10 Questions with ... Jon Pardi

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Jon Pardi has written quite a success story during the past year or so. His sophomore album, "California Sunrise," debuted at #1 and has produced three consecutive #1 songs at Country radio since its Summer 2016 release. Pardi has also earned several ACM, CMA, AMA, and CMT nominations, winning ACM "New Male Vocalist Of The Year" and, last week, the CMA "New Artist Of The Year." Currently gearing up for a third album, which is expected next year, Pardi chatted with All Access about his CMA win, who and what has influenced his traditional Country sound, being on the road, and more.

1. Congrats on the CMA Award for New Artist Of The Year. You're in some famous company - Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift are among the more recent winners. Can you put into words that this means for your career so far and moving forward?

It shows that hard work pays off; I've been at it for a while. Just to be acknowledged, and to get up there in front of all my peers, my friends, my idols, people I've looked up to my whole life, and have that moment like, "I'm here!" It's that amazing moment, and it's fun and emotional. Hell, I was more nervous even being the first two nominations - my heart was racing getting up there. I was more nervous in that section than playing the song. It's because there's so much going on - everybody wants that award that's nominated for it - and, to get it, it's a rush. All of them are buddies that were nominated with me, and everybody deserves the award, in all honesty. But, somebody's gotta win it, and I'm glad it was me!

2. You're also one of the few winners in recent history to be a traditional artist - a hat guy, in particular. With your momentum right now, do you think this is a sign of a return to traditional Country having a stronger, more consistent presence on the radio and in the format?

That's the thing with being a traditional artist - it's never a trend. It's always gonna be there. It's the trends that come into Country that change the music, but traditional is always there. I think the way the world is and the way that other music influences artists in Country music lets them have an outlet to bring it to Country, whether it's Drake or Rock and Roll - there's so much diversity, like you said. I don't think that's ever gonna go away in Country music, but I think nowadays, traditional is more okay. It's starting to work with the numbers on radio and with the audience. It's starting to be more acceptable to the point where everybody's really digging it. It's gonna be more like, "Hey, it's a little bit more Country, but that's cool! It's in now!" I think Sam Hunt is still gonna be fine and still play his own stuff, or the other guys that have brought influences that they love into Country music - they're gonna be fine, too. That's how Country is - a big, open world. But, I think it's cooler like that. You can't have everybody doing traditional; you need some to mix it up.

3. You're part of that so-far-small movement with Luke Combs and some others. Do you feel any responsibility for carrying that torch for traditional Country and "hat acts"? You're also a younger artist and have many years ahead of you to be the flag bearer.

I don't think of it like that. I wear my hat to do shit, it's not like I carry it around in a box. Usually, I have it on; you'll see me in a restaurant with it on, you'll see me on a horse, you'll see me on a tractor. It's not like I have to dust the hat off to put it on. Those questions don't really mean anything to me, because I don't understand them - I just put my hat on!

4. Your band has a guitar player who'd look equally at home in a speed metal band and a fiddle player. How do you balance those two sounds live?

They're truly fans of the music. They're big supporters, and they believe in it. They get to artistically wear what they wanna wear onstage. My fiddle player was forced to wear a fedora back in the years and other shit he didn't want to wear. Billy is my fiddle player - he's from Texas - and, he's always told me, "My dream was to play the fiddle while wearing my cowboy hat!" And I said, "Well, do it!" Over the years, Terry, my guitar player, found his look. We joked around one time, saying that he had to grow a Fu Manchu, and once he did that, it changed his whole world! That was like four or five years ago. Now, he's grown into this Allman Brothers Rock'n'Roller that everybody knows. They believe in the music, they believe in the show, and they're proud to be in a band. It's a big family up there. We're all brothers, and we all love hanging out and playing shows together. I think our personalities just fit - no matter if there's a Rock'n'Roller or the fiddle player from Texas. The pedal steel player is also from Philadelphia, and he's amazing. It's a really tight, great group, and I love them. They've been nothing but a good time, and we play really well together.

5. There's a great story about how you found your new single, "She Ain't In It." I know the story involves George Strait. Can you share it?

I heard the song and thought it was amazing, and I was like, "Where did this come from?" It was a year and a half before we had even recorded it - I put it on hold that long ago. I just jammed out to it. [UMG Nashville SVP/A&R] Brian Wright came to me and said, "George [Strait] just let go of it," and I was like, "What?! He should totally sing it, but too bad, because I'm gonna sing it!" So, now it's a single, and I got a call from [UMG Nashville Chairman/CEO Mike] Dungan, and he was like, "Man, it's most-added song. I've always loved this song. I told George Strait that he needed to record this song, and he actually went in the studio to record it and didn't like his version." And, I totally understand that, because I've done the same thing. You just don't sing it right - it's just not hitting you right. So, I totally understand what George did. I'm really glad he did it, because it's one of my favorite songs on the record. It was cool to kinda take something from The King like, "Thanks, brother!" We always wanted to hear it on the radio - that was the first thought, and we kinda left it at that. We wanted to make a big entrance with the second album. It's great to be on a roll with #1s, but it's also great to introduce a song that means something to me, and it's such a different side of me; something you've never heard on the radio from me. We knew people would pay attention when they hear this song. It's different. People are gonna talk more about it, not just because it's more Country, but it's more emotional. It's a moving on song with very genuine and honest lyrics. It's written by Wynn Varble and Clint Daniels - two of the best Country writers of the modern day. "She Ain't In It" is a song that speaks for itself, and to have that on the radio and watch it do whatever it does, I think it's gonna be great for songwriters and for Country music to know that there's still this route that we can always go.

