Chris Janson is a collector. During multiple interviews with Taste of Country over the years, he’s gushed about an eBay find, a new classic car in his garage or a favorite timepiece.
At one point, the “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” singer said he was searching for a cannon, because, well, why not?
After a life-changing experience last Thanksgiving, Janson set about getting rid of all of it.
- “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” is a song from an upcoming project, although Janson has not said when fans can expect it.
- The Grand Ole Opry member lives near Nashville with his wife Kelly and their kids.
- His breakthrough hit “Buy Me a Boat” turns 10 years old in 2024.
Related: See the Most-Played Country Songs from the Year You Were Born
Without sharing personal details, Janson tells Taste of Country that his family was joined for Thanksgiving dinner by an 18-year-old who’d dealt with homelessness and various other obstacles during his life.
“I really just love this young man. What a great spirit and a great person and it changed my life for the better,” Janson says.
The man was happier and more proud than anyone at the table, but he still showed humility and gratitude for his meal. He showed Janson that the material things in life don’t matter.
“He had absolutely nothing and came to my house and gave me absolutely everything,” he says, summarizing.
Over the following weeks, the country singer emptied his garage of classic cars and sold all but one of his watches. With that money, he reached out charities and focused on making memories with family. A family hunting and skiing trip came first.
“It felt like freedom,” Janson admits.
This isn’t to say he’ll suddenly start living a minimalist’s life — he still wants that cannon, although he understands how utterly useless it’d be in his yard.
