Benson Boone: Chart-Topping Sobriety, Shifting Faith, and the Fear of Candy
Benson Boone, the 22-year-old pop sensation whose star skyrocketed with the global hit "Beautiful Things," has opened up about his life, revealing a complex tapestry woven with threads of sobriety, evolving faith, and a surprising fear of candy. While many might assume his abstemious lifestyle is rooted in his Mormon upbringing, Boone insists his choices stem from a personal understanding of his own addictive tendencies.
Raised in a devout family within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Boone was immersed in a culture that discourages the use of harmful substances. However, in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, he clarified that his decision to remain sober is not solely driven by religious adherence. “I just think for me personally, like, dude, I would die,” he confessed, adding, "’Cause I have such an addictive personality. I feel like if I started, I would do it so much that my health would just decline, and I wouldn’t enjoy touring as much."
This declaration begs the question: How does someone who has never experimented with drugs or alcohol know they possess an addictive personality? Boone’s answer is both simple and revealing: "Dude, candy." This seemingly innocuous vice serves as a microcosm of his broader concern – a fear of losing control and succumbing to potentially destructive patterns.
The Mormon faith not only prohibits drugs and alcohol but also discourages the use of tobacco and "hot drinks," a category that includes coffee and tea. Interestingly, while adhering to a relatively strict lifestyle, Boone admitted to experimenting with coffee. Driven by a desire to fit in and perhaps acquire a taste for the popular beverage, he embarked on a series of coffee-tasting sessions with his girlfriend, influencer Maggie Thurmon, at a Los Angeles café. However, the experience proved to be less than enjoyable. "There was a period of time where I really wanted to like coffee," he recounted. "And [I would] go out to this place in L.A. with Maggie, and I would try sips of her coffee every day and, it literally tastes like burnt wood."
Beyond his lifestyle choices, Boone has also been candid about his evolving relationship with his faith. During the Rolling Stone interview, he revealed that he no longer identifies as Mormon. "I don’t want to be a part of one religion," he explained. "I have my own opinions. Some are from this religion, some are from this religion, some are from no religion."
Boone’s journey away from Mormonism began in his childhood, marked by a persistent sense of disconnect. He described feeling alienated from the deeply personal experiences often shared within his religious community. "Growing up, a lot of people at church would talk about these experiences that they’ve had and these personal revelations and feelings and voices. I never felt it as physically present as they did, and so I was always confused and frustrated," he shared. The pressure to conform and the fear of being different weighed heavily on him. "I was always scared to bring that up to people because I just didn’t want to accept that, like, I wasn’t feeling what everyone else was feeling," he added. He found solace and validation when he finally confided in a friend who shared similar doubts, responding with a relieved, "Thank goodness. I feel the same way."
After graduating high school, Boone briefly enrolled at Brigham Young University (BYU), a private institution owned and operated by the LDS Church. BYU is known for its strict adherence to the Church Educational System (CES) Honor Code, which mandates abstaining from prohibited substances, practicing chastity, avoiding profanity, and adhering to a dress code that restricts men’s facial hair and sets limitations on skirt lengths. However, Boone never experienced life under BYU’s rigorous campus rules. He attended classes remotely for a single semester before dropping out to pursue his burgeoning music career.
Despite his departure from the Mormon faith, Boone maintains a positive relationship with his parents, Kerry and Nate Boone, who remain dedicated members of the LDS Church. He emphasized their support for his personal journey and their desire for him to find his own path. "My parents definitely have their own views, but when it comes to religion and God, they want me to figure it out on my own," he said. "And whatever I come to, and whatever I feel is right, that’s what they want for me."
Boone draws parallels between his approach to religion and his views on politics, rejecting the notion that individuals must adhere to rigid ideologies. "People think if you have one or two views that are on the left or right side, that you have to be the left or on the right," he said. "And I don’t think that’s how it is." He clarified that the title of his upcoming album, "American Heart," is not intended as a political statement. "It’s not political at all," he asserted. "It’s more of a personal thing. It’s just me. ‘American Heart’ is my heart, and it’s not my heart because it’s American. It’s my heart because I’m Benson Boone."
The singer’s musical journey began unexpectedly in high school. “Singing was never something I thought that I could do," he recalled. "I was always too busy being outside and doing something active to think about music. I played a little bit of piano growing up so when my friends knew I could play, and my best friend asked if I could play the piano for his band for Battle of the Bands in high school, I agreed, and everything was going great.” But fate intervened when the band’s vocalist quit on the eve of the competition. "The day before, the girl that was supposed to sing in our band quit, and it was just me and him. We went back and forth and argued about who was going to sing or if we should just quit, and then I just decided I would try it. I went out on stage and I started singing and my voice kind of just came out of me."
The experience was transformative. “It was like I just unlocked something I didn’t know I had," Boone said. "I stopped halfway through the first verse and looked around, and was so shocked that I just sang. I went for it again, and it was the best feeling of my life. We ended up winning, and it was the coolest experience and my mom was front row bawling her eyes out.”
Following this pivotal moment, Boone began sharing his original songs on TikTok, quickly gaining a following. He auditioned for the 19th season of "American Idol" in 2021 and impressed the judges enough to earn a spot in Hollywood Week. However, despite making it to the Top 24, he made the surprising decision to withdraw from the competition. He later explained that he felt the show wasn’t the right path for his career. “My biggest weakness, and sometimes my biggest strength, is when I convince my brain of something, I have to do it," Boone told Rolling Stone. "There’s no backing out or stepping down."
In October 2021, Boone signed with Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds’ Night Street Records and released his debut single, "Ghost Town," which achieved international success and was certified gold by the RIAA. He followed up with "Room for 2" in 2022 and had the opportunity to open for Taylor Swift at her June 23, 2023, show at London’s Wembley Stadium during her Eras Tour. Initially unfamiliar with Swift’s extensive discography, Boone immersed himself in her music before the concert. "I didn’t even know much about her," Boone confessed to Rolling Stone. "Her team reached out, and I literally, like, s— my pants. I could not believe it. It was insane, so I started listening to more of her music. I didn’t want to go to that show and not know anything."
The experience of witnessing Swift’s performance firsthand left a lasting impression on him. "She is an unbelievable performer and has an unbelievable world built around her that is unmatched," Boone said. "It is incredible to see how vastly gigantic her show is, just countless moving parts behind the scenes that nobody knows about. She is one of a kind. Such a genuine person. I got the privilege to talk to her, for a while, and she’s so kind."
In January 2024, Boone released "Beautiful Things," which became his breakthrough hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in numerous countries. He received a best new artist nomination at the 2025 Grammy Awards. During the awards show, he delivered a memorable performance of "Beautiful Things," complete with a sparkly blue jumpsuit and a backflip off the stage.
Despite the overwhelming success of "Beautiful Things," Boone is determined to avoid being defined solely by one song. “I think I’m getting to the point where I just want people to know that there’s more than just that song," he said. "I think I’m a little past that point. But, of course, I still love the song. I’m still proud of it. And I’ll be performing it for a while, so I hope that feeling sticks around."
He is also mindful of the potential for fame to inflate his ego. “I think this year has taught me a lot of things, especially that it is incredibly easy to get carried away with my ego," he admitted. "After ‘Beautiful Things,’ I was like, ‘Dude, I can do anything.’ And I can’t." To maintain a grounded perspective, Boone engages in weekly "ego checks" with his manager and best friend, Jeff Burns. "It’s good to talk about, ‘Hey, you know, I’m not the king of the world," he explained. "I’m not somebody that everybody in the world knows. I’m still an up-and-coming artist."
