COUNTRY STAR OF THE MONTH: HARDY

A few years back I had a coworker tell me about this new artist coming out that didn’t exactly fit the country singer look model. He had straggly hair and a goatee, was wearing black rimmed glasses, a ball cap, and what looked like a Hawaiian shirt. He goes by just one name: Hardy. The song he debuted with was a song that struck a chord with many country music listeners called “Rednecker”. It became an instant anthem for the truck driving, Skoal ring, Busch Latte drinking, party crowd of country music. He quickly became a singer to watch and came ti Riverfest in La Crosse with Morgan Wallen. Most didn’t know that William Michael Hardy was songwriter before he started singing.

Hailing from Mississippi he went to Middle Tennessee State University to get a degree in songwriting. He joined Big and Loud Records and released his first album This Ole Boy in 2018. He quickly became a name in Nashville writing songs for several artists. Hardy co-wrote Florida Georgia Line’s singles “Simple” and “Talk You Out Of It” as well as Morgan Wallen’s song “Up Down” He toured with both groups to help promote his album. He expanded his group of famous friends by writing Blake Shelton’s singles “God’s Country”, Chirs Lane’s “I Don’t Know About You” and Jameson Rodger’s debut “Some Girls”. So if you haven’t heard him sing them you have definitely heard his songs. Since he had so many artists interested in his work he decided to get together with more and make his next album Hixtape, Vol 1 where he does duets with several country luminaries like Keith Urban Tracy Lawrence , Trace Adkins, and Joe Diffie before he passed away. Current artists ruling the charts he hooked up with include Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, Cole Swindell, and Dustin Lynch. Hardy was also featured in a bit of tongue in cheek singing with Brantley Gilbert with the song “This Is The Worst Country Song Of All Time”.

Currently Hardy has had some success being on his own and teaming up with different artists with the release of “One Beer” with Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson telling the story of where one drink might take your life’s path. He followed that up by joining Dierks Bentley by co-writing and singing on the song “Beers On Me” with an assist from Breeland. Right now he is currently on the Country Music charts with “Give Heaven Some Hell” which is making the climb towards the top. The song is about losing someone and hoping they are still being the fun loving person they were here on Earth. Hardy’s southern drawl spreads across his songs like a smooth pat of butter and has a bit of edge that doesn’t necessarily mirror his look. Whether you hear him sing or you hear a song he wrote, it is hard to escape his influence on Country Music right now.