NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Role Model opens up about what’s next when it comes to music after the viral success of “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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The star says he hopes to have another album out by next fall<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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Role Model is PEOPLE’s first-ever Sexiest Man Alive centerfold<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Role Model<\/a> may have spent the last year riding the wave of his viral success, but the best is yet to come.<\/p>\nThe singer-songwriter, who is PEOPLE\u2019s first-ever Sexiest Man Alive centerfold<\/a>, charmed millions of fans with his infectious single \u201cSally, When the Wine Runs Out,\u201d which exploded into an on-stage phenomenon that recruited famous faces and fans to join him for a dance.<\/p>\nBut for Role Model (n\u00e9 Tucker Pillsbury), the focus is on the future when it comes to his music career \u2014 and not on topping the success of \u201cSally.\u201d<\/p>\n
“I felt that for a little bit and decided that maybe that wasn\u2019t the time to start writing, if I\u2019m in that headspace,\u201d he tells PEOPLE. \u201cAt some point, I stopped feeling pressure to top it because I just\u2026 I don\u2019t know. I made it two years ago and I think I\u2019ve grown now and I can write better songs than this. So I\u2019m not worried.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Jonny](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/0oMcUJMwhuNdGEpWR6Ptwg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/bd0ed974783cff53e405876925db8dca\"\/)
<\/span><\/div>\nThe musician, 28, released his second album Kansas Anymore in July 2024. The record marked a more mature sound for the star, as he ditched the electronic synths of his earlier releases for \u201870s-inspired guitars. In February, he breathed new life into Kansas with a deluxe edition that contained fan favorites like \u201cSome Protector,\u201d \u201cSally\u201d and \u201cOld Recliners.\u201d<\/p>\n
Role Model says he\u2019d \u201clove to have another album out [by] next fall,\u201d and has been \u201cwriting a lot.\u201d (But don\u2019t quote him on that: \u201cI can\u2019t plan that far ahead. I literally don\u2019t even know what I\u2019m doing tomorrow,\u201d he adds.)<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a lot of time this summer doing new things and shooting a movie [Lena Dunham<\/a>‘s Good Sex<\/a>] and having new experiences, going home, reconnecting with old friends,\u201d says the Maine native. \u201cIt feels different this time. I\u2019m not pulling myself out of social experiences to write an album. I\u2019m trying to do the opposite and experience everything right now.\u201d<\/p>\nBreaking through in the industry has been a long time coming for the star. As a kid in Maine, he\u2019d plug his phone and iPod into his older brother\u2019s laptop and download whatever he was listening to \u2014 Mumford and Sons<\/a>, Bon Iver<\/a>, Of Monsters and Men.<\/p>\n![\"Tim](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ROcEtSt4KaZUCJ9GnkjwYw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/a55f1305f3b0ed013d251091b04612b2\"\/)
<\/span><\/div>\n\nTim Mosenfelder\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n
Role Model performing during Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas on Oct. 10, 2025.<\/p><\/div>\n
He eventually enrolled at Point Park University in Pittsburgh with the goal of becoming a filmmaker, but soon fell in love with songwriting. Before long, he was writing tunes and cold-calling local venues around the city asking if he could open for upcoming shows.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started putting out music on Spotify and my first song got put on a playlist to help it get discovered,\u201d he recalls. \u201cThings were happening and people were reaching out and I was also getting paid a very small amount of money from that since I distributed it myself and so I could show that to my parents and be like, \u2018Look, I made money from this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Jonny](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/STt3Hllcfl4RhUnjtUe.ww--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEzNjM7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/273f23435811a48dc8b43c8d6c4ca8e2\"\/)
<\/span><\/div>\nWith some income under his belt, his parents let him take a leave of absence from college, essentially giving him a 12-month window to figure it out. And figure it out he did.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a year to make it and I signed a deal in the year,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
