Details of Sam Hunt Drunk Driving Arrest Result in Continued Fallout
Not all drunk driving arrests are the same, and we’re finding that out in the continued fallout after EDM country artist Sam Hunt was arrested last Thursday morning (11-21) in Nashville for swerving in and out of his lane, and driving the wrong way on a principle highway. Hunt is most definitely not the first country artist to be arrested for driving while intoxicated, and he’s not likely to be the last, even in the modern era when Uber is so readily available, and image consultants beg today’s artists to keep a clean nose. But it’s the details of Sam Hunt’s offense that have people concerned, and now has an important brand distancing from him.
The arrest already resulted in the latest Sam Hunt single called “Sinning With You” getting pulled from the marketplace. Set to be released the day after the arrest, the single has now been postponed indefinitely. But that’s not all. Sam Hunt was scheduled to be the musical performer at the upcoming NASCAR Awards in Nashville on December 5th. Now he’s been replaced with Chris Janson.
Why such the heavy hand for Sam Hunt? The Tennessean released 911 dispatches on Monday (11-26) from the numerous individuals that called police as Sam Hunt endangered the public by driving on the wrong side of the road (listen below). Ellington Parkway in Nashville where Sam Hunt was driving the wrong way is not a surface street. It is a highway built similar to an interstate with flyovers and on/off ramps.
“I’m calling because I was driving on 31E, and there is a car going the wrong direction on the highway,” says one caller. “It was a black SUV. It was on 31E and Trinity. It was driving like there was nothing wrong, and it almost hit me head on. It was just … driving.”
“You’ve got a vehicle running northbound in the southbound lanes on Ellington Parkway hauling some ass,” says another caller.
“I’m on Ellington Parkway going south and there is an SUV on the wrong side of the parkway going south,” a third caller says.
Police initiated a traffic stop after the calls, and observed Sam Hunt had bloodshot eyes, and two empty beer cans near him. Instead of providing a Tennessee drivers license, Hunt tried to hand police a credit card and a passport. He also admitted to officers that he had been drinking “recently.” Sam Hunt’s blood alcohol level was .173—over twice the legal limit. He was released from jail on a $2,500 bond, and a court date has been set for Jan. 17, 2020. Dash cam video was also taken of the incident, but has yet to be released.
These are not the days of George Jones in country music. Brands like NASCAR, alcohol companies like Budweiser, vehicle manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, they all make up important partners of country artists and labels, and the support of these corporate brands is what keeps radio and festivals alive in the mainstream country realm. These also happen to be brands who run a risk by affiliating with an artist who was driving an SUV the wrong way on a highway while intoxicated.
When country artist Michael Ray was arrested in Florida in 2017 for DUI, he was in a McDonald’s drive-thru line, and accidentally bumped the car ahead of him. When Randy Travis was arrested in 2012 for public intoxication, he was parked at a church. Though no instance of drinking while driving can be seen as good, driving the wrong way on the highway is an especially damning offense. Luckily, there were no accidents associated to the incident, and it happened at roughly 4 a.m. when traffic was light.
Sam Hunt’s efforts at apologizing have also been criticized. Instead of a more in-depth admission of guilt, Sam Hunt sent a perfunctory tweet out that said,
“Thursday night I decided to drive myself home after drinking at a friend’s show in downtown Nashville. It was a poor and selfish decision and I apologize to everyone who was unknowingly put at risk and let down by it. It won’t happen again.”
But the incident didn’t happen on a Thursday night. It happened on a Wednesday night, or early Thursday morning. Sam Hunt eventually deleted the initial tweet, and replaced it with,
“Wednesday night I decided to drive myself home after drinking at a friend’s show in downtown Nashville. It was a poor and selfish decision and I apologize to everyone who was unknowingly put at risk and let down by it. It won’t happen again.”
