Eric Paslay

Eric Thomas Paslay, born on January 29, 1983, in Abilene, Texas, began his musical journey by playing guitar at the age of 15. He pursued higher education, graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree. His career in country music officially began in 2011 when he signed with EMI Records Nashville. Initially, his first two singles, “Never Really Wanted” and “If the Fish Don’t Bite,” did not reach the top 40 on the charts. However, his third single, “Friday Night,” became a Top 5 hit on Country Airplay in early 2014, signaling a turning point in his career as a recording artist. This song was part of his self-titled debut album released in the same year, which also featured the singles “Song About a Girl” and “She Don’t Love You.” Prior to and concurrent with his career as a recording artist, Paslay established himself as a successful songwriter, contributing to multiple number-one country singles.

His songwriting credits include hits such as Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” the Will Hoge/Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” and Love and Theft’s “Angel Eyes,” all of which topped the country charts. He also contributed album cuts for artists like Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts, including their 2014 single “Rewind” and Keith Urban’s 2021 single “Wild Hearts.” In 2013, Paslay collaborated with Amy Grant on her album *How Mercy Looks from Here*, where he shared lead vocals with Grant and Sheryl Crow on a song that he wrote, “Deep As It Is Wide.” A significant achievement in his career as a recording artist came in 2015 when he was featured alongside Dierks Bentley on Charles Kelley’s debut solo single “The Driver.” This collaboration earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, marking Paslay’s first Grammy nomination as a recording artist. He continued to release new music, including the singles “High Class” in 2015 and “Angels in This Town” in 2016, and an extended play, *The Work Tapes*, in 2017. He later released “Young Forever” in 2018 before parting ways with EMI Records Nashville. His new EP *Perfect Stranger* was released in December 2023.