LISTEN: Sam Hunt Debuts New Song, ‘Outskirts’
The song will appear on Hunt’s forthcoming new album.
Photo Courtesy Sam Hunt
Sam Hunt reluctantly reminisces on a past love in his new song, “Outskirts.”
The just-released tune was co-penned by Hunt alongside Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne, and Jerry Flowers. Throughout the song, the Georgia native croons over his ex and admits that he does his best not to think of her. That all changes, however, when he crosses the city limits signs and finds himself on the “Outskirts” of town. It’s there where the memories of their time together come rushing back to him.
“But soon as I get out here on the outskirts/ I wish I was runnin’ by your house first/ Somethin’ ’bout a summer in the south sure/ Shines like gold down these old/ Round bail river valley backroads/ Way back in the holler where the grass grows/ God almighty, baby, we were that close/ To ditchin’ this town and settlin’ down/ Out here on the outskirts,” he sings on the chorus.
Listen
Written From The Perspective Of A ‘Rambling Man’
In a recent interview with Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music Country, Hunt explained the story behind the song and admitted he had to get into a different mindset when in the writing room as it doesn’t reflect the circumstances of his real life.
“I wrote from the perspective of a sort of free rambling man, single bachelor, trying to find his way in the world perspective,” he shared. “If I’m content and happy and all’s going well, I’m not necessarily inspired to grab a guitar and write a song. So that was tricky for a little while. So I guess what I kind of did was, okay, well what if I had taken this road and I could have easily, I’m pretty independent, I’m good with being on my own. If I didn’t feel like I had met the person for me to spend my life with, and that God had a plan for myself and her, I would’ve easily continued on solo. And so I pretty much wrote from the perspective of the other guy, if I had taken that solo road and chosen this other life, what would that be like?”
“Outskirts” follows Hunt’s string of recent releases including “Walmart,” “Start Nowhere,” and his current Top 10-and-climbing radio hit, “Water Under The Bridge.”
The tune is expected to appear on his forthcoming third studio album, which will mark his first full-length project since 2020’s SOUTHSIDE.
“This record, and the songs that I’ve been writing since the pandemic, they’re all sort of from the place of a guy who’s gone out into the world, experienced the world, seen a lot of things, learned a lot of life lessons but has come full circle and made it back home and is really appreciating where he’s from,” Hunt previously explained during an interview with Audacy’s Katie Neal. “That’s a big part of my journey since I left home.”
2023 Tour
Additionally, the Multi-Platinum-selling hitmaker will soon hit the road on his Summer On The Outskirts Tour, which features support from Brett Young and Lily Rose.
Hunt has known Young since early on in his career, but this tour will allow them the opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level. “I’ve known him from way back when we were all just writing songs and running around town. (Between) his circle of folks he ran around with and the group that I ran around with, we crossed paths quite a bit,” he shared.
He is also excited to reunite with Lily Rose, who joined him on the road in 2022.
“Then Lily Rose, she works with Seth England. Seth England, who runs Big Loud music, he and I have been buddies for a long time. He was pitching songs when he and I first met and we’ve hung over the years,” Hunt added. “We’ve stayed in contact and he introduced me to her music. I’ve talked to her and hung with her quite a bit… She just showed a real appreciation for what I’ve done musically and she’s just a great soul, and we’ve had a good time these past couple of years.”
Hunt’s Summer On The Outskirts Tour will kick off on July 6 in Hartford, Connecticut and will visit several major cities throughout the United States including Atlanta, New York City, Boston, St. Louis and more. The tour will wrap up on September 9 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Summer On The Outskirts Tour takes its namesake from his new song.
Tickets
Tickets for Sam Hunt’s Summer On The Outskirts Tour are on sale now at SamHunt.com.
Sam Hunt’s Summer On The Outskirts Tour Dates
July
6 – Hartford, Conn. at Xfinity Theatre
7 – Gilford, N.H. at Bank of NH Pavilion
8 – Holmdel, N.J. at PNC Bank Arts Center
14 – Wantagh, N.Y. at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
15 – Darien Center, N.Y. at Darien Lake Amphitheater
16 – Toronto, ON at Budweiser Stage
20 – Brandon, Miss. at Brandon Amphitheater
21 – Orange Beach, Ala. at The Wharf Amphitheater*
22 – Charlotte, N.C. at PNC Music Pavilion
27 – Detroit, Mich. at Pine Knob Music Theatre
28 – Indianapolis, Ind. at Ruoff Music Center
29 – St. Louis, Mo. at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
August
3 – Carbondale, Ill. at Southern Illinois University-SIU Banterra Center**
4 – Bonner Springs, Kansas at Azura Amphitheater
5 – Oklahoma City, Okla. at The Zoo Amphitheatre
11 – Irvine, Calif. at FivePoint Amphitheatre
12 – Mountain View, Calif. at Shoreline Amphitheatre
13 – Stateline, Nev. at Lake Tahoe Harveys Outdoor Arena
18 – Houston, Texas at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman***
19 – Dallas, Texas at Dos Equis Pavilion
20 – Rogers, Ark. at Walmart AMP
24 – Bethel, N.Y. at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
25 – Syracuse, N.Y. at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
26 – Boston, Mass. at MGM Music Hall at Fenway
September
7 – Tampa, Fla. at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
8 – Atlanta, Ga. at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
9 – Raleigh, N.C. at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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