Brett Young
Young in 2015
Background information
Birth nameBrett Charles Young
Born (1981-03-23) March 23, 1981 (age 43)[1]
Anaheim, Orange County, California, United States
GenresCountry pop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • guitarist
Years active2007–present
LabelsBMLG
Websitewww.brettyoungmusic.com

Brett Charles Young (born March 23, 1981) is an American country pop singer, songwriter and guitarist from Orange County, California.[2] He was a college baseball pitcher but took up songwriting after an elbow injury.[3] His self-titled debut EP, produced by Dann Huff, was released by Republic Nashville on February 12, 2016.[4][5] The lead single, "Sleep Without You", was released on April 11, and he had a major success with his following single, "In Case You Didn't Know". He released his second major label album Ticket to L.A. in 2018, and the third, Weekends Look a Little Different These Days, in 2021.

Early life

Young was born in Anaheim, Orange County.[1] He attended Calvary Chapel High School in Costa Mesa, California, and then Ole Miss, Irvine Valley College, and Fresno State.[6][7] He started singing in the late 1990s when he stepped in to replace an absent leader of the band during a Christian worship meeting at high school.[7]

Young was a pitcher on his high school baseball team and led the squad to a CIF championship. He went to Ole Miss on a baseball scholarship in 1999 after turning down pre-draft selection by both Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Minnesota Twins.[8][9] In his one-season on the Rebel baseball team in 2000, he earned a varsity letter and posted two wins and two saves. He then lettered for one season at Irvine Valley before moving to Fresno.[10] However, his pursuit of a professional baseball career was cut short by an elbow injury while at Fresno in 2003.[11][12]

Music career

According to Young, he was inspired by Gavin DeGraw after he heard his album Chariot as well as singer-songwriter Jeremy Steele and decided to return to music.[7] Young independently released a self-titled four-song EP in 2007,[13] then Make Believe in 2011,[14] followed by the albums Brett Young,[15] On Fire,[16] and Broken Down in 2012–13.[17]

After eight years based in Los Angeles, Young moved to Nashville.[18] He was soon signed by the Big Machine Label Group in August 2015.[19]

2016–present: Brett Young EP and album

Brett Young performing in 2017

In February 2016, Young released a six-song self-titled EP.[11] "Sleep Without You" was released as the first single from the EP in April 2016. Young wrote the song with Justin Ebach and Kelly Archer.[20] The second single to be released from the album "In Case You Didn't Know", was released January 9, 2017 and became his signature song. The song was Young's first to reach number one on the Country Airplay chart,[21] and it has been certified Diamond by RIAA.[22] The album's third single, "Like I Loved You" released to country radio on July 17, 2017.

On February 10, 2017, Young released his self-titled debut studio album Brett Young. The album was produced by Dann Huff, and released through Big Machine Label Group. It debuted at number two on the Top Country Albums chart. Brett is currently touring with his band which includes lead guitarist Keaton Simons, drummer Billy Hawn, Keys/guitarist Matt Ferranti, and bass guitarist Noah Needleman.

2018–2020: Ticket to L.A.

In December 2018, Young released his sophomore album Ticket to L.A..[23] The lead single for the album, "Here Tonight", which he co-wrote with Ben Caver, Justin Ebach and Charles Kelley, was released in September 2018.[24] It reached at number one on the Country Airplay in April 2019. The album's second single, "Catch" released to country radio on June 3, 2019.

2020–present: Weekends Look a Little Different These Days

In April 2020, Young released the single "Lady", which he wrote about his wife and daughter.[25] It serves as the lead-off single to his third studio album Weekends Look a Little Different These Days, which was released on June 4, 2021.[26] "Lady" reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in April 2021. The album's second single "Not Yet" was released the same month. However, it was less successful, only peaking at number 37 on the Country Airplay chart, becoming Young's first single to miss the Top 10, as well as his lowest-charting single to date, and the first to miss number one since his 2016 debut single “Sleep Without You”. A third single "You Didn't" was released in November 2021.

In October 2021, Young released a Christmas album Brett Young & Friends Sing the Christmas Classics.[27]

Personal life

In February 2018, Young got engaged to his girlfriend Taylor Mills.[28] The couple wed in Palm Desert, California on November 3, 2018. On April 6, 2019, they announced they are expecting their first child in the fall 2019.[29][30] Their daughter Presley was born on October 21, 2019.[31] On January 27, 2021, they announced they were expecting their second child in summer 2021.[32] Their second daughter Rowan was born on July 21, 2021.

