Scotty Hasting Bares His "Scars" In High-Octane New Song

Photo courtesy: Black River

Black River recording artist and Purple Heart recipient, Scotty Hasting, released his bold new single “Scars” today – July 11. Hasting lays bare a powerful testament to grit, resilience, and survival. With raw honesty, he walks listeners through the physical and emotional scars he’s carried— including the bullets he took while serving in Afghanistan. He doesn’t shy away from the pain. He owns it. He’s not afraid of “Scars.”

Thank God for that vest or I wouldn’t be here right now

I got one on my side laid down a road glide

Damn thing couldn’t slow me down

If you’re feeling froggy meet me out behind the bar

Give ya first swing

You’re gonna need a head start

Seeing stars, before it goes dark

I’ll be locked behind county bars

Ain’t scared of scars

Ain’t scared of scars

“This song came from a conversation that I had with Daniel Ethridge and Cole Phillips about the scars, both physical and mental, that were left after being shot,” says Hasting. “We all bear scars, some are just unseen. That shouldn’t stop us from living life to the fullest.”

Penned by Hasting alongside Daniel Ethridge and Cole Phillips, the tough and gritty “Scars” is the high-octane follow-up to his recently released cover of “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. He first performed this song when he stepped into the coveted Circle for his Grand Ole Opry debut on July 28, 2024 after being personally invited by Gary Sinise to help the Opry celebrate 30 years of "Forrest Gump," and earned multiple standing ovations from the sold-out crowd. In May, Hasting honored our nation’s fallen heroes with his debut national television performance, sharing his songs “I’m America” and “Red, White, and Blue” during The National Memorial Day Concert on PBS and the National Memorial Day Parade where he shared his powerful story of military service with the American Veterans Center.

ABOUT SCOTTY HASTING:

A Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky native, Purple Heart recipient Scotty Hasting served as an Army Infantryman with the 1st Infantry Division, 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry. In April 2011, he was left fighting for his life after being shot ten times during a single combat incident in Afghanistan. Following a long recovery, he found solace in music, first picking up a guitar in 2020.

A chance encounter with the son of Black River Entertainment President and CEO Gordon Kerr introduced Hasting to the Nashville label. He quickly impressed renowned songwriter and producer Doug Johnson, who signed him to Black River in late 2023. Hasting’s debut single, "How Do You Choose," arrived in November 2023, followed by his first EP, I'm America, in May 2024 — a project hailed by Billboard as a"promising, impactful debut." Later that year, Scotty released his version of a song that marked a turning point during his recovery while at Walter Reed, "Til The Last Shot's Fired" with Lee Brice and Dolly Parton.

In 2024, Hasting represented the United States with multiple performances in Normandy, France during the 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations, exclusively detailed by People Magazine, and later made his Grand Ole Opry debut during the Opry’s celebration of "Forrest Gump’s" 30th anniversary.

Hasting has already opened for artists including Lee Brice, Dave Grohl, Chris Janson, Jelly Roll, Craig Morgan, Parmalee, and Tanya Tucker. His upbeat follow-up single, "Pro Beer," released in March2025, highlights his versatility and connection to fans. In addition to his music, Hasting remains deeply committed to supporting fellow Veterans through partnerships with organizations like the PenFed Foundation, CreatiVets, Guitars4 Vets, Operation Encore, and mo.

In 2025, Hasting honored our nation’s fallen heroes with his debut national television performance during The National Memorial Day Concert on PBS and the National Memorial Day Parade. His latest release, “Scars,” penned alongside Daniel Ethridge and Cole Phillips, lays bare a powerful testament to grit, resilience, and survival. With raw honesty, he walks listeners through the physical and emotional scars he’s carried—including the bullets he took while serving in Afghanistan. He doesn’t shy away from the pain. He owns it. He’s not afraid of “Scars” – available now.