By: Daniel P’Lopez
Photos by Micky Kurz
When you speak with Bobby Newberry, there’s a gentle strength in his voice—an energy that feels both vulnerable and grounded. The last time we talked, he was riding the wave of his growing music career. Today, he’s candid about how life took an unexpected turn.
“It’s been a constant emotional roller coaster,” he admits. “Today’s actually my husband’s birthday. It’s… very complicated navigating this.”
Newberry’s husband, TJ, passed away last year after a long and painful battle with stage four colorectal cancer. The two had been together for twenty years—growing up side by side, building a life, and sharing a bond deeper than most can imagine. “He was more than just my husband,” Bobby says softly. “He was my best friend. The most selfless, beautiful human being—always putting everyone before himself. He was brilliant in the kitchen, an incredible chef, and just… an amazing person.”
When TJ was diagnosed, Bobby put everything on hold. “I dropped my whole life because I was with him for everything,” he recalls. “The process was brutal. Life-destroying. Nothing else seemed important anymore—not even music.”
But through unimaginable grief, Bobby found a way to reconnect—with TJ, with himself, and with the art that had once been his lifeline. His new single, “Feeling,” is both a tribute and a celebration.
“I didn’t want to write a sad song,” he says. “People expected something heavy, but I wanted to focus on the beauty we had—the happiness. The song came from a trip we took to Italy, one of the happiest times in his life. The first line is ‘You feel like Capri,’ and that’s exactly how it felt. That trip was pure joy.”
Rather than stage a glossy music video, Bobby pieced together real moments from his phone—snippets of laughter, love, and light. “I wanted to be as authentic as I could,” he explains. “Just show the actual day that inspired it. That’s all it needed to be.”
The couple’s love story had many beautiful chapters. One of Bobby’s most cherished memories is their intimate 2020 wedding, held at home during the pandemic. “It was the most perfect day,” he recalls. “Just family and close friends. My best friends performed, and it was so magical. I’m so grateful for that day.”
Though TJ’s loss remains fresh, Bobby has slowly begun to reclaim his creative spark. He’s currently recording new music and plans to release an EP at the top of the year, with another single likely coming this November.
“I want to channel everything I’ve been through into something meaningful,” he says. “I’m also working on a show dedicated to TJ—it’s not musical, but it’s deeply personal. It’s about grief, honesty, and connection. I hope people find comfort in it.”
When asked if he sees love again in his future, Bobby pauses thoughtfully. “I think my next journey is going to be me—learning who I am without him,” he says. “Of course, one day I’ll be open to love again. TJ would want that for me. But right now, it’s about healing.”
As our conversation wraps up, Bobby’s voice softens with gratitude. “I just hope people listen to the new music and feel something real,” he says. “If it touches even one person going through grief or loss, then it’s all worth it.”
Follow Bobby Newberry
Instagram: @BobbyNewberry
TikTok: @BobbyNewberry
YouTube: @theBobbyNewberry