Sam Hunt was a college football quarterback at both Middle Tennessee State University and UAB.[1] After college he was briefly signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.[2] He co-wrote Kenny Chesney's 2012 single "Come Over", for which he received an award from ASCAP.[3] Hunt also wrote two singles released in 2014: Keith Urban's "Cop Car" and Billy Currington's "We Are Tonight". Hunt independently released the single "Raised On It" in September 2013 and in October of the same year he released via his website a free 15-song mixtape titled "Between the Pines". In January 2014, it was confirmed that Hunt had signed with MCA Nashville. On August 12, 2014, Hunt released X2C, a four song EP, intended as a preview of his first studio album.[4] The EP debuted on the #36 on the Billboard 200 and #5 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, selling 8,000 copies in its first week.[5] On September 14, 2014, his single "Leave the Night On" was certified gold.[6] Also in September, he announced that his first full-length studio album, titled Montevallo, would be released on October 27.[7] At the end of October, "Leave the Night On" reached number one on the US Country Airplay chart