Sam Hunt (Getty)
Sam Hunt is driving a country music revolution. Along with his peers Thomas Rhett, and Brantley Gilbert, Hunt is combining multiple different genres to bring a more modern sound to Nashville.
Hunt cut his teeth writing songs for Nashville heavyweights, and soon after, found success with his own voice on the album Montevallo.
Hunt just dropped a new song called “Body Like a Back Road”, and that begs the question whether a new record is coming soon.
All that said he has the country music world by the balls, its time to put him out in the spotlight with 5 fast facts you need to know about Sam Hunt.
1. He has Written Songs for Superstar Country Artists
Prior to having a successful solo career Sam Hunt wrote singles for Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Billy Currington, and the great Reba McEntire.
Songs include Chesney’s “Come Over,” Reba’s “Love Somebody,” Billy Currington’s “We Are Tonight,” and Keith Urban’s “Cop Car.”
2. His Debut Album Broke Records
Sam Hunt (Getty)
Sam Hunt (Getty)
Sam Hunt released Montevallo in 2015. The album broke records with five singles hitting the charts. This included three consecutive Hot Country Songs and four Country Airplay chart number ones.
The lead single “Leave the Night On”, was the first song in 22 years to reach number one on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay at the same time.
Hunt is also the first country artist since Clint Black to stay at number one on both the year-end album and singles chart with Montevallo and the single “Take Your Time.” Hunt was also the first solo male artist to have four number ones on the Country Airplay charts from a debut album.
3. He Played Football for the Kansas City Chiefs
Not only is Hunt a star on the stage, but he also excelled at playing football. In high school Hunt was named the 2002 Co-Offensive Played of the Year and was selected for the Georgia Sportswriters Association All-State Class AAA first-team as an all-purpose player.
Hunt moved onto play quarterback for Middle Tennessee State University and UAB. At UAB he started seven games during the 2006 season.
But he it wasn’t until 2007 that he decided to address a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in the NFL. Hunt was invited to training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he walked away from the game after two months to focus on his music career.
4. Hunt Cites Multiple Influences on his Sound
Sam Hunt (Getty)
Sam Hunt (Getty)
Hunt has stated many times that he doesn’t write songs with any genre in mind. Hunt is part of a new breed of country music artist. One that absorbs other genres around them and makes the sound original and their own. He went on to tell Rolling Stone Country, “I think country songs are truthful songs about life written by country people, but the beats and sounds will continue to evolve.”
His music is truly original to the country sphere of influence and brings in elements of R&B, pop, and hip-hop to align with the country spirit. He has been heavily influenced by Dwight Yoakam, Kenny Chesney, R. Kelly, and Ginuwine among others.
5. His Current Fiancé Inspired his Debut Album Montevallo
Just recently, in January of 2017, Hunt announced he was engaged to Hannah Lee Fowler who he had been dating on and off since 2008. She had been the main inspiration behind the wildly successful Montevallo record and he name drops her in his song “Drinkin’ Too Much.”
In January 2017, it was announced that Hunt became engaged to Hannah Lee Fowler.[41] Fowler, whom Hunt had been dating on-and-off since 2008, was the main inspiration behind his album Montevallo.[42] Her name and their story are also referenced in his song “Drinkin’ Too Much.”[43]
