Cumberland County is the birthplace, hometown, and current residency of several national and international music stars. From musicians to songwriters to singers and rappers, the talent that has passed through this area is certainly an underutilized bragging point. The vibrancy of the music scene here can be seen in the local businesses, the streets of downtown, the stage in Festival Park, and rolling through downtown on the trolly.
Michael Daughtry is one of Fayetteville’s most active singer/songwriters. He has played shows all over the city and beyond, bringing his original music and contemporary sound to the stage and the billboard charts. With no signs of slowing down, Daughtry announced in January the release of his new single, “Sleep Sound” from his forthcoming EP, Wild Card. The new song and EP are unlike his previous album.
It explores other genres like symphonic pop and classical crossover, while still maintaining his signature sound of heartfelt and dynamic Adult Contemporary music. The single is available for streaming on all digital music platforms and for purchase on Apple Music.
Even though this EP is a little different, Daughtry commented, “It’s very musically rich and diverse, with my trademark sophisticated piano work and my genuine love of what I do mixed in.” He notes that “a thread of hope often weaves throughout the texture of the music.”
A North Carolina native, Daughtry developed a love for music and a keen ear for melodies and wordplay early in life. His earliest memory is of discovering his grandmother's piano at the age of 3, an act that would cement his journey to the Billboard charts. Raised in a small town by a teacher mother and an agricultural entrepreneur father, Daughtry learned early on that hard work, dedication, and knowledge are key to mastering anything.
He attended Berklee College of Music and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Songwriting. As it goes for a lot of children of educators, Daughtry’s first stop in his career was as a music teacher.
This has blossomed into a job that he loves and continues to do in some capacity today by teaching piano, guitar, voice and songwriting. In 2010, Daughtry decided to take his career as a singer/songwriter seriously, releasing his four-song debut EP, recorded right here in Fayetteville at Bright Light Studios. In 2013, he saw his work and dedication pay off, securing some major shows not just in the local area but all up and down the East Coast, from Georgia to Boston.
He’s hit the stage for events like Cooper River Bridge Run, the 3rd largest 10K in the country, and the annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, an annual fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. He’s opened for some big names in the industry such as the Blue Man Group and Edwin McCain. In 2023, he was named in Up & Coming Weekly's Best of Fayetteville as Best Solo Artist
Music is undoubtedly a love and passion for Daughtry, but nothing compares to what he considered to be his two most important roles in life, father and husband. A full schedule of shows, events, festivals, and recording sessions is a norm for him now, but he is still dedicated to being a family man.
He can often be seen around the community, family in tow, smile on face and song in heart. A true community gem. For more information about Michael Daughtry's music, booking information, show schedule and song streaming visit his website, https://www.michaeldaughtrymusic.com/.

(Image courtesy of Michael Daughtry)