Offaly music columnist reflects on Lainey Wilson's stunning success in Country Music Awards

BMG/Broken Bow Records'  Lainey Wilson  and Stoney Creek Records'  Jelly Roll  took home a total of six awards and delivered three stand-out performances and show stopping acceptance speeches at Country Music's Biggest Night, the CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

In the 57-year history of the awards, Lainey Wilson shattered glass as the first female country artist in over a decade to capture  Entertainer of the Year  joining a class of iconic trail blazers Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, The Chicks and Taylor Swift. Premiering the television broadcast performance of her next single  Wildflowers And Wild Horses  from her  Album of the Year  winning  Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson ignited the stage with a fiery delivery solidifying her recognition as the most awarded artist at the 2023 broadcast.

As Jelly Roll’s monster smash hit  Save Me  featuring Lainey approaches the top of charts, this  New Artist of the Year  winner kicked off the broadcast with a soulful/gospel rendition of multi-format hit  Need a Favor  with the iconic Wynonna Judd. Closing out the broadcast with a show-stopping message of love and unity, Jelly Roll was joined by K. Michelle for  Love Can Build a Bridge  featured on BMG's  A Tribute to The Judds  available now here.

Lainey Wilson took home the awards for:  Entertainer of the Year; Female Artist of the Year  (Her second consecutive win in this category); Album of the Year - Bell Bottom Country -  Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce; Music Video of the Year - wait in the truck,  Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson;  and  Musical Event of the Year - wait in the truck,  Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson.

Jelly Roll picked up the prize for  New Artist of the Year.

Wiping away tears, Lainey shared the following as she accepted the win for  Entertainer of the Year...

"I guess nine might be my lucky number. That's how many times we were nominated for the CMAs this year. It's also the year [age nine] I wrote my first song, the year I got my first pair of bell bottoms. It's the year that momma and daddy brought me to Nashville for the very first time and took me to the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. It's the year that my momma and daddy brought home this horse named Tex. The horse was wild. It needed breaking and they put me on the back of that thing and said, 'You better hold on, you better ride.' There were times that I was crying and I wanted to get down. I'm like, 'Let me off the back of this thing.' Every time it would start bucking, I'd hold on little bit tighter. I think that right there is one of things that prepared me for this ride. Because, it is wild. Thank y'all for letting me be me and giving me this opportunity".

Jelly Roll received an electrifying standing ovation for his first CMA win as  New Artist of the Year...

"There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning 'New Artist of the Year'. I don't know where you're at in your life or what you're going through, but I want to tell you to keep going. I want to tell you success is on the other side of it. I want to tell you that it's gonna be ok. I want to tell you that the windshield is bigger than the rearview for a reason! Because what's in front of you is so much more important than what's behind you".

~ Bell Bottom Country,  the  Album of the Year  from  Lainey Wilson,  is out now. 

WHY HANNAH ELLIS IS 'THAT GIRL'

After a decade of writing hits for other artists and months of dropping new songs, Curb Records recording artist  Hannah Ellis   is finally poised to introduce  That Girl   to the world when her full-length debut officially releases January 12th, 2024. Ellis is also excited to release the highly transparent track,  Too Much And Not Enough, which was released on November 10th.

The Kentucky native’s highly anticipated debut boasts thirteen original tracks all co-penned by the in-demand lyricist. From the clever wordplay of  Wine Country  and  Karma on the Rocks  to the raw vulnerability of  Someone Else’s Heartbreak  and the title-cut, Ellis’ first full-length record reveals a seasoned songwriter fully embracing her small-town roots, her real-life romance, and her newfound artistic voice on every level.

The newcomer has given fans another glimpse into  That Girl  with  Too Much and Not Enough.  Caught between a contradiction, Ellis wrestles with perception on the fresh track she wrote with Emily Weisband and Tofer Brown. Afraid of being one extreme or the other, the rising star reveals her insecurities and expresses her frustrations over the fine line women walk, never fully able to strike a balance between being themselves and living up to culture’s unrealistic expectations. The highly transparent statement closes her upcoming LP.

In addition to revealing the release date for her album, Ellis has launched an exclusive Wine Country Weekend Giveaway in partnership with Visit Napa Valley in support of her new single,  Wine Country, currently charting at country radio. From now through December 18th, 2023, fans can enter to win a flyaway to Napa Valley that includes airfare, accommodations, gift cards, exclusive Hannah Ellis merch and more.

The songstress recently partnered with Lucchese to create a custom pair of  Wine Country  boots, and on November 11th, Ellis appeared at the iconic brand’s Houston storefront for a special performance to celebrate the bootmaker’s 140th anniversary. The appearance follows select dates on tour with Billy Currington and Carly Pearce.

The Curb Records recording artist’s journey — and world — is one all can feel at home in. The Campbellsville, Kentucky-native’s voice — a mix of favorite flannel, sparkling pink wine and welcome — is the friend we always wanted. Whether pouring from a car radio or your phone, the act named to Rolling Stone Country’s “Artist To Watch” list reminds you big leaps often come as a series of small steps when no one is looking.

Having paid for her University of Kentucky degree with her full-ride scholarship, she — with the full support of her family — started chasing her dreams. Like so many, that meant a self-financed EP, and moving to Nashville to begin the endless rounds of writers nights, meetings, making friends, and trying to find your way. Hannah paid her dues, kept her focus and kept moving towards something she was sure she felt and knew was right. The fresh-faced songwriter, who has 42 million career streams, has since written songs recorded by artists, and been featured as a vocalist on songs, spanning multiple genres, including: Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce, FOR KING + COUNTRY, Emily Weisband, Cassadee Pope, FILMORE, and Sidewalk Prophets.

The magnetic artist, who has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry multiple times since making her debut, has toured with Carly Pearce, Billy Currington, Gavin DeGraw, Dwight Yoakam, Devin Dawson, and many others, and has toured as part of the CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour. Ellis was invited back by her college alma mater to be featured in a national television advertising campaign about pursuing and achieving your dreams. Hannah is one of the “CMT LISTEN UP” artists to watch for 2023.

Hannah’s label, Curb Records, will celebrate sixty years in business next year. Curb is one of the world’s leading independent music companies. Owned and operated by Mike Curb since 1964, Curb Records has achieved 435 number one records, over 1,500 Top Ten records and charted over 4,500 total records. With over a half century in operation, Curb Records has been influential in the careers of some of the biggest names in music, including: Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, LeAnn Rimes, The Judds, Dylan Scott, Sawyer Brown, for KING & COUNTRY, Wyn Starks, Wynonna, Lyle Lovett, Big Daddy Weave, Natalie Grant, Jo Dee Messina, Hannah Ellis, Mo Pitney, Hal Ketchum, and Desert Rose Band, among many others.

~  Too much and Not Enough, the new single from Hannah Ellis, is out now. Her debut album,  That Girl, drops everywhere on January 12th  next year.