And the incident couldn’t have come at a worse time for Sam Hunt. Not only was he scheduled to release a new single the day after the arrest, he is currently trying to restart his career after a prolonged period without new music. His debut album Montevallo was the second highest-charting record in the last decade according to Billboard, but was released all the way back in 2014. His current single “Kinfolks” has been climbing the charts ahead of the release of his sophomore record, but may also be in jeopardy. We’ll have to see if radio continues to support the single after the arrest, and if his label continues to promote it. The single currently sits at #11 on the country radio charts.
Sam Hunt has received strong criticism from many country fans over the years for being a pop/R&B/EDM artist impersonating a country star. When he was arrested for DWI, the running joke was that it was the most country thing he ever did. But there is nothing “country” about driving the wrong way on the highway, and endangering the lives of the public. It’s also not a smart career move, especially in 2019 when country works so closely with corporate partners.
The Sam Hunt arrest has already resulted in a pulled single and a lost performance. It’s much too early to declare this incident will smother Sam Hunt’s career, nor does that scenario feel likely. But there are most certainly implications for country music at large due to the severity of the charge, and the star power Sam Hunt carries. His current cycle for releasing a new album will most certainly be delayed at least do some extent, and awards shows and other events may also find themselves distancing from the singer, at least in the short term. And when Sam Hunt’s career is restarted, he may not enjoy the same support he would otherwise if not for the arrest.
Luckily, nobody was hurt or killed in the Sam Hunt drunk driving incident. But it’s likely his career has been significantly injured.
Jayson
November 26, 2019 @ 10:42 am
I’m no Sam Hunt fan, and ofcourse I’m opposed to drinking and driving…. but Jesus Christ is that bad enough to ruin your career?? Laughable.
Jayson
November 26, 2019 @ 10:43 am
Welcome to 2019
Trigger
November 26, 2019 @ 10:51 am
I don’t think Sam Hunt’s career will be “ruined” by this. But I do think it will be significantly injured. And it already has been since they had to pull a single, and he lost a big, televised gig. Don’t think other festivals and awards shows who are putting together their performance rosters right now aren’t going to look at this and say, “Eh, best not go there.”
And by the way, for the folks who will say, “WhO CarEs! TalK aBouT REAL cOuntRy!” I can’t stress enough how big the implications for this situation is for “real” country. Sam Hunt coming out with new singles and releasing a record have a significant impact on country music. He is a massive superstar, and if all that gets shelved or delayed or diminished, it allows artists who sing actual country music to step into that void, where otherwise they may be trying to fight for attention in Sam Hunt’s shadow.
Leigh Ann
November 26, 2019 @ 4:18 pm
The amount of people on Twitter forgiving him so quickly b/c he is such a nice guy is gross. At least let the man come out with a proper apology & then fan girl. Ugh!
TilBillyHill
November 27, 2019 @ 10:49 pm
Now he has “adversity” to create a redemption arc for a touching human interest story.
He will face the legal consequences and maybe be shunned briefly (having his singles pulled), but if his music still appeals to the 10-15 people who pick the 6-12 songs in constant rotation on country radio, he’ll be back. Maybe even win an award and give a heartfelt contrite acceptance speech.
Normal Street
November 26, 2019 @ 10:57 am
The article correctly states it is good luck that nobody was hurt or killed as a result of Sam Hunt’s behavior. Not everyone is so lucky in similar incidents. By the way, was it ever conclusively proven that Kylie Rae Harris was intoxicated when she died in an road accident that also took the life of an innocent teenager?
Trigger
November 26, 2019 @ 11:13 am
There has been no toxicology released in the Kylie Rae Harris incident. I have an open records request into the New Mexico medical examiner, and have followed up on it multiple times. I would have expected we would have received a report a month to six weeks ago. They said it would take about 6 weeks initially. Now they’re saying it could be as much as 90 days, which is coming up shortly. As soon as I know something, I’ll be reporting on it.
Blackh4t
November 26, 2019 @ 12:07 pm
That’s being a proper journalist. Trig, can you go teach some of these other web journalists who only seem to write opinion pieces??
Also, i agree this is major. If this happened during Body like a backroad, the music scene would be noticeably better.
charlotte
November 27, 2019 @ 4:59 pm
She was driving 102 mph. That info has been released.
