Jamey Johnson On His ACM Nominations

Jamey Johnson has received two nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards, including Album of the Year for The Guitar Song, the most-lauded country album of 2010.

"The triumph of a gold-selling double album is shared by my family, my friends/bandmates/producers, my staff, my label, my booking agents, my publishers, my management, my publicists, my handlers, my wranglers, my fans, my dog, Willie's braids and that beautiful brunette in Toledo,” Jamey says. “Thanks all for the hard work and dedication. You all deserve each accolade. And thanks to the Academy voters for the recognition."

Jamey also received an ACM nomination in the category of Vocal Event of the Year for his performance with Colt Ford of “Cold Beer.”

"If working with Colt in the studio was a ball, touring with him on the road with the Grascals and Hank Williams, Jr. was several balls,” Jamey says. “He's a unique artist in a day where uniquity is not usually rewarded. I'm proud to be nominated alongside my friend."

Jamey is a two-time winner in the ACM Song of the Year category, taking home trophies in 2009 for “In Color” and 2007 for “Give It Away,” which was recorded by George Strait.

The Guitar Song was produced by Arlis Albritton, Dave Cobb and The Kent Hardly Playboys, all of whom received nominations as well in the Album of the Year category. In addition, two members of The Kent Hardly Playboys received individual nominations. Jim “Moose” Brown is nominated for Top Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year, and “Cowboy” Eddie Long is nominated for Top Steel Guitar Player of the Year. 

Jamey’s The Guitar Song, an ambitious 25-song double album, also recently received two Grammy nominations -- Country Album of the Year and Best Male Country Vocal performance for “Macon.” (He received a third Grammy nomination in Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “Bad Angels” with Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert.)

In addition, The Guitar Song was recently certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Last week, the Nashville Scene’s 11th annual Country Music Critics’ Poll named The Guitar Song the best album of 2011 and named Jamey Artist of the Year, Best Male Vocalist and Best Songwriter.

The Guitar Song was ranked No. 5 on Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2010 and “Macon” was ranked No. 23 on Rolling Stone’s Best Singles of 2010.

“What does Jamey Johnson keep under all of that hair? Songs,” says Rolling Stone. “Nashville’s gruffest and grittiest star turns out to be its most reliable traditionalist, a Music Row pro who can write a song for every emotional season. Johnson pulled out a whole slew of them – 25, clocking in north of 105 minutes – four his double-disc fourth album: acoustic confessions and rugged boogie blues, big weepers and grim reapers, cover tunes and novelty ditties, not to mention “California Riots” and “Playing the Part,” a pair of fiercely funny, unrepentantly redneck swipes at the frou-frou blue states.”

The Washington Post, which ranked the album at No. 2 on its list of 2010’s greatest hits, says, “He sings in the baritone of God and carries a guitar covered in Sharpie squiggles – autographed from the likes of Haggard, Nelson and other country music royalty. Now Johnson’s sweeping double album raises the question: How long before he has to sign it himself?”

Spin also named The Guitar Song as No. 5 on its list of The 40 Best Albums of 2010. “Johnson’s double-album opus isn’t one of the past decade’s best country records because he’s a boundary-pushing subversive,” Spin says.

The New York Times included “Even the Skies Are Blue” on its list of Top Songs, while People included The Guitar Song in its Top 10 Music list, noting, “In an era when much of country music is designed for bite-size radio consumption, this old-school outlaw – and Matthew McConaughey BFF – served up a meaty, 25-track double album that sticks to your bones.”

He also made best-album lists of The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Paste, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Detroit Free Press, The Arizona Republic and other publications.

Jamey is currently on tour with Kid Rock.