More than a year after Sam Hunt was charged with driving under the influence and for having an open container, a grand jury in Davidson County in Tennessee indicted the country singer.
Taste of Country posted a photo of Hunt on Twitter and announced, “JUST IN: @SamHuntMusic has been indicted on charges stemming from his DUI arrest.”
Sam Hunt Admits To Drinking And Driving
Early in the morning on November 21, 2019, police arrested Hunt after responding to a report that someone was driving the wrong way down a street.
Police said that Hunt had bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol, and attempted to give officers his credit card when asked to provide his license. Hunt currently faces charges of DUI, having an open container, and DUI per se. DUI per se is a mandatory charge in Tennessee for anyone who was found driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher. An arrest warrant said that, at .173, Hunt’s blood-alcohol level was more than double Tennessee’s legal limit.
During an interview in July, Hunt took responsibility for his actions.
“I put myself in a position by being out, seeing friends at a show, leaving my phone in an Uber,” Hunt said. “… I should’ve been more conscious, but I wasn’t. So I take responsibility,” he continued.
Hunt said that, initially, people wanted him to hide his actions, but Hunt refused.
“People in my camp were talking about suppressing it, but why would I be afraid to talk about it? If it happens, it’s true,” said Hunt. “I was raised and taught to respect [alcohol]. Moderation is important. I’ve never wanted to glorify it. It’s a cheap trick in country music, and I’ve always wanted to avoid that.”
Hunt Is Still Releasing Music
Before the arrest, Hunt released his second album, Southside, in April. A song from the album, “Hard to Forget” earned Hunt his seventh number one hit. During the song, he sings, “There stands the glass that will ease all my pain. That will settle my brain. It’s my first one today.”
Although he is not currently touring due to the pandemic, Hunt still released a new single in October. “Breaking Up Was Easy in the ’90s,” peaked at number 28 on the US Country Airplay Billboard chart.
