BIG DREAMS, BARRINGTON ROOTS 

U.S. Marine Jackson Perkins Is Quietly Making His Way Toward Country Music Stardom.

Jackson Perkins first made a name for himself on the football fields and basketball courts of Barrington High School. But these days, it’s the name he’s making on some of country music’s biggest stages that just might become his greatest legacy.

“I’ve always wanted to be a country singer,” says the United States Marine Corps Captain currently based in Washington, D.C. “It’s always been part of my plan.” But that plan fast-forwarded last July, when Perkins stepped onstage at Chicago’s Windy City Smokeout and traded meaningful verses and wide smiles with country superstar Riley Green.

“It was so cool being up on that stage,” explains Perkins, who had met Green just weeks before at the 2025 Folds of Honor Rock ‘N Jock Celebrity Softball game in Nashville. “I was locking eyes with people, and they were sobbing, which is a crazy feeling.”

Indeed, many tears were shed as Perkins stepped on stage in his Marine Dress D uniform to duet with Green on the already emotional Jamey Johnson hit “In Color.”

“When I was walking home and trying to get back to my hotel, people just kept coming up to me crying,” remembers Perkins, who also serves as a Military Liaison for CreatiVets, a nonprofit that helps veterans heal through creative expression. “And it wasn’t because of me––I think it just brought back memories of their grandfather, or father, or brother who was a Marine. Or it was the words that they were hearing in the song. Music brings out emotion in us. I felt honored to be a part of it.”

The adoration continued the next day, when Perkins says he heard from many of his friends from his days back in Barrington. “My phone was off the hook,” he laughs. “It was funny because I was getting texts and pictures from people who were in the crowd. It was so cool that I was in Chicago.”

Granted, Perkins can seem a tad uncomfortable with the attention of this viral moment––and for good reason.

“One of the biggest things you need to remember as an infantry officer in the Marines is the mentality of ‘it’s not about me,’” Perkins says quietly. “I also have that same mindset with country music, and I’m drawn to people who embody that. When you make it about your band members, or you make it about the song, or most importantly, you make it about the fans––that’s what makes the most successful country singer.”

Nevertheless, the talents Perkins displayed on that stage that July night, along with his total adoration for country music, can’t be understated.

“Growing up, I always remember that my parents would put on old country like George Jones and Charley Pride,” recalls Perkins, who seems to be following in the footsteps of artists such as Elvis Presley and Zach Bryan, who served their country while balancing a music career. “I grew up loving country music.”

At 20 years old, while playing football at the United States Naval Academy, Perkins picked up the guitar for the first time and began learning more about the beauty that could come from its strings.

“Over the years, my buddies would poke fun at me because when I played my little gigs and stuff, I would always play old school country,” the former defensive end remembers. “They would want to hear some more upbeat stuff, but I guess my love for the classics has paid off.”

So too has the hard work.

“People don’t see the years of work that it took to get up there on that stage,” he states. “They don’t see you getting a vocal coach. They don’t see you practicing in your room. And while I’ve loved doing my bar gigs and stuff, they haven’t seen me being all nervous up there in front of a crowd of 10 people at a bar. You’ve got to keep developing yourself all the time.”

And while he’s not entirely sure what comes next, Perkins knows what matters most.

“My obligation is to be a Marine, and I’m still super excited about doing my job every day,” says Perkins, whose parents now live in Fontana, Wisconsin. “But at the same time, I want to continue to develop my guitar playing and my vocals, and then hopefully just continue to write music.”

But he’s not about to rush it.

“I’m waiting to come out with a song that I’m really solid about,” he concludes. “I’ll know when the time is right.”

To keep up with Perkins, visit @jacksonperkins.