BRELAND No Longer Considers Himself an Underdog: 'We've Had a Lot of Wins This Year' (Exclusive)

"It's nice to have a competitive edge," the country star tells PEOPLE. "It's why I love watching sports. At the same time, I'm pretty motivated regardless"

Many an artist has done a halftime show, but country music hitmaker BRELAND says he recently felt like he was up against some of the best.

“I got real fired up now after seeing all of the Thanksgiving week halftime performances,” explains BRELAND, 28, in an interview with PEOPLE minutes before taking his own halftime stage at a special Crown Royal game day viewing party in San Antonio, Texas. “I mean, Ludacris was jumping out of the ceiling and Dolly was looking like she's still 35 years old and then there was Jack Harlow.”

BRELAND suddenly gets quiet.

But yes, on Nov. 27, the platinum-selling singer-songwriter and rabid Philadelphia Eagles fan did in fact find himself performing for the most special of crowds, with Crown Royal bringing together military members and their families for an evening of music and entertainment.

“I have a few veterans and active-duty military in my family, so I definitely know what that sacrifice looks like,” says BRELAND, who was joined at the event by NFL legend DeMarcus Ware. “A night like tonight means more than just a regular performance. You're able to provide a small service to people who provide a large and significant service to everyone else.”

Being surrounded by a bevy of active military members and their families also serves as a reminder of the incredible life BRELAND is currently living, blessed now with the luxury of spending time with his family throughout the holiday season.

“I have a first cousin of mine who's serving currently, and he hasn't been home for any holidays over the last year and a half, and I was talking to him over Thanksgiving,” he says. “He was telling me how difficult it is. He doesn't have kids or anything, but it's still a challenge and it's a sacrifice that they're making to keep us safe, and that's something that I definitely have a lot of respect for.”

Related: BRELAND Makes the Most of Unlikely Country Stardom: 'I Belong Here. This Is What I'm Supposed to Be Doing'

Using his stardom to give back is something BRELAND has done many times throughout a career that kicked off in 2019 with his viral hit “My Truck.” And now, with hit songs such as “For What It’s Worth” and “Natural” firmly in his back pocket, BRELAND says he is ready to begin work on his second album in 2024.

“I've been in the studio for the last few weeks, pretty much since I got back from Europe in October,” BRELAND explains of his current work on a follow-up to his 2022 debut album Cross Country. “I've been in a great creative pocket. I've got a bunch of songs, even just from the last few weeks, that I'm pretty excited about. It’s just a matter of trying to get the right songs out at the right time.”

Having collaborated in the past with the likes of blockbuster artists such as Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley and Lady A, BRELAND says that he’s been actively seeking out the artists he would like to work with next.

“I've got a couple of great sessions mapped out over the next few weeks to close out the year,” says BRELAND, who says he is also looking at the possibility of collaborating with some of his talented siblings on his next project. “Hopefully I'll have enough material that we can get something out early in 2024. Whether it's a full-length album or not, I'm not quite sure yet. But definitely I’m thinking about a full-length project and getting myself prepared for it creatively.”

Related: BRELAND Dazzles with Help from Friends Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton and More

And while the accolades surrounding BRELAND can certainly speak for themselves, the New Jersey native says he still finds himself pumped up to prove that his music deserves to be heard.

“It's nice to have a competitive edge,” he says. “It's part of why I love watching sports. Obviously, we've had a lot of wins this year as a songwriter and with my first Grammy nomination being my debut album and a couple other big moments — like being able to tour with Shania Twain and play internationally. So, it's kind of hard to have that underdog mentality, but at the same time, I'm pretty motivated regardless.”

But look at him funny, and y’all better watch out.

“If somebody gives me a dirty look or something, I'll go out and play the craziest show ever or go and write the best song ever,” BRELAND says. “You got to create these little internal motivations.”

It’s what has kept him going since his days of being just another teenager uploading videos of himself singing on YouTube.

“There’s still that 15-year-old version of me getting a hundred views on YouTube and thinking that that was a big deal, and at the time it was,” he says. “You don't want to ever lose sight of what that is and what that actually feels like, to be living your dreams. Obviously, there's always more that can be done, but trying to keep everything in a healthy perspective and celebrate the things as they come is significant.”

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Read the original article on People.