Cole Swindell wins 2023 ACM Song of the Year
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15 months ago, Georgia native Cole Swindell paused the release of his album "Stereotype" because he was waiting for the finishing touches -- a sample clearance of Jo Dee Messina's 1996-released country anthem "Heads Carolina, Tails California" -- to be completed. His patience has yielded multiple No. 1 hits, plus the song's latest achievement -- winning the 2023 ACM Award for Song of the Year.
"Being patient and getting a song from such a long process that has achieved so much was worth it," Swindell stated on the red carpet before the awards program.
Written by the committee of Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Mark D. Sanders and Tim Nichols, it's a song that has evolved into country radio success, a remix and video featuring Messina herself, plus ultimately highlighting the power of mainstream country's 90s era throwback moment.
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"'Heads Carolina, Tails California is the most unique songwriting and production process of my career," stated Swindell to The Tennessean in March 2022. While on tour in 2021 and in a writing session with Rhett, Gorley and Frasure, they happened upon a concept for a song that blended '90s-era country music with twisting a typical tale of a girls' night on the town at a karaoke bar.
The award is Swindell's second ACM Award, following his 2015 New Artist of the Year victory.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cole Swindell wins 2023 ACM Song of the Year
