Fancy Hagood

Fancy Hagood has one of country music’s most expressive and agile
voices, a fearless sense of storytelling, undeniable charisma, a strong
artistic identity, and a support system packed with some of music’s
biggest stars.

He’s also one of Nashville’s most prominent and trailblazing Queer
artists.

“I spent a lot of time in this industry with people trying to minimize my
queerness because they don’t equate that to commercial success,”
Hagood says. “It wasn’t until I quit trying to pander to people who were
afraid of my queerness that I started to succeed.”

Hagood showcases his courageous creativity and individuality in his
new single “Southern Sound” – the follow-up to his often-
autobiographic 2021 debut album Southern Curiosity.

“Southern Sound” piques interest with its layered melodic production
and raw, compelling narrative. Hagood’s emotional vocal performance
tips the track over the edge. The combination creates a sonic mini movie
that follows a young couple as they brave adversity in hopes of building
a future together.

“I think it’s a beautiful marriage of who I am as an artist and where I’ve
been in my career, but also where I’m going,” Hagood says of “Southern
Sound.” “It’s me fully setting my roots down here in Nashville and
chasing after that original dream of country music and no longer
operating in fear of who can relate to my music. Because I think a lot of
people are.”

“Southern Sound” continues a journey Hagood has been on since
childhood. Born Jake Hagood in Bentonville, Arkansas, he grew up
attending a Church of the Nazarene – just like three generations of his
family before him. His parents raised him on contemporary Christian
music and ‘90s county, singing along with Tim McGraw, Terri Clark,
The Chicks and Garth Brooks.

He moved to Music City in 2009 to be a country singer. Closeted but

flamboyant, he was starry-eyed and wanted to launch his music career.
He got a job at Forever 21, which changed his life. The clothing store
was not only one of the first places the singer found a supportive friend
group and openly gay friends – it’s also where he picked up the name
Fancy after a popular Drake song.

Hagood burst out of the closet in 2011. He died his hair platinum blonde,
made sure his fingernails were painted and always wore a full face of
makeup.

“I went full tilt into the most extreme version of myself,” he says. “I just
became this character of myself, and it was the first time I really felt
confident.”

While his new persona empowered him, Hagood couldn’t get the
Nashville music community to stop focusing on his sexuality long
enough to notice his brand of country music. He moved to Los Angeles
to try his luck in the more accepting pop music – and it worked. He
played his first showcase and was offered label and management deals
the next day. He toured with Ariana Grande and had an international hit
with Grande and Meghan Trainor. His first pop single went Top 40, and
he made the rounds on national television. However, without his
Nashville support system, he was the most unhappy version of himself.

“My art is fed and driven by community because that’s when I’m at my
happiest,” he says. “That’s when I’m at my best is when I’m just with the
people I love. Los Angeles is a hard place to find that.”

Hagood returned to Nashville to celebrate Thanksgiving in 2016 and
never returned to Los Angeles. He went from touring with Grande to
working in a Nashville bar – and Hagood still says it was the best
decision he ever made.

The tide turned for Hagood when his friend Natalie Osborne got a job at
Downtown Music Publishing. Osborne – now his manager – started
setting him up on co-writes, which led to a publishing deal. The contract
provided financial stability and a support system to make his 2021 debut
album Southern Curiosity. Hagood focused on serving the song more
than conforming to one genre. The creative process took two years – and

removing genre boundaries made him feel like himself again.

Following the release of his first album, Fancy released “Blue Dream
Baby” with Grammy award-winning vocalist Kacey Musgraves. He also
garnered the attention of generational artists like Brandi Carlile, who
called Fancy “an artist to watch,” and Sir Elton John, who asked Fancy
to be a guest on his Rocket Hour Radio Show. Elton proclaimed, “We
need more people like Fancy.”

“Southern Sound” builds on that groundwork. He co-wrote the song with
Jon Green and Tofer Brown and feels that for the first time in his career,
he’s building on the authentic story he started telling as an artist instead
of starting over. He describes the upcoming album as “very Nashville
songwriter” and says it celebrates all of his creative avenues – both pop
and country music.

In addition to his music, Hagood is the host of Apple Radios highly
successful Trailblazers Radio. The show celebrates groundbreaking
artists and sounds that shape – and challenge – country music, shining a
spotlight on risk-takers like himself. He has interviewed some of the
biggest names in music, including Jelly Roll, Tanya Tuckers, Kacey
Musgraves, Teddy Swims, Brothers Osborne, Lainey Wilson, the late
Leslie Jordan and more.

Unbridled by creative boundaries, Hagood is a glittering voice for a new
generation of music fans, country and beyond.