Travis in Va
November 26, 2019 @ 11:32 am
I work in the medical field. If i get a DUI I lose my license to do xray. So I’d say if you’re someone who kids look up to and are in the public eye why not loose your career as well.
Di Harris
November 26, 2019 @ 2:10 pm
A colleague in nuc. med. lost her nuclear license for a DUI/DWI, in Oklahoma.
A lot of us tried to talk to she and one of the other techs, who had a traveling nuc job.
She ran into the back of another vehicle, at a stoplight, near OKC.
Talk about Stupid.
Thankfully, the other driver was not injured
Billy Wayne Ruddick
November 26, 2019 @ 2:48 pm
Good point, although working in the medical field requires skills and reliability, so there is a much better argument for holding someone accountable for that type of action. On the contrary, being Sam Hunt requires neither of those things.
Chris
November 26, 2019 @ 1:05 pm
Maybe if his pop country career dries up he can make a go at Urban radio. His music is halfway there already, and Urban radio has continued to support Chris Brown despite beating Rihanna to a bloody pulp and his more recent rape allegations.
Melvis
November 26, 2019 @ 1:13 pm
I live 50 miles from the site of the May 14, 1988 Carrollton, KY bus collision. Similar story, a drunk driver, going the wrong way on the road. Except that night it was the interstate and he hit a church/school bus head on. 24 children and 3 adults died.
I have zero tolerance for drunk drivers. If Mr Hunt’s career suffers because of this, so be it. There is absolutely no reason, especially today, with Uber and Lyft, for this to happen.
OlaR
November 26, 2019 @ 1:25 pm
I like the part with the “clean nose”. Lol.
glendel
November 26, 2019 @ 1:45 pm
Randy Travis’ arrest (“parked at a church!”) sounds like an old school country song, of course.
Tony Kepuska
November 26, 2019 @ 1:53 pm
“EDM”??? In what universe? For a guy who cries about genre classifications all the time, you’re pretty clueless on this one..book Sam Hunt at Ultra in Miami and see if he could complete a full set. He’s simply pop-leaning country
Jerry
November 26, 2019 @ 2:20 pm
There isn’t a single element of country in any of his “music”
HankThrilliams
November 27, 2019 @ 5:22 am
Sam Hunt puts the C, U, N, and the T in country. Otherwise, he and country are unrelated
NateEsq.
November 26, 2019 @ 1:55 pm
Hi everyone,
My name is Nate, I am a country music fan, and I run one of the busiest DUI litigation firms in Orange County, CA. I’ve litigated probably a thousand DUI cases in a decade of criminal defense practice.
Given the few bits of information we have, I’d call this case worth a fine, 3 years of informal probation, an alcohol class, a MADD class, and 10-15 days of trash pick-up/labor. I’d probably use this guy’s celebrity to drop that down and maybe he can do a charity concert o something that is of greater benefit than picking up trash on the side of the freeway.
It’s very dangerous behavior, yes, and thank goodness nobody was hurt. But let’s not punish him for being famous, or suggest that he somehow deserves to lose his lot in life over it. If I have learned one thing in my line of work, it’s that good people screw up, and most of the time, they deserve a second chance and forgiveness.
Cobra
November 26, 2019 @ 3:15 pm
I’m more likely to forgive him for this than the crappy music he’s infested the world with.
anon
November 26, 2019 @ 9:26 pm
mothers against drunk drivers ramped up the punishment for duis, lawyers are a waste of money, they cant do anything after MADD dropped the hammer on duis. The only way is if you were .07 or .08 and get off on a technicality
RD
November 27, 2019 @ 7:23 am
DUI is now a very profitable industry. If lawyers are making money at something, you can bet that they will only lobby for more of that thing they are profiting from. Hence, no fault divorce and lower BAL on DUI. People have been conditioned to react to drunk driving as if it were some capital crime. If a person was actually concerned about the welfare of other drivers, they would have the exact same reaction to drunk driving as they have to texting while driving, other distracted driving, or being too old to drive and refusing to give up your license. The truth is that the onslaught against having a couple beers and driving home, is neo-prohibition. They hate alcohol. The potential harm to another driver is a minor concern.
