Eric Thomas Paslay (born January 29, 1983) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has released one album for EMI Nashville, which contains the hit singles "Friday Night", "Song About a Girl", and "She Don't Love You". In addition to these, Paslay has written several hit singles for other artists, and has collaborated with Amy Grant, Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelley, among others.

Eric Paslay
A man with a red beard, wearing a black baseball cap, black t-shirt, and jeans. He is holding a brown guitar and singing into a microphone.
Eric Paslay performing in 2015.
Background information
Birth nameEric Thomas Paslay[1]
Born (1983-01-29) January 29, 1983 (age 41)[2][3]
Abilene, Texas, U.S.[4]
OriginWaco, Texas, U.S.[4]
Temple, Texas, U.S.[4]
GenresCountry
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2011–present
LabelsEMI Nashville

Early life

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Eric Thomas Paslay was born in Abilene, Texas, and started playing guitar at the age of 15. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 2005 with his Bachelor of Science degree.[1]

Career

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In mid-2011, Paslay signed to EMI Records Nashville. After his first two singles "Never Really Wanted" and "If the Fish Don't Bite" failed to make top 40, his third, "Friday Night", was a Top 5 hit on Country Airplay in early 2014. The song was originally recorded by Lady Antebellum, and Paslay's version appears on his self-titled debut album, released in early 2014. The album went on to produce two more singles in "Song About a Girl" and "She Don't Love You".

He also co-wrote Jake Owen's "Barefoot Blue Jean Night",[5] the Will Hoge/Eli Young Band song "Even If It Breaks Your Heart", and Love and Theft's "Angel Eyes"[6] all of which were number 1 singles on the country charts. He has written album cuts for Lady Antebellum,[7] Rascal Flatts' 2014 single "Rewind" and Keith Urban's 2021 single "Wild Hearts".

In 2013, Paslay appeared on Amy Grant's album How Mercy Looks from Here, sharing lead vocals with Grant and Sheryl Crow on a song he wrote called "Deep As It Is Wide". In publicity for the album, Grant stated that she is most excited about Paslay as an up-and-coming artist.[8]

Paslay is featured alongside Dierks Bentley on Charles Kelley's debut solo single "The Driver" which was released on September 28, 2015. "The Driver" received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.[9] This is Paslay's first Grammy nomination as a recording artist.

In October 2015, Paslay released "High Class" as the lead single to his upcoming second studio album.[10] The album's second single, "Angels in This Town", released to country radio on July 18, 2016.[11]

Paslay released a five-song digital extended play, The Work Tapes, in July 2017.[12] Paslay parted ways with EMI Records Nashville in September 2018.

Personal life

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On April 26, 2015, Paslay married Natalie Harker.[13] On December 8, 2018 they had their first daughter, Piper Lily Paslay.[14]

Paslay has type 1 diabetes.[15]

Discography

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Eric Paslay discography
Studio albums2
EPs1
Singles10 (8 Solo & 2 As A Featured Artist)
Music videos5

Studio albums

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Title Details Peak positions Sales
US Country
[16]
US
[17]
Eric Paslay 4 31
Nice Guy
  • Release date: August 14, 2020
  • Label: Paso Fino
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

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Title Album details
The Work Tapes
  • Release date: July 28, 2017
  • Label: EMI Nashville

Singles

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Single Year Peak positions Certifications Sales Album
US Country Songs
[19]
US Country Airplay
[20]
US
[21]
CAN Country
[22]
CAN
[23]
"Never Really Wanted" 2011 48 Eric Paslay
"If the Fish Don't Bite" 2012 58 Non-album single
"Friday Night" 2013 6 2 47 8 53 Eric Paslay
"Song About a Girl" 2014 18 12 85 25
"She Don't Love You" 15 14 77 28
"High Class" 2015 32 32 Dressed in Black (unreleased)[30]
"Angels in This Town"[31] 2016
"Young Forever" 2018 41 Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
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Single Year Peak positions Album
US Country Songs
[19]
US Country Airplay
[20]
"The Driver"
(Charles Kelley featuring Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay)
2015 37 44 The Driver
"My House"
(The Scott Brothers featuring Eric Paslay)
2017 Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

