A quintessential late-bloomer to music, Mat Kearney didn't write his first song until midway through college. Raised by hippie parents in Oregon, Kearney was charmed early on by music, smitten with albums like Michael Jackson's Thriller and Paul Simon's Graceland. But it wasn't until the summer between his junior and senior year at California State University Chico that his musical life began. Splitting for Nashville, Kearney slept on a friend's couch for what seemed like an eternity, before cutting the learn-as-you-go debut album Bullet in 2004. Kearney’s breakthrough album Nothing Left to Lose came two years later. The album’s title track throttled up the charts, VH1 kept "Nothing Left to Lose" in rotation for 45 consecutive weeks and sent Kearney out as the headliner of the channel's first You Oughta Know tour. "Nothing Left to Lose," "Undeniable" and "Breathe In Breathe Out" all cracked the Top 40. Nothing Left to Lose sent Kearney on a marathon tour during which he opened for the likes of John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, and The Fray, in between his own headline stints. Kearney’s next release, 2009’s City of Black & White definitely reflects that, as it's marked by the pride and happiness that comes with spending five years trying to make it, and then finally getting there. City of Black & White hit #13 on the Billboard Top 200. In 2011, Kearney followed up with the critically-acclaimed album, Young Love, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard digital chart, #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and spawned several favorites including “Ships in the Night”, “Young, Dumb and in Love”, “Hey Mama” and “She Got the Honey”. In addition, Young Love was the first album to oust Adele’s 21 from its resident iTunes #1 spot in 2011.