Joshua "Josh" Hedley was born and raised in Naples, Florida. He felt "inexplicably drawn" to the fiddle as a child, requesting one by name from his parents at 3. He got his first violin at 8. By 12, he was playing with "middle-aged pickers" at the localVFW. Hedley credits the "ear training" he received through learning the fiddle early in life has helped him become a better singer. When he turned 19, he moved to Nashville where he became an "in-demand sideman" at Robert's Western World and other venues. He became known around the Lower Broad district of Nashville – where he developed his sound. "I always thought Josh was the best thing going on down on Broadway," says Margo Price, who used Hedley's fiddle on All American Made. "No one carries on the tradition the way Ol’ Hed does. He grew up in it, worked on his chops and earned his place in that world. Now the world gets to hear it." He became known as "Mr. Jukebox" while playing down on Broad "thanks to Hedley's pristine vocals, unrivaled musicianship, and truly encyclopedic knowledge of country music." He's toured with artists such as Jonny Fritz, Justin Townes Earle, Willie Watson, and others. He was featured in the 2015 documentary Heartworn Highways Revisited. Hedley was listed as one of ten country music acts to watch by Rolling Stone magazine in November 2016. Hedley was featured on an online variety show hosted by Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show on YouTube Live. The series has also featured Charlie Worsham and Molly Tuttle.
Sobriety
Hedley started writing his own songs after getting sober. As he says of this change in his life:
Livestreaming
On March 17, 2020, Hedley and his group the Hedliners, together with Dave Cox, played their first livestreamed show at Robert’s Western World, where he'd performed "thousands of times" since 2005. Playing to an empty dance floor, after area bars and music venues were shut down in response to the COVID-19 virus threat, Hedley and his musicians made more in virtual Venmo and PayPal tips from fans worldwide than they would on a regular night at the venue. The performance garnered 53,000 views online within a few days, far more exposure than the 200-fan maximum venue could generate on a given night.
Hedley selected the only cover on the album, his final track version of "When You Wish Upon a Star", to honor his father, who died before seeing his son succeed in music. As the grateful son says, "We spent a lot of Christmases at Disney World. When I was searching for a cover song, it dawned on me that my dad didn't get to see any of this happen, but he always wanted it." Hedley says of the type of music he wants to make, and where that fits him in the Nashville music scene:
Reception
Tours
Hedley has toured with Jonny Fritz, Justin Townes Earle, Willie Watson, and others.
Style
Hedley has said that country music was perfected in 1965, a statement he admits "was a bit hyperbolic." He continues:
