Mason Ramsey and his parents aren’t on good terms. Ramsey, who became popular as the Walmart yodeling kid, opened up about his relationship with his parents in a March 2024 interview.
Mason Ramsey, 18, became an overnight internet sensation when a stranger shared the video of him singing Hank Williams’ song, Lovesick Blue, at Walmart on Facebook.
It led to Ramsey giving interviews to various media outlets across the US. At the time, Ramsey lived with his grandparents in Golconda, Illinois. He had no idea about his popularity as his rural community had no WiFi, Internet, cell phones, or cable television.
After becoming a viral hit, Mason released his debut single, Famous, which reached no.4 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs. He released his EP Twang in 2019 and then took a break from making music. He returned to the music industry in 2023 with his song Reasons To Come Home, a homage to his grandparents and hometown, and released his new EP, Falls Into Place.
In 2024, Mason has already given a sneak peek of what his next album will sound like. In June, Mason performed with the American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey at her packed headlining show at Fenway Park. After the performance, Ramsey once again went viral on the internet, six years after he was known as the Yodeling Kid.
Mason Ramsey And His Parents Have Sour Relationship
When Mason Ramsey became an internet sensation in 2018, his parents weren’t around him during interviews. It was either him doing it solely or with his grandparents.
Mason was only 11, and any 11-year-old would have difficulty navigating the sudden spotlight thrust on him. But Mason never mentioned his parents during any of his interviews but only kept mentioning the impact of his grandparents on his life.
When Mason received an invitation to perform on the Ellen Degeneres show in 2018, his parents weren’t again present. Most of the time, if not all the time, many child actors bring their parents to such shows, but Mason once again shared the limelight with his grandparents.
All this happened six years ago, and by now, there must be some article on Mason’s parents, right? It’s 2024, and no credible publications have mentioned Mason’s parents, including Rolling Stone and Billboard.
This anonymity maintained by his parents made us start questioning Mason’s relationship with them. One site states Mason’s parents are John and Karen Ramsey, and the former is a hairstylist. But there isn’t any evidence backing it up.
We searched his social media handles, and there isn’t a single picture of Mason with his dad and mom. Mason tends to share photographs of him with his grandparents on Father’s Day and Mother’s Day.
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The Interview That Brought Light To Mason Ramsey And His Relationship With His Parents
While searching for information about his parents, we landed on a recent interview the singer had with YouTuber Andy Frasco. And in that interview, Mason revealed where he stands with his parents.
In the 49-minute interview, Mason and the two interviewers delved into his music plans and whether he would continue singing country songs or branch out to other genres. Around the 31-minute, the host asked Mason about his relationship with his parents.
Andy probably wanted to ask Mason about his relationship with his parents after Mason mentioned he lives in hotels whenever he is not living with his grandparents. It would have made many people question whether his parents still support him or have left him to do whatever he wants.
After Andy asks about his relationship with his parents, Mason takes a few seconds to gather his thoughts and says, “I don’t really know. I haven’t seen them in a very long time.”
Mason even says he considers his aunt and uncle his parents rather than his biological ones. The Blue Over You singer also mentioned that when he became famous, his aunt and uncle were there to help him navigate his sudden popularity.
The young musician also said his aunt and uncle go with him everywhere and that the family sticks together. Mason said this has helped him stay away from drugs and alcohol and added he loves having them around.
Andy then asks Mason if he felt bummed out that his parents didn’t feel the same way about having family around. Ramsey replied, “No, I’m not. I don’t know them, but I’m surrounded by a lot of good people who care about me. That’s all that matters. It is what it is.”
Andy then asks Mason if his parents tried talking to him once he started making money. Mason hesitates but smiles as he says, “There have been incidences. Not too major.”
Analyzing his answer and body language, it looks like Mason and his parents are not on talking terms. But the young talent has kept his other family members near him, which makes us question his parents’ intention.
Mason Ramsey’s Grandparents Had The Biggest Impact On His Life
Mason Ramsey’s grandparents, Ernest M. Ramsey and Francis Ramsey, raised him since he was a toddler. Before retiring, Ernest worked as a general contractor and handyman, and Francis worked at the local sheriff’s office.
Ernest and Francis raised Mason in Golconda, Illinois. They instilled in him a love for Forties and Fifties classic country music. Mason previously mentioned that he first learned singing, and talking came later.
By the time Mason enrolled in kindergarten, he was performing in front of paid audiences. He was four when he sang his idol Hank Williams’s, I Saw The Light in the 2011 Kentucky Opry Talent Search competition.
In his 2023 song Reasons To Come Home, Mason paid homage to his childhood hometown and his grandparents. In a statement shared by Ramsey, he said, “Reasons To Come Home is a very special song to me.
It’s about my amazing grandparents, who raised me and are my only ties to my hometown of Golconda, Illinois. While the song is a love to Golconda and all the things I love there, it’s also a realization that when my grandparents are gone, I sadly won’t have any reason to return to Golconda.”
From reading celebrity blinds to keeping up with scores of all the different sports happening worldwide, Shreeyukta can’t simply have enough of the entertainment world.
