Jacob Hackworth on Writing “Rock and A Hard Place,” Hunting & His Road to Nashville

Jacob Hackworth joins Country Outdoors host, Mary O'Neill to share the story behind writing Bailey Zimmerman’s No. 1 hit, “Rock and A Hard Place,” and his road from southern Missouri to Nashville.

Jacob is a country artist and songwriter whose first major-label cut became a No. 1 song with Bailey Zimmerman. In this conversation, he takes us inside the songwriting journey that led to “Rock and A Hard Place,” what it was like hearing the record take off, and why he is now pursuing his own career as a country artist.

Before Nashville, publishing deals, and writing hit songs, Jacob was a small-town Missouri kid raised around deer camp. He shares unforgettable stories from his early days deer hunting—his first rifle hunt with his mom, the buck that got away, buying his first Mathews bow after working construction and hauling hay, and the unexpected story behind his first bow kill. We also talk bowhunting, turkey hunting, public-land deer camp traditions, hunting with family, and the outdoor experiences that shaped who he is.

Jacob also opens up about singing in church and school choir, posting early music videos, working long shifts building railroad track, learning guitar in hotel rooms, making the move to Nashville with his bandmates, working whatever jobs he could, and falling in love with the craft of songwriting before earning his first major breakthrough.

In this episode:

Jacob Hackworth on writing Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and A Hard Place”

How a first major-label cut became his first No. 1 hit

The reality of chasing country music and songwriting in Nashville

From railroad work to country songwriting

Jacob’s artist career and his next chapter in country music

Southern Missouri deer camp and growing up in the outdoors

His first deer hunt, a rifle malfunction, and the buck that got away