“Nashville needs good ol’ country guys like you.” - Luke Bryan, country music star

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“You’ve got a great voice!” - Katy Perry, pop music star

 

“Trust yourself to go to Nashville and get in the business. You can circle the pond, but one day you’ve got to jump in the water.” - Lionel Richie, legendary singer, songwriter and producer

 

Drawing from musical influences like Travis Tritt and Bob Seger, and lyrical influences like Kris Kristofferson and John Prine, Ryan Harmon seeks to continue country music’s long tradition of "three chords and the truth," while adding a healthy dose of rock and roll.

 

The Arkansas singer-songwriter became an instant internet hit, after his performance of his original song “I Knew This Would Happen,” during an audition for season 3 of ABC’s American Idol in March 2020. The video of his audition racked up over 10 million views on Facebook and over 1.5 million views on YouTube, with thousands of viewers echoing the advice of celebrity judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan for Harmon to set his sights on Nashville, as opposed to Hollywood.

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When the COVID pandemic changed his plans, Harmon took the time to continue honing his craft as a songwriter and performer, as evident on his 2020 release “Country Fried.” The album features a new, acoustic version of “I Knew This Would Happen,” along with the band version of the song that was released as a single in February 2020. The song has reached over one million streams, while Harmon has received coverage in major outlets such as Billboard and USA Today, highlighting his musical style, humor and personality.

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In addition to "Country Fried," Harmon's debut, self-titled album is still available on download and streaming platforms. The 2017 release, which was recorded as a raw demo, includes the humorous song "You Left, My Dog Died, and My Heart Did Too," which was featured on an NPR Music playlist of dog-themed songs in January 2018.

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In 2022, Harmon was named Acoustic Act of the Year at the Arkansas Country Music Awards. His live shows have no boundaries, often featuring spontaneous song changes, unexpected covers and even some requests.

 

Harmon's performance style has allowed him to play for a wide range of audiences, from hard rock to modern country. He has opened for country stars such as Jerrod Niemann and Chris Janson, as well as rock acts such as Them Dirty Roses and SteelHeart.

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In February 2023, Harmon released "I Bought Her Roses." The emotionally-driven single, produced by fellow Arkansas singer-songwriter Travis Mobley, was the first taste of a forthcoming EP from Harmon, which will feature some of his most personal songs to date.

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"It doesn't matter if it's a love song, a sad song, a funny song, etc. Life throws all of those different emotions at us. As long as people can relate to it and enjoy it, I feel like I've done my job," Harmon said.