Artist

A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Chris Young grew up performing in children’s theater where his family and friends discovered his singing talent. The youngster enjoyed the full support of his parents from the start. Whenever he asked for help, they came through without hesitation, whether it meant paying for vocal lessons or buying his first guitar.

In high school, rather than playing sports, Young focused on getting better at music. With help from his family, he and his friends rented out a storage unit and, despite a lack of air conditioning, practiced daily, giving up summer afternoons to rehearse.

Young went to college, taking music business classes first at Belmont University in Nashville, then at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. After two years of studying, he was performing more than 150 shows a year. He soon gained the attention of talent scouts from leading Nashville record labels and top music publishing companies.

When a Texas nightclub agent invited him to front the house band at the Cowboy’s honky-tonk in Arlington, Texas, Young accepted. One of his more faithful fans insisted he audition for the TV talent competition, Nashville Star. Young at first balked, until the friend told him that this year’s winner would, for the first time, get a recording contract with RCA Records. The friend paid for Young’s ticket to audition in Houston.

Young won the competition in 2006 and released his single, “Drinkin’ Me Lonely,” a few months later. His RCA label debut was produced by Buddy Cannon.