Everything you need to know about Sam Hunt

Described as one of country music's freshest and most progressive artists, Sam Hunt first burst onto the scene in 2014 and since then he's certainly made a name for himself.

Renowned for combining country music with pop, R'n'B and hip-hop, the Georgia native is now a five-time Grammy-Award nominated artist and has two multi-platinum selling albums under his belt. Keep on reading to find out more about country music star Sam Hunt and his incredible rise to fame...

Who is Sam Hunt?

Sam Hunt is an American country singer-songwriter who is most well known for his 2017 Number 1 single 'Body Like A Back Road' and co-writing the Kenny Chesney hit 'Come Over', which also reached Number 1.

Often praised for his unique style of country music, Sam is considered one of the genre's brightest rising stars and has already won multiple awards and broken several chart records during his career.

How old is Sam Hunt?

Sam Hunt is currently 39-years-old. He was born on 8th December 1984 and is the eldest son of Allen and Joan Hunt.

Where is he from?

Sam was born and raised in Cedartown, Georgia where he lived with his parents and two younger brothers Van and Ben Hunt.

How did Sam Hunt get famous?

After making a name for himself in Nashville, thanks to his flair for guitar playing and song-writing, Sam Hunt co-wrote the Number 1 single hit ‘Come Over’ with Kenny Chesney. After winning the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Award for the single, Sam independently released his debut single 'Raised on It’, along with a free mixtape of 12 songs titled ‘Between the Pines’.

In early 2014, Sam Hunt signed a contract with MCA Nashville and released a four-song EP called ‘X2C’, which charted at Number 36 on the US Billboard 200. His first single ‘Leave the Night On’ went on to be Number 1 on the Country Airplay Chart later that year and racked up a million certified downloads a month after its release.

His debut studio album, 'Montevallo', was release in 2014 and debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Chart and Number 3 on Billboard Top 200. The album included singles 'Take Your Time', 'Leave the Night On', 'House Party', 'Break Up in a Small Town' and 'Make You Miss Me', with four of the five singles reaching number one.

Sam became the first country music singer, after Clint Black, to have a debut studio album and single ('Take Your Time') top the charts in the same year and stay at Number 1 position for 11 weeks.

In 2017, Sam Hunt released 'Body Like a Back Road', his biggest selling single to date and the the longest running number one song since Leroy Van Dyke's 'Walk On By' 55 years earlier. After the success of the single, Sam gradually released four more singles, 'Drinkin' Too Much', 'Downtown's Dead', 'Kinfolks' and 'Sinning with You'.

Sam Hunt released his second studio album, 'Southside', along with the single 'Hard to Forget' in 2020. The album once again reached Number 1 on the Top Country Albums Chart.

Did Sam Hunt play professional football?

Sam Hunt started playing football at Cedartown High School and was selected by the Georgia Sportswriters Association as a first-team All-State Class AAA all-purpose player. After graduating high school at 18, Sam became a starting quarterback for two years at Middle Tennessee State University before embarking on two more years at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2007, he was invited to football training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs but failed to make the team. It was then that he decided to move to Nashville in 2008 to start pursuing his music career instead.

Career highlights

Even though he is considered a rising star in the country music scene, Sam Hunt has already had his fair share of career highlights.

The single 'Leave the Night On' topped the the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in 2014, making Sam the first country artist in 22 years to reach Number 1 on three country charts simultaneously. Billy Ray Cyrus had previously achieved the same feat with his debut single 'Achy Breaky Heart'.

But this is not the only time Sam Hunt has broken a record. The singer-songwriter was also the first male solo artist to have four Number 1 singles on the Country Airplay chart from a debut studio album.

As well as winning the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Award, Sam was also awarded the Gene Weed Milestone Award and Single Record of the Year for 'Body Like a Back Road' at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2018. He also won Breakthrough Male Of The Year and Digital Album of the Year for 'Montevallo' at the American Country Countdown Awards in 2016.

Has Sam Hunt won a Grammy?

Sam Hunt has not yet won a Grammy Award but he has been nominated five times. He was first nominated in 2016 for Best New Artist and Best Country Album for 'Montevallo' and then again in 2018 for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for 'Body Like A Back Road'.

Most recently, Sam and Ingrid Andress’ track ‘Wishful Drinking’ was nominated for the Best Country Duo/Group Performance award at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

How many albums has Sam Hunt released?

To date, Sam Hunt has released two studio albums. He released his debut album 'Montevallo' in 2014, which has since gone triple Platinum and included singles 'Leave the Night On' and 'Take Your Time'. After extensive touring which led to a break from music, Sam returned with his follow-up album 'Southside' in 2020. Both albums reached Number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums upon their release.

New music: 'Locked Up' EP

Sam released the EP 'Locked Up' in April 2024, which included the tracks 'Country House', 'Last Hurrah', 'Outskirts' and 'Locked Up'. Sam released title track ‘Locked Up’ in March 2024, along with a Johnny Cash-inspired music video.

Which songs has he written for other artists?

Before making it big as a solo artist, Sam Hunt worked as a songwriter and has written several hits for other country artists. These include 'Come Over' by Kenny Chesney, 'Cop Car' by Keith Urban and 'We Are Tonight' by Billy Currington.

Is he married?

Yes, Sam Hunt married his long-time girlfriend Hannah Lee Fowler on 15th April 2017 in his hometown of Cedartown, Georgia. The couple had been dating since 2008 and Hannah was a major inspiration for Sam's debut album 'Montevallo'.

Family life and marriage

The couple met just before Sam moved to Nashville to pursue his music career in 2008 and were on-again off-again for years before tying the knot.

The singer has frequently stated the majority of songs on his album 'Montevallo', which is named after his wife's hometown in Alabama, are inspired by their relationship. The couple have two children - their daughter Lucy Louise was born in May 2022 and their son Lowry Lee was born in October 2023.

Sam appears to be a family man on social media and has also posted photos with his parents, grandparents and brothers.

Is Sam Hunt going on tour?

He is! In June 2024, Sam will be heading off on a North American tour, visiting cities across the United States and Canada. No UK dates have currently been announced.

Sam previously embarked on the ‘Summer on the Outskirts’ tour in 2023, visiting an array of cities across the United States. Opening acts for the tour were Brett Young and Lily Rose.

Take a look at some of the country tours to look forward to:

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