Jamey Johnson’s That Lonesome Song has been certified gold by the RIAA commemorating 500,000 in sales. The record has spent 20 weeks inside the top ten on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Reaching gold status is a huge accomplishment for a record that was initially only for sale on the internet until Luke Lewis, Chairman of Universal Music Group Nashville, heard the music and signed Johnson to a major label deal.
In 2009, Johnson has performed for sold-out crowds of music fans to whom he says he owes this great achievement. “A gold record is one of the only awards that truly comes from your fans,” says Johnson. “They just made our album relevant to country music.”
That Lonesome Song was released on Mercury Records on August 5, 2008. The music industry, fans, country radio and journalists from all over the country were drawn to the authenticity of Johnson’s music and he immediately garnered rave album reviews. That Lonesome Song made “Best Albums of 2008” lists (all genres) by Rolling Stone, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, Billboard, PASTE and many more. iTunes named Johnson’s That Lonesome Song the Best Country Album of 2008 and his debut single, “In Color,” Best Country Song of 2008.
Members of The Recording Academy validated the impact of Johnson’s album by nominating him for three Grammy’s with one in the prestigious Best Country Album category alongside veteran artists George Strait, Randy Travis, Patty Loveless and Trisha Yearwood.
Recently, Johnson took home the ACM Song of the Year award for his hit single “In Color.” This was Johnson’s second win in the ACM Song of the Year category. He previously won in 2006 for “Give It Away,” which was recorded by George Strait. Johnson will perform that song as a duet with Lee Ann Womack on George Strait’s Artist of the Decade special which will air on May 27 at 8:00PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.
CMT just announced their first round finalists for the “2009 CMT Music Awards” and Johnson received two nominations for “In Color” – one for Male Video of the Year and the other in the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year category.
Since the launch of Johnson’s album, he has performed live on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, CMT Crossroads, 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Farm Aid and he has toured with the legendary Willie Nelson.
source: Universal Music Group Nashville
Watch the ACountry interview with Jamey Johnson at the 2008 TJ Martell Ride for A Cure in Nashville
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