Kane Brown says a bad early-career business deal cost him $10 million.

The country star noted a silver lining, saying the deal ultimately led him to his wife, Katelyn.

Kane Brown is opening up about a “terrible” business deal early in his career that he says cost him $10 million.

The 32-year-old country star shared the story on Bobby Bones Presents: The BobbyCast on Thursday, March 19. Brown explained that as a young artist trying to launch his career on Facebook, he was signed to a 50/50 deal by someone who discovered him.

“I was just so excited to get signed that I couldn’t wait,” Brown said. At the time, he was sleeping in his car to attend meetings since he couldn’t afford hotels. “I didn’t have anybody on my side. I didn’t have my mom. I didn’t have my dad. So I just signed a 50/50 deal.”

The singer, known for hits like “Woman,” admitted he soon realized the contract was unfair and believes it “hurt” his career. He did not disclose the identity of the person who signed him.

When his early songs started going viral, multiple labels expressed interest, but the terms of his deal forced him to sign with Sony. “I love Sony. This is not against Sony. They’ve been good to me. But I was forced to sign there, and it’s just been so long,” Brown said. “I just now redid my deal to make it kind of fair. That’s why I’ve been worried my whole career… I’m not getting what I should.”

Asked about the financial impact, Brown estimated he lost $10 million. “I asked my business manager,” he said. “I got screwed out of that.”

Despite the setback, Brown sees a silver lining: the deal introduced him to his wife, Katelyn, whom he married in 2018. The couple shares three children: daughters Kingsley, 6, and Kodi, 4, and son Krewe, who will turn 2 next month.

“If I wouldn’t have signed with [person], I wouldn’t have my family. I wouldn’t know my wife. I wouldn’t have my kids,” he said. “She used to work with him. He introduced us. I was supposed to be in her music video a year before we actually met, but I had my first show, so I couldn’t do it. So that’s why I always look at it like — if I wouldn’t have done this, I wouldn’t have my family.”

Brown said he feels fortunate for what he does have and recognizes that without his music career, he could still be working a regular job. “I can support my family. We would be living a little bit different life [had the bad deal not happened]. I would be able to give a little bit more away. But it is what it is. God’s got a plan for me,” he said.

Since releasing his self-titled debut album in 2016, Brown has continued to build his career, with his most recent album, The High Road, released last year. He’s also set to open his own Nashville bar, Kane Brown’s on Broadway, over Memorial Day weekend.