USU’s own country star: Cole Hartley

Cole Hartley, a Utah State University sophomore in the agricultural business program, says he’s a country boy to his core. Born and raised in Alpine, he enjoys hunting, fishing and being outdoors. Hartley is also an aspiring country singer-songwriter.  

“I grew up on a blend of country music and classic rock and roll,” Hartley said. “My mom raised me on Tim McGraw, George Strait, all the classic country singers, and my dad would be blasting AC/DC on the next track. I just took more to the country side of things.” 

After serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas, Hartley realized his love of country music and songwriting might be more than a hobby.  

“After I got back from my mission, I was hanging out with a buddy one day, and I played him one of my songs,” Hartley said. “He suggested that I record it, and until then I didn’t realize that was something that I had access to. But we found a studio and recorded it and it’s all been uphill from there.” 

McKay Jensen was one of the first people who encouraged Hartley to pursue a career in music.  

“I’m Cole’s best friend,” Jensen said. “We would hang out a lot and one thing we would a lot is go up American Fork Canyon and have campfires and he would bring his guitar up and play for us. ‘Country Sound’ was the first song that I really encouraged him to start recording.” 

It has been two years since Hartley decided to pursue music as a full-time career. He has continued to write and record music and is planning on moving to Nashville in November.  

Hartley said he has been able to travel there several times in the past two years to write and record songs with established artists.  

“I think the biggest opportunity that I had as a songwriter was back in February,” Hartley said. “I got invited out to Nashville to write with a guy by the name of Pete Sallis. He’s written some No. 1 songs, and been nominated for the Academy of Country Music Awards. My producer played some of the stuff I’ve been working on for him and he invited me to come out and write with him.” 

However, it’s not just the big opportunities that are important. Hartley performs regularly at the Pizza Pie Cafe in Logan and promotes his music however he can. 

“The best advice I ever got was from this country singer. And he told me the best way to make yourself known as a singer and a songwriter is to play every possible show that comes your way,” Hartley said. “Whether it’s for one person or 10,000 people. Play the songs as best as you can because you never know who is in the audience.” 

Being a full-time student and a full-time musician is difficult to balance, but Hartley said his professors have been understanding.  

“It’s challenging, but I do find ways to manage it,” Hartley said. “My professors have been super accommodating because you tell them what you’re doing and they say, ‘Oh that sounds like something worth pursuing. Let me help you out.’” 

 For Hartley, he said his success has been a group effort. 

“My dad has not only been a voice of support, but also financial support because music is not a cheap industry,” Hartley said. “His love of music has fueled my love of music and he wants me to succeed. And no one brags about me more than my mom. I owe them everything.” 

Listeners can find Hartley’s music on Spotify under the name Cole Hartley. Other than his performances at the Pizza Pie Cafe, during the summer he performs at county fairs across Utah, and as a singer for the Bryce Canyon Wranglers. His new song “Mama, Daddy and Jesus” was released on April 22. 

-Maggie.Erekson@usu.edu

Featured photo by: Katie Henderson