Sam Hunt
Sam Lowry Hunt (born December 8, 1984 in Cedartown, Georgia) is a country singer-songwriter and former starting quarterback for the UAB Blazers football team.
Hunt is the son of Allen and Joan Hunt of Georgia. He played quarterback at Cedartown High School and was nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman award. He went on to play for two years at Middle Tennessee State University, then transferred to UAB. His playing time was limited by injuries, but he had seven starts during the 2006 season.
Hunt graduated with a major in philosophy in 2007 and was invited to the Kansas City Cheifs' training camp. He was not signed to a professional team, and instead decided to move to Nashville to pursue a career in music.
Sam Hunt co-wrote Kenny Chesney's 2012 hit "Come Over", for which he received an ASCAP award. He also wrote two singles released in 2014: Keith Urban's "Cop Car" and Billy Currington's "We Are Tonight". Hunt independently released the single "Raised on It" in September 2013 and in October 2013 he released via his website a free 15-song mixtape titled "Between the Pines".
In January 2014, it was confirmed that he had signed with MCA Nashville. On August 12, 2014, he released X2C, a four song EP, intended as a preview of his first studio album. The EP debuted at number 36 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, selling 8,000 copies in its first week.
Hunt's first single for MCA was "Leave the Night On", which went to number 1 on Country Airplay in October 2014 and received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for one million certified downloads. His first full-length studio album, Montevallo, was released on October 27. The album included his own version of "Cop Car".
On November 5, 2014, Montevallo debuted at number 1 on Top Country Albums and number 3 on the Billboard 200. It opened with 70,000 units sold. Five days later, he announced his first tour, Lipstick Graffiti. Tickets went on sale Friday, November 14. Within minutes—and in some cases seconds—of going on sale, the tour sold out at 15 of the venues.
Lyrical and musical style
Hunt told Taste of Country that he does not write his songs with a specific genre in mind, but rather follows his instinct. His songwriting was heavily influenced by Brad Paisley, whose early hit "He Didn't Have to Be" had a big impact on him as a kid growing up in Georgia: "I remember being at church on Wednesday night at Wednesday night supper, and getting the keys from my mom well before it was over to just go sit in the car and to turn the radio on and hopefully wait and catch that song." His music contains elements of country, R&B, and pop. He cites Billy Currington, Usher, K-Ci and JoJo, R. Kelly, Ginuwine, as musical influences.