Discography

Main article: Brett Young discography

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Recipient/Work Result Ref
2017 Academy of Country Music Awards New Male Vocalist of the Year Himself Nominated [33]
CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year "In Case You Didn't Know" Nominated [34]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Country Song Nominated [35]
Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Himself Nominated [36]
2018 Academy of Country Music Awards New Male Vocalist of the Year Himself Won [37]
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Song "In Case You Didn't Know" Nominated [38]
Top Country Album Brett Young Nominated
CMT Music Awards Video of the Year "Mercy" Nominated [39]
Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Himself Nominated [40]
2019 Teen Choice Awards Choice Country Artist Himself Nominated [41]

Television appearances

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Chrisley Knows Best Himself Performed at a Party
2019 CMT Crossroads Alongside Boyz II Men and Brooks & Dunn
American Idol Seventeenth season Top 24
The Bachelor 23rd season (Colton Underwood)

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b "Brett Young". The Baseball Cube.
  2. ^ Mastrogiannis, Nicole (April 13, 2016). "INTERVIEW: Five Things Brett Young Does When He 'Can't Sleep Without You'". 94.7 WDSD. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  3. ^ Littman, Margaret (March 1, 2016). "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: March 2016". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  4. ^ Laffer, Lauren (February 12, 2016). "Newcomer Brett Young Debuts Self-Titled EP". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Dukes, Billy (March 23, 2016). "Brett Young Is Nothing But Honest on New 'Brett Young' EP". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "Alumni". Irvine Valley College.
  7. ^ a b c Kinsler, Robert (August 13, 2008). "Orange Pop: Former pitcher Brett Young is an ace as a singer". Orange County Register.
  8. ^ Terry, Mike (June 4, 1999). "Calvary Chapel Has Rebels With a Cause - Baseball: Mossberg, Sterbens and Young, all headed to Mississippi, hope to lead Eagles to Division V title tonight". The Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ Laffer, Lauren (April 6, 2016). "Introducing… Brett Young: Part 1". Sounds Like Nashville.
  10. ^ "Baseball Bulldog" (PDF). Fresno State University. February 10, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Parra, Monique (April 29, 2016). "Stagecoach Behind the Artist Brett Young". K-FROG. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  12. ^ Parton, Chris (May 12, 2016). "Who's New: Brett Young". Nash Country Daily. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "Brett Young Music". Myspace.
  14. ^ "Make Believe". Spotify.
  15. ^ "Brett Young". Myspace.
  16. ^ "On Fire". Myspace. 14 February 2013.
  17. ^ "Broken Down". SoundCloud.
  18. ^ Thompson, Gayle (July 3, 2016). "Country Stardom Wasn't Brett Young's First Career Choice". The Boot.
  19. ^ "Big Machine Label Group Signs Brett Young". Big Machine Label Group. August 21, 2015. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  20. ^ Thompson, Gayle (April 15, 2016). "Story Behind the Song: Brett Young, 'Sleep Without You'". The Boot. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  21. ^ Asker, Jim (May 31, 2017). "'Case' Closed: Brett Young Earns First Country Airplay No. 1". Billboard.
  22. ^ "American certifications – Brett Young". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  23. ^ Freeman, Jon (December 7, 2018). "Brett Young Talks New Album 'Ticket to L.A.,' Gavin DeGraw Influence". Rolling Stone.
  24. ^ Freeman, Jon (December 12, 2018). "See Brett Young's Driving 'Here Tonight' on 'Today'". Rolling Stone.
  25. ^ Stefano, Angela (May 1, 2020). "Brett Young's 'Lady' Is a Song for His Daughter, and Her Mother". Taste of Country. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  26. ^ Parton, Chris (April 27, 2021). "Brett Young Announces 'Weekends Look a Little Different These Days'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  27. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (October 27, 2021). "Brett Young – 'Brett Young & Friends Sing The Christmas Classics' Review". Entertainment Focus.
  28. ^ Michaud, Sarah (February 26, 2018). "Brett Young Is Engaged to Taylor Mills: All the Details on His Romantic Proposal". People. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  29. ^ "Brett Young is Going to be a Dad! Country Star Expecting First Child with Wife Taylor".
  30. ^ Chiu, Melody; Michaud, Sarah (November 3, 2018). "Brett Young Marries Longtime Love Taylor Mills in Stunning California Wedding — All the Details". People. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  31. ^ Akoulitchev, Octavia; Michaud, Sarah (October 24, 2019). "Brett Young and Wife Taylor Welcome Daughter Presley Elizabeth: See Her First Photo". People. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  32. ^ VanHoose, Benjamin; Michaud, Sarah (January 27, 2021). "Brett Young and Wife Taylor Expecting Second Child: 'We Feel Very Blessed'". People. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  33. ^ Variety Staff (3 April 2017). "ACM Awards Winners 2017: Updated List". Variety. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  34. ^ "CMT Music Awards 2017 Winners: The Complete List". E! News. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  35. ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2017 Reveal Second Wave of Nominations". E! News. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  36. ^ "CMA Awards 2017: Miranda Lambert Tops List of Nominees". PEOPLE.com. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  37. ^ Reuter, Annie (26 March 2018). "Brett Young Named 2018 ACM Awards New Male Vocalist of the Year". Taste of Country.
  38. ^ Billboard Staff (April 17, 2018). "Billboard Music Awards 2018 Nominations: See the Full List". Billboard.
  39. ^ "CMT Music Awards 2018 Winners". CMT.com. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  40. ^ Houghton, Cillea (13 October 2018). "Brett Young's CMA Nomination is a 'Coming of Age' Moment". Taste of Country.
  41. ^ Moreau, Jordan (19 June 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame,' 'Riverdale,' 'Aladdin' Top 2019 Teen Choice Award Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 19 July 2019.

External links

Brett Young
Authority control databases
Categories