With a whirlwind breakthrough year now under his belt, the star is taking it all in stride.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very cool to me that we have successfully dragged this album out as long as we have,” he says. \u201cI feel like that\u2019s a really hard thing to do, to keep people\u2019s attention on an album for longer than two weeks. I love that and I\u2019m proud of that. Crowds have gotten more fun and louder. Coffee runs have gotten a little bit more hectic and I have to try and look somewhat presentable when I do go get coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more from Role Model, and to see his centerfold <\/a>in print, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Role Model opens up about what’s next when it comes to music after the viral success of “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
The star says he hopes to have another album out by next fall<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
Role Model is PEOPLE’s first-ever Sexiest Man Alive centerfold<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Role Model<\/a> may have spent the last year riding the wave of his viral success, but the best is yet to come.<\/p>\n The singer-songwriter, who is PEOPLE\u2019s first-ever Sexiest Man Alive centerfold<\/a>, charmed millions of fans with his infectious single \u201cSally, When the Wine Runs Out,\u201d which exploded into an on-stage phenomenon that recruited famous faces and fans to join him for a dance.<\/p>\n But for Role Model (n\u00e9 Tucker Pillsbury), the focus is on the future when it comes to his music career \u2014 and not on topping the success of \u201cSally.\u201d<\/p>\n “I felt that for a little bit and decided that maybe that wasn\u2019t the time to start writing, if I\u2019m in that headspace,\u201d he tells PEOPLE. \u201cAt some point, I stopped feeling pressure to top it because I just\u2026 I don\u2019t know. I made it two years ago and I think I\u2019ve grown now and I can write better songs than this. So I\u2019m not worried.\u201d<\/p>\n The musician, 28, released his second album Kansas Anymore in July 2024. The record marked a more mature sound for the star, as he ditched the electronic synths of his earlier releases for \u201870s-inspired guitars. In February, he breathed new life into Kansas with a deluxe edition that contained fan favorites like \u201cSome Protector,\u201d \u201cSally\u201d and \u201cOld Recliners.\u201d<\/p>\n Role Model says he\u2019d \u201clove to have another album out [by] next fall,\u201d and has been \u201cwriting a lot.\u201d (But don\u2019t quote him on that: \u201cI can\u2019t plan that far ahead. I literally don\u2019t even know what I\u2019m doing tomorrow,\u201d he adds.)<\/p>\n \u201cI had a lot of time this summer doing new things and shooting a movie [Lena Dunham<\/a>‘s Good Sex<\/a>] and having new experiences, going home, reconnecting with old friends,\u201d says the Maine native. \u201cIt feels different this time. I\u2019m not pulling myself out of social experiences to write an album. I\u2019m trying to do the opposite and experience everything right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Breaking through in the industry has been a long time coming for the star. As a kid in Maine, he\u2019d plug his phone and iPod into his older brother\u2019s laptop and download whatever he was listening to \u2014 Mumford and Sons<\/a>, Bon Iver<\/a>, Of Monsters and Men.<\/p>\n Tim Mosenfelder\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n Role Model performing during Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas on Oct. 10, 2025.<\/p><\/div>\n He eventually enrolled at Point Park University in Pittsburgh with the goal of becoming a filmmaker, but soon fell in love with songwriting. Before long, he was writing tunes and cold-calling local venues around the city asking if he could open for upcoming shows.<\/p>\n \u201cI started putting out music on Spotify and my first song got put on a playlist to help it get discovered,\u201d he recalls. \u201cThings were happening and people were reaching out and I was also getting paid a very small amount of money from that since I distributed it myself and so I could show that to my parents and be like, \u2018Look, I made money from this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n With some income under his belt, his parents let him take a leave of absence from college, essentially giving him a 12-month window to figure it out. And figure it out he did.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a year to make it and I signed a deal in the year,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n With a whirlwind breakthrough year now under his belt, the star is taking it all in stride.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very cool to me that we have successfully dragged this album out as long as we have,” he says. \u201cI feel like that\u2019s a really hard thing to do, to keep people\u2019s attention on an album for longer than two weeks. I love that and I\u2019m proud of that. Crowds have gotten more fun and louder. Coffee runs have gotten a little bit more hectic and I have to try and look somewhat presentable when I do go get coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n For more from Role Model, and to see his centerfold <\/a>in print, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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