Carter Hulsey (born June 28, 1988) is an American alt-country singer songwriter from Joplin, Missouri. Being raised by his mother and father gave him daily musical exposure to the likes of Willie Nelson, Elton John, and Jerry Jeff Walker — all on vinyl, of course. At age 13, Hulsey found his father’s acoustic Guild guitar, and his long love for music finally came to a head. He started writing songs. Hulsey’s sound and talent was developed with four bands prior to his breakaway as a solo artist in 2008. Hulsey blends honest lyrics, catchy melodies, undeniable hooks, folk and rock.



Three albums and five years later, Hulsey released his newest album, Drive Out, on February 4, 2014. This album that takes a modern twist on “country” with raw emotion, a deep groove and clever storytelling. The strength of the material and performance suggest Hulsey has curated his personal sound and his music is all the better for it. The low-key folk-rock blends with an ambient sound to create a haunting and unique vibe bound to keep the listener coming back for more. Hulsey has a talent for continuing the deep felt conversation with listeners with an intentional voice for love, loss, travel and the grit of southern culture with ease. Hulsey harnesses the story, channels, and delivers to the listener.



Hulsey is known for his captivating live performance delivered with intensity and purpose. It is often lamented that this sound that cannot be captured in the studio. Hulsey’s writing style is that of the un-reliable narrator, assuming the character of others with a talent in telling their story. His concepts and narratives are inspired by great storytellers such as Steven King, Kurt Vonnegut, Jack Hit and David Sedaris with musical influence by Todd Snider, Ryan Adams, John Prine, Guy Clark, and Gillian Welch.