How Sean Fuller Has Paved The Way For The Modern Nashville Drummer

Written By: Nick Singer

Sean “Pawpaw” Fuller has spent the better part of the last two decades powering some of country music’s biggest anthems from behind the drum kit. As the longtime drummer for Florida Georgia Line and Tyler Hubbard, Fuller has carved out a successful career by forging a path that many others would later follow. With his 1980s hair-band roots, tattoos and rock-star persona, the Indiana native stood out in a sea of cowboy hats, turning what was initially a challenge into his greatest strength.

Born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, in 1972, Fuller started playing drums as a child. Coming from a musical family, he began performing in his father’s bands, giving him an early taste of live music and the joy of collaborating with others. Influenced by artists ranging from Van Halen to 1970s soft rock, Fuller developed a powerful and distinct playing style, complete with a flashy onstage presence from an early age. By his late teens, he was already dreaming of a professional music career and performing throughout the local Evansville music circuit.

In 1997, Fuller made the bold decision to leave Indiana and move to Nashville in pursuit of greater opportunities. Arriving in Nashville without knowing anyone, Fuller would eventually go on to drum for some of the most iconic artists in modern country music.

Adjusting to Nashville in the late 1990s was not easy. At the time, the city’s music scene heavily favored a more traditional, clean-cut country image. Fuller arrived with big hair, tattoos, and a spandex-and-leather sensibility that immediately made him stand out. Rather than conforming, Fuller embraced his individuality. As he later shared in interviews, standing out became his advantage. In a town filled with talented players who often looked and sounded alike, being memorable helped him get noticed and frequently helped him land gigs.

Fuller spent his first several years in Nashville grinding and taking every opportunity that came his way. From live performances to studio sessions, he did it all. He networked relentlessly and gave every show his all. During a time when country music was becoming increasingly rock-infused, Fuller’s musical background brought a fresh sound to the genre that appealed to artists looking to energize their live shows. This would foreshadow the direction mainstream country music would soon take.

One of Fuller’s first major breakthroughs came when he landed a drumming gig with rising country star Luke Bryan. Fuller met Bryan after finishing a drum session for another artist. Bryan also happened to be in the studio and the two quickly connected. This interaction resulted in Fuller playing with Bryan for nearly four years, gaining valuable experience performing in front of increasingly larger crowds and learning the inner workings of a touring operation. Those years on the road sharpened his professionalism and expanded his network even further.

The biggest turning point in Fuller’s career arrived in 2012 when he was scouted by Florida Georgia Line, the duo of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, who would go on to revolutionize the bro-country movement and leave a lasting impact on the genre. Fuller’s rock-inspired drumming perfectly complemented the duo’s genre-blending sound, which fused country music with hip-hop and arena rock influences.

Once on board, Fuller became a signature part of the band’s live identity, anchoring massive hits such as “Cruise,” “Get Your Shine On,” and “Sippin’ on Fire” during the group’s peak years of arena-filling success.

For more than a decade, Fuller toured the world with Florida Georgia Line, living out his dreams of performing at massive venues, earning industry recognition and playing music that connected with millions of people. Even after the duo eventually stepped back from performing together, Fuller remained a steady force in the touring world.

Today, Fuller continues to tour with Tyler Hubbard as a solo artist and shows no signs of slowing down. Fuller will be spending the summer playing shows with Hubbard. Fuller will also support Hubbard on the road opening for Dan + Shay on “The Young Tour” which kicks off in September.