“This song continues my release of songs that will form my album, “Fifty”. This album celebrates my fifty years of kicking around dirt on this rock!

“She’s My Reason For Going Home” comes from a very personal place. A few years ago, my son was in a bad accident. While we were in the hospital, my wife, Emily, collapsed and doctor’s couldn’t figure out what was wrong. They chalked it up to exhaustion and stress. As we spent the summer helping our son recover and dealing with the sudden death of her mother, her health seemed to deteriorate before my eyes.

Eventually, she had to be hospitalized. While she endured tests and treatments, I found myself forcing myself to go home at the end of the day. While talking to a friend, she asked me how I was holding up. I told her that I was having to force myself to go home. When she asked why I replied, “She’s my reason for going home.” My friend quickly said, “Mike, that sounds like a song.”

I went home and worked on this song through the tears of fear of losing my wife and love of my life with her. Emily was my high school sweetheart. We’ve been together for thirty-three years.

I’m very happy to say that Emily recovered and is home, because She is my reason for going home.”

Mike Kuster holds the title of IMN Songwriter of the Year, and is nominated for two Josie Music Awards this year: Male Country Artist and Song of the Year for his song “Fifty”. Mike has been recognized as IMN’s Favorite Male Country Artist of 2023, IMN’s Impact Artist of 2022, and Song of the Year in 2021 for “Daddy’s Blue Jean Jacket.”

Mike lives in Frederick County, Maryland where he grew up on a small farm, met his wife in FFA at high school, and has raised three children. Mike writes music and performs regularly around the mid-Atlantic, and sometimes ventures across the country for select performances. He is in the middle of recording his fourth album with his long-time producer, Dr. Ford, in Nashville, Tennessee.