Sam Hunt Debuts Apologetic New Song, ‘2016’

Sam Hunt surprised members of the music industry on Thursday (Feb. 20) with the live debut of an unreleased track…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

February 20, 2020

Sam Hunt; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT/Viacom

Sam Hunt surprised members of the music industry on Thursday (Feb. 20) with the live debut of an unreleased track titled “2016,” from his forthcoming album, Southside.

During his performance at the Universal Music Group Luncheon at Country Radio Seminar 2020, Hunt opted to sing “one of the more stripped-down, intimate songs” from his new record, out April 3.

The regretful ballad finds Hunt confessing all the things he would do to undo the heartbreak he bestowed upon an ex-lover.

“I’d put the whiskey back in the bottle / Put the smoke back in the joint / Look up at the sky and say okay, okay, okay / Think you made your point,” he sings in the opening verse, “I’d cover up the pool and sky bar / Take some girls out of my phone / Give the nightlife back to Nashville / One night at a time til all the regrets go home.”

Lyrically, the song is country at its core and is undoubtedly one of Hunt’s most traditional leaning cuts to date. With a song like “2016,” the Georgia native continues to prove he’s one of the format’s most versatile artists.

Click above to watch his performance of “2016.”

Southside will be available April 3, just weeks before Sam Hunt launches his massive The Southside Summer Tour 2020, which will visit over 40 markets from May 28 through September 26. Joining Hunt on the road will be Kip Moore, Travis Denning, ERNEST and a DJ set by Brandi Cyrus. Tickets for the tour go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, February 14.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.