Chris Young grew up performing in children’s theater. With help from his family, he and his friends rented out a storage unit and, despite a lack of air conditioning, practiced daily. Young went to college, taking music business classes first at Belmont University in Nashville, then at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. After two years of studying, he was performing more than 150 shows a year. He soon gained the attention of talent scouts from leading Nashville record labels and top music publishing companies. When a Texas nightclub agent invited him to front the house band, Young accepted. One of his more faithful fans insisted he audition for the TV talent competition, Nashville Star. Young at first balked – until the friend told him that this year’s winner would, for the first time, get a recording contract with RCA Records. Young won the competition in 2006 and released his single, “Drinkin’ Me Lonely,” a few months later. His second album, The Man I Want to Be, was released in September 2009. “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” became his first number one single. He was nominated for the 2010 Academy of Country Music Top New Solo Vocalist and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for “Gettin’ You Home.” Young delivered It Must Be Christmas, his sixth album, in 2016. Chris Young continues to tour the country and win over audiences.