If I can just try everything once, then Ill know what I like and what I dont like.
And I know that I like jumping out of a helicopter.
But most of the time, he says, Im not much of a fearful guy.
Like, I dont worry about many things.
Im ready for this year, he says, breathing deep.
Im so rested, and my mind is so clear.
I mean, its the reason Im here, Boone says.
Like, it is the reason this year has been a big year.
I think Im a little past that point.
But of course I still love the song.
Im still proud of it.
And Ill be performing it for a while, so I hope that feeling sticks around.
Until that album drops, he only has two dozen or so released songs, total.
He doesnt know if he has another world-conquering single this time, but thats not necessarily the point.
It all started with me believing in the song Beautiful Things.
When I started, thats kind of what felt the most comfortable to me, he says.
His fan base leans young and female, and hes learned the art of eliciting screams.
But the heartthrob thing makes him a little uncomfortable.
There is an art to making anybody go crazy…. One, I dont have the guns for that.
Two, thats just not what Im about….
I dont want to rely on my physical form to be the primary driver of my shows.
Some of his discomfort, he acknowledges, comes from profound self-consciousness.
Hes been working out hard the past few months, and his refrigerator is full of strawberry-vanilla protein shakes.
It sucks to just focus on that all the time, he says, his voice softer.
Theres always a hairstyle or, like, my arms could be bigger.
My shoulders could be bigger.
I cant afford to think that way because I will never be happy if I do think that way.
I cant be the sex icon of the century, Boone says.
just because thats not who I am.
Dude, it affects me so much, Boone replies.
But I cant be the sex icon of the century, just because thats not who I am.
Were not gonna go anywhere.
I will not confirm or deny whether pants are also on or not.
The studio is kind of a sacred spot, LaFrantz says.
We tried not to overthink it.
Hes a mans man, he sings.
A good hardworking American/But he aint the guy you want to fight.
Theres a ballad about missing his mom, too, The Mama Song.
It was so quickly just one of my favorite songs Ive ever made, Boone says.
I was so shocked.
And it came out of nowhere, because the song before was truly, like, so bad.
I think it was the first one we made for the album.
So that kind of kicked it off.
I got really motivated to make more songs after that, that were of that level to me.
Boone was a pop fan well before he was a singer.
And he had his own musical obsessions.
I always loved Justin Bieber and One Direction, he says.
I mean, I was too embarrassed to admit it to my friends.
Did he come to them through his sisters?
He shakes his head, a little sheepishly.
Honestly, I was probably a bigger fan of them than any of my sisters.
Especially One Direction, says Boone.
We thought being in a boy band was like the coolest thing ever.
And this is before I even knew I could sing.
I just thought they were so cool.
Thinking of hundreds of girls chasing us was probably like the coolest thing ever.
But again, you know, we would never tell anybody.
But in his own life as a pop star, he tends to bristle at comparisons.
I didnt even know much about her, Boone says.
Her team reached out, and I literally, like, shit my pants.
I could not believe it.
It was insane, so I started listening to more of her music.
I didnt want to go to that show and not know anything.
He came away transformed.
She is an unbelievable performer and has an unbelievable world built around her that is unmatched, Boone says.
She is one of a kind.
Such a genuine person.
I got the privilege to talk to her, for a while, and shes so kind.
And she shouted me out onstage, which you do not need to do.
It really changed my perspective on so many things that I want to carry into my own career.
Just the way I treat people and my crew, watching the way that she treats people.
Theres a lot of people who dont like Taylor Swift.
BOONE GREW UP in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his family was devout.
To me there is nothing more important than strengthening my family and serving other people.
Thats what brings joy.
I have my own opinions.
Some are from this religion, some are from this religion, some are from no religion.
The break came quietly and early.
I never felt it as physically present as they did, and so I was always confused and frustrated.
He eventually admitted it to a friend, who replied, Thank goodness.
I feel the same way.
Hes grateful that his feelings about faith havent affected his relationship with his parents.
And whatever I come to, and whatever I feel is right, thats what they want for me.
He compares his religious uncertainty to politics, another subject hes not super eager to get into in detail.
And I dont think thats how it is.
Its not political at all, he says.
Its more of a personal thing.
Its just me.American Heartis my heart, and its not my heart because its American.
Its my heart because Im Benson Boone.
Mormon or not, he still doesnt drink or do drugs.
He has at least tried coffee, also forbidden in the religion.
Hes convinced he needs to stay away from other substances, for his own good.
I just think for me personally, like, dude, I would die, he says.
Cause I have such an addictive personality.
But how does he even know he has an addictive personality?
Dude, candy, he says, as if it should have been obvious.
We would crack those, and thats what we would call our scheme time, Boone says.
Wed drink those and think that it would get our brains ready to take over the world.
But if Boone has one real potential vice, he thinks its pride.
After Beautiful Things, I was like, Dude, I can do anything.
He has biweekly ego checks with Burns.
Its good to talk about, Hey, you know, Im not the king of the world.
Im not somebody that everybody in the world knows.
Im still an up-and-coming artist.
It was his mother, though, who really brought that home.
I said something really snappy to my mom, he says, wincing at the memory.
I hung up the phone.
I was like, What am I doing?
I just snapped at my mother, the sweetest angel of a woman.
I dont know what has gotten into me.
Not everybody goes through this.
Just take it in for a second.
Just hold on to everything that I have.
If this is a bigger year it will be so easy to get carried away.
TheGrammy performancein two days, the highest-profile appearance of his career so far, is looming large.
But for a moment, he manages a smile.
Im still very much a kid, Boone says.
Production Credits
Styling byMONTY JACKSONatA-FRAME AGENCY.
Grooming byMELISSA DEZARTEatA-FRAME AGENCYusingDYSON.
Produced byPATRICIA BILOTTIatPBNY PRODUCTIONS.
Line producer:JESSIKA YOSHIKAWA.
Production manager:STEFANIE BOCKENSTETTE.
Set design byROMAIN GOUDINOUXatBRYANT ARTISTS.
Photographic assistance:KENNY CASTROandJEREMY ERIC SINCLAIR.
Digital technician:ARON NORMAN.
Cinematographer:JAY SWUEN.
First assistant camera:MIKE LEMNITZERSecond assistant camera and data Manager:MICHELLE SUH.
Gaffer:GABE SANDOVAL.
Key Grip:EDGAR R. ARAGON.
G&E Swing:MOE ALKAYED.
Field audio:CHUCK HENDY.
Styling assistance:JAKE MITCHELL,MARS ESPINOZAandPETER NOVAK.
Production assistance:ROBSON PEREIRA.
Leadmen:JOHN ARMSTRONGandDERREK BROWN.
Set-design assistance:MATT WILLITS.
Postproduction:SPENCER PATZMANatCOSM FILMS.Colorist: CAMERON MARYGOLD.Photo retouching:PICTUREHOUSE + THE SMALLDARKROOM.
