1. Originally from Texas, he started playing guitar when he was 15 years old. He said his parents never pushed him into music but supported his interests.

2. He has diabetes. Paslay felt he could relate to kids with diabetes and wanted to help them, so he had plans of becoming a pediatric endocrinologist when he was in his early college years, rather than a musician.

3. According to his website, his musical influences include Rodney Crowell, as well as Johnny Cash for his storytelling abilities. He studied some of the great singer/songwriters, thus learning how to make a song memorable.

4. Paslay moved to Nashville, Tenn., and attended Middle Tennessee State University upon the advice from a friend.

5. Realizing music was a passion of his that he felt was too strong to be ignored, Paslay volunteered for anything “just to get his foot in a door on Nashville’s famed Music Row.” This included changing lightbulbs and helping out at a charity golf tournament.

6. Paslay has opened for many big-time country acts including: Blake Shelton, Little Big Town, Eli Young Band, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and Clint Black, among others.

7. After moving to Nashville, he secured a job with Cal IV Publishing, writing songs.

8. In mid-2011, he signed on to EMI Records Nashville, where he released his debut single, “Never Really Wanted.”

9. Has co-written songs with other artists, such as “Less Than Whole,” a song he co-wrote with Big Kenny from the country duo Big and Rich. Paslay also co-wrote “Sweet By and By,” with country singer and friend Sarah Buxton.

10. Song-writing credits include: Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Bluejean Night,” Love and Theft’s “Angel Eyes,” as well as album cuts by Eli Young Band and Lady Antebellum.