IN PICTURES: COUNTRY STAR CHRIS YOUNG ROCKS KEY WEST SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

Multi-platinum country music star Chris Young headlined the Key West Songwriters Festival with a show at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater on May 6.

Recently scoring the most nominations for Academy of Country Music Awards, Young’s career took off in 2006, when he won Season 4 of the TV competition “Nashville Star.” After winning, he was signed to RCA Records Nashville and released his self-titled debut album the same year.

Young’s music career skyrocketed in recent years, with hits such as “I’m Comin’ Over,” “Who I Am With You,” “The Man I Want to Be” and dozens of others.

Female fans in cut-off jeans and cowboy boots and hats filled the amphitheater as the sun set and launched another Songwriters weekend in Key West.

Country superstar Chris Young packs the Coffee Butler Amphitheater with fans in cowboy hats and cut-off shorts on May 6 during the Key West Songwriters Festival. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

Mandy Miles
Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.