Jt Hodges

Justin Taylor Hodges, born on July 6, 1977, in Fort Worth, Texas, grew up in a musical family. His father, James McKinley Hodges, a Julliard-trained pianist, owned a recording studio, Jim Hodges Buffalo Sound. His mother, Marsha Kathleen McDade Hodges, also had a background in country music. Hodges spent his free time at the studio, singing and writing lyrics from an early age, influenced by artists like T-Bone Burnett, Michael Bolton, Delbert McClinton, Conway Twitty, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Garth Brooks. He also drew inspiration from Don Henley, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, and Tom Petty.

Hodges attended The Oakridge School and graduated in 1996, then went on to graduate from Texas Christian University. After a period in Los Angeles where he met his wife, Kasey, he moved to Nashville in 2010. In 2011, he signed with Show Dog-Universal Music and released his self-titled debut album. The album featured the singles “Hunt You Down,” “Goodbyes Made You Mine,” and “Sleepy Little Town.” “Hunt You Down” and “Goodbyes Made You Mine” charted on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, with “Goodbyes Made You Mine” also gaining over one million music video views. “Sleepy Little Town” spent two weeks at number one on Sirius/XM’s The Highway. In 2011, Hodges was nominated as a semi-finalist for the New Artist of the Year category at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. He toured with artists such as Eric Church, Eli Young Band, Toby Keith, and Miranda Lambert, and performed multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry.

In December 2013, Hodges expanded his career into acting, starring as Owen in the Hallmark Channel movie *Finding Christmas*. The film became the number one rated movie of the week and earned Hodges a positive review from The New York Times. He also released a digital rendition of “Joy to the World” that same month. In 2015, he released the EP *Locks on Doors*, followed by *City Lights to Fire Sides* in 2018, both on Buffalo Sound Records. His music reflects a blend of Country Pop Rock, featuring honest storytelling and diverse lyrical themes. He has collaborated with notable producers like Busbee, Nathan Chapman, Don Cook, Ross Copperman, and Mark Wright, and with songwriters such as Rivers Rutherford, Chris Stapleton, Shane McAnally, Eric Paslay, and others.