Jackson Dean Earns First-Ever No.1 Single With ‘Don’t Come Lookin”: ‘It’s Hard To Wrap My Head Around’
Jackson Dean earned his first No.1 single with his breakout hit, “Don’t Come Lookin’,” and he made history along the…
Jackson Dean; Photo by David McClister
Jackson Dean earned his first No.1 single with his breakout hit, “Don’t Come Lookin’,” and he made history along the way.
The boot-stomping hit tops the Country Aircheck/ Radio & Records’ chart this week, cementing Dean as the youngest male in not just Aircheck, but Radio & Records’ history to top the charts with his debut single. According to a press release, Dean, 22, is the fourth youngest overall following behind Gabby Barrett, Kelsea Ballerini, and Marie Osmond.
“It’s hard to wrap my head around,” Dean, the highest debuting new artist on the charts since 2015, said. “I wrote this with Luke Dick, my co-producer, as a way of explaining who I am and what I value to people. I never thought of the song in any terms except trying to show people – as a new artist – who I am. The idea it’s No. 1 tells me a lot more people value that sense of getting out there and getting lost than I’d’ve ever imagined, which is pretty cool.”
He also shared his gratitude in a video posted to social media calling this moment a “dream come true.”
He went on to thank country radio for playing the song and also the fans who supported him along the way.
“Don’t Come Lookin’” has been featured on Netflix’s The Ice Road soundtrack and in a John Dutton scene in Yellowstone. Additionally, Kelly Clarkson recently covered the track during her “Kellyoke” segment on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
The song is not only a massive hit at radio, but also on streaming services as it averages 5 million streams a week. To date, “Don’t Come Lookin’” has raked in over 80 million on-demand streams.
Dean’s breakthrough single is featured on his debut album, Greenbroke. The 10-track project was released earlier this year.
Country Now sat down with the rising star to chat about the project upon its release.
“I wanted the title to be my story,” he shared of the project. “The title track is my most vulnerable song lyrically, and musically it is what I love. It goes through calm, rage, and everything in between. I wanted to hammer home that feeling that never goes away. I chose Greenbroke because that’s how some horses are, you can never break that wild. If I let the world break me, everything I am would cease to exist.”
The past year has been a memorable one for Jackson Dean. He played over 110 shows, made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and played festivals such as Stagecoach, Austin City Limits, and more.
The Maryland native will soon join HARDY on The Wall To Wall Tour. In early 2023, he will appear alongside Blake Shelton and Carly Pearce on the Back to the Honky Tonk Tour.
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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