Before becoming the nation's all-caps rock 'n' roll rebel, Michael Hardy was just a music lover from a small town in Mississippi . And although he grew up in the countryside, he wasn't much of a fan of country music. That is, until one famous barroom song changed everything.
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Earlier this week in Broken Record podcast Hardy told how he became a fan of country music, calling Brad Paisley catalyst for this process.
«"It just didn't appeal to me," he said, referring to country music's golden era when Winona , George , Alan и Garth dominated the airwaves. He said the songs' themes, reminiscent of "honky-tonk country," were more suited to adults and didn't resonate with him as a teenager.
«It just didn’t grab me,» he said before mentioning Brooks & Dunn , which he now has a soft spot for. "Now I go back to their music and think, 'This music is amazing.' But when I was 16, I knew nothing about it."« Boot Scootin' Boogie “».
The turning point came with one particular song: Brad Paisley's 2002 hit "I'm Gonna Miss Her," a tongue-in-cheek ditty about a man who prefers fishing to romance.
«"I wish I could have gone to that," he said. "Especially as a teenager. And that's when I started getting into country music. The lyrics became a little wittier, and it just appealed to people who grew up in the countryside. I don't think it was as popular in the '90s. There weren't a lot of songs like that in the '90s."» Country Boy Can Survive «».
Today, HARDY is one of the most sought-after singer-songwriters in Nashville, with numerous chart-topping hits to his credit. charts ("One Beer", "Favorite Country Song", "Truck Bed"), as well as successful collaborations with Morgan Wallen ("Up Down", "Sand in My Boots"), Cody Johnson («How Do You Sleep at Night») and Post Malone и Luke Combs ("Missin' You Like This").
The owner of five Academy of Country Music Awards and two Country Music Association Awards , this unconventional hitmaker has firmly established himself as one of the defining voices of modern country music.
Today, the Nashville rock musician is on tour, which will last until October . Dates and ticket information are available on his official website. Book your concert now. Because it's entirely possible to imagine country music without Hardy. But why?
See also: The 1976 arena rock anthem still sounds the same as it did the first time, 50 years later, in a new video.
This article was originally published by Parade on May 29, 2026, in the News section. Add Parade to your list of recommended sources by clicking here.