Michael Haney was about six years old when a great uncle gifted him a guitar and he began learning to play. He’s been writing songs since he was a teenager, and he’d even sometimes perform at family gatherings and among friends at college parties. But making a career out of making music always felt out of reach — until 2015.

That year, Haney found himself at a crossroads. He was looking for his next gig after a decade as a sports radio producer and on-air personality in his native South Carolina, but he wasn’t finding the right thing. “If I’m gonna have to start over,” he remembers thinking, “I’m gonna start over in something that I love.”

So, Haney moved to Nashville that September. Now signed to Rock Ridge Music, he’s honing his warm, comforting Americana sound under the guidance of producer Ben Jackson (Josh Ross, Sister Hazel, Aaron Watson). The two friends met through their work with the country-pop-rock band Sister Hazel; in addition to his music, Haney works for the band’s merch company. (He is also a voice actor for commercials and audiobooks.)

HIGHLIGHTS

In 2021, Haney created & curates Nashville Nights, a weekly summertime songwriter series at Steel Hands Brewing in Cayce, SC. The lineups are a mix of hit songwriters and up-and-comers: Leah Blevins, Chris Canterbury, Ben Chapman, Erin Enderlin, Bre Kennedy, Phillip Lammonds, Gabe Lee, Paul McDonald, Kylie Sackley, Brit Taylor, Channing Wilson, Slater Nalley and Dalton Dover are among the performers who have taken part. Sister Hazel has even popped by for a surprise set.
Performed on The Rock Boat in 2026 and participated in Sixthman’s Sessions at Sea
Featured in Rock By The Sea’s 2026 event in Okaloosa Island
Participated in the boutique Songwriter festival, Songwriters In Paradise, in Hope Town, Bahamas, Napa, Cabo