tennessee, did you spend a lot of time on the water?

I grew up around rivers and creeks, and I loved catching crawdads. I fished a lot in the Powell River. When I was in high school, my dad got a bass boat and a houseboat. Then I was on the water any chance I got.

What was your first boat?

When I got to college at Tennessee Tech, the nearby lakes had the smallmouth bass that I love. For $100, I bought this little johnboat. My roommate and I put some kitchen chairs on the boat and got a trolling motor and fished tournaments.

You have a lot of country hits over the years, and no matter where I am on the water, there’s always a boat blaring country music. Why do country and boating seem to go hand in hand?

A lot of country music is about the outdoors—land and water. When a country music show is [done] right, everyone forgets where they are; they’re just in the present. It’s those moments where you lose track of time. That’s the magic of music and of being on the water.

You have a Lowe SS pontoon boat. Where did you get the name for it, Little Flossy?

That’s my Rose’s alter ego. [Rodney is married to fellow country singer Rose Falcon.] Flossy is shiny and pretty.

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When you’re not on the road, how much time do you plan to spend on the boat?

As much as possible. When I’m not in the studio or writing, we’ll be out there. We cherish our time on the water.

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