Hustling “The Hard Way”

Cameron Whitcomb has never been one to take the easy road in life.

At the tender age of 17, he decided to leave home and work on the Trans Mountain pipeline. By then, he had already become an addict dabbling in everything from alcohol and cocaine to heroin and meth.

While he was working in the oil field, Whitcomb began posting songs online, which eventually landed him a spot on Season 20 of “American Idol,” where he shocked judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie by admitting to performing for the very first time in public that very day during the audition.

The backflipping teen was off to Hollywood, whereß he made it to the competition’s top 20. That turning point made him more determined than ever to follow his dream. After returning to the same pipeline job he left to pursue a music career, Whitcomb continued working 12-hour shifts six days a week, saving up money, while writing songs after work, playing guitar, and building his social media presence, which now boasts more than 2.5 million followers.

“I knew hard work brings good luck and knew if I busted my ass, it would be achievable,” Whitcomb told Inked in a recent phone interview. “It has exceeded my expectations, but I am grateful for it.”

Today, the 22-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter, who has been open about his struggle with depression, is now clean and credits his sobriety to his fans and his music. “The fans and my career have given me a purpose,” he said. “I have something to work towards and focus on what makes me happy. When I play at these shows, fans come up and tell me they are 30 days, one year, or two years clean. It’s very special. They understand me and I understand them.”

Whitcomb said one of the most important things he focuses on right now is hanging with the right people. “I keep myself surrounded by good people. I have a great crew and am in a good spot.”

Whitcomb has openly chronicled his battle with substance abuse with raw songs like “Rocking Chair” and “Quitter” that quickly became fan favorites, and “Medusa,” one of Billboard’s “5 Must-Hear New Country Songs” when it was released.

After much anticipation, he released his debut album, “The Hard Way,” in the fall of 2025 with Atlantic Records, which features a unique mix of folk, country, and alt-pop combined with fearless lyrics and determined vocals. “The entire record is an accumulation of where I was, where I am, and where I hope to be,” he said. “‘The Hard Way’ title track means a lot to me, and ‘Polly (Interlude)’ at the end has one of my favorite verses ever written.”

The Canadian Country Music Association’s 2025 Breakthrough Artist of the Year hopes “fans can take away whatever they need” from each song and admits every song is him “to a T.” The album’s cover image was created by Vancouver-based tattoo artist Logan Morrison, with whom he now shares a strong bond.

“Right from the artwork, you can follow the story all the way through, which was my goal,” Whitcomb said. “I wanted the art to speak for itself, and I think it did a really good job. It’s the coolest thing. Now, when I want to get a tattoo, I send a song to Logan, and we talk about the visuals. He knows exactly what I am thinking, and it always comes out far better than I expected.”

Whitcomb met Morrison while he was working in the oil field and saw the giant eagle tattoo on his friend’s back. “I thought it was the most incredible thing I had ever seen in my life,” he said.

After checking out Morrison on Instagram, Whitcomb knew he had to meet him, so he reached out to see if he would do his back tattoo. “I gave him a vague idea of what I wanted — like mountains, old school Harleys, nice bridges, and scenic stuff,” he said. “I never actually saw the tattoo until I showed up that morning.”

Whitcomb said he and Morrison are like brothers now after the tattoo artist spent seven sessions and 36 hours designing his back. “My back is my favorite tattoo,” he said. “Every time I see it, it’s like seeing it for the first time.”

At age 28, a different artist inked Whitcomb’s first tattoo, Black Sabbath’s fallen angel, on his stomach “because I was finally old enough to get one,” but said Morrison does the majority of his work now. “It’s very therapeutic because he really cares. Seven or eight hours flies by. He’s one of a kind for sure,” he said.

When it comes to designing body art, Whitcomb said one of the most important things to do is trust your tattoo artist, “sort of like people trust me to write songs,” he said. “Let them do their thing and just go with it. Logan is one of my most favorite people on the planet. I have never been the kind to go into a tattoo shop and have the artist talking to everyone, and you’re just sitting there. With Logan, it’s just me and him. Nobody is coming in and out; you have his undivided attention.”

With nearly 100 hours of tattooing under his belt, Whitcomb said he isn’t done yet. “I hope to finish my arms,” he said. “The bottoms of my legs are pretty well done. I will let Logan completely do whatever he wants with my left arm.”

After wrapping up a fall “I’ve Got Options” tour with sold-out performances in cities like Los Angeles, Athens, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, Whitcomb will be touring Canada in February before kicking off another U.S. tour in March. In May, he will travel internationally to Australia, where he already has several sold-out performances with special guest Lewis Love.

While Whitcomb may have done it the hard way, one thing is for certain — he has certainly done it his way. “For 2026, I am going to try to take some time for myself to do some songwriting,” he said. “I feel good and am excited for the future.”