Chris Young (singer)

Christopher Alan Young (born June 12, 1985) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and Barmageddon contestant. In 2006, he was the Season 4 winner of the television program Nashville Star, a singing competition on USA.

Not to be confused with Chris Yonge.

Chris Young
Chris Young performing in 2017.
Chris Young performing in 2017.
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Alan Young[1]
Born (1985-06-12) June 12, 1985[2]
OriginMurfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2002–present
LabelsRCA Nashville
Websitechrisyoungcountry.com

After winning, he was signed to RCA Records Nashville, releasing his self-titled debut album that same year. It produced two singles on Hot Country Songs with "Drinkin' Me Lonely" and "You're Gonna Love Me". His second album, The Man I Want to Be, was released September 1, 2009. It included the singles "Voices", "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)", and the title track, all of which went to number 1. Young's third album, Neon, produced two more number ones in "Tomorrow" and "You" in 2011 as well as the top 5 hit "I Can Take It from There" in 2012. The follow-up, 2013's A.M., produced three new singles with the top 5 hits "Aw Naw", "Who I Am with You", and "Lonely Eyes". His fifth album, I'm Comin' Over, was released on November 13, 2015. In 2017, Young gained one of the crowning achievements in country music, becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Early years

Chris Young was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on June 12, 1985. In his youth, he attended Trinity United Methodist Church. His grandfather Richard Yates was a performer on the Louisiana Hayride.[3]

Young showed interest in music from an early age, performing in various children's theater productions. While attending Oakland High School, he sang in its choir and began playing in local clubs. In 2000, he performed with his high school's Winter Drumline in a performance, "A Night at the Palladium", where he was a mariachi singer. The group performed in the Winter Guard International Tournament in Ohio that year. In 2003, Young was a national YoungArts winner and Presidential Scholar of the Arts.[3]

While attending college, he continued to tour, performing more than 150 shows a year.[3]

Career

2005–2007: Nashville Star and self-titled debut album

In 2006, Chris Young was the house singer for Cowboys Dance Hall in Arlington, Texas. Park Scott and Keith Swan told him that he should audition for Nashville Star in Houston, Texas. He entered the show and won in 2006. His win earned him a contract with RCA Records Nashville and late that year, he released his debut single "Drinkin' Me Lonely". That song peaked at number 42 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and served as the first single from his self-titled debut album, which was produced by Buddy Cannon.[3] The album's second single, "You're Gonna Love Me", peaked at number 48.

2008–2010: Voices EP and The Man I Want to Be

In May 2008, Young released his third single, "Voices". At the CMA Music Festival in June, he promoted the single by emailing it to visitors at his Music Fest booth.[4] In August, "Voices" became his first Top 40 entry on the Billboard charts, peaking at 37.

His second album, The Man I Want to Be, was released in September 2009.[5] It was produced by James Stroud and includes cover versions of Waylon Jennings' "Rose in Paradise" (as a duet with Willie Nelson) and Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia".[5] In October 2009, Young's fourth chart single, "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)", became his first number 1 single. The album's title track[6] was released in November 2009.[7] Both it and a re-release of "Voices" went to number 1.

He was nominated for the 2010 Academy of Country Music Top New Solo Vocalist, alongside Luke Bryan and Jamey Johnson. He presented at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on November 10, 2010.[8] He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Gettin' You Home".

2011–2015: Neon and A.M.
Mandalay Bay Beach Concert in 2015

Young released the single "Tomorrow" in February 2011. It became his fourth straight number 1. The album Neon was released in July 2011. The album includes his fifth consecutive number 1, "You", the title track, and "I Can Take It from There". In August 2012, "Tomorrow" became his first platinum selling single.

In 2013, Young served as an Ambassador for the CMA Songwriter's Series showcased in Belfast, Dublin, London, and Paris in an attempt to showcase country music overseas.[9]

The first single from Young's fourth studio album, "Aw Naw", was released to country radio on May 13, 2013. It peaked at number 3 on the Country Airplay chart in November 2013. The album, A.M., was released on September 17, 2013.[10] The album's second single, "Who I Am with You", was released on January 20, 2014. It peaked at number 2 on the Country Airplay chart in August 2014. The album's third single, "Lonely Eyes", was released to country radio on August 25, 2014. It reached number 2 on the Country Airplay chart in April 2015.

2015–2016: I'm Comin' Over and It Must Be Christmas

On May 12, 2015, Young released a new single titled "I'm Comin' Over". It was the lead single from his fifth studio album of the same name, which was released on November 13, 2015.[11] The same month, "I'm Comin' Over" became his sixth Number One single on the Country charts, and his first since "You" in February 2012. Young played the 14-show I'm Comin' Over Tour in late 2016 in support of the album.[12] The album's second single, "Think of You" with Cassadee Pope, was released on January 4, 2016. It reached number one on the Country charts in May 2016. The third single, "Sober Saturday Night"—a duet with Vince Gill—was released on June 6, 2016. It hit number one on the Country Airplay in March 2017. Young released a country Christmas album, It Must Be Christmas, in October 2016.

2017–2018: Losing Sleep and Grand Ole Opry induction

His sixth album's first single, "Losing Sleep" was released to country radio on May 12, 2017. Young announced the album was also titled Losing Sleep on August 23, 2017.[13] It reached number one on the Country Airplay on February 10, 2018. The album's second single was "Hangin' On".

On August 29, 2017, Young was invited by country legend Vince Gill to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was officially inducted by Brad Paisley.

