Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes is an accomplished American country music singer-songwriter known for his prodigious talent and musical versatility. Born and raised in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, Hayes was immersed in Cajun music from a young age, quickly mastering the accordion and other instruments. His career took off early, performing at notable venues and even playing for President Bill Clinton at just eight years old. In 2011, he released his self-titled debut album, which earned him three Grammy nominations and established him as a prominent figure in country music, drawing comparisons to stars like Taylor Swift.
Throughout his career, Hayes has released several successful albums, including "Storyline" and "Wild Blue, Part 1," and he has achieved multiple platinum certifications for his singles. Known for his relentless work ethic, he once set a Guinness World Record for the most live concerts played in multiple cities in a single day. Beyond his musical achievements, Hayes maintains a personal connection to his craft, often wearing a cross that symbolizes his love for music. He continues to seek meaningful relationships, expressing a preference for traditional methods over dating apps.
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Subject Terms
Hunter Hayes
Singer-songwriter
- Born: September 9, 1991
- Place of Birth: Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
Contribution: Hunter Hayes is an American country music singer-songwriter. Hayes received three Grammy nominations for his eponymous 2011 debut album, including one for best new artist.
Background
Hunter Hayes was born and raised in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, the only son of Lynette Clause and Leo Hayes. The Hayes family was quick to expose him to the music of southern Louisiana’s Cajun culture, to which they have ancestral ties. For his second birthday, Hayes’s grandmother gave him an accordion, an instrument he quickly mastered, and he soon began playing traditional Cajun music by ear.
At a 1997 concert at Dallas’s Texas Motor Speedway, Hayes performed the Cajun traditional “Jambalaya” alongside Hank Williams Jr. for a crowd of over two hundred thousand. By the age of six, Hayes began to draw on his prodigious skills to teach himself a variety of instruments, including bass guitar, drums, and keyboards. Excitement surrounding his local live performances in and around Louisiana ultimately resulted in bookings on nationally syndicated television shows—notably, the talk shows Maury and The Rosie O’Donnell Show, as well as numerous appearances on the children’s network Nickelodeon. At age eight, Hayes played for President Bill Clinton at the White House.
Career
Hayes’s television experience and accordion savvy garnered him an appearance in a feature film, the 1997 drama The Apostle. The film’s star, American actor Robert Duval, gave young Hayes a guitar as a token of appreciation for his performance. He set to work immediately, learning the instrument and writing songs.
During the remainder of his childhood, Hayes became a well-known name in the American country music festival circuit. He played up to as many as thirty shows annually through his teenage years, establishing relationships and contacts through which he would ultimately forge his professional career as an adult.
Between the ages of nine and seventeen, Hayes independently recorded and released some half-dozen records. His songwriting skills captured the ear of major label executives in the late 2000s when he co-wrote a song with country music superstars Rascal Flatts. He signed with Atlantic Records in 2010 at age nineteen and immediately began work on his major label debut.
Hayes channeled his creative focus intensely during recording, assuming the role of chief songwriter and producer. In addition to recording each of the record’s lead and background vocal tracks, Hayes also wrote and recorded parts for each of the thirty-two instruments on the recording.
The album Hunter Hayes was released by Atlantic in October of 2011, immediately catapulting Hayes to country-music heartthrob status, which critics disparagingly referred to as the male answer to country-music superstar Taylor Swift. Comparisons to Swift were not lost on industry executives, who installed Hayes as an opening act for Swift during her 2012 tour of North America. He also toured with Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood.
Powered by the popularity of singles such as “Storm Warning,” “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” and “Wanted,” Hayes’s debut album went on to achieve platinum status in sales by the summer of 2013; “Wanted” alone was certified double platinum the preceding January. The release would also earn Hayes 2012 Grammy nominations in the categories of best new artist, best country solo performance, and best country album. Hayes performed selections from his record at the Grammy Nominations Concert in Nashville in December of 2012.
In June of the following year, Hayes released a deluxe edition of his debut album, fittingly titled Hunter Hayes (Encore) and containing a handful of additional tracks. The work includes several collaborations with such artists as Jason Mraz and Ashley Monroe. He followed with his second studio album, Storyline, in 2014. The album featured singles like "Tattoo" and the Grammy Award-nominated "Invisible." While promoting the album and raising awareness to end child hunger, Hayes broke the Guinness World Record for most live concerts played in multiple cities in twenty-four hours, playing ten concerts in ten cities during that time.
In 2015, Hayes released The 21 Project, a well-received album featuring songs from an EP with the same name that was released earlier that year. The album contained three discs: a studio recorded version of the songs, an acoustic version, and a live recording. Hayes then released several singles—including 2016's "Yesterday's Song" and 2017's "Rescue"—before recording his fourth studio album, Wild Blue, Part 1. Upon its release in 2019, it was announced that Wild Blue, Part 1 was the first in a planned trilogy of albums. Hayes subsequently followed Wild Blue with Red Sky (2023). In 2024, he released Space Tapes and Lost & Found. The latter is a three-track remix of previously recorded songs.
Impact
Backed by prodigious skills and a virtuoso major label debut that made him an instant presence in a country-music market largely devoid of young male stars, Hunter Hayes has quickly become one of the genre’s most popular artists. His success is often attributed to his tireless work ethic and dedication to rehearsal, continually striving to improve his technique and delivery as he has since early childhood.
Personal Life
For good luck, Hunter habitually wears a cross inscribed with a message about love of music, a gift from a childhood friend. The singer said in 2022 that he is looking for that certain someone but not on dating apps, which he said are not his vibe.
Bibliography
Erlewine, Steven Thomas. Rev. of Hunter Hayes, by Hunter Hayes. AllMusic.com. Rovi Music, 2013. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Helligar, Jeremy, and Ron Ridenhour. “Squeeze Play: Pint-Size Hayes Is a Cajun Commotion.” People. Time, 27 Oct. 1997. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Hayes, Hunter. “The Co-Write Kid: A Q&A with Hunter Hayes.” Interview by Evan Schlansky. American Songwriter. American Songwriter, 18 Oct. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Hayes, Hunter. “Former Cajun Child Star Hunter Hayes Is All Grown Up as Country-Pop Hitmaker.” Interview by Keith Spera. Times Picauyne [New Orleans]. Nola Media Group, 2 Sept. 2012. Web. 13 Aug. 2013.
Hayes, Hunter. “Hunter Hayes Credits Biggest Hit to Canadian Collaboration.” Interview by Nick Patch. CTV News. Bell Media, 5 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Hayes, Hunter. “Hunter Hayes Talks New Encore LP, Upcoming Tour.” Interview by Chuck Dauphin. Billboard. Billboard, 27 June 2013. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
"Hunter Hayes." AllMusic, 2024, www.allmusic.com/artist/hunter-hayes-mn0000635686. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
Mansfield, Brian. “Hunter Hayes Extends Debut Album with (Encore).” USA Today. Gannett, 17 June 2013. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
“Ten Things You Don’t Know about Hunter Hayes.” Mix 105.1. CBS Local Media, 3 Jan. 2013. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.