Country music star Hardy opened up about a harrowing accident that nearly ended his life — and could have decapitated him.
The 35-year-old singer, born Michael Wilson Hardy, whose rise in the country world includes the No. 1 hit One Beer with Devin Dawson and Lauren Alaina, revealed the frightening incident during a recent Rolling Stone podcast.
Nearly three years ago, on October 2, 2022, Hardy and his crew were involved in a serious crash while traveling on their tour bus after a show in Bristol, Tennessee.
Driving along I-40 West to Nashville at around 70 miles per hour, the bus veered off the highway, flipped multiple times, and finally came to rest in the woods.
Miraculously, all four band members — including the bus driver, who Hardy said had suffered either an aneurysm or seizure — survived the crash, but not without lasting consequences.
Hardy recalled waking up ‘on the ceiling of the bus,’ describing the wreckage as looking ‘like a bomb went off.’
Country music star Hardy opened up about a harrowing accident that nearly ended his life — and could have decapitated him
The 35-year-old singer, born Michael Wilson Hardy , whose rise in the country world includes the No. 1 hit One Beer with Devin Dawson and Lauren Alaina, revealed the frightening incident during a recent Rolling Stone podcast
He tried to flag someone down on the side of the road but didn’t receive help for more than 30 minutes.
The most terrifying detail, Hardy revealed, was how close he came to losing his life: ‘When I woke up, the bus windows are long… and my head was underneath the top of the panel.
‘If we would have slid another foot, it’d have cut my head off.’
Hardy also addressed the aftermath of the crash in October 2023 on social media
‘I need to be honest with everyone for a second,’ he wrote. ‘I’ve been dealing with some serious anxiety since the bus accident last year and over the last two weeks, it has taken control of my life.
‘It’s caused me to suffer many panic attacks which have landed me in hospital. I need a moment to focus on me and make myself better for my wife, family and you, the fans.’
He also addressed the incident when it happened, writing: ‘Following last night’s show, our tour bus was in an accident on our way home from Bristol.’
Nearly three years ago, on October 2, 2022, Hardy and his crew were involved in a serious crash while traveling on their tour bus after a show in Bristol, Tennessee
Hardy also addressed the aftermath of the crash in October 2023 on social media
‘There were just four of us, including myself, on the bus, however we were all treated for significant injuries,’ he added, though he did not specify anything else about any of the injuries.
‘Our friend, and bus driver needs your prayers as he is still in the hospital. His family is with him as he is being treated and we’re all pulling and praying for him,’ he said.
The singer confirmed he’s been, ‘released from the hospital, but ordered by doctors to recover for the next few weeks which may cost us at a couple of shows.’
Earlier this year, Hardy — real name Michael Wilson Hardy — became a father when he and wife Rosie Ryan Hardy welcomed their daughter in March.
The couple had shared the news months earlier, with Hardy posting: ‘You have been our favorite little secret to keep. Baby Hardy coming February 2025.’
‘Thank you all so much for all of the sweet words and love you’ve shared with us about our little one!!’ Ryan added.
‘I am so relieved and excited to finally have the news out there!! We are going to be parents! This is so fun!’
Hardy and Ryan’s romance began in 2018 after he slid into her DMs on Instagram when she popped up on his For You page.
‘We just started talking about San Diego and how she goes to Ole Miss and my family’s Mississippi State thing,’ Hardy told People.
‘We kept in contact until I had a show nearby her school and told her I’d love to meet her there.’
Ryan recalled dragging her roommates along to meet him:
‘Once we met each other, there really was no one else,’ she said. ‘ We never entertained anyone else. It was just so easy.’
After three years of dating, Hardy popped the question in 2021 at the Lyric Oxford Theater in Mississippi, where they had first met.
They tied the knot in October 2022 in a romantic ceremony in Nashville, where the couple currently resides.
