1 single under his own belt buckle for this weeks issue.
Full of stories and thoughtful answers, we thought wed put the rest of the chat up here.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Where are you right now?
Credit: Chase Lauer
SAM HUNT: Im on the back of the bus were riding to New York.
We got a pretty long haul.
Where are you driving from?
We just left about an hour ago.
Some people dont like long bus rides but I love them.
Theres sort of a sense of solitude.
The first single off your new debut album, Montevallo, Leave the Night On, went platinum.
Did it feel like a hit when you wrote it?
I thought it was a song that could do well.
When did you start realizing the sort of steam it was gathering?
I just, I dont know why.
Just superstition or whatever it is but I didnt mind not hearing it.
You got your start as a songwriter whats different about writing songs for yourself versus other performers?
Thats a little trickier you have to dig a little more… Yeah, its easier and its harder.
Before, that was all I thought about when I was co-writing.
As a result, theres been a lot of discussion about the genre of the music you make.
Can you talk a little bit about the other influences that come through on a lot of tracks?
Ive always really liked the rhythm element of songs.
And, that I think, when people hear that, they dont think country.
Theyre just stories about country life.
So what makes a country song is that theres a linear structure to the story being told?
Yea, thats what I hang my definition onto.
I think of a song in terms of lyrics and stories and thats what keeps it country for me.
Youve been associated with bro-country does that term get under your skin?
I dont know if the phrase originally was meant to be derogatory but its turned into that.
Its sort of a snobby thing to say.
You know, I think some people enjoy being above whatever bro-country is.
Switching gears a little bit prior to a music career you had an athletic one.
What have you carried over from that discipline to this one?
Thats more of a life lesson you could apply that to anything you do.
Trying to do the right thing, and working hard.
Thats been probably the biggest thing.
Does musical talent run in your family?
Not that I know of.
But my grandfather was a storyteller.
You dont have a typical country-star resume.
You were a philosophy major for a while and a star football player and NFL hopeful in college.
Were your parents worried when you headed to Nashville?
Youve gained fame pretty quickly.
Whats been your craziest fan experience?
Im conflicted about the lyric tattoo thing.
Have you had any big a-ha moment where you really realize this is all happening?
That happens on a day-to-day basis and it doesnt really sink in.
When certain things happen that open my eyes to the level of reach that weve had so far.
You now have a whole new platform do any new goals come with that?
Maybe branching into other areas of entertainment or even music genres?
Nothing from an entertainment standpoint, Ill see where it all goes.
Its more to use the influence to personally influence people outside of the music.
