Chris Young (singer)

American singer-songwriter

Not to be confused with Chris Yonge.

Chris Young

Chris Young performing in 2017.

Background information
Birth name| Christopher Alan Young[1]
Born|  (1985-06-12) June 12, 1985 (age 38)[2]
Origin| Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres| Country
Occupation(s)|

* Singer
* songwriter

Instrument(s)|

* Vocals
* guitar

Years active| 2002–present
Labels| RCA Nashville
Website| chrisyoungcountry.com

Musical artist

Christopher Alan Young (born June 12, 1985) is an American country music singer, songwriter. In 2006, he rose to fame after winning season four of the reality singing competition program Nashville Star.

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[edit]

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[edit]

### 2005–2007: Nashville Star and self-titled debut album[edit]

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[edit]

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.[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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 and Young Love & Saturday Nights[edit]

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]

In 2023, Young released the singles "Looking for You" and "Young Love & Saturday Nights". His ninth album Young Love & Saturday Nights was released on March 22, 2024.[19]

## Personal life[edit]

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.[20] 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.[21]

In January 2024, he was wrongfully arrested by a TABC agent after an altercation in a bar. The charges were then dropped. [22]

## Philanthropy[edit]

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.[23] He has been a major supporter for Stars For Stripes raising $35,000 for the organization.[24] He supports St. Jude Children's Hospital,[25] and has raised money for it by sponsoring a tree at the Gaylord Opryland Resort's Annual Hall of Trees.[26] 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.[27] In late August 2017 he created a fundraising site for Houston to help with the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.[28]

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.[29]

## Discography[edit]

Main article: Chris Young discography

Studio albums

* Chris Young (2006)
* The Man I Want to Be (2009)
* Neon (2011)
* A.M. (2013)
* I'm Comin' Over (2015)
* It Must Be Christmas (2016)
* Losing Sleep (2017)
* Famous Friends (2021)
* Young Love & Saturday Nights (2024)

## Television[edit]

* Barmageddon[30][31][32]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Full name per BMI database.
2. ^ "Today in history". ABC News. Associated Press. June 12, 2014.
3. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b "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. July 15, 2015. 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. ^ [1] 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. ^ Jess (January 8, 2024). "Chris Young Announces His Largest Album Yet". Taste of Country. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
20. ^ "Scary Details of Chris Young's Leg Infection Revealed". Tasteofcountry.com. August 21, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
21. ^ "Chris Young's condition improves". Tennessean.com. June 9, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
22. ^ "Chris Young charges dismissed days after country star's arrest at Nashville bar". Fox News. January 26, 2024.
23. ^ "Chris Young". Little Kids Rock. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
24. ^ "Country Décor, American Travel, Southern Food Recipes, Rustic Weddings | GAC". Blog.gactv.com. May 15, 2015. Archived from the original on January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
25. ^ "February 21st & 22nd | 96.3 KHEY Country". Khey.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
26. ^ "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. December 12, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
27. ^ [2] Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
28. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
29. ^ "ChrisYoungMusic on Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
30. ^ "Barmageddon: Season 1, Episode 8". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
31. ^ "Barmageddon - USANetwork.com". USA Network. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
32. ^ Makhija, Sukriti (January 23, 2023). "Barmageddon season 1 finale, release date, time and celebrity contestants". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chris Young (singer).

* Official website
* Chris Young at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Chris Young

Discography

Studio albums|

* Chris Young (2006)
* The Man I Want to Be (2009)
* Neon (2011)
* A.M. (2013)
* I'm Comin' Over (2015)
* It Must Be Christmas (2016)
* Losing Sleep (2017)
* Famous Friends (2021)
* Young Love & Saturday Nights (2024)

Singles|

* "Drinkin' Me Lonely"
* "Voices"
* "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)"
* "The Man I Want to Be"
* "Tomorrow"
* "You"
* "Neon"
* "I Can Take It from There"
* "Aw Naw"
* "Who I Am with You"
* "Lonely Eyes"
* "I'm Comin' Over"
* "Think of You"
* "Sober Saturday Night"
* "Losing Sleep"
* "Hangin' On"
* "Raised on Country"
* "Drowning"
* "Famous Friends"
* "At the End of a Bar"
* "Looking for You"
* "Young Love & Saturday Nights"

Other songs|

"Flowers"

* v
* t
* e

Nashville Star

Winners|

* Buddy Jewell
* Brad Cotter
* Erika Jo
* Chris Young
* Melissa Lawson

Other contestants|

* John Arthur Martinez
* Miranda Lambert
* George Canyon
* Jason Meadows
* Whitney Duncan
* Sean Patrick McGraw
* Justin Gaston
* Coffey Anderson
* Kacey Musgraves

