Michael Hardy, known best by his surname, became a major force in late-2010s country by blending a knowing sense of humour with a knack for king-size hooks, both on his own cuts and for other artists. His first solo hit, "REDNECKER," shows his gift for irony by shrewdly playing both sides of the fence in the battle for country cred. And "Simple," the huge hit he penned for Florida Georgia Line, might be the first track ever to make the word "Instagram" sound like it belongs in a country song.