Three years after proclaiming himself a “Sturgill Simpson fan” on Twitter, Sam Hunt is still rocking out to the award-winning sounds of Sturgill.

While the two artists are on the opposite ends of the country music spectrum, Sam hasn’t shied away from giving Sturgill continued props for his 2014 album, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, and his 2016 album, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, which won the Grammy award for Best Country Album in 2017.

“With my artist career, I definitely lean towards my more progressive tastes and sensibilities, but what I really love, I mean . . . I listen to, like, Sturgill Simpson,” says Sam on morning show Ty, Kelly & Chuck. “Sturgill Simpson’s records were, like, my favorite records . . . still in my Top 5. I’d listen to those two records nonstop for a couple years. A lot of people wouldn’t, I guess, think that that sound would appeal to me, but I love it.”

Sam copped a Grammy nomination for Best Country album in 2016 for his debut project, Montevallo. Sam’s new single, “Downtown’s Dead,” is currently No. 18 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after one week.

Check out what Sam had to say about Sturgill below.