Cole Swindell Blown Away As ‘She Had Me At Heads Carolina’ Hits No.1 After Just 12 Weeks
Cole Swindell’s latest single, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” is officially the No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay…
Cole Swindell; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Cole Swindell’s latest single, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” is officially the No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after just 12 weeks, marking his fastest-rising single to date.
On Monday afternoon (Sept. 12), upon hearing the exciting news, the country superstar shared his reaction to earning his 12th No. 1 hit.
“The reaction to this song has blown me away,” Swindell said. “From the minute I released it you all raised your hand in support of it, and it means the world to me. Getting to stand in front of you night after night hearing you sing it back is the best feeling in the world! So thankful for my team and everyone that makes these moments possible.”
In addition to topping the Billboard Country Airplay chart, the tune also hit No. 1 on Sirius XM’s The Highway Hot 30 Weekend Countdown last month.
Co-written by Swindell alongside Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Mark D. Sanders and Tim Nichols, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” finds Swindell tipping his hat to country hitmaker Jo Dee Messina as he reimagines her 1996 debut single, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
“Out of all the ‘90s country songs we all love, I don’t think anybody would have thought we would have picked that one, but I think that’s what makes it special,” Swindell explained during a recent interview.
Swindell previously shared his desire to work directly with Messina admitting, “I hope someday I get to sing it with her or do something. I want her to be involved because we wouldn’t have the song without the writers and without her making it what it is.”
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina” is the follow-up to Swindell’s two back-to-back, multi-week No. 1 hits, “Never Say Never,” a duet with Lainey Wilson, and “Single Saturday Night,” the debut single from his new album, Stereotype.
Last month, Swindell shared the music video for “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” which was filmed at a Downtown Nashville bar in Printer’s Alley. The clip features Jo Dee Messina and also pays homage to the songwriters of “Heads Carolina, Tails California” with an appearance by Tim Nichols and a photo of Mark D. Sanders is shown on the wall of the bar.
The chart-topping news comes just days after receiving two CMA Award nominations for “Never Say Never,” a duet featuring Lainey Wilson. Together, the pair received nods in the Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories.
The 56th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville on Wednesday, November 9 at 8/7c on ABC.
Additionally, Cole Swindell will kick off his headlining Back Down To The Bar Tour with special guests Ashley Cooke and Dylan Marlowe. The trek already includes several sold-out shows, including his headlining debut at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on November 3, which prompted a second show to be added on November 2.
For tour dates and to purchase tickets go to www.ColeSwindell.com.
Cole Swindell’s Back Down To The Bar Tour
Sept 23 // Helotes, TX // Floores Country Store
Sept 24 // Fort. Worth, TX // Billy Bob’s Texas
Sept 30 // Round Rock, TX // Round Rock Amphitheatre
Oct. 1 // Tulsa, OK // Cain’s Ballroom
Oct. 6 // Grand Junction, CO // Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park
Oct. 7 // Prescott Valley, AZ // Findlay Toyota Center
Oct. 11 // Statesboro, GA // The Blue Room – SOLD OUT
Oct. 12 // Athens, GA // Georgia Theatre – SOLD OUT
Oct. 13 // Birmingham, AL // Avondale Brewing Company
Oct. 14 // Owensboro, KY // Owensboro Sports Center
Oct. 15 // Charlotte, NC // Coyote Joe’s
Oct. 20 // Erie, PA // Warner Theater
Oct. 21 // Boston, MA // House of Blues | Coreyfest
Oct. 22 // Huntington, NY // The Paramount
Nov. 2 // Nashville, TN // Ryman Auditorium
Nov. 3 // Nashville, TN // Ryman Auditorium – SOLD OUT
Nov. 4 // *Biloxi, MS // Beau Rivage Resort & Casino-Beau Rivage Theatre
Nov. 5 // Fayeteville, AR // JJ’s Live
Nov. 11 // **Verona, NY // Turning Stone Resort Casino
Nov. 12 // Johnstown, PA // Cambria County War Memorial
Nov. 17 // Saint Augustine, FL // The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
Nov. 18 // Orlando, FL // Hard Rock Live Orlando
Nov. 19 // Pompano Beach, FL // Pompano Beach Amphitheater
*Ashley Cooke only
**Dylan Marlowe playing the after party at Tin Rooster on the Casino grounds
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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