Before they were up on stage, these guys were roughing it out on the field. From Brett Young to Charley Pride, here are four country artists who you didn't know almost had a career in sports.
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1. Gavin Adcock
Most of his fans know him for his antics on and off stage now. However, there was a time when Gavin Adcock was causing a scene on and off the football field as well. In high school, Adcock was a "Troy Bolton" type, writing songs at home while simultaneously focusing on football. In college, he signed with Georgia Southern University as a defensive tackle, where he suffered a knee injury. While healing, Gavin put all his energy into recording and releasing his first single, which his coaches asked him to stop promoting during football season. In pure Gavin fashion, he wasn't about to let anyone tell him what to do. It was then that he decided to quit the football team and pursue music full-time.
2. Brett Young
Brett Young's path to fame was an interesting one. A pastor's son, Young began playing worship music in his teens but had to set it aside when he started taking baseball seriously in high school. He ended up getting offers from pro teams like the Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays, but chose to play college ball. While playing for Fresno, his pitching career ended due to an elbow injury, prompting him to move back home and pick up the guitar. After years of performing in Los Angeles, he moved to Nashville, got a record deal, and the rest was history.
3. Charley Pride
One of the most iconic voices of the '60s, Pride probably would have never guessed he'd become the legend he is today. As a kid, he had other dreams in mind, some of which included the MLB. After playing for Black leagues and minor leagues, he tried his hand at a semi-pro team. While playing ball, Pride would often perform publicly at games and local venues, as well as on the team bus while traveling for games. He might not have made it to the Major Leagues in baseball, but it was his music that ultimately led to his discovery and made him into a different kind of icon.
4. Sam Hunt
Before he was singing "Body Like A Back Road," Hunt played as a quarterback for the UAB Blazers. After having success in college, he was invited as a free agent to training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. Even though he didn't make the team, this loss became the catalyst for his move to Nashville, where he focused on writing and performing. Now, he's still able to enjoy sports while being a successful musician. For the Super Bowl 50 Tailgate Party, Hunt even got to play a set. With ESPN, he shared, "It's exciting because those are the two biggest parts of my life, sports and music, so to blend the two here today is pretty cool."
Photo by: CMA / Acacia Evans
