Award-winning country artist Justin Fabus was gearing up for a huge 2026 and possibly the biggest year of his career. After performing two max-capacity nights in 2025 at London country venue “Lil Nashville”—the establishment’s biggest crowds since opening—Fabus wrote and recorded what would soon become the “Apple Music Hits” single “Moment I Knew” with Niall Horan’s guitarist, Jake Curran. All this success in London resulted in a full European tour set for April 2026. The new year arrived, and everything came to a painful stop.
Fabus’ depression, which he has always been very open about throughout his life and career, hit him harder than it ever had. Even his usual coping mechanisms and everything that had worked for him before were no match for this fight. “I’ve had days or a week here and there where my depression would really take a hold of me, but this instance was a whole different monster. It lasted for months, along with other life changes that were happening at that time as well. I’m incredibly grateful to be coming out on the other side because there were definitely some very dark days. To sum it up, it was the perfect storm, but I ain’t dead yet and there’s still a lot of songs left to write and shows to play.”
Writing Through the Setback
Fabus performed shows at the beginning of 2026, but his last performance was in March, when he sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. After that, he went silent, but now he’s back, writing what he says are the most honest and painful songs he’s ever penned. “Pain always leads to great songs,” he said.
Fabus is a chart-topping, award-winning singer-songwriter, as well as a CMA Emerging Artist and member. He has shared the stage with Trace Adkins, New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson and Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, just to name a few. Fabus has also written songs with the legendary Richard Marx.
Pushing Forward as an Independent Artist
Fabus has overcome great challenges in his career as an independent artist. “If I had a dime for every time someone questioned me just because I’m a country artist from Pittsburgh, I’d be a rich man.”
“There are more people on this earth who are willing to celebrate your downfalls than your accomplishments. If you believe in yourself, that’s all you’ll ever need. As an independent artist, everything falls on you, so you have to keep pushing through no matter what. If my songs can help at least one person get through their darkest days, then I couldn’t be more honored, and that’s exactly why I became a songwriter in the first place.”
Back on the Road
Fabus is gearing up to head back on the road in the United States for select shows in 2026 as he rebuilds momentum following his setback, and then return to the U.K. in 2027 for the rescheduled European tour.