HARDY: The Country Star Is Worth More Than You Think
Country star HARDY wrote his first song when he was 17 years old (via Billboard). He kept writing songs in his hometown in Mississippi until his sister recommended he journey to Nashville to pursue a publishing deal. After independently releasing his first EP, Redneck Recipe, and opening for artists such as Colt Ford and Matt Stillwell, HARDY landed his first publishing deal with Watsky Music in 2014.
Since signing his first publishing deal, HARDY has made a name for himself as a top country songwriter. He co-wrote Florida Georgia Line's hit track "Simple," Blake Shelton's award-winning song "God's Country," and Jameson Rodgers' debut single "Some Girls." Inspired by his success as a songwriter, HARDY released his first EP, This Ole Boy, in 2018 and the collaborative album, Hixtape, Vol. 1, the following year. Music critic Matt Bjorke of Roughstock had this to say the mixtape, "It may never have a radio hit but there is quality here and a lot of talented folks having a damn good time which is what music should be about (if it's not about life and other human emotions) and that makes this a winning project for the rising star and superstar songwriter."
HARDY is nominated for three Country Music Awards
Though many critics didn't anticipate HARDY's first mixtape performing well in the charts, Hixtape Vol. 1 features HARDY's first number one song. The track "One Beer" featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, climbed to the top of the Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts (via Music Row). Since hitting that milestone, HARDY debuted his first official album A Rock.
HARDY co-wrote all of the tracks on the album, which tackles more mature subject matter than his previous projects, such as friendship, death, and love. He told American Songwriter, "I put my heart and soul in the lyrics and in my vocals. Every song is a piece of who I am as a person. I think it's going to shed some new light on some stuff I have to say."
Judging by A Rock's chart statistics, it's clear HARDY's hard work has paid off. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was named one of the best country albums of 2020 on lists by The New York Times, Billboard, Taste of Country, Country Now, and more. Besides these accolades, HARDY was nominated for three Country Music Awards, including in the categories of Songwriter of the Year and New Male Artist of the Year.
Net Worth List reports that HARDY's net worth is 15 million dollars, as of 2020. However, that number is sure to rise considering HARDY is only just getting started.