OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Ocala’s Noah Hunton is quickly climbing the ranks from hometown favorite to rising country star, gaining national attention after a year of nonstop momentum.
Just last month, Hunton played at Ocala’s Rock the Country festival, sharing the stage with big names like Kid Rock and Nickelback. Since then, he’s kept busy with his latest trip to Nashville’s CMA Fest unlocking even more opportunities.
“We went up to Nashville to perform one show and ended up gaining more shows when I got up there,” says Hunton.
While in Nashville, Hunton connected with top artists including American Idol winner Scotty McCreery, Dan + Shay, and the duo Maddie and Tae. He also landed a guest spot on a podcast affiliated with WSM, the Grand Ole Opry radio station in Texas.
“It’s crazy being able to hang out with these guys and talk with them,” he says. “It’s been great to see the hard work pay off… from seeing my listeners on Spotify increase to performing on bigger stages, it’s been wild.”
Hunton has come a long way since releasing his debut album, My Life, last summer.
“That album got me out there in the music community… people were able to see the different sides of my voice, and the different ways I can sing country music,” he says.
Hunton’s growing fame has landed him sponsorships from Ocala to Michigan, including a Naples-based beer brand now sold in Publix.
The hard work comes with a hefty price: sleep deprivation. Following his CMA performance, Hunton says he stayed up until 3 a.m. networking at bars with his managerial team. On top of music, he’s recently dipped into acting and modeling.
Inevitably, his passion remains in the country music scene. Along with a West Coast tour in the works, Hunton has shows lined up in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and several fall festivals in West Palm Beach.
He’s also preparing to release a new EP in August, co-written with a close friend. The project blends breakup ballads, party anthems, and his first male-female duet.
His next moves include performances in Arizona and Washington, and a holiday EP featuring his takes on “Silent Night” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Hunton also pitched a new song, “Florida is Home,” to the City of Ocala and the Florida Wildlife Federation for use in promotional campaigns.
Despite his hectic schedule – he recently had to cancel a Gainesville show – Hunton will appear this weekend at Ocala’s Bull Bash & Country Music Festival.
Oh, and he’s getting married next May.
“There’s a lot of stuff, man; there’s even more stuff that I can’t even announce yet, and I’m just super excited for what’s to come,” Hunton says.