Jimmie Allen

James Edward Allen (born June 18, 1986) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Broken Bow Records imprint Stoney Creek, for which he has released the two singles "Best Shot" and "Make Me Want To" and the 2018 album Mercury Lane.

Jimmie Allen
Birth nameJames Edward Allen
Born (1986-06-18) June 18, 1986[1]
Milton, Delaware, U.S.
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals/Guitar
Years active2017–present
LabelsStoney Creek

Biography

Allen was born in Milton, Delaware, United States, but moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2007.[2] During most of his first few years in Nashville, he experienced poverty and often lived out of his car.[3][1] Allen auditioned for America's Got Talent, but did not make it past the preliminary auditions. He also auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol, but was cut before the live voting rounds. While on American Idol, he performed with Colton Dixon during one of the group rounds[4] and befriended Scotty McCreery, who eventually won the competition that year. Allen and McCreery later reconnected and toured together after the release of Allen's debut album.[5][6][7]

Allen signed a publishing deal with Wide Open Music, a songwriting imprint formed by singer-songwriter Ash Bowers, in 2016.[1] After doing a talent showcase for representatives of Broken Bow Records in early 2017,[1] he was signed to that label's Stoney Creek imprint and released his self-titled debut EP, which Bowers produced.[8][9] The label's executive vice president said that the decision to sign Allen was one of the fastest they ever made at the label.[2] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic compared the EP's sound to the "slick, assured style" of Thomas Rhett and Sam Hunt.[9] Similarly, Rolling Stone Country writer Brittney McKenna compared Allen's contemporary R&B influences to those artists and Maren Morris.[2] A track from the EP, "Blue Jean Baby", was added to Spotify's "United States Viral 50 chart".[2]

His first official single, "Best Shot", was released in early 2018. The week of its release, it was the second most-added song to country music radio playlists.[2] The song has made the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, and Billboard Hot 100 charts and was made into a music video.[10] Allen said that the song's title and central theme were inspired by his grandmother and his son, who was 4 at the time of the song's release.[11][1] His debut album, Mercury Lane, was issued in October 2018.[9] Also produced by Bowers, the album takes its name from the street on which Allen lived as a child.[12] "Best Shot" was a Number One hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in November 2018, making him the first Black artist to send his debut single to the top of that chart.[13] The album's second single, "Make Me Want To" released to country radio on February 1, 2019,[14] and it also became a Number One hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

Allen also recorded a cover of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's "Shallow" with Abby Anderson in May 2019. The recording was made into a video as well.[15]

In 2020, Allen released "This Is Us", a duet with Noah Cyrus.[16] It was included on his new EP, Bettie James, which was released on July 10, 2020.[17][18][19]

Personal life

Allen has a son from a previous relationship.[20]

Allen got engaged to Alexis Gale, 23, his girlfriend, at Disney World on Monday, July 15, 2019. The couple met through Allen’s cousin’s wife, and actually share the same hometown of Milton, Delaware, and began dating the spring of 2019. Allen claims the two "had an instant connection."[21]

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak chart
positions
Sales
US
[22]
US Country
[23]
Mercury Lane 12811

Extended plays

Year Album Peak chart
positions
US Country
[25]
2020 Bettie James[17]
  • Release date: July 10, 2020
  • Label: Stoney Creek
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
26

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
US
[26]
US
Country
Songs

[27]
US
Country
Airplay

[28]
US Adult
[29]
CAN
[30]
CAN Country
[31]
2018 "Best Shot" 375133791 Mercury Lane
2019 "Make Me Want To" 49715
2020 "This Is Us"
(with Noah Cyrus)
3248 Bettie James
2021 "Freedom Was a Highway"
(with Brad Paisley)
43
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
Country
Songs

[35]
2020 "Good Times Roll" (with Nelly) 31 Bettie James
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
2018 "Best Shot" Ford Fairchild[36]
2019 "Shallow" (with Abby Anderson)
"Make Me Want To"
2020 "This Is Us" (with Noah Cyrus) Peter Zavadil

