Fresh off celebrating his 10th #1 hit with “Outskirts,” SamHunt is reflecting on where it all began and how far he’s come from his “moody” ways.

Chatting with Audacy's Rob + Holly during the Friday Night Takeover, Hunt reflected on one of his first #1 songs, “House Party,” saying he originally did not want to release it.

“I wanted to be a more serious, poignant songwriter and I thought it [‘House Party’] was silly,” Hunt shared. “Early on in my career, all my songs were moody and serious. I still have those songs — but after putting out ‘House Party,’ putting that one out reluctantly and seeing it do well and how well it did at the shows… A lot of the folks who come out to the show want to smile and have a good time.”

Hunt admits seeing “House Party” top the charts and the fans react positively at live shows changed his perspective completely and revealed to him not all of his music has to be perfectly penned to have an impact on fans.

“I have to check myself and remind myself, ‘You’re a fan of songs that are fun and happy,’” he said. “‘How many songs do you play around the house that are sort of guilty pleasures that when you put your artist hat on, you may not say, ‘there’s so much depth to this song, that’s so lyrically powerful,’ but it makes you feel good.”

While he still prides himself in top notch songwriting, Sam admits he makes it a point to release good time anthems from time to time which is exactly what he did with the track, “Country House,” on his latest EP, Locked Up.

"I’ve made a point since then to go out of my way to play to that sect of our audience and ‘Country House’ is one of those songs that lives in that world,” Sam said after describing the track and “lightweight and fun.”

Hear “Country House,” on Sam’s newest EP, Locked Up, in addition to “Last Hurrah,” “Outskirts,” and the title track, available now. Plus, catch up on all details surrounding his “Locked Up” music video and more by checking out his entire conversation with Audacy’s Rob + Holly above.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Rob + Holly

Fresh off celebrating his 10th #1 hit with “Outskirts,” Sam Hunt is reflecting on where it all began and how far he’s come from his “moody” ways.
Chatting with Audacy's Rob + Holly during the Friday Night Takeover, Hunt reflected on one of his first #1 songs, “House Party,” saying he originally did not want to release it.
“I wanted to be a more serious, poignant songwriter and I thought it [‘House Party’] was silly,” Hunt shared. “Early on in my career, all my songs were moody and serious. I still have those songs — but after putting out ‘House Party,’ putting that one out reluctantly and seeing it do well and how well it did at the shows… A lot of the folks who come out to the show want to smile and have a good time.”
Hunt admits seeing “House Party” top the charts and the fans react positively at live shows changed his perspective completely and revealed to him not all of his music has to be perfectly penned to have an impact on fans.
“I have to check myself and remind myself, ‘You’re a fan of songs that are fun and happy,’” he said. “‘How many songs do you play around the house that are sort of guilty pleasures that when you put your artist hat on, you may not say, ‘there’s so much depth to this song, that’s so lyrically powerful,’ but it makes you feel good.”
While he still prides himself in top notch songwriting, Sam admits he makes it a point to release good time anthems from time to time which is exactly what he did with the track, “Country House,” on his latest EP, Locked Up.
"I’ve made a point since then to go out of my way to play to that sect of our audience and ‘Country House’ is one of those songs that lives in that world,” Sam said after describing the track and “lightweight and fun.”
Hear “Country House,” on Sam’s newest EP, Locked Up, in addition to “Last Hurrah,” “Outskirts,” and the title track, available now. Plus, catch up on all details surrounding his “Locked Up” music video and more by checking out his entire conversation with Audacy’s Rob + Holly above.
Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Rob + Holly

Sam Hunt | Friday Night Takeover

KennyChesney is one of the most idolized live performers in Country music and according to him, an ego is partially to thank.

“I’ve got ego up on stage,” he told Audacy’s Rob + Holly during his recent appearance on the Friday Night Takeover. “I think you have a to have a little bit to be great up there [with] the way we do things.”

Not afraid to admit he lets his ego rule the live shows, Chesney admits the stage is where it stays. “I work really hard at leaving that person up there. I don’t take that person with me backstage in my every day life,” he said.

Ask anyone who’s interacted with Chesney and they’ll assure you an ego is far from his off-stage life as he remains one of the most beloved acts for new artists to tour with and regularly seeks to connect with fans by making authentic music. “It makes me feel great,” Kenny said in response to other artists calling him a mentor and wanting to model their own tours after his. “It’s always much better if everybody really loves it and there’s a lot of love goin’ around.”

