Sam Outlaw was born in the Midwest, grew up in California, and now lives in Nashville.

"Outlaw" is his mother's maiden name.

Sam worked as an advertising executive in his twenties while writing songs as a hobby and eventually started performing at small bar gigs near his home in Los Angeles. In 2015, Sam left his advertising career to pursue music full-time when he was offered a tour opening for Justin Townes Earle.

Later that year, Sam released his debut album "Angeleno," produced and performed by Ry Cooder and Joachim Cooder and featuring Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers), Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket), and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes). "Angeleno" garnered universal acclaim and multiple award nominations.

In 2017, Sam released his follow-up album, "Tenderheart." Also a critical success, "Tenderheart" was heralded as one of the year's best country albums.

Sam has toured extensively as a headlining artist at marquee festivals such as Stagecoach and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Sam has also toured in support of beloved songwriters such as John Prine, Kacey Musgraves, Dwight Yoakam, Clint Black, Margo Price, and Sheryl Crow.

In 2018, Sam and his family moved from LA to Nashville, and the following year, Sam made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Since then, Sam has made several appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and on countless more stages around the world. In 2021 he released his New-Wave-inspired third LP "Popular Mechanics" and in 2022 released a string of B-sides and singles that showcase Sam's unconventional blend of genres and subject matter.