‘In Case You Didn’t Know’ country star Brett Young performs Wednesday

Hot on the heels of hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart with “In Case You Didn’t Know,” country star Brett Young will be in town Wednesday to perform on Riverbend’s Bud Light Stage at 8 p.m.

Much like the year Florida Georgia Line was booked before they became stars, Young is now one of country’s hottest new acts.

“This is a home run for us because we signed him when he put his first song out,” says Bill “Dex” Poindexter, on-air personality at WUSY-FM/US 101. “He’s had two No. 1 songs since.”

Young has reeled off three hit singles since the release of his self-titled debut album, which reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, and is No. 6 after 15 weeks on the charts. The fourth single, “Mercy,” has just hit airwaves.

At 6-foot, 6-inches, Young looks just like the California athlete he is, and the self-discipline he learned on baseball fields in Orange County, Calif., has served him in his determined pursuit of music. He learned to play guitar while a teenager, but it was second to his love for baseball.

A star pitcher at Calvary Chapel High School, he led his team to a 28-1 record his senior year and then to state championships, ending that year with a .90 ERA and 130 strikeouts. His baseball career came to an end in college when a serious elbow injury ruined his pitching arm.

So he traded the Big Show for the small stage.

He began writing songs and using his soulful voice to get gigs. In 2007, he released an EP; in 2011, he released his second independent album, followed by a third in 2013. By that point, he had already opened shows for Colbie Caillat and Katy Perry.

As his music became more influenced by country, he moved to Nashville. Tall, blond, good-looking with a sound all his own, he attracted the attention of Big Machine Label Group, which signed him to a record deal. His debut album was released in February 2016.

“I grew up with Marvin Gaye, Kenny Rogers, Tim McGraw – emotionally expressive singers,” Young says in a news release about his emotional, vulnerable lyrics.

“I like that emotion carries the songs, where the music is almost secondary … I want to connect like they did.

“And when your audience feels like they can relate, then you have something much more special than a show. You have a connection … you truly have a fan.”