After a dismal few months, American Idol winner Laine Hardy is slowly making a comeback. The country singer, who's remained mute since his arrest in May 2022, just released a new love song, as signs show that he's reconciled with his former girlfriend.
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Hardy Shares New Love Song, Me Meeting You
Laine Hardy (@thelainehardy) has shared a post.
The winner of Idols season 17 was arrested on April 28, 2022, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for allegedly logging an ex-girlfriend's dormitory, an offense that can carry a maximum fine of $10,000 or a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
The accuser claimed she dated Hardy from November 2021 to February 2022, but she has not been identified at the time.
After his last public appearance, which was a pre-recorded duet with fellow Idol alumLaci Kaye Booth, which was broadcast during an ABCs reunion episode on May 2, Hardy had all but disappeared, according to WAFB in Baton Rouge.
According to the statement, my career has put me in the public eye, and I applaud that unconditionally as my whole world belongs to my music and my followers. However, due to the sensitive nature of this claim, I humbly ask for privacy at this time. I have the highest respect for the law and will assist in their investigation whenever necessary moving forward.
Hardy went dark on social media for nearly three months, but reappeared on Instagram on July 25 with a scruffy beard and a new acoustic song for happy fans. The other image was to promote a performance at the Darke County Fair on August 21.
Hardy, who will turn 22 on September 12, has not made any other statements about his arrest or the case. But on September 2, he appeared in a new Instagram video, clean-shaven and holding his acoustic guitar.
I just wanted to take a moment to say hi to you. Hardy started the video and it's called Me Meeting You. Let me know what you think!
With the chorus comparing other perfect pairs, he sang an upbeat love song about meeting a girl who feels like his perfect match.
He sings, Hot Meeting Chocolate, Cold Meeting Beer, Turkey Meeting Dress, and Good New Year. Fish meeting water, sky meeting blue, like birds meeting bees, honey that's me meeting you.
Gracie Lee, a former girlfriend, has hit the road with Hardy.
GG (@gracieleeee) has shared a post.
Hardy said that his new song is based on personal experience, but it appears that his previous relationship with former girlfriend Gracie Lee may be returning. She wrote U!!!! and added a heart-eyes emoji in the comment section of his posted love song.
According to Country Thang Daily, Diehard Hardy's fans may recall that the singer had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Lee, who first appeared on social media with him in November 2019. In June 2021, Hardy shared several photos with her on Instagram, writing, "I'm very grateful for this woman right here."
Lee's theory that she was the ex-girlfriend who reported Hardy's recording device to the police was quickly discredited, since she was not an LSU student. She has a degree in esthiology, which includes facials, waxing, and makeup application.
Lee posted photos of herself on a tour bus wearing a Laine Hardy lanyard and geotagged the post to show her location as Darke County, which was where Hardy performed that night, according to the song's headliner: isnt that what Riley said?
Lee liked many of the comments on her post, including a Laine Hardy fan who said, "I'm a lucky girl," and Laines a lucky guy.
Gracie liked a line that said, 'I hope Laine has finally come to his senses and realizes that he has chosen the right girl throughout the process!' Youre absolutely gorgeous, thank you!!
Hardy dated Sydney Becnel, an LSU student, during his run on American Idol; the couple reportedly broke up in 2019. In 2020, The Advocate in Baton Rouge reported that Hardy was dating Sydney Taylor, a pageant queen and LSU student, and that the couple got COVID at the same time. Trey Shaffer has since moved on with LSU baseball pitcher Trey Shaffer.