After celebrating his 13th number one at Country radio with “This Is My Dirt,” Justin Moore says the track represents a whole lot more than just another milestone in his career.

“When you write a hit song it’s great… but when you have the opportunity to write a song that means something to you, it’s even more special,” Moore said, referring to the track he penned alongside frequent collaborators Paul DiGiovanni, Randy Montana and Jeremy Stover. “It’s really cool that it’s become a big record for us.”

The song’s sentiment blossomed from Moore’s own experience buying the land he grew up on from his grandfather and he detailed the responsibility he feels to keep it in the family and how honored he is to raise his own kids there.

“When Kate and I, my wife, when we moved back home… we were looking for land to build on and we happened to be able to purchase the land that I grew up on from my grandpa,” he explained. “He was raised on it by his grandfather, he raised my mom and her siblings here and so for us to have the opportunity to raise our kids here was really, really cool.”

He continued, “My PaPaw told me… He goes, ‘Look, nobody else could keep this up like you could, nobody could afford to do this… and he goes ‘ I want you too head this’ and that, to me meant the world. I took that to heart.”

The real-life story turned song is now the title track on Moore’s newest album, available now. Hear additional details about the music, land and so much more by checking out his entire conversation with Audacy’s Rob + Holly above.

Words by Monica Rivera, Interview by Rob + Holly

Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images