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Video Year Director
"Friday Night"[32] 2013 Mason Dixon
"Song About a Girl"[33] 2014 Wes Edwards
"She Don't Love You"[34] 2015
"The Driver"[35]
(Charles Kelley featuring Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay)
TK McKamy
"High Class"[36] 2016 Wes Edwards

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Award Outcome
2016 Grammy Awards[9] Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "The Driver"
(Charles Kelley featuring Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay)
Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b "MTSU Graduates Fall 2005". MTSU. 2005. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  2. ^ "Happy Birthday, Eric Paslay!". YouTube. January 29, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  3. ^ "Get Records for Eric T Paslay in Texas". PublicRecords.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Eric Paslay : About". Ericpaslay.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  5. ^ Conaway, Alanna (30 August 2011). "Eric Paslay Talks Debut Album and Getting His Start in Country Music". Taste of Country. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  6. ^ Conaway, Alanna (1 December 2011). "Love and Theft, 'Angel Eyes' – Lyrics Uncovered". Taste of Country. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  7. ^ Stromblad, Cory (6 September 2011). "Eric Paslay Is Getting Everything He 'Ever Wanted'". The Boot. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Amy Grant: The 'Nasty' Way Vince Gill Makes Me Laugh". People.com. 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2015-10-07.
  9. ^ a b Vain, Madison (December 7, 2015). "Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelly reacts to his Grammy nom for 'The Driver'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  10. ^ "Eric Paslay Releases 'High Class' as New Single [LISTEN]". The Boot. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  11. ^ "Eric Paslay, 'Angels in This Town' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  12. ^ Gage, Jeff (28 July 2017). "Hear Eric Paslay's New EP 'The Work Tapes'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  13. ^ Dukes, Billy. "Eric Paslay Gets Married". Taste of Country. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  14. ^ "It's a Girl! Eric Paslay and Wife Natalie Welcome Daughter Piper Lily". People.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Country Music Star Eric Paslay Talks Life With T1D". Beyond Type 1. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Eric Paslay - Chart History (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  17. ^ "Eric Paslay - Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  18. ^ Matt Bjorke (February 11, 2015). "Country Album Chart Report For February 11, 2015". Roughstock. Sales figure given here [1]
  19. ^ a b "Eric Paslay - Chart History (Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Eric Paslay - Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  21. ^ "Eric Paslay - Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  22. ^ "Eric Paslay - Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  23. ^ "Eric Paslay - Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "American single certifications – Eric Paslay – Friday Night". Recording Industry Association of America.
  25. ^ Matt Bjorke (April 2, 2014). "Country Chart News - The Top 30 Digital Singles - April 2, 2014: Florida Georgia Line #1, Jerrod Niemann & Dierks Bentley Gold, Luke Bryan Leads 6 Near-Gold Singles & Stars". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  26. ^ Matt Bjorke (July 23, 2014). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles – July 23, 2014". Roughstock. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  27. ^ Matt Bjorke (June 11, 2015). "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of June 11, 2015".
  28. ^ "Top 30 Digital Singles - June 10, 2015". Docs.google.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  29. ^ Bjorke, Matt (May 5, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Singles Report: May 5, 2016". Roughstock.
  30. ^ "Eric Paslay Gets 'Dressed In Black' For Sophomore Release". MusicRow. March 28, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  31. ^ "ERIC PASLAY, 'ANGELS IN THIS TOWN' [LISTEN]". Taste of Country. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  32. ^ "CMT : Videos : Eric Paslay : Friday Night". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  33. ^ "CMT : Videos : Eric Paslay : Song About a Girl". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  34. ^ Leahey, Andrew (March 12, 2015). "Watch Eric Paslay's Reflective 'She Don't Love You' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  35. ^ "The Driver – Charles Kelley". Vevo. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  36. ^ "CMT : Videos : Eric Paslay : High Class". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
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