For Scotty Hasting, few moments have matched the surreal thrill of hearing that Garth Brooks—one of his lifelong musical heroes—had mentioned his name. “I was actually talking to someone the other day, and they said, ‘Oh yeah, Garth Brooks was talking about you the other day,’” Hasting recalls. “I was like, what? Hold on a second. Garth Brooks was talking about ME the other day? Let’s just take a moment to think about what you just said.”
For a rising country artist who once sang along to Garth’s hits as a kid, it was a career-defining highlight and a testament to how far he’s come.
That’s just one of many milestones in Hasting’s remarkable journey. He’s performed on the legendary stage of the Grand Ole Opry, collaborated with icons like Lee Brice and Dolly Parton on a powerful remake of “Til The Last Shot’s Fired,” and signed a record deal with Black River.
His original songs, including “Scars,” reflect his resilience and have resonated with audiences nationwide. Hasting has also honored fellow veterans with performances at the National Memorial Day Concert and the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.
Yet, none of this seemed possible in 2011, when Hasting was shot 10 times during an ambush in Afghanistan. The former U.S. Army sergeant’s journey from the battlefield to a lengthy rehabilitation process to the country music stage is not only an inspirational story for fans, it’s also an opportunity to use his platform to help fellow veterans fight through PTSD and find their purpose.
You can check out Scotty Hasting’s interview—as well as every other episode of the Country Muscle Podcast—on the Country Muscle YouTube Channel, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean.
Here are the 8 best takeaways from the interview with singer Scotty Hasting:
- Scotty Hasting’s Remarkable Recovery Journey: In 2011, Hasting was shot 10 times in Afghanistan, sustaining serious injuries including nerve damage and a large chunk missing from his hip. Despite the catastrophic injuries, his main goal traveling from Afghanistan to Walter Reed Hospital was to recover fast enough to return to his unit, which led to a grueling rehab process that included relearning how to walk.
- Scotty Hasting has Adapted to New Challenges: Hasting had to relearn many tasks left-handed due to nerve damage in his right hand, which was especially difficult. Despite this, he studied archery before ultimately learning how to play guitar post-injury.
- Music and Songwriting Has Become Scotty Hasting’s Emotional Outlet: Writing music helped Scotty channel his experiences and emotions productively. Although he sometimes difficult to tap into emotions when co-writing with new contributors, the songwriting process allows him to push through PTSD.
- His Continued Passion for Fitness and Family Still Remains: Scotty maintains an active lifestyle to sustain his stage performances, adapting workouts and sports to accommodate his injuries. He participates in baseball, now batting left-handed, and oftentimes shoots basketball.
- Scotty Hasting Remains Grateful and Humble for His Success: Despite impressive accomplishments such as performing at the Grand Ole Opry and the D-Day 80th anniversary in France, Scotty remains humble and grateful. He never expected music to become his career but now admits he doesn’t see himself in any other type of career. He now uses music as a platform to help and inspire others suffering with mental health issues.