2019–present: Famous Friends

Young released "Raised on Country," the lead-off single to his seventh studio album, in January 2019.[14] The album's second single, "Drowning," was released on September 23, 2019.[15] "Famous Friends," featuring Young's friend Kane Brown, was released on November 20, 2020, as the album's third single.[16] The album, also titled Famous Friends, was released on August 6, 2021.[17]

"At the End of a Bar", featuring Mitchell Tenpenny, was released on September 13, 2021, as the album's fourth single.[18]

Personal life

On August 13, 2013, Young was en route to a tour date in Montana when he went into septic shock from a small cut on his leg which became infected. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Denver.[19] The medical team immediately started Young on medication, and he had surgery on August 14 to treat the infection. Young returned home under his physician's care. As expected, his mobility was impacted by the surgery and his doctor requested he wait a full week post-surgery to resume touring. Young resumed on August 22.

In June 2014, Young cancelled a performance at the CMA Music Festival after accidentally cutting his left hand with a kitchen knife. The cut required surgery to reconnect tendons in the hand.[20]

Philanthropy

Young has supported Little Kids Rock by donating various items to the organization for auction, raising money to put instruments in the hands of children.[21] He has been a major supporter for Stars For Stripes raising $35,000 for the organization.[22] He supports St. Jude Children's Hospital,[23] and has raised money for it by sponsoring a tree at the Gaylord Opryland Resort's Annual Hall of Trees.[24] On September 8, 2014, Young donated $25,000 of his own money, along with $5,000 from his fan club, to the Nashville School of Arts.[25] In late August 2017 he created a fundraising site for Houston to help with the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.[26]

On October 4, 2018, Young donated $5000 to a GoFundMe page to help pay for cataract surgery for a dog named Granola. He donated the money after a fan reached out to him on Twitter asking him for help marketing the GoFundMe project.[27]

Discography
Main article: Chris Young discography

Studio albums

Television
ShowCompetitorGame 1Win or LossWheel of Redemption ResultGame 2Win or LossWheel of Redemption ResultGame 3Win or LossWheel of Redemption ResultGame 4Win or LossWheel of Redemption ResultGame 5Win or LossWheel of Redemption ResultsSudden Death GameWinnerNotes
Barmageddon[28][29][30] Elle King“Four Play”Loss“The Wing of Death” (chicken wings covered in hot sauce with jalapeños)“Air Cannon Cornhole”Loss“The Giddy Up” (shot made with vinegar, onion juice and horseradish)“Keg Kurling”WonTeam Elle had to spin and got “Ear Ache”. Everyone except King and her Viral VIP had ear protection on while Nikki Bella scraped nails on a chalkboard.Horn StarsWonNo spins left“Drunken Axe Hole”LossNo spins leftEach team had one axe to throw and get the closest to the bullseye. Team Elle got one on the board, whereas Team Chris did not hit the board.Team ElleSeason Finale

While playing Air Cannon Cornhole, a bet was made and accepted by Young’s Viral VIP with Shelton that if he gets it in the center whole he gets 6 points so they can catch up to Team Elle. The counter offer was should they lose, Shelton would pick what they had to do from the Wheel of Redemption. Even though the viral VIP did make the shot to tie the game they lost in sudden death. On the third round Team Elle had Carson Daley shoot for them where he scored 3 points.

References
  1. Full name per BMI database.
  2. "Today in history". ABC News. Associated Press. June 12, 2014.
  3. Leggett, Steve. Biography for Chris Young at AllMusic Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  4. "Chris Young reaches fans with "Voices"". Country Standard Time. June 13, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2008.
  5. "Nashville Star's Chris Young Releasing New Album on Sept. 1". CMT. June 30, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  6. "Story Behind the Song: Chris Young, 'The Man I Want to Be'". Theboot.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  7. Hughes, Donna (May 11, 2010). "Chris Young Is the No. 1 'Man' Again". The Boot.
  8. "Country Music Awards". TVGuide.com. November 4, 2010.
  9. Archived June 20, 2013, at archive.today
  10. Dukes, Billy (June 4, 2013). "Chris Young Creatively Reveals Name, Release Date of 2013 New Album". Taste of Country. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  11. "Chris Young Announces Release Date for New Album 'I'm Comin' Over'". Taste of Country. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  12. "Chris Young Reveals Another Surprise: The I'm Comin' Over Tour". Taste of Country. August 11, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  13. "Chris Young Announces New Album 'Losing Sleep'". Radio.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  14. "Hear Chris Young Name-Check Merle, Willie in New Song 'Raised on Country'". Rolling Stone. January 4, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  15. "Drowning by Chris Young". Apple Music. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  16. Freeman, Joe (November 20, 2020). "Chris Young, Kane Brown Celebrate Their Roots in New Song 'Famous Friends'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  17. Brianne Tracy (June 9, 2021). "Chris Young Announces New Album Famous Friends Set to Drop in August: 'I'm Really Excited'". People. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  18. "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". All Access. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  19. "Scary Details of Chris Young's Leg Infection Revealed". Tasteofcountry.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  20. "Chris Young's condition improves". Tennessean.com. June 9, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  21. "Chris Young". Little Kids Rock. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  22. "Country Décor, American Travel, Southern Food Recipes, Rustic Weddings | GAC". Blog.gactv.com. May 15, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  23. "February 21st & 22nd | 96.3 KHEY Country". Khey.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  24. "Chris Young Supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by Sponsoring a "NEON Holiday Tree" as Part of Gaylord Opryland® Resort's Fifth Annual Hall of Trees". Country Music Pride. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  25. Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  27. "ChrisYoungMusic on Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  28. "Barmageddon: Season 1, Episode 8". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  29. "Barmageddon - USANetwork.com". USA Network. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  30. Makhija, Sukriti (January 23, 2023). "Barmageddon season 1 finale, release date, time and celebrity contestants". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
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