Brantley Gilbert Soaks Up ACM Nomination: 'Feels Great'
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Yesterday was a big day for Brantley Gilbert. The singer received the news that he -- along with Hunter Hayes and Scotty McCreery -- was a nominee for the ACM Top New Artist award.
"It feels great," he told Billboard. "I couldn't be more excited." Gilbert said that he was actually on the job when he got the news about the nomination. "I was in the hotel writing songs," he admitted.
The performer behind the chart-topping smash "Country Must Be Country Wide" feels very grateful to the fans, because they were the ones that voted for the nomination. "I still can't believe it. I couldn't be more proud to have the following that we have. They've really stepped up for us, and that makes me feel real good."
Gilbert said that getting the news that the single had gone to the top was another special moment. "That was an unexplainable feeling. It was more than I could take."
He says that the success of the song has led to larger crowds on the road. "Definitely. Especially in the cities we haven't played yet. The response has been just great."
It's not the first award nomination for the Valory Music Group recording artist . He also co-wrote "Dirt Road Anthem" for Jason Aldean, netting a CMA Song of the Year nomination in the process. Gilbert penned the song with Colt Ford, who along with Aldean -- as well as Luke Bryan, hails from the state of Georgia. How does it feel to have the boys from the land of the Bulldogs taking over the charts? "It feels awesome," he stated. "It must be something in the clay."
Gilbert is attracting much attention and great crowds right now as part of the Eric Church "Blood, Sweat, and Beers" tour. "It's going great," he exclaimed. "We couldn't be happier. We've been getting a real good response."
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