HunterGirl making her Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, March 2, 2024 Photo credit: (c) Grand Ole Opry, photos by Chris Hollo
Over the weekend, Wheelhouse Records/19 Recordings’ vocal powerhouse HunterGirl made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry, invoking an impassioned, lively standing ovation from the packed-out Opry house – a bucket list wish she’s been dreaming of her whole life. For a glimpse into her debut, WATCH HERE. Delivering a raw, emotional and star-making performance of her debut radio single “Ain’t About You” and the heart-stirring unreleased track “Clockworks,” the American Idol runner-up is “…transcending from talented aspiring artist, to make her first steps toward the big leagues” (Billboard). Just named to CMT’s esteemed Next Women of Country, the “Artist to Watch” (Country Now, Wide Open Country) is proving she’s a “major, major new talent” (MusicRow).
“I have dreamed of playing at the Grand Ole Opry since I was a little girl,” says HunterGirl. “It was a full circle moment getting to step into the circle that night. Singing on that stage felt like becoming a part of something greater than myself.”
Additionally, Retired Army Lt. General Keith Huber along with Dr. Hilary Miller, Veterans Center Director, and Beverly Keel, Dean College of Media and Entertainment, from HunterGirl’s alma mater of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), surprised her onstage with a customized blue flight jacket to celebrate her MTSU honorary professorship and everything she’s done for the university’s Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Center, as Charlie Daniels Jr. watched from the audience as she was honored for her vast contributions. Having first been connected to the center from her extensive work with veterans through Operation Song, Hunter continues to help veterans tell their stories through songs – a creative therapy she’s very passionate about coming from a military family.
“The rising country star has continued to work hard and put herself out there on incredibly sincere and emotionally-charged levels” (Country Now), which includes her critically acclaimed single “Ain’t About You” climbing the country radio charts.
“one of those personal songs with universal relevance.” – Billboard
“Empowering and loaded with character and charisma. The ballad swells with positive vibes, and her vocal delivery has immense depth. This is a major, major new talent.” – MusicRow
“Vulnerable, Emotional” – CMT
“HunterGirl’s ‘Ain’t About You’ rises above toxic comparison and insecurity” – Taste of Country
“unbridled honesty” – American Songwriter
“The raw track is full of chilling conviction. The striking and painfully relatable lyrics truly fall out of the Tennessee girl in the most honest and humble of ways.” – All Country News
“The track is exactly what country music needs more of.” – Country Swag
Up next, the talented songstress will be joining Luke Bryan on his 2024 “Mind Of A Country Boy Tour” this summer as well as making her debut at Tortuga Music Festival on April 5 and Faster Horses Festival on July 21.
KEEP UP WITH HUNTERGIRL
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | X | YOUTUBE
Photo ID (L-R): Jenn Tressler (Opry), HunterGirl, Dan Rogers (Opry) Photo credit: Sara Katherine Mills
Photo ID (L-R): Mike Terry (Opry), Beverly Keel (MTSU), HunterGirl, Retired Army Lt. General Keith Huber, Dr. Hilary Miller (MTSU) Photo credit: (c) Grand Ole Opry, photos by Chris Hollo
Photo ID (L-R): JoJamie Hahr (BBRMG), HunterGirl, Elissa Felman (19 Recordings), Ken Tucker (Wheelhouse Records) Photo credit: Sara Katherine Mills
Photo ID (L-R): Back Row – Shelley Hargis (BBRMG), JoJamie Hahr (BBRMG), Katie Kerkhover (BBRMG), Elissa Felman (19 Recordings), Ken Tucker (Wheelhouse Records), Patricia Wittmer (BMG), Chris Oglesby (BMG), Caroline Fields (BBRMG); Front Row – Ainsley Barry (BBRMG), Brynna Mitchner (BBRMG), Regan Donato (BBRMG), HunterGirl, Kendra Whitehead (Wheelhouse Records), Lisa Mastrianni (Wheelhouse Records) Photo credit: Sara Katherine Mills
About HunterGirl:
America’s sweetheart, vocal powerhouse, and esteemed songwriter HunterGirl has been performing since she was three years old and writing songs since she was nine. In her teens, she honed her craft by performing at venues across the United States and working with veteran non-profits such as Operation Song, Freedom Sings and A Soldier’s Child, using music therapy to help numerous vets transform their stories into songs. After high school, she moved to Nashville and immediately started playing gigs at Lower Broadway’s most famous venues including Tootsie’s, Rippy’s, Jason Aldean’s Bar, The Listening Room, and HonkyTonk Central, winning songwriting contests such as “Nash Next” and the prestigious “Nashville Songwriter Association International” in her spare time. Recently, she competed and placed second on the star-making competition series American Idol, where she delivered standout performances and won the hearts of millions across the country including Idol judge and Country superstar Luke Bryan who proclaimed her the “new age Miranda Lambert” and his “favorite female Country voice.” After topping the iTunes All Genre and Country charts with her wistful “Red Bird,” HunterGirl has been a guest on Good Morning America and Live with Kelly & Ryan as well as shared the stage with Country superstars Old Dominion, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Alan Jackson, Lainey Wilson, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans and more. Now, with the release of “Ain’t About You” that’s currently climbing the country radio charts, HunterGirl – who was just named to CMT’s esteemed Next Women of Country, made her Grand Ole Opry debut that earned her a lively standing ovation and will hit the road on Luke Bryan’s “Mind Of A Country Boy Tour” this summer – becomes the first female country artist in over 30 years to write her debut radio single by herself. Praised by People for her “incredible voice” and CMT for her “soaring vocals and superstar potential,” “Ain’t About You” “rises above toxic comparison and insecurity” (Taste of Country) “with universal relevance” (Billboard). Chronicling “her current moment of transcending from talented aspiring artist to make her first steps toward the big leagues” (Billboard), HunterGirl – “a major, major new talent” (MusicRow) – is poised to become Country’s next big female artist.
Morgan Wallen Commemorates ‘One Thing At A Time’s’ 1 Year w/ “Abbey Road Sessions” Release
George Birge chases a romantic outlaw in new single, “Cowboy Songs”