While many country artists work hard to legitimize their country roots, Austin Moody doesn’t need to try. Everything about him is country. Moody was born in Kingsport Tennessee, a mere stone’s throw from the birthplace of country music. As an only child growing up on a farm, he was heavily influenced by farm life and music. Since the age of 10 Austin was a member of the 4H Club and Future Farmers of America. As Moody put it, “I was always as country as they come. My pets were a possum named Opie and a horse named Jingo Rodriquez. I always spent the night at the county fairs and was the kid who got up early to wash and clip the sheep and cattle for livestock competitions.” Although it was his father’s love of bluegrass that sparked Austin’s passion for music, it was his mother who supported and fueled that passion. “My mom gave me the belief in myself” explains Austin. “She often told me if you’re gonna dream, dream big and make it happen. She removed the word ‘can’t’ from my vocabulary.” At the age of eight Moody began playing banjo and began singing in church. He joined his first gospel/bluegrass band at fourteen and played churches and other venues throughout east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. One band led to another and along the way Austin picked up a guitar and began writing songs at the age of fifteen. Moody also found a love of flying in his teen years. He spent four years in the Junior Air Force ROTC and had his pilot’s license by the age of seventeen. He was all set to enlist and begin training at the Shaw Air Force Base in Charleston, SC when his call to music came. Austin went to the Carter Fold (the Carter Family home) to see Marty Stuart perform. After the show he played three of his songs for Stuart’s bassist, Paul Martin. After hearing the songs, Martin invited Austin to Nashville to write with him. It wasn’t long after that Moody moved to Nashville and began chasing his dreams full time. “I will always love flying but music is in my blood. Music is my life”, said Austin. “I milked 100 goats twice a day at my first job in Nashville. If that isn’t country, I don’t know what is.” Shortly after moving to Music City, Moody met award winning songwriter D Vincent Williams. Williams took Austin under his wing and began working on developing his songwriting skills and serving as an advisor. “I don’t know where I’d be without D’s guidance” stated Austin. “He has saved me from a lot of career missteps. I couldn’t be more grateful.” Williams is equally enamored. “All you have to do is hear his voice once to know he has a chance to be special. After you meet him it’s hard to decide which is more impressive…his undeniable ability and charisma or his character. He is a great talent and a fine young man who is mature well beyond his years.”