Behind the EYB’s ACM Award

On April 1st, the Eli Young Band surprised everyone, including themselves, by winning the Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year Award.  The song that did it was also their first #1: Crazy Girl.  The guys shared a lot of stories from that night when they co-hosted Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton: “We were pretty shocked when they read our names.  We talked among ourselves for maybe ten seconds about what we might say. Luckily no one made a fool of themself. I did high-five Taylor Swift on my way to the stage.”

LISTEN: 12-29 EYB4

How much had you thought about the speech? We wanted to make sure we thanked people.  But we wanted to make sure we say something that will empower the people who are watching.  When I was a kid I dreamed of doing this.  So I thought it was important to say you can make it happen, all you have to do is work.”

Let’s talk about the party afterward.  Do you remember it? “It was a whirlwind.  We were still shocked it had happened.  We didn’t get to party much because we had to leave that night to play Jimmy Kimmel the next day. That was when we learned the difference between having a #1, and that next level of success:  Before, our manager took us to meet people.  At this afterparty, we stood in one place and people came to us!”

What was the first thing you said after they announced your name? “Stand up.  At first, we looked at each other needing reassurance that they in fact said our name.  We had to make sure it was OK before we stood up.  I went pretty fast, I hugged Dierks Benltey, high-fived Taylor Swift, and then ran to the stage to get it started.”

Who talked to you during the first commercial break after that? “Dierks Bentley was sitting right in front of us, and he was up for the same award.  Plus we were on the road with him at the time.  So it was funny, we feel like we stole one from him, but he was so gracious and so happy for us.  He’s one of those guys who’ve believed in our career for a long time.”

Tags: eli young

Category: Audio