September 9: Country singer Hunter Hayes is 22-years-old today.

 



Photos courtesy of Huterhayes.com

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Hunter Easton Hayes was born September 9, 1991 in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. He began his musical career at the age of two when his grandmother gave him a toy accordion. At the age of four, he began making appearances at local performances and on national television, including showings on Maury, Rosie O'Donnell, and Nickelodeon's game show Figure It Out.

At seven-years-old, Hunter was invited to perform for President Bill Clinton for a White House lawn party. At the age of 13, Hayes appeared on America's Most Talented Kids. He performed the hit Hank Williams song, "Hey Good Lookin'."

In 2008, he moved from his hometown of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana to Nashville, Tennessee to be signed with Universal Music Publishing Group as a songwriter. He graduated in 2007, at the age of 16, and in 2010, co-wrote "Play" for the Rascal Flatts album Nothing Like This.

In September 2010, Hayes was signed to Atlantic Records Nashville and began working on what would become his major-label debut album. Hayes appeared as the opening act of ten dates of country star Taylor Swift's Speak Now World Tour throughout the summer of 2011. In late April 2011, Hunter went on his own radio tour that lasted approximately 10 weeks on which he debuted songs that would appear on his self-titled album.

Hayes and actress/singer Victoria Justice contributed a duet to the soundtrack of 2011's Footloose remake, recording a cover of Mike Reno and Ann Wilson's 1984 hit "Almost Paradise" from the original film.

On September 7, 2012, two days shy of his 21st birthday, he was inducted, as the youngest member, into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Hayes' self-titled major-label debut album, was released on October 11, 2011. Hunter co-wrote on every song, played every instrument found on the album "Wanted" is Hayes's first No. 1 single, making him the youngest solo male act to top the Hot Country Songs, breaking a record originally set in 1973 by Johnny Rodriguez.

"Wanted" returned to the top of the country charts 20 weeks after first appearing in the top spot, this time under a new chart format. "Somebody's Heartbreak,” the album's third single, went to No. 1 on Country Airplay. Hunter was also nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best New Artist at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Hunter is the youngest male country artist to ever be nominated in all 3 Grammy categories he was nominated for. The album's fourth single, "I Want Crazy,” was released to country radio on April 7, 2013.

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For more about Hunter, visit his Website at –

http://www.hunterhayes.com/

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