Entertainment Music Country Music Kane Brown Recalls Feeling 'Imposter Syndrome' as His Career Grew: 'I Wondered What Everybody Thought of Me' "I wasn’t the greatest on stage. I wondered what everybody thought about me," said the country star in a new interview with 'Today' By Jack Irvin Jack Irvin Jack Irvin has over five years of experience working in digital journalism, and he’s worked at PEOPLE since 2022. Jack started in the industry with internships at Rolling Stone and Entertainment Tonight, and he worked as a freelance writer for publications including Bustle, MTV News, Shondaland, L’Officiel USA, Ladygunn, Flood and PopCrush before joining PEOPLE. In his current role, Jack covers daily music news and has interviewed both up-and-coming and established artists including Dolly Parton, Michelle Branch, Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Normani, Carly Rae Jepsen and Coco Jones. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 19, 2023 12:45PM EDT Kane Brown wasn't always sure he had what it takes for stardom. On Sunday, the country music star appeared on TODAY and spoke about experiencing imposter syndrome as his career first began to grow. "When I first started playin’ bigger places I got, like, imposter syndrome of it moving too fast," Brown, 29, told TODAY's Willie Geist. "I wasn’t the greatest on stage. I wondered what everybody thought about me." Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown to Perform at the Inaugural People's Choice Country Awards Kane Brown performs in Los Angeles in October 2021. John Shearer/Getty One moment in which he found confidence was when he became the first-ever Black artist to headline Fenway Park in Boston with a June 23 concert. "I knew that I was supposed to be there," added the singer. "When I got out there, you know, there were no nerves. There was no, 'Oh my God,'" said Brown. "It was like, 'It’s showtime and I’m going to put on a show and let these people know that I’m so glad they’re here and that I’m so glad to be here." The "What Ifs" musician was raised in Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee by a white mother and a Black father, and he was often told he wasn't cut out for the country genre — which could've contributed to the imposter syndrome. Kane Brown 'Looking into Acting' and Enjoying Family Beach Time in the Coming Months Kane Brown in New York City on Sept. 7, 2023. Cindy Ord/Getty Images "They’d be like, 'Just look at him. He’s not country. That’s not what country looks like,' yada, yada, yada. But I feel like it’s also what made me blow up on Facebook. ‘Cause I had a lot of people that clicked my video and they would be like, 'I thought you were going to rap, excuse me,'" said Brown. "And then I started singing. So it kind of shocked them, and they wanted to share." After his viral moment on Facebook, Brown released his debut album in late 2016, and he's found success with songs like "Used to Love You Sober," "Heaven" and "Be Like That." Today, he prefers too look forward rather than backward. "Everything that I went through is a part of my life that got me here. And I’m actually proud of it," says Brown. "Even though a lot of it was tough and hard and you didn’t know what was going to come out of it. But I feel like that’s who made me who I am today." "It made me strong. It made me want to get back to people, and made me humble," continued the musician. "And just made me proud of where I came from." Close