Hunter Hayes

Hunter Hayes
Hayes performing in Frederick, Maryland, 2012
Background information
Birth name	Hunter Easton Hayes
Born	(1991-09-09) September 9, 1991
Origin	Breaux Bridge St. Martin Parish Louisiana, USA
Genres	Cajun, country
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, accordion, guitar, mandolin, keyboard, bass guitar, piano, drums
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Atlantic
Associated acts	Dann Huff, Carrie Underwood, Jason Mraz, Victoria Justice, Ashley Monroe, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Danielle Bradbery
Website	www.hunterhayes.com

Hunter Easton Hayes (born September 9, 1991)^[1] is an American country music singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is signed to Atlantic Records Nashville, and released his self-titled debut album in October 2011.^[2] The album included the Top 20 country single "Storm Warning" and the number 1 singles "Wanted" and "Somebody's Heartbreak". A 2013 re-issue included the Top 5 single "I Want Crazy".

Life and career

Hayes was born on September 9, 1991, at Larniurg Hospital in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, as the only child to Lynette Hayes and Leo Hayes.^[3] His parents both have Cajun ancestry (along with English, Scots-Irish, and German roots).^[4] Hayes grew up singing songs in both English and French.^[5] He began his musical career at 2 when his grandmother gave him a toy accordion. At 4, he began making appearances locally and on national television,^[6][7] including Maury, Rosie O'Donnell, and Nickelodeon's game show Figure It Out, where he performed "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" with Hank Williams Jr..^[8] American Songwriter writes that "Hayes received his first guitar from actor Robert Duvall at age six"^[9] At 7, he was invited to perform for President Bill Clinton for a White House lawn party. At 13, he appeared on America's Most Talented Kids, a show hosted by Dave Coulier; he performed the hit Hank Williams song, "Hey Good Lookin'".

In 2008, he moved from Breaux Bridge to Nashville, Tennessee and signed with Universal Music Publishing Group as a songwriter. In 2010, co-wrote "Play" for the Rascal Flatts album Nothing Like This. In September 2010, he was signed to Atlantic Records Nashville and began working on what would become his major-label debut.

Hayes appeared as the opening act of ten dates of country star Taylor Swift's Speak Now World Tour throughout the summer of 2011 and concluded his leg of the tour in St. Louis, Missouri.^[10] In April 2011, he had gone on his own radio tour where he debuted songs that would appear on his debut album.^[11] His debut headlining tour was the Most Wanted Tour; the first leg of the tour began on October 8, 2011 in Beaumont and ended on December 4, 2011 in San Bernardino.^[12]

Hayes and actress/singer Victoria Justice contributed a duet to the soundtrack of 2011's Footloose remake, recording a cover of Mike Reno's and Ann Wilson's 1984 hit "Almost Paradise" from the original film. Hayes made a sneak appearance on the compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 41 with his song "Somebody's Heartbreak".^[13]

Hayes performing in 2013

From January to February 2012, Hayes was the opening act on the Rascal Flatts "Thaw Out" tour.^[14]

"Where We Left Off" is an original song, written by Hayes, that can be heard on the soundtrack for the 2012 war film Act of Valor.^[15] During the 2012 O Music Awards, The Flaming Lips broke a Guinness World Record (previously held by Jay-Z) for most concerts played in multiple cities in a 24-hr. period. Hayes was the opening act for them at the Hattiesburg stop.^[16]

In May 2012, Martin Guitars named Hayes as C.F. Martin & Co.'s newest brand ambassador. American Songwriter quoted Hayes on the subject: "It is an absolute honor to be named an official Martin Ambassador and to be recognized by the Martin family."^[9]

On September 7, 2012, he was inducted at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame as its youngest member.^[17]

2011-2013: Hunter Hayes

Hayes signing autographs in Frederick, Maryland in August 2012.

The debut single was "Storm Warning", released to radio on May 16, 2011. His self-titled major-label debut album was released on October 11, 2011.^[18] He co-wrote every song, played every instrument, and along with Dann Huff, produced the album.^[19] "Wanted", the second single, was released to radio on March 5, 2012.

On July 24, 2012, he appeared on the CBS's, The Talk, where he was then given an RIAA Gold Certification plaque for “Wanted”.^[20] Just shy of two months since "Wanted" went gold, the song was certified Platinum by RIAA on August 23, 2012.

"Wanted" became his first No. 1 single,^[21] making him the youngest solo male act to top Hot Country Songs, breaking the record set in 1973 by Johnny Rodriguez.^[22] Twenty weeks after first appearing in the top spot and under a new chart format, "Wanted" returned to the top spot.^[23] "Somebody's Heartbreak", the album's third single, went to No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart.

Starting September 14, 2012, Hayes began appearing as the opening act on 90+ dates for Carrie Underwood's Blown Away Tour.

He was also nominated for 3 Grammys including Best New Artist at the 2013 Grammy Awards; he is the youngest male country artist to be nominated in all 3 categories for which he was nominated.^[24][25] The album's fourth single, "I Want Crazy", which is from the deluxe Encore edition, was released to country radio on April 7, 2013. It peaked at number two on the Country Airplay chart in August 2013. Following it was "Everybody's Got Somebody but Me", a re-recording of a song from the original press of the album. The re-recorded version features guest vocals from Jason Mraz.

Hunter was one of five country singers who won a CMT Artist of the Year award; this award is awarded every year to a group of country musicians who have had an outstanding year.^[26]

2014-present: Second Studio Album

Hayes performed "Invisible," the lead single from his sophomore album, at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. Hayes' second major studio release will be available in May 2014.

Filmography

• The Apostle, 1997, Child Accordionist
• Figure It Out, 1998, himself
• My Dog Skip, 2000, Accordion Boy
• Charlie's War, 2003, Montgomery

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Independent albums

Singles

• ^ACurrent Single.

Other charted songs

Music videos

Other appearances

Writing credits

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Official website
• Hunter Hayes on Twitter
• Hunter Hayes on Myspace
• Hunter Hayes on Facebook
• Hunter Hayes's channel on YouTube
• Hunter Hayes at the Internet Movie Database
• Hunter Hayes at Country Music Television