As far as connecting with fans, the 56-year-old says his fans know immediately if something is disingenuous. “When you’ve been doing this for a minute, the trick is to make a record that pushes your audience, but doesn’t alienate them to a point where it’s disingenuous.” he explained. “One thing I learned about being up there on stage and being in this intimate place with them [fans] over the years is… they know pretty quickly if it’s disingenuous from me. We have to keep that in mind, but we also have to push the envelope a bit.”

That’s exactly what Chesney feels he did with his new album, Born, available now. Hear more about what he’s looking forward to most with his stadium tour this summer by checking out his entire conversation with Audacy’s Rob + Holly above.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Rob + Holly

Kenny Chesney is one of the most idolized live performers in Country music and according to him, an ego is partially to thank.
“I’ve got ego up on stage,” he told Audacy’s Rob + Holly during his recent appearance on the Friday Night Takeover. “I think you have a to have a little bit to be great up there [with] the way we do things.”
Not afraid to admit he lets his ego rule the live shows, Chesney admits the stage is where it stays. “I work really hard at leaving that person up there. I don’t take that person with me backstage in my every day life,” he said.
Ask anyone who’s interacted with Chesney and they’ll assure you an ego is far from his off-stage life as he remains one of the most beloved acts for new artists to tour with and regularly seeks to connect with fans by making authentic music. “It makes me feel great,” Kenny said in response to other artists calling him a mentor and wanting to model their own tours after his. “It’s always much better if everybody really loves it and there’s a lot of love goin’ around.”
As far as connecting with fans, the 56-year-old says his fans know immediately if something is disingenuous. “When you’ve been doing this for a minute, the trick is to make a record that pushes your audience, but doesn’t alienate them to a point where it’s disingenuous.” he explained. “One thing I learned about being up there on stage and being in this intimate place with them [fans] over the years is… they know pretty quickly if it’s disingenuous from me. We have to keep that in mind, but we also have to push the envelope a bit.”
That’s exactly what Chesney feels he did with his new album, Born, available now. Hear more about what he’s looking forward to most with his stadium tour this summer by checking out his entire conversation with Audacy’s Rob + Holly above.
Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Rob + Holly

Kenny Chesney | Friday Night Takeover

Bailey Zimmerman talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Bailey Zimmerman talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Bailey Zimmerman at Tortuga Music Festival.

HunterGirl talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

HunterGirl talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

HunterGirl at Tortuga Music Festival.

Russell Dickerson talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Russell Dickerson talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Russell Dickerson at Tortuga Music Festival.

Priscilla Block talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Priscilla Block talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Priscilla Block at Tortuga Music Festival.

Chase Matthew talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Chase Matthew talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Chase Matthew at Tortuga Music Festival

Old Dominion talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Old Dominion talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Old Dominion at Tortuga Music Festival

Kassi Ashton talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Kassi Ashton talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

Kassi Ashton at Tortuga Music Festival

HARDY talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

HARDY talks with Rob + Holly at Tortuga Music Festival.

HARDY at Tortuga Music Festival

Rob Stone and Holly Hutton give you the VIP treatment as ACM Award-winning personalities, connecting you with your favorite Country artists every weeknight on Audacy radio stations nationwide. Join the high-energy duo as they keep your nights interesting with one-of-a-kind artist interviews, the latest Country news and real-life anecdotes from their own eventful lives. When not on your airwaves, you can catch Rob Stone on-stage as a singer-songwriter and Holly Hutton on her farm, rescuing horses. What are you waiting for? Listen now!

Rob Stone and Holly Hutton give you the VIP treatment as ACM Award-winning personalities, connecting you with your favorite Country artists every weeknight on Audacy radio stations nationwide. Join the high-energy duo as they keep your nights interesting with one-of-a-kind artist interviews, the latest Country news and real-life anecdotes from their own eventful lives. When not on your airwaves, you can catch Rob Stone on-stage as a singer-songwriter and Holly Hutton on her farm, rescuing horses. What are you waiting for? Listen now!

Rob Stone and Holly Hutton give you the VIP treatment as ACM Award-winning personalities, connecting you with your favorite Country artists every weeknight on Audacy radio stations nationwide.

Rob + Holly

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