Hunter Hayes – Country Universe

CMA Flashback: Horizon Award and New Artist (2022 Edition)

November 10, 2022 Kevin John Coyne 9

The complete history of the CMA award for Horizon/New Artist, including a look at this year’s nominees.

A Country Music Conversation: Sirius Top 1000 Country Songs of All Time, #200-#191

May 13, 2021 Kevin John Coyne 11

We’re entering the home stretch of the list as we look at the bottom ten entries of the top 200.

A Country Music Conversation: Sirius Top 1000 Country Songs of All Time, #990-#981

June 4, 2019 Kevin John Coyne 6

The conversation broadens with two more writers joining in.

100 Greatest Women, #91: Lori McKenna

March 21, 2018 Kevin John Coyne 8

Lori McKenna’s talent as a songwriter has made her a major player in mainstream country, while she has also cultivated a consistent career as an Americana artist.

Sunday Selections: January 29, 2017

January 29, 2017 Jonathan Keefe 3

Could it be we’re finally hearing what we’ve been hoping for?

Single Review: Hunter Hayes, “21”

May 24, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 6

“21” Hunter Hayes Written by Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Hunter Hayes, and Kelly Lovelace Back in the days of cassettes, a faulty player would run the tape through a little too fast. It made the

2015 Grammy Awards: Predictions & Personal Picks

February 6, 2015 Kevin John Coyne 16

This year’s Grammy Awards air on Sunday, February 8, and country music will be represented with performances Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, and the tantalizing pairing of Brandy Clark and Dwight Yoakam. Most of the awards

2015 Grammy Nominations

December 5, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 10

Updated: Best Country Duo/Group Performance The Band Perry, “Gentle on My Mind” Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad” Little Big Town, “Day Drinking” Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill, “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s” Keith Urban

Single Review: Hunter Hayes, “Tattoo”

June 25, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 13

I want to preface this by saying, as I’ve said before, that Hunter Hayes is tremendously talented. “Tattoo” is further evidence that he can assemble all of the necessary components for an entertaining record, and

Single Review: Hunter Hayes, “Invisible”

February 2, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 23

Hunter Hayes scored a killer Grammy performance slot to debut this song, which has all of the necessary components to become a career record.

Showing solidarity with the outcasts in high school halls is as timely as ever, and his youth helps him be the ideal vessel for the heartwarming message. There are moments which come perilously close to the maudlin, with shades of Billy Gilman’s “One Voice” or the Mark Wills hit, “Don’t Laugh at Me.” Thankfully, he’s sounding a lot more like a young Keith Urban than a young Bryan White, and the song is just vague enough that it can become a personal anthem for pretty much anyone who feels unnoticed or noticed in all the wrong ways.