By Holly Gleason

The 20-year-old Hardy possesses a voice that sounds like a best friend from back home. But last year’s American Idol winner is more than just a kid who sings. He’s also a guitar player of the first order, having honed his musicianship since the age of eight, and that’s something producer Michael Knox (Jason Aldean) understands.

With “Tiny Town” shipping to Country radio after “Ground I Grew Up On” established Hardy as a voice for young America, the guy with over 29m streams is connecting across DSPs, video channels, social media, Radio Disney Country and iHeart’s national morning show hosted by Bobby Bones.

“Tiny Town” is a scroll of all the things that make up life in Livingston, La., and thousands of towns just like it. A source of comfort and joy and a reminder of the best part of who we are, the dark-haired tenor arrived just when we needed him most.