John Mellencamp dominated the airwaves 30 yeas ago with “Small Town,” a powerful song filled with classic images of Americana. He was extolling the beauty and simplicity of life in a small town.

Drumming up those kinds of images, and maybe even memories, is Sam Hunt’s “Break-Up in a Small Town” and though the underlying themes are vastly different, both draw strength from life in rural America.

Sam Hunt, however, experiences a small town differently than John Mellencamp. To Hunt, a small town is way too claustrophobic, for example, after she breaks up with you, you’ll still see her around –with her new boyfriend—someone you know, since everybody moves in the same crowd. As Sam describes it, you’re bound to bump into each other–“there’s just so many streets, and so many lights.”

Hunt’s on a roll.  He’s up for ”New Artist of The Year” at next Wednesday’s Country Music Awards, plus three consecutive number one hits—and “Break-Up in a Small Town” is climbing the Country charts as we speak. He’s also a hunk.

It’s likely you’ll hear this song “just around”– in a restaurant, the mall, on the radio.

Re: the video: there’s drama in the title and it’s reflected in the video as well.

True fact: John “Cougar” Mellencamp recently turned 64.