Sam Hunt Sentenced On DUI Charges After Pleading Guilty

Sam Hunt pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI charges on Wednesday morning (Aug. 18) via Nashville’s Davidson County Circuit Court, reports…

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Lauren Jo Black

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August 18, 2021

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12:00 pm

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Sam Hunt; Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Sam Hunt pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI charges on Wednesday morning (Aug. 18) via Nashville’s Davidson County Circuit Court, reports The Tennessean

According to the publication, Hunt appeared via video conference alongside his attorney, Rob McKinney, to face his sentencing. 

The singer/songwriter pleaded guilty to two counts of DUI and was ultimately sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail, however, all time was suspended except for 48 hours. 

The Tennessean reports that Hunt will serve the jail time at the DUI Education Centers, which is an alternative sentencing facility, and will also complete an alcohol safety course. Additionally, he will lose his driver’s license for one year and is required to have an ignition interlock device installed in his vehicle upon return of his license. 

The charges come after Hunt was arrested on November 21, 2019 around 4:00 am local time after he reportedly drove the wrong way down Ellington Parkway in Nashville. When he was pulled over by Metro Nashville Police, Hunt agreed to a field sobriety test. At the time, he showed “numerous signs of impairment.” The original police report stated that Hunt’s blood alcohol content level was .173 (the legal limit in the state of Tennessee is .08). 

He was indicted on charges of first offense DUI, a second DUI change and an open container violation. The open container change was dropped on Wednesday as part of his guilty plea deal. 

After his arrest, Hunt shared an apology on social media. 

“Wednesday night I decided to drive myself home after drinking at a friend’s show in downtown Nashville,” he wrote. “It was a poor and selfish decision and I apologize to everyone who was unknowingly put at risk and let down by it.”

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Lauren Jo Black

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.