Hunter Hayes On 'Song Travels' The rising country star, who fronted his first band at age 5, saw his debut album earn three Grammy nominations. He explains his musical roots in Cajun Louisiana and the stories behind his love songs.

Hunter Hayes On 'Song Travels'

Listen: Hunter Hayes On 'Song Travels'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/346155521/346157304" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Hunter Hayes. Juan Pont Lezica/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Juan Pont Lezica/Courtesy of the artist

Hunter Hayes.

Juan Pont Lezica/Courtesy of the artist

Set List

  • Hayes (guitar, voice), "Everybody's Got Somebody but Me" (Hayes, Brainard, Zuffinetti)
  • Stevie Wonder (excerpt), "Superstition" (Wonder)
  • Hayes (excerpt), "Storm Warning" (Hayes, Busbee, Sampson)
  • Hayes (guitar, voice), "Somebody's Heartbreak" (Hayes, Laird, Dorff)
  • John Mayer (excerpt), "Waiting on the World to Change" (Mayer)
  • Hayes (excerpt), "Love Makes Me" (Hayes, Baker, Elam)
  • Feinstein (piano, voice), "Time After Time" (Styne, Cahn)
  • Hayes (piano, voice), "Wanted" (Hayes, Verges)

Rising country star Hunter Hayes performed at age 4 with Hank Williams Jr. and was the front man of his first band at age 5. He's now a versatile instrumentalist, writer, producer and performer with hits like "Storm Warning" and "Somebody's Heartbreak." His self-titled debut album was acknowledged with three Grammy nominations.

On this edition of Song Travels, Hayes joins host Michael Feinstein to talk about his musical roots in Cajun Louisiana as well as the stories that inspired him to write his many love songs. Musical performances include his original song and first certified Gold record, "Wanted."

Subscribe to the Song Travels Express podcast.