Hardy's career started as many country careers start -- behind the scenes writing some of the biggest country tunes such as Florida Georgia Line's "Simple" and Morgan Wallen's "Up Down."
After finding success as a songwriter, Hardy decided to embrace the spotlight and released his debut album, This Ole Boy, in October 2018.
US*99 wanted to find out though what was the song that changed everything for him.
"Homeboy, by Eric Church," Hardy responded easily. "I was in college and I was driving to school and that song came on the radio station and I turned it up. Never heard it before. I can relate to that on a personal level, not going to get into that, but I have a similar subject matter...lyrically it really moved me, but also just the rock and roll side of it...everything about that song.
"That was a very, very definitive moment that I was like, I want to write that, I want to make people feel the way this song made me feel for the rest of my life and that's the way I want to go about doing it. That changed everything for me."
The EP draws from his small-town upbringing in Philadelphia, a small town in Mississippi with songs "Throwback" and "Rednecker."
After US99's Country LakeShake, Hardy will be back in Tinley opening up for Florida Georgia Line's "Can't Say I Ain't Country" Tour.
You can purchase his EP here!
