For country artists Jake Hoot and Scotty Hasting, music isn’t just a career—it’s a calling rooted in faith, family, and a deep love for community. Though their journeys to the stage were vastly different—Jake winning NBC’s The Voice, and Scotty discovering songwriting after surviving life-threatening injuries in combat—both found purpose and peace in the same place: Lebanon, Tennessee.
Drawn to its slower pace and strong sense of belonging, Jake and Scotty each found more than just a hometown—they found healing, support, and inspiration. Whether it’s walking the Square, raising their kids, playing local venues, or giving back through missions and military outreach, both artists say Lebanon feels like home in the truest sense of the word.
“It’s growing, but it still feels like a small town,” Jake shares. “We’ve found family here.”
Scotty agrees. “Lebanon’s where I picked up a guitar for the first time—and it’s where I learned how to live again.”
Through their music, both men carry forward messages of hope, gratitude, and resilience—proving that no matter how different the path, home has a way of bringing the most meaningful songs to life.
Jake Hoot
Faith, Family, and Giving Back Through Music
When Jake Hoot won NBC’s The Voice, his life changed overnight. What began as weekend gigs turned into a full-time career alongside music legends. “It gave me confidence not just as an artist, but in who I am,” Jake shares. “It gave me the courage to pursue dreams that once felt scary.”
Since then, Jake and his wife have put down roots in Lebanon, drawn by its small-town charm and tight-knit community. “We’ve been blessed to find people who’ve truly become family,” he says. Their church community and love for missions work—something that also brought the couple back together—remain central to their lives.
Jake’s songwriting often reflects his faith, family, and the simple beauty of daily life. “A hit songwriter once told me, ‘Write what you know.’ That stuck. Whether it’s a song about fatherhood or faith, I try to write from the heart.”
His favorite collaboration so far? “Recording I Would’ve Loved You with Kelly Clarkson was surreal,” he says. “She’s been a huge supporter.” As for dream collabs? “The Eagles—hands down.”
As a dad of three girls and husband to Brittany, the founder of The Radiant Initiative, service is woven into the Hoot family’s rhythm. “We keep God at the center of it all,” Jake says. “That’s how we balance careers, parenting, and ministry.”
With new music on the horizon—and even a children’s book in the works—Jake’s story is far from over. “I just want to use my platform to give back, stay grounded, and keep writing songs that matter.”
Scotty Hasting
Music, Healing, and a Mission to Inspire
After being critically wounded in combat while serving in the U.S. Army, Scotty Hasting survived what many wouldn’t. But in the years that followed, he faced an even harder battle—one with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. In 2020, during the isolation of COVID, he picked up a guitar—and unknowingly, changed his life.
“Music saved me,” he says. “It gave me an outlet when the noise in my head was too loud.”
Songwriting became his therapy, and the stage became his sanctuary. His breakout single “Scars” was born from real conversations about pain, survival, and hope. “I want people to know they’re not defined by what hurt them,” Scotty says. “You’re defined by how you respond.”
After being awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in service, Scotty found renewed purpose through music, specifically through his collaboration song with Lee Brice and Dolly Parton,“’Til the Last Shots Fired”—a song that first moved him to tears during rehab at Walter Reed. “When Dolly’s voice came in... I got chills,” he recalls, “That version changed everything for me.”
But for all his career milestones, Scotty says what he feels most is gratitude—for life, for music, and for the people who’ve stood by him. “I don’t know why I’m still here,” he says, “But I wake up thankful every day—for my family, my kids, my team, and the chance to help someone else find their way.”
Now calling Lebanon home, Scotty continues to write, tour, and pour his heart into every song—reaching others who are still fighting battles of their own. “I’ll always be a soldier,” he says, “but now, my mission is to heal through music—and to remind people they’re not alone.”
For Jake's Page:
“Singing ‘Wintersong’ with Kelly Clarkson was unforgettable, but hearing my name called as the winner—with my daughter in the audience—that was the most surreal moment. It reminded me why I do what I do. That night changed everything.” – Jake Hoot
For Scotty's Page:
“I’m so grateful to still be here—to get to do what I love and hopefully help someone else through their pain. That’s why I keep going. That’s why I write. Every show, every song, is a thank you for another day.” – Scotty Hasting