‘There is a specific Texan pride in Fort Worth’

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I moved to Fort Worth when I was two, so I’m a Texan through and through. I love the slower pace here and that the people are so easy going. I’m always on the go – to Los Angeles, to New York, on tour – and sometimes I find people a little shallow or pretentious. There is a simplicity to life here. My parents still live in Fort Worth and my inner circle (people I met at the height of my fame, including my security staff) are also based here.

Fort Worth isn’t as progressive as Austin, but both the food scene and population are evolving. There is a specific Texan pride here – in our roots and in our culture – and I think my music reflects that. It’s the Texas accent combined with R&B and all the Western aesthetics that come with it.

The town has recently seen the addition of many smaller, attractive hotels – Bowie House is one of the best. It’s a great environment to meet people and it’s also close to Dickies Arena, so people come from all over to see musicians like Paul McCartney and Janet Jackson. I’ve played there too. The Dryce Hotel is another good option (it’s located in a former industrial warehouse) and I like the Drover Hotel in the Fort Worth Stockyards for its great bar and true Texas spirit. The Stockyards is where cowboys historically traded cattle, and it still has that classic Western feel, right down to the rodeo. There are so many great places to stay.

I still like to go play impromptu shows at the bar where I was discovered.

I started out on Magnolia Avenue, an artsy area of ​​the city with many music venues and restaurants. Sadly, some of the staple establishments have closed as musicians have moved to Nashville and Los Angeles, but there’s one dive bar, The Boiled Owl Tavern, that’s particularly significant because it’s where I was discovered. I still like to go and play impromptu shows with the original musicians from that era.

Cherry Coffee on Magnolia is always a stop for an American, gluten-free pastry. It was started by friends, so I like to support them. Paris Coffee Shop is another old-school favorite. It is located in the Near Southside district and is a great place for breakfast or lunch. Heim Barbecue is the place to go for classic Texas barbecue: brisket and pulled pork; Calisience makes the best tacos and burritos and Shaw’s Patio Bar & Grill serves burgers and wings late into the night.

There’s a lot going on in Fort Worth right now. The Kimbell Museum of Art and Water Gardens were featured in Kendrick Lamar’s video for “N95,” while the Tadao Ando-designed Museum of Modern Art is a highlight of the Cultural District. One of my favorite exhibits was in 2023 on Jammie Holmes, whose work explores the stories of the South. Trinity Park is also very nostalgic – I spent a lot of time playing here as a child.

Shopping is a great pastime, and Doc’s Records and Vintage is my go-to place for everything from vinyl to vintage Wrangler jeans and worn-out cowboy boots. I like the Canadian tuxedo (head to toe denim) and am currently working on finding the right denim boots. For custom styles, ML Leddy’s is the OG, and I recently bought my dad a colorful custom-made pair of Ramblin Trails Custom Boots inspired by the New Orleans Saints, his favorite football team. For an authentic Texas experience, attend a Texas Christian University game. Football is religion here, and although our team doesn’t have the sauce right now, the fans have a great spirit.

I love that Fort Worth has its own identity: it doesn’t aspire to be New York or Los Angeles, or even nearby Dallas. It always has that charming, down-to-earth feel to it, and I don’t think that will ever change. My last album, Lionsheds light on Fort Worth and how it grew up on the historic South Side. It’s about the experiences (and the city) that made me who I am today.

León is now available on Columbia Records