Scott Richard Hoying, (born September 17, 1991), is an American singer-songwriter who came to international attention as the baritone of the a cappella group Pentatonix and one-half of the music duo SUPERFRUIT with his longtime friend and bandmate, Mitch Grassi.
Bio
Hoying was born in Arlington, Texas to parents, Rick and Connie Hoying. He has two older sisters, Lindsay and Lauren. Hoying has been performing since the age of 8. He met Grassi, fellow co-founder of Pentatonix and his partner in the duo Superfruit, during their youth. Hoying and Grassi were active in theater arts in Arlington and first crossed paths when cast in musical Annie; both are pianists. They were initially "giggly" together but not best friends. Their friendship was briefly interrupted when they sent to different schools for a year a half, but they reconnected while performing in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". He also became acquainted with Kirstin Maldonado, another Pentatonix co-founder, while they both attended Martin High School.
After graduating high school in 2010, Hoying later went on to attend the University of Southern California, where he majored in Pop Music Performance and also where he joined the SoCal VoCals, a popular and accomplished campus a cappella group on campus. He later asked his longtime friends, Grassi and Kirstin Maldonado, to audition for an a cappella show called "The Sing Off" (the 3rd season). They decided that they needed two more members, so they added Avi Kaplan as their bass singer and Kevin Olusola as their beatboxer.
They called their group Pentatonix, as suggested by Hoying, and is named after the pentatonic scale, a musical scale or mode with five notes per octave. The group believed that the scale's five notes matched their membership. They replaced the last letter with an 'X' to make it more appealing. They ended up winning the show, their victory earning them $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony Music.
Career
With Pentatonix
Pentatonix is an acclaimed a cappella quintet known for engaging cover songs and successful international tours. Their fame began in 2011 after winning NBC' s The Sing- Off. Initially dropped by their label due to niche audience challenges affecting sales, they leveraged this setback for success. In late 2012, they started posting on YouTube, quickly amassing an international fan base. They released their debut EP, PTX, Volume 1, in June 2012, followed by a Christmas EP, PTXmas, in November.
The group' s repertoire includes covers like Gotye' s "Somebody That I Used to Know" (2011) and Psy' s "Gangnam Style" (2012). Their medley of Daft Punk songs released in November 2013 garnered ten million views in its first week, reaching over 320 million by January 2020. By March 2015, their YouTube channel had 7. 7.6 million subscribers, growing to 18. 9 million by December 2020, with over three billion total views.
As of February 2020, they reported over 4. 4 billion views, two million Instagram followers, and 3. 6 million Facebook fans. Their videos frequently exceed a million views. They have toured in over 40 countries by December 2016 and appeared in shows like "Bones" and "Pitch Perfect 2" (2015), and hosted "A Pentatonix Christmas Special" (2016).
By June 2021, Pentatonix had released eleven albums, ten reaching the Billboard 200 Top Ten, selling a total of ten million albums, including two number one and five Christmas albums. They had four Billboard Hot 100 entries and won three Grammy Awards for their tributes, including a "Daft Punk" medley (2015), their version of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" (2016) and their collaboration with Dolly Parton on "Jolene" (2017). Besides regular tours, they offer holiday- themed music during Christmas tours, with their album That' s Christmas to Me (2014) being the highest- charting Christmas album by a group since 1962.
The members draw inspiration from contemporary and classic hits, frequently collaborating with their friend and producer Ben Bram. Although known primarily for their covers, they debuted their original album, Pentatonix, in October 2015, topping the Billboard 200. Their sold- out North American tour was documented in On My Way Home. Members Grassi and Hoying, openly gay, enjoy strong support from a diverse fan base, including many Midwestern Christians who appreciate their positive influence on LGBTQ+ acceptance.
With SUPERFRUIT (also stylized as Sup3rfruit)
Hoying and Grassi, longtime friends, developed a strong following on YouTube with their engaging vlogs, which feature skits, comedy, and musical duets. Their viral successes include a "Frozen" medley that they did with fellow bandmate, Kirstin Maldonado, which garnered over 13 million views by April 2016, an "Evolution of Miley Cyrus" video with 12.8 million views, and a Beyoncé album medley attracting over 12 million views. The idea for their YouTube channel came about while they were having a meal at IHOP. Hoying pitched the idea, and Grassi came up with the name “Superfruit.” Hoying shared their initial vibe: "Our main rule with starting Superfruit was: This is for fun... We want the freedom to do whatever we like. So, let's tell the stories we want, make videos we enjoy, and steer clear of limiting ourselves... not stressing too much about metrics that could lead to more success... I think that's why fans connect with us so well." Their first Superfruit video premiered on August 13, 2013 on YouTube.