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated Work Result
2019 CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year "Best Shot" Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards New Male Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen Nominated
2020 Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen Nominated

Notes

    References

    1. Cirisano, Tatiana (October 12, 2018). "Jimmie Allen On His Breakthrough 'Best Shot' & Diversity In Country Music: 'The Fans Have Always Wanted It'". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
    2. "See Rising Country Singer Jimmie Allen's Smooth Rendition of 'Best Shot'". Rolling Stone Country. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
    3. Houghton, Cillea. "Jimmie Allen Embodies Perseverance in Music and Life". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
    4. Mavity, Ryan (March 7, 2011). "Cape grad Jimmie Allen reflects on 'American Idol'". Cape Gazette. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
    5. Dukes, Billy (August 31, 2018). "Scotty McCreery's Tour with Jimmie Allen is Seven Years in the Making". Taste of Country. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
    6. Tricia Despres (December 7, 2018). "Scotty McCreery riding a tidal wave of success in music, life". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
    7. "Scotty McCreery reveals Jimmie Allen is his brother from "American Idol" -- but he still stole his puppy". ABC News Radio. January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
    8. "Jimmie Allen EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
    9. "Jimmie Allen biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
    10. Stephens, Samantha. "Jimmie Allen Gives Life and Love His "Best Shot"". CMT. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
    11. McKenna, Brittney (February 27, 2018). "See Rising Country Singer Jimmie Allen's Smooth Rendition of 'Best Shot'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
    12. Stecker, Liv (October 5, 2018). "Everything we know about Jimmie Allen's debut album, 'Mercury Lane'". Theboot.com. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
    13. "JIMMIE ALLEN MAKES HISTORY WITH NO.1 SINGLE 'BEST SHOT'". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
    14. Stecker, Liz (January 8, 2019). "Hear Jimmie Allen's Swooning New Single, 'Make Me Want To'". Theboot.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
    15. "Jimmie Allen & Abby Anderson Cover Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper's "Shallow" From "A Star Is Born"". Nash Country Daily. February 22, 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
    16. "This Is Us – Single by Jimmie Allen & Noah Cyrus". Apple Music. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
    17. Lorie Hollabaugh (July 1, 2020). "Jimmie Allen Welcomes Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker, Charley Pride For Collaborative EP". Music Row. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
    18. Kruh, Nancy (July 10, 2020). "Jimmie Allen Teams with His Childhood Musical Heroes on His New EP: 'It's Been a Dream of Mine'". People.com. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
    19. Laffer, Lauren (July 8, 2020). "Jimmie Allen Reveals Seven-Song 'Bettie James' EP Track List". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
    20. Despres, Tricia; Alex, Sam (July 25, 2018). "Jimmie Allen Is Giving It His 'Best Shot' When It Comes to Raising a Three-Year-Old Son". Taste of Country. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
    21. "Jimmie Allen Is Engaged! All the Photos from His Sweet Disney World Proposal". People.com. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
    22. "Billboard 200: October 27, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
    23. "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. October 22, 2018. pp. 6, 15. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
    24. Bjorke, Matt (April 15, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: April 15, 2019". Roughstock.com. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
    25. "Top Country Albums". Billboard. July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
    26. "Chart Search: Jimmie Allen". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
    27. "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. November 5, 2018. pp. 5, 10. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
    28. Peaks on the Country Airplay chart:
    29. "Adult Pop Songs: April 27, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
    30. "Canadian Hot 100: January 12, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
    31. "Canada Country: February 8, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
    32. Bjorke, Matt (April 8, 2019). "Top 30 Digital Country Tracks: April 8, 2019". RoughStock.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
    33. "American single certifications – Jimmie Allen". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
    34. Bjorke, Matt (March 4, 2020). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Sales Chart: March 2, 2020". Roughstock.com. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
    35. "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. November 5, 2018. pp. 5, 10. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
    36. Weathers, Sara (May 23, 2018). "Jimmie Allen Reflects on His Journey in New Video for 'Best Shot". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
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