6. Exactly one year ago, I saw you at Gruene Hall in Texas for Strait's return show. Obviously, you're a huge Strait fan, and even though you couldn't stay for his entire show - because you had your own show in San Antonio - you just had to be a part of it. When did you discover his music, and why did it connect with you?

My grandmother got me into George Strait. I started listening to George Strait when I was four or five, singing "The Fireman" and "Baby Blue" back in the day - some of the older stuff. I guess my grandma loved George Strait so much that it trickled down on me. Thinking about me as a young kid, I had no idea about "great songs" or "great melodies," but I'm singing all these songs and loving them. Now, they're still my favorites. To look back and study George is like, "Man, you cut the best songs." He was pushing the limit, and in his day, there was nobody like George Strait coming out on Country music in the early years. It's really cool to look back on it now and be such a fan, like, "Yeah, he was just doing himself - being George." He was always good. He'd never been the guy who had the smoke and big fireworks, but he's chill and always has great music. Getting into playing, he just kept going - "Troubadour," "Wrapped," "She'll Leave You With A Smile," I could go on and on. I guess without even knowing it, he showed a great role model in the business: cut great songs regardless of what's going on.

7. "California Sunrise" has been such a huge success for you; it was a #1 album and has cranked out three #1 songs at Country radio. How do you plan to follow that up, and when do we get to hear it?

We cut the first half of the record already, and we're just working on getting vocals on it. Then, we're gonna be writing and listening to songs the first half of next year, getting ready for a third record. Let me tell you - this record that I'm making is not just me. It's the whole town and community of songwriters, showing up, sending me everything they've got - new and old. If I like the song, it's gonna get cut. It's not about me as a songwriter, it's about me as an artist. We cut five outside songs on the first half, and I have three songs I wrote on that half. I actually recorded a Miranda Lambert and Eric Church song that I've always loved, and I couldn't believe it still hadn't been recorded, so I asked if I could record. Brian texted Eric and Miranda, and they were super excited; it's totally gonna be on the record. It sounds like Merle Haggard. This record - I can't even put it into words yet - but this record is not gonna be afraid of "California Sunrise."

8. How is being on the road with Midland and Runaway June going? I'm going to assume that you're a big fan of Midland, as well?

I love Midland! They're awesome, and so is Runaway June. It's been one of my favorite tours that I've ever been a part of. The guys and the girls - we were all hanging out last night, and it's just a bunch of great people playing music. It's the dream Rock'n'Roll tour, where we're all playing music, having fun, putting on a show, hanging out, having drinks, talking about music; we'll never, ever forget this tour. Everybody's got their different style. Midland's doing some old school stuff. They're really good, and they're fun. It's been a great tour to watch them grow, and the girls are great. A lot of the whole tour has sold out - there's no tickets left anymore.

9. Speaking of Midland and your style of wearing your hat - as well as your Western-looking jacket at the CMAs - the Midland guys are very flamboyant in their fashion statements. I've seen you wear a lot of black. Any thoughts about getting more colorful, a la Midland?

Black always looks good. I kinda stick to solid colors, but they brought me back to the old school Wranglers, which are higher up on your waist. So, I've been tailoring some WMZ's - those are the old school Wranglers, but they're a lot thicker, and they hold up. I was having some jean issues, where you can only wear them for one show, then you have to wash them. It's definitely rubbing off on me, but they push it to the limit. The CMA suit was from this genius embroiderer in Texas, and she really studied up on Nudie, so that was more of a really detailed thing. I love that stuff. I talked to my stylist, John Murphy, and he told me we were gonna embroider it, because if not, I'd look like everyone else. It was the best suit we'd ever done. I had to step back, because I was like, "Can I wear this...?" since it was really sparkly. I looked in the mirror and asked myself, "Would Elvis wear this," and I was like, "Yeah. Elvis would wear this suit."

10. You've been on the road with Dierks, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam - anybody left that's on your bucket list?

The two that I haven't played a show with yet: Garth and George. Those are the two that are on my bucket list, just to play a couple shows together. I've played with all my heroes, except for them. I've gotten a lot of face time with George, which has been a lot of fun. And, me and Garth are boys now - I gave him a hug. Building relationships off stage is really important - when you do get to run into them, if you shake their hands and have a little bit of history, that could lead to a show. You never know, but it's been a lot of fun meeting them.