NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Big Machine Records) -
Jack Ingram was named "Top New Male Vocalist" Sunday, May 18 at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country
Music Awards. For more than a decade, Ingram recorded for various major labels and built a solid support system of fan, critics and musical peers for his dynamic performances and stage presence. The hard work paid off when Ingram signed with formidable independent label, Big Machine Records for the release of his break-through album THIS IS IT in April 2007.
Five hit singles and six major tours later, Ingram accepted the ACM honor and, from the stage, encouraged other artists to continue, despite the odds.
"It's been a long road to get here and stand before you as a new male vocalist," Ingram said in his acceptance speech. "To anyone who has played my music on the radio, anyone who has come to a show with three other people in the audience, anyone who has been moved by the words of my songs, and anyone who has big dreams and high hopes...DREAM IT, LIVE IT, OWN IT. In the end the only thing that is important is not giving up."
This summer, Jack will rejoin Martina McBride on her "Wake Up Laughing" Summer Tour and has recently toured with Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Sheryl Crow.
In April 2007, THIS IS IT debuted at No 4 behind only Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood & Alabama in March '07 and featured Jack's first No 1 hit, "Wherever You Are," the Top Ten hit & CMT award-winning "Love You," a hit cover of the rock smash "Lips of an Angel," and a duet with Sheryl Crow called "Hold On." He appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Fox & Friends, CBS Early Show, CNN, AOL Sessions, and won CMT's Wide Open Country Video of the Year in April '07 for "Love You."
Esquire Magazine named Jack 2007's "Best Country Artist." USA Today promised, "The songs you haven't heard are every bit as good, or better, than the ones you have." Billboard Magazine predicted, "While his last album went a long way in making Jack Ingram a star outside his native Texas, "THIS IS IT" will likely advance his rise even further." Newsday Magazine summed it up with, "If you can't find something to like on Ingram's new "THIS IS IT" album, you don't like country music."