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Grand Ole Opry

Current members|

* Trace Adkins
* Lauren Alaina
* Bill Anderson
* Kelsea Ballerini
* Bobby Bare
* Mandy Barnett
* Dierks Bentley
* Clint Black
* Garth Brooks
* T. Graham Brown
* Henry Cho
* Terri Clark
* Luke Combs
* John Conlee
* Dailey & Vincent
* Diamond Rio
* Sara Evans
* Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
* Crystal Gayle
* Vince Gill
* Emmylou Harris
* The Isaacs
* Alan Jackson
* Chris Janson
* Jamey Johnson
* Alison Krauss
* Lady A
* Little Big Town
* Patty Loveless
* Dustin Lynch
* Barbara Mandrell
* Martina McBride
* Ashley McBryde
* Del McCoury
* Charlie McCoy
* Scotty McCreery
* Reba McEntire
* Ronnie Milsap
* Eddie Montgomery
* Craig Morgan
* Lorrie Morgan
* Gary Mule Deer
* The Oak Ridge Boys
* Old Crow Medicine Show
* Brad Paisley
* Jon Pardi
* Dolly Parton
* Carly Pearce
* Stu Phillips
* Jeanne Pruett
* Rascal Flatts
* Riders in the Sky
* Darius Rucker
* Don Schlitz
* Jeannie Seely
* Blake Shelton
* Ricky Van Shelton
* Ricky Skaggs
* Connie Smith
* Mike Snider
* Marty Stuart
* Pam Tillis
* Randy Travis
* Travis Tritt
* Josh Turner
* Carrie Underwood
* Keith Urban
* Rhonda Vincent
* Steve Wariner
* Gene Watson
* The Whites
* Mark Wills
* Trisha Yearwood
* Chris Young

Former members|

* Roy Acuff
* David "Stringbean" Akeman
* Jack Anglin
* Eddy Arnold
* Ernest Ashworth
* Chet Atkins
* DeFord Bailey
* Bashful Brother Oswald
* Humphrey Bate
* Binkley Brothers' Dixie Clodhoppers
* Margie Bowes
* Rod Brasfield
* Jim Ed Brown
* The Browns
* Carl Butler and Pearl
* Archie Campbell
* Bill Carlisle
* Martha Carson
* The Carter Sisters
* Maybelle Carter
* Johnny Cash
* June Carter Cash
* Roy Clark
* Zeke Clements
* Patsy Cline
* Jerry Clower
* Stoney Cooper
* Wilma Lee Cooper
* Cowboy Copas
* Charlie Daniels
* Skeeter Davis
* The Delmore Brothers
* The DeZurik Sisters
* Little Jimmy Dickens
* Joe Diffie
* Danny Dill
* Jimmy Driftwood
* Roy Drusky
* The Duke of Paducah
* Holly Dunn
* The Everly Brothers
* Lester Flatt
* Red Foley
* Curly Fox
* Lefty Frizzell
* Troy Gentry
* Don Gibson
* Billy Grammer
* Jack Greene
* The Gully Jumpers
* Theron Hale
* Tom T. Hall
* George Hamilton IV
* Sid Harkreader
* Hawkshaw Hawkins
* George D. Hay
* Hoot Hester
* Goldie Hill
* David Houston
* Jan Howard
* Ferlin Husky
* Stonewall Jackson
* Sonny James
* Norma Jean
* Jim & Jesse
* Johnnie & Jack
* George Jones
* Grandpa Jones
* The Jordanaires
* Doug Kershaw
* Hal Ketchum
* Bradley Kincaid
* Pee Wee King
* Hank Locklin
* Lonzo and Oscar
* Bobby Lord
* The Louvin Brothers
* Charlie Louvin
* Ira Louvin
* Bob Luman
* Loretta Lynn
* Uncle Dave Macon
* Rose Maddox
* Mel McDaniel
* Jesse McReynolds
* McGee Brothers
* Bill Monroe
* George Morgan
* Moon Mullican
* Willie Nelson
* Jimmy C. Newman
* Bobby Osborne
* Sonny Osborne
* Johnny Paycheck
* Minnie Pearl
* Webb Pierce
* Ray Pillow
* Ray Price
* Charley Pride
* Del Reeves
* Jim Reeves
* Leon Rhodes
* Tex Ritter
* Marty Robbins
* Johnny Russell
* Rusty and Doug
* Earl Scruggs
* Jean Shepard
* Mississippi Slim
* Carl Smith
* Fiddlin' Arthur Smith
* Hank Snow
* Red Sovine
* Ralph Stanley
* Texas Ruby
* B. J. Thomas
* Uncle Jimmy Thompson
* Mel Tillis
* Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
* Ernest Tubb
* Justin Tubb
* Leroy Van Dyke
* Porter Wagoner
* Billy Walker
* Charlie Walker
* Kitty Wells
* Dottie West
* Keith Whitley†
* Slim Whitman
* The Wilburn Brothers
* Don Williams
* Hank Williams
* Boxcar Willie
* The Willis Brothers
* Chubby Wise
* Del Wood
* Marion Worth
* Johnnie Wright
* Tammy Wynette
* Faron Young

†Honorary former member; was scheduled to be invited, but died before the invitation was extended

Pending members|

* Lainey Wilson

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Czech Republic
* Korea

Artists|

* Grammy Awards
* MusicBrainz

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