To balance their commitments with Pentatonix and their own projects, they made sure to prioritize the group's overall agenda. In 2016, they started adding original music to their content. Their first EP, "Future Friends, Part One," dropped in June 2017, followed by Part Two in September and a full-length album. This EP dives into the ups and downs of friendship versus romantic relationships and has collaborations with some incredible songwriters and producers like Robopop and Justin Tranter, along with music videos for each song. The album did pretty well, reaching ninth on the Billboard 200 chart. Their first official video for "Future Friends," called "Imaginary Parties," got a shout-out from InStyle Magazine for its excellent fashion choices put together by stylist Candice McAndrews, who used pieces from brands like Gucci and Balenciaga, inspired by high fashion and pop art. McAndrews said that styling for Superfruit usually needs seven to nine racks of clothes per member, featuring designs from labels like Alexander Wang, Loewe, Vetements, Haider Ackermann, Raf Simons, and Maison Margiela.
Music with Superfruit
On June 30, 2017, the duo released their debut album, Future Friends - Part One.
Track list
- "Imaginary Parties"
- "Bad 4 Us"
- "Worth It (Perfect)"
- "Vacation"
- "Sexy Ladies"
- "Heartthrob"
- "Future Friends"
On September 15, 2017, they released Future Friends - Part Two.
Track list
- "How You Feeling?"
- "Hurry Up!"
- "Deny U"
- "Goodbye From Lonely"
- "GUY.exe"
- "Fantasy" (feat. Amber Liu)"
- "Keep Me Coming"
On the same date, they released the two EPs as a compilation album, which feature all 14 tracks, plus 2 bonus tracks: "Everything" feat. Inara George, and "Future Friends" remix made by Brian Robert Jones Choir.
Solo music
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Hoying launched a solo career in 2023, releasing his debut EP, Parallel, which he described as a reflection of his personal and emotional journey by exploring themes of love, vulnerability, and personal growth. The EP is inspired by his relationship with his husband, Mark Manio, and features songs like "Parallel," "Mars," and "Extraordinary". Hoying has also released a few non-album singles, like "Flaunt It", "Mad About You", and Grammy Award-nominated, "Rose Without the Thorns".
Alongside his solo endeavors, Hoying remains a member of Pentatonix while delving into various creative pursuits, including musical theater, songwriting, and producing. He has contributed to co-creating musicals, such as "The Life of Death," and is committed to releasing new music a consistent schedule. Hoying is also actively engaged in producing, scriptwriting, composing, and arranging, showcasing a versatile artistic vision. In an interview with Love Inc. Mag, he highlighted the importance of authenticity and openly expressing his emotions in his solo work.
Parallel EP
Track list
- Parallel
- "Extraordinary"
- "King Kong"
- "Four"
- "Bubs"
- "Trust Fall"
- "Mars"
Non-album singles
- "Ghost" (feat. One Night) (with FRANKIE) (June 13, 2018)
- "FLAUNT IT" (March 1, 2024)
- "MAD ABOUT YOU" (April 19, 2024)
- "MAD ABOUT YOU" (Cinematic Version) (April 26, 2024)
- "Call My Dad" (June 16, 2024)
- "Rose Without The Thorns" (feat. säje & Tonality) (August 28, 2024)
- "Pray" (May 9, 2025)
Spotify
On-Screen Appearances
Dancing with the Stars
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Scott and Rylee promo shot
On September 3, 2025, it was officially announced that Hoying would participate in the thirty-fourth season of the popular reality dance competition series, Dancing with the Stars. For this season, he was paired with professional dancer, Rylee Arnold. He placed 10th after being eliminated on Week 6.
Personal life
Hoying was diagnosed with scoliosis and wore a brace for five years during his youth as part of his treatment. Hoying is openly gay. He began dating model Mark Manio in 2017, got engaged in the Bahamas on April 13, 2022, and married in Santa Barbara, California, on July 7, 2023, with Christina Perri officiating.
In a 2025 interview from his mother's book, "The Untold Story of Scott Hoying, Pentatonix Star", Connie Hoying revealed that she once took Hoying to conversion therapy as a teen, which he described as deeply saddening; she later recognized it as a mistake. As of June 2025, Hoying and Manio announced that they were preparing to expand their family, having successfully found a surrogate.
On October 14, 2025, during Dedication Night on season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, Hoying and Manio announced that their surrogate is pregnant and they are expecting their first child together. The couple, both 34, shared the news in a pre-performance video package, with Manio telling Hoying's dance partner Rylee Arnold, "We have one more piece of news for you: We're having a baby. Our surrogate is pregnant!" Hoying added, "We're gonna be dads!"
Social Media
- Facebook: @scotthoyingmusic
- Twitter: @scotthoying
- Instagram: @scotthoying
- YouTube - SUPERFRUIT (A channel he once ran with Mitch Grassi)
Scott's Gallery
