Chord Overstreet

Chord Paul Overstreet (born February 17, 1989) is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Sam Evans on the Fox television series Glee (2009–2015). He has starred in the Apple TV+ comedy series Acapulco (2021–2025).

After signing to Safehouse Records, he began a career as a solo musical artist. On August 26, 2016, he released his debut single, "Homeland", through Safehouse and Island Records. In 2017, he released the single "Hold On", which was certified double Platinum in the United States.

Early life Overstreet was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to hairdresser Julie (née Miller) and country music singer-songwriter Paul Overstreet. He has an older brother, Nash Overstreet (born 1986), who plays guitar in the band Hot Chelle Rae; an older sister, Summer (born 1987); and three younger sisters, Harmony, Skye and Charity. He is of German, Irish and English descent. He was named after the musical term. He was raised on a farm outside of Nashville. Encouraged by his parents to pursue music, he started playing the mandolin at an early age, and moved on to the drums, flute, piano and guitar. He is also a songwriter. He was homeschooled.

Career

2009–2015: Beginnings and Glee Overstreet began to pursue his passion of performing after his high school graduation in 2007. After two unsuccessful years, Overstreet started his acting career on the web series Private as Josh Hollis. He was also featured in an episode of iCarly titled "iSpeed Date" and starred in the unaired pilot of No Ordinary Family.

Overstreet played the character of Sam Evans, a transfer student and athlete, on the FOX comedy-drama television series Glee. He landed the role after auditioning with the Commodores' song "Easy" and Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Want to Be". On April 21, 2011, the video for Hot Chelle Rae's "Tonight Tonight" was released on YouTube and featured a series of cameos of Overstreet alternately making out with a girl (whom he stole from the lead singer) on an office copier, DJing at a club, then playing guitar and mugging for the crowd with his brother, Hot Chelle Rae band member, Nash.

On July 1, 2011, TVLine's Michael Ausiello broke the news that Overstreet's contract option to become a series regular on Glee had not been picked up for season 3, but that he could possibly come back as an occasional guest star. In reaction to the announcement, fans launched a campaign to promote Overstreet's cover of "Billionaire" and various tags related to the actor, most notably "#DontCutTheChord", began trending on Twitter. The song made its way into the iTunes top 5 Glee charts during the campaign.

At the 2011 Comic-Con event, Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk reported that they had offered Overstreet a ten-episode deal with a possibility to become a series regular at mid-season, but that Overstreet had declined the option. Overstreet later stated to Ausiello during an interview that he had decided to leave the show to focus on his music career, explaining: "They offered me the chance to come back for a few episodes, but there was nothing guaranteed so I decided to dive into the music thing." It was reported on October 18, 2011, and confirmed by series co-creator Ryan Murphy six days later, that Overstreet would be returning to Glee as a recurring character starting with the third season's eighth episode. On July 23, 2012, it was confirmed that Overstreet would be a series regular for the fourth season of Glee, where he continued until the last season.

2015–present: Music career, acting

Chord has cited James Taylor, David Gray, Jimmy Buffett, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Hall & Oates as musicians that inspire him. On December 15, 2015, Overstreet signed a recording contract with Safehouse Records, a record label founded by Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas and Phil McIntyre. He was the first artist to be signed to the label. He opened for Lovato and Jonas on several tour dates of their Future Now Tour in summer 2016.

On August 26, 2016, Chord released his first solo single, "Homeland", through Island Records and Safehouse Records. Digital Journal called it "a fitting homage to his hometown", giving the song a five star rating. A music video for the song premiered through Billboard on October 7, 2016. In September 2016, Overstreet revealed that he was working on an EP. Overstreet released the single, "Hold On" on February 3, 2017. Though the song failed to impact any charts, it was certified double platinum certification by the RIAA in August 2021. In June 2017, he was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and performed "Hold On" on NBC's Today show. He also performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 14, 2017.

Overstreet made appearances as a guest star in a number of television series including The Bold Type, Royalties, and Pickle and Peanut. In 2021, he joined the cast of Acapulco, an Apple TV+ comedy series set in 1984.

In 2020, he starred in the comedy film The Swing of Things, which was released on Hulu. He starred in the 2022 romantic comedy film Falling for Christmas opposite Lindsay Lohan.

Personal life Overstreet comes from a musical family. His father is American country singer Paul Overstreet and his older brother is Nash Overstreet, the lead guitarist in the pop rock band Hot Chelle Rae. Overstreet dated British actress Emma Watson in 2018.

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes2009 iCarly Eric Episode: "iSpeed Date" Private Joshua Hollis Recurring role 2010 No Ordinary Family Lucas Fisher Episode: "Unaired Pilot" 2010–2015 Glee Sam Evans Main role (seasons 4–6); Recurring role (seasons 2–3); 91 episodes 2011 The Middle Ralph Wilkerson Episode: "Hecking Order" 2013 Regular Show Dusty B (voice) Episode: "The Thanksgiving Special" 2015 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Mitchell / Andrew (voice) Episode: "Mystery 101" 2016–2017 Pickle and Peanut Scampi / Brandon (voice) Episode: "Gregazoids/Meat Ballers" 2020 The Bold Type Evan Sloan Episode: "Stardust" Royalties Switchback Jacket Singer Episode: "I Am So Much Better Than You at Everything" 2021–2025 Acapulco Chad Davies Main role 2024 Doctor Odyssey Sam Episode: "Singles Week"

Music videos Year Title Artist 2010 "Lucky" Glee Cast 2011 "Tonight Tonight" Hot Chelle Rae 2016 "Bacon" Nick Jonas

Discography

As Chord Overstreet Extended plays Title Extended play details Tree House Tapes Released: May 12, 2017 Label: Island, Safehouse Format: Digital download Stone Man Released: June 21, 2021 Label: Whiskey River / Create Music Group Inc. Format: Digital download

Singles

FIMI: Gold

As OVERSTREET Extended plays Title Extended play details Man on the Moon Released: July 26, 2019 Label: Whiskey River, Inc. Format: Digital download OVERSTREET Released: January 15, 2021 Label: Allies Nippon Format: Digital download

Singles Year Title Album2018 "Wasted Time" "Carried Away" 2019 "All Nighter" Man on the Moon "Sex on Fire" "On The Way" OVERSTREET "Addicted" "Blue"

Tours Co-headlining Glee Cast – Glee Live! In Concert! (2011)

Opening act Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas – Future Now Tour (2016) (selected dates)

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Glee 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Hollywood Teen TV Awards Favorite Breakout Star 2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Teen Choice Awards Choice TV: Male Scene Stealer 2014 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actor: Comedy