Ryan Hurd

Born on November 2, 1986, in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ryan Hurd developed an early interest in music. His father worked in advertising and his mother as an occupational therapist; both had musical hobbies, with his father singing in the church choir and his mother playing piano. Their home included a makeshift recording studio in the basement. Hurd initially played drums and listened to rock bands, but also developed an appreciation for country music due to its lyrical structure and hook-based songwriting. He began experimenting with crude recording techniques in their home studio with friend Aaron Eshuis, who would later become his producer and creative collaborator.

Hurd pursued higher education at Belmont University in Nashville, studying sociology and economics. While there, he continued to engage with music, joining a band and touring briefly during his freshman year. When Eshuis enrolled at Belmont a year later, Hurd expanded his network of songwriting collaborators, including Joey Hyde, Matt McGinn, and Steve Moakler. Recognizing that songwriting could be a viable career path without needing to be a performing artist, he secured a part-time job to allow dedicated time for songwriting. This focus led to significant early successes, with his songs being recorded by prominent artists such as Jake Owen, Dierks Bentley, and Rascal Flatts. His professional breakthrough as a songwriter included penning number-one singles for Blake Shelton with “Lonely Tonight,” Lady A with “You Look Good,” and Luke Bryan with “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.

In 2013, Hurd met Maren Morris during a songwriting session, which led to their collaboration on “Last Turn Home” for Tim McGraw; this marked Morris’s first writing credit for a major artist. Their professional relationship evolved into a personal one, and they married in 2018. Hurd’s own recording career gained momentum with the independent release of “Panorama” in 2015, which led to a management deal, booking agent, and a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville. His discography includes several EPs such as ‘Ryan Hurd’ (2017), ‘Panorama’ (re-issued 2019), ‘Platonic’ (2019), and ‘EOM’ (2020), culminating in his album ‘Pelago’ (2021). His duet with Maren Morris, “Chasing After You,” released in 2021, became his first top 10 hit on the country charts and reached No. 23 on the Hot 100, achieving 2x Platinum certification. Hurd has toured with artists including Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line, and headlined his ‘Platonic Tour’ in early 2020.