Corncaster
November 26, 2019 @ 6:26 pm
Good on ya, Nate. Poor choices and screw-ups are inevitably part of life. Where we show our stuff is in how we make amends for them. I hope the law puts the screws to Mr. Hunt. Innocent people could have died because of his choice there.
At
November 26, 2019 @ 2:26 pm
I definitely think his label is smart for taking a low key approach to handling the career aspect of this. Because if that NASCAR performance would’ve remained, the only headline you would read is, “Sam Hunt performs for the first time since DUI arrest,” taking the spotlight away from the nascar event.
HankThrilliams
November 26, 2019 @ 8:12 pm
Good thing the only thing that got killed was his career
Hank
November 26, 2019 @ 10:58 pm
Yeah except the unfortunate reality that he’s about to have another number 1 with his current single and by the time the next and his album is released people won’t even be thinking about the DUI.
Trigger
November 26, 2019 @ 11:30 pm
I think it’s going to be very interesting to see what Happens with Sam Hunt’s current single “Kinfolks.” I don’t expect radio to abandon it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it stalls where it is, at least for a while.
Countrygirl
November 26, 2019 @ 11:26 pm
Sam Hunt is a Country Music LEGEND! The Johnny Cash of the 2010s! I Love You Sam Hunt
scott
November 27, 2019 @ 9:27 am
I admire your moxie, just not your taste in music.
Tyrone
November 28, 2019 @ 1:31 pm
He’s never going to sleep with you
Atomic Zombie Redneck
November 27, 2019 @ 7:36 am
Something that crossed my mind is why was he so intoxicated? It’s highly likely that he simply party’s too hard. But what if it’s something darker, such as an inability to deal with stardom, or to handle the negativity directed at him by the country music community? I’m not trying to make excuses for his actions, nor am I a Hunt fan attempting to gather sympathy for him. I’m just genuinely curious if there’s more to this than meets the eye.
Maranda
December 1, 2019 @ 4:31 pm
It makes me wonder about the people around it. He’s a big guy so maybe people just trust that he’s ok, but he it was more than a couple of beers if he’s driving on the wrong side of the highway. My friends watch me like a hawk if they know I’m driving -you’d think that the people around him would watch out for him better.
Doug
December 2, 2019 @ 7:16 am
Atomic Zombie Redneck, these are good questions. It’s also true, though, that alcoholics come up with an infinite variety of reasons for drinking. As they say in AA, it could be he’s just “a garden variety drunk.” If he gets the usual court order to go to some meetings, maybe he’ll find out. Reminds me of Kenny Chesney’s song, “That’s Why I’m Here.”
Pierre Brunelle
November 27, 2019 @ 7:45 am
Very good post.
Thankfully he didn’t kill anybody. Now, can he stop killing country music? That would be great! 🙂
Troy
November 27, 2019 @ 9:52 am
Thank God no one was harmed or killed, but hes a grown ass man who knew better. Everyone knows not to drink & drive and why they shouldnt. He has money & could’ve easily had a friend take him home. Better yet, there’s Uber and Lyft. No excuses & that lame ass cornball Twitter apology was half assed too.
If there is a silver lining in all of this, it’s that hes being held accountable for his actions & his song won’t be released for a while. All is right in the world…
Jack
November 27, 2019 @ 12:57 pm
Still ain’t calling that snowflake country by this publicity stunt to prove himself.
Hey Arnold
November 27, 2019 @ 3:15 pm
Technically the “pulled single ” isn’t really a radio single …. And it’s not a promotional single because there’s no second album announcement yet to promote. It was just a “pulled release song “
tucker33585
November 28, 2019 @ 8:22 pm
When you drink two beers and are twice the limit. Pffft lightweight
DG
December 1, 2019 @ 8:20 pm
I guess I’d be concerned about how this affects country music if Sam Hunt was an actual country singer. As it stands, I don’t care one bit.