Bryce Leatherwood Reflects On Dream-Come-True Moments As ‘Hung Up On You’ Climbs The Charts [Exclusive]
“I feel like dreams are coming true one day at a time,” Leatherwood shares.

Bryce Leatherwood; Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson
Bryce Leatherwood has a lot to celebrate. On top of earning a standing ovation during his Grand Ole Opry debut, his debut single “Hung Up On You” became the most-added at country radio. In lieu of all his recent success, The Voice alum caught up with Country Now to reflect on the wave of emotional moments he’s been experiencing.
As he stepped into the coveted circle in the historic Nashville venue on Sept. 14, Leatherwood sang “Hung Up On You” and his unreleased “Shenandoah” and received a room full of booming applause. This was a highlight of his career and he will forever remember that performance as “the best night of my life.”
“The Opry has always been the standard, I think, when it comes to country music and it’s the biggest stage in country music. It really was the thrill of a lifetime to step in that circle and yes, a few tears were shed there as well,” he told Country Now.
Leatherwood’s Dreams Are Coming True
Almost a week later, his emotions were running high once again as his debut single impacted country radio on Sept. 23 with 45 first-week adds.
“It’s just incredible. I feel like dreams are coming true one day at a time and it’s just a lot happening. I just have to thank my team and everyone surrounding me that’s got me to this point.”
Written by Brandon Lay, Jeff Middleton and Neil Medley, “Hung Up On You” cleverly draws a comparison between the addicting allure of love and the dizzying effects of alcohol. Both tend to make his head spin, yet he can’t resist the urge to spend as much time as he can with the woman who’s got him wrapped around her finger.

How The Song Landed In His Hands
The captivating track was introduced to Leatherwood by his management team in January of 2023, around the time he had just moved to Nashville. He instantly recognized how the steamy lyrics blended effortlessly with the unique production, creating the perfect sound for his first contribution to airwaves.
“I was like, man, this is so cool. I still haven’t heard anything like it. I was like, if I’m going to do anything with radio, I want to do something that’s unique, something that’s totally different. I think the song does that. It’s a funky, grungy song that has that Eric Church in it, it has that Allman Brothers sound and I think it’ll catch people’s ear for sure.”
This sultry tune joins Leatherwood’s growing collection of fan favorites including “The Finger,” “Neon Does,” “The One My Daddy Found” and “Still Learning” with more on the way.
He gave a glimpse into the full-length album he’s currently building out while attending Elevation at Beaver Creek. With a stunning mountainside backdrop creating a serene listening experience, Leatherwood got the chance to showcase his latest single as well as a few unreleased tunes such as “In Lieu of Flowers,” “Shenandoah,” and “Cheap Cologne.”

Teases ‘Large’ Debut Album And Possible Collaborations
With each release, the Georgia native is one step closer to building out his debut album, which he teased is going to be a “large project.”
“This is going to be a compilation of a lot of things you’ve already heard and a lot of new things that are really cool. It’s gonna be a dream to also release my debut album soon. Very excited.”
He also hinted that with the growing number of friends and fellow artists he’s met while working in Nashville, it’s likely that a few collaborations will appear on the collection.
“I’m not going to say who, but we’re thinking about a couple. I’ve got so many heroes and so many friends in this town, in Nashville and it’s been such a joy to be in Music City.”
Bryce Leatherwood was crowned the Season 22 winner of The Voice in December of 2022 and soon after signed with Republic Records / Universal Music Group Nashville. His upcoming music is a product of all the hard work he has put into building a career that honors his love for traditional country music.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.