Interview: Cole Swindell On Success And The CMAs
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- You couldn't have written the script any better.
After a string of back-to-back number one country singles, last December Cole Swindell readied the release of a song he called the "song I moved to Nashville to write and perform I think because it means so much to me".
That song was "You Should Be Here", an emotional tale sincerely influenced by the passing of Cole's father in 2013 and a wish to have him see his newfound success.
The tune touched a lot of people, hitting a billion impressions via radio play, streaming and sales. It would go platinum, a fact he learned after performing it at the Grand Ole Opry on his dad's birthday.
"We all have those moments where - you know there's bad days, but there's days where you just know that they're looking over you and everything's gonna be alright - that was that kind of day for me" explains Swindell.
"I was just thinking about, you know the CMA nominations came out yesterday, and you know it is what it is - but I told myself, I said hey I didn't write this song for a trophy, I didn't write this song for any kind of nomination, I wrote it to honor my dad and I wrote it to help other people through what I went through."
Cole Swindell did snag a nomination for best new artist, oddly enough an honor he also had in 2014. While honored by the nod, "it is what it is" to Cole because he thought "You Should Be Here" might show up in the Song Of The Year category.
"Although it's not why we do what we do, it is baffling sometimes" says Swindell. "People voted and if that's their vote, that's their vote. The more mature I get, the older I get - I just think that I can honestly say that's fine. If that's how it's suppose to happen that's how it's suppose to happen. This song - all the stories I've heard from fans, listeners, everybody - that means more than any nomination could ever mean anyway."
"I'm hopefully gonna have more hit songs and my career's gonna take off, but I'll never have another 'You Should Be Here' you know. The fact that it's not up for any of those categories, it hurts a little" Cole continues. "But like I said, I'm so fortunate. I feel like so many great things have happen, I would sound ungrateful if anything else, so I'm just happy I get to be there."
Before Cole Swindell is there, he's here, opening for Florida Georgia Line on Saturday September 3rd on the beach in Atlantic City. "It's gonna be amazing. I don't see how it could be any bigger of a party but I guess throwing in 'on the beach', that does it."
For more details on Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell and the Atlantic City Beach Concert Series, check out their website. To hear much more from Cole Swindell including his picks for Entertainer Of The Year, listen to the full interview below.
