Jessica Norton 
Charlie Puth is one of New Jersey’s most recognizable homegrown artists, long associated with his upbringing in Rumson, New Jersey and the creative path that started right in his own backyard. Before topping charts, he was a kid recording videos on the boardwalk and posting covers on YouTube. From summers spent along the Shore to having local musical influences like Bruce Springsteen, his roots have always been woven into his identity and sound. But, on his new track New Jersey, featured on his latest album Whatever’s Clever! (out now), that hometown pride takes a more complicated turn, one that some listeners are interpreting as a subtle dig at the very place that raised him and a take not everyone agrees with… Read on to learn more about Charlie Puth’s New Jersey ties and what his new song is about.
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- Rumson Roots: Charlie Puth is a born and raised Monmouth County guy. He grew up in Rumson, New Jersey and attended Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School before attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege and Berklee College of Music.
- Count Basie Summer Camps: Growing up, Charlie participated in summer youth jazz ensembles and theatrical productions at the Count Basie Theatre, now known as the Count Basie Center for the Arts, in Red Bank, New Jersey.
- A Jersey Shore Love Story: Charlie’s wife, Brooke Sansone, is a childhood friend from his hometown. Charlie revealed to NJMonthly that they know each other because Brooke’s dad is best friends with his dad. She is the daughter of Paul Sansone Jr., owner of Sansone Jr.’s 66 Automall in Neptune, New Jersey, a prominent local car dealership. If you’ve spent any time in Jersey Shore parking lots, you’ve definitely seen those “Sansone Auto” license plate frames everywhere. It’s basically a local staple.
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- Whitney Houston tribute at Super Bowl LX: Charlie Puth is the second New Jersey native to be invited to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. When he was asked to perform in 2026, he made sure to pay homage to fellow Jerseyan Whitney Houston. He specifically arranged the music to be a tribute to her iconic 1991 performance.
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- Pork Roll or Taylor Ham?: Charlie revealed in an interview with SiriusXM that he is actually allergic to all kinds of pork, so he does not partake in eating the Jersey Shore delicacy (a pork roll egg and cheese sandwich). But he did confirm that Monmouth County residents, including himself, call it “Pork Roll.”
- New Jersey is a song on his new album: His most recent album, Whatever’s Clever! (dropped March 27, 2026) has a song specifically about his distaste for New Jersey and how “there’s nothing that fun to do in New Jersey / so I don’t go back.” The song recounts a breakup on the boardwalk and how it ruined returning to his home state.“It’s a song about being stubborn,” Charlie said in an interview, “And just because I’m upset about something in the moment doesn’t mean it’s forever. New Jersey’s always going to be there for me. A lot of the songs on this album are quite theatrical in that way, and have little sprinklings of comedic timing, if that makes sense.”
- World Tour: His 2026 world tour will have a stop in Atlantic City on May 30th at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. He’s had Jersey Shore dates on previous tours, playing venues like PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel and Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.
Even if the new, New Jersey-based track leans a little negative (we personally find that there are LOTS of fun things to do in New Jersey…), there’s still no question that Charlie Puth still loves his home state and carries it with him wherever he goes. For fans here, it’s a reminder that even cheeky shout-outs come from a place of love and having a love-hate relationship with the Garden State is something many of us can relate to (and hopefully it is fleeting). Growing up in Rumson, spending summers along the Shore, and soaking up all the local sounds and culture have truly shaped the artist he’s become. We’re proud to claim him – and his insane musical talent – as one of our own.
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