The year 2018 could be the biggest one yet in the music career of Arkansas Tech University alumnus Lance Carpenter.
Huffington Post contributor Brittany Hodak named Carpenter as one of “10 Country Artists to Watch in 2018” in a recent article posted to the website.
Originally from Ozark, Carpenter graduated from Arkansas Tech in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in emergency administration management. He was a member of the 1999 Wonder Boys football team that won the Gulf South Conference championship and made the institution’s first appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
In addition to his success in the classroom and on the football field, Carpenter picked up a skill that would be important to his future while a student at Arkansas Tech. He taught himself how to play guitar.
Carpenter’s musical aspirations led him to move to Nashville, Tenn., in 2011. He landed a publishing contract within 18 months of arriving in town and released his self-titled debut album in 2013.
He co-wrote “Love Me Like You Mean It,” which was recorded by Kelsea Ballerini in 2015 and became the first debut song by a female artist to go to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since 2006.
Carpenter recently signed with Toby Keith’s Show Dog Nashville record label. His debut single, “Anyone Else,” is a duet with Krystal Keith, Toby’s daughter.
