Chord Overstreet

Before achieving recognition through his own recordings as a pop artist, Chord Overstreet first gained widespread attention by portraying Sam Evans on the musical series Glee. Following the program’s conclusion by two years, he issued his initial major-label project, the country-inflected EP Tree House Tapes, in 2017. Performing under the band name Overstreet, he shifted toward a bolder, more stadium-oriented pop style beginning with the April 2018 release “Wasted Time.” By 2020 the solo moniker Chord Overstreet resurfaced via the single “What You Need.”

Born in Nashville to country musician and songwriter Paul Overstreet, Chord grew up immersed in music and the surrounding industry, eventually mastering multiple instruments. During his high-school years his brother Nash Overstreet helped establish the dance-rock outfit Hot Chelle Rae as its guitarist. After receiving his diploma in 2007, Chord turned to acting and secured guest appearances on programs such as iCarly and The Middle, along with a recurring part in the series Private.

In 2010 he auditioned for Fox’s Glee, which had premiered the previous year, and was cast as the athlete-turned-club-member Sam Evans at the start of season two. He remained with the show through its 2015 finale, contributing to numerous soundtrack albums during that span, among them Glee: The 3D Concert Movie.

Chord signed with Island and Safehouse Records in 2016; the latter imprint, distributed by Universal, had been founded by Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, and manager Phil McIntyre. His first single, “Homeland,” appeared that August. Early the following year “Hold On” registered on streaming charts, paving the way for the May 2017 release of Tree House Tapes. The collection of heartfelt pop featured tracks written independently by Chord and his father. That August he performed as musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

When Chord Overstreet resumed releasing music in the opening months of 2018, he did so as frontman of the summery pop ensemble Overstreet. Subsequent singles included the streaming success “Carried Away” and “My Ex,” both arriving before the solo track “What You Need” surfaced in May 2020.