Chris Young reveals the advice Brad Paisley gave him about playing in the UK
Chris Young is headlining The Long Road Festival 26-28 July
It's been a long time coming, but Chris Young will be back in the UK very soon. He's playing shows in Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and London, and headlining The Long Road Festival in Leicestershire.
Ahead of his UK trip, he sat down with our very own Elaina D. Smith. We're trying to remember just how long it's been since he’s been overseas.
“Oh, pre 2020? It has been SO long. Obviously there are things that have prohibited me from going over there but I love going to play in the UK, everyone over there is such a fan of country music they dive into it. It’s so wild to explain it to somebody who has never been over there and played shows. But I’ve been going over there for years and I just love being there."
It's true, we love a deep cut in the UK. So before he crosses the pond, does Chris Young have to brush up on old lyrics?
“I will say this, Brad Paisley, a long time ago told me that whatever you do, if you get on stage in the UK, don’t say, “what do you want to hear?”, because they’ll pull something from record one that you do not remember. At the time I had three records out and I was like, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem."
"But as I’ve released more music, it’s true. The fact people take a deep dive and fall in love with something that was never a single or pushed but the moment you were making the record had so much love for, it’s very humbling that people go through your catalogue like that.”
It seems like he's got a whirlwind trip planned, so sadly, you won't catch Chris on a double decker bus in London this time.
"I won’t have much time to do anything else, I’m just enjoying every minute of the trip, even when it’s a lot of weird travel and I’m going to be jet lagged, there’s a lot going on. But it’s just so cool to be over there.”
Check out who's joining Chris on the Saturday lineup at The Long Road! We'll see you there.
Read next: The most awarded country stars of all time!
15) TIED: Alan Jackson
The Chattahoochee singer reigned supreme in the 1990s, but he's got more under his hat than line-dancing songs. Jackson, who pens most of his own songs, is one of the best-selling music artists of all-time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide.
Grammy's: 2
Country Music Association Awards: 16
Academy of Country Music Awards: 19
CMT Music Awards: 1
American Music Awards: 2
Billboard Music Awards: 3
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Songwriter Hall of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 46 Awards, Honours and Accolades
15) TIED: Alabama
This country and Southern rock trio comprising of three cousins gave us 'Dixieland Delight', but their impressive award collection proves they're no one hit wonder.
Grammy's: 2
Country Music Association Awards: 7
Academy of Country Music Awards: 15
American Music Awards: 18
Billboard Music Awards: 1
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 46 Awards, Honours and Accolades
14) Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss, the bluegrass singer with the voice of angel, was the most awarded woman at the Grammy's until 2021, when Beyoncé inched ahead.
Grammy's: 27
Country Music Association Awards: 8
Academy of Country Music Awards: 2
CMT Music Awards: 2
Canadian Country Music Awards: 1
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Special Musical Achievement Honor
Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music
National Medal of Arts
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 48 Awards, Honours and Accolades
13) Reba McEntire
Being known by just your first name means you've got some serious cred. Reba 'The Queen of Country Music' has been on the scene since the 1970s and is still getting nominated for Grammy's, most recently in 2020 for her album, 'Stronger Than The Truth'.
Grammy's: 3
Country Music Association Awards: 7
Academy of Country Music Awards: 19
American Music Awards: 14
Billboard Music Awards: 3
Kennedy Center Honours
Golden Globes: 1 nomination
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 50 Awards, Honours and Accolades
12) The Chicks
With 33 million certified albums sold, The Chicks are the best-selling female band and best-selling country group in the U.S. during the Nielsen SoundScan era (1991–present). And considering they were ousted from the country music scene in 2003 for commenting on the Iraq war and took a 14-year hiatus - it's even more impressive.
Grammy's: 13
Country Music Association Awards: 10
Academy of Country Music Awards: 8
CMT Music Awards: 5
American Music Awards: 4
Billboard Music Awards: 7
Canadian Country Music Awards: 3
Total: 50 Awards, Honours and Accolades
11) Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw's Soul2Soul II Tour, in partnership with his wife Faith Hill is one of the highest-grossing tours in country music history, and he has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. He has also ventured into acting, including a supporting role in the Academy Award winning film, The Blind Side.
Grammy Awards: 3
Country Music Association Awards: 11
Academy of Country Music Awards: 14
CMT Music Awards: 5
American Music Awards: 10
Billboard Music Awards: 8
Total: 51 Awards, Honours and Accolades
10) Brooks & Dunn
The Boot Scootin' Boogie duo have 20 Number 1 singles and were an integral part of making 90s country the calibre that it was. After retiring in 2009, the pair have enjoyed a resurgence with their album, 'Reboot', featuring Luke Combs and Kacey Musgraves.
Grammy's: 2
Country Music Association Awards: 17
Academy of Country Music Awards: 23
CMT Music Awards: 1
American Music Awards: 5
Billboard Music Awards: 3
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Inducted
Total: 53 Awards, Honours and Accolades
9) Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert has been honoured with more Academy of Country Music Awards than any artist in history. In 2018, she won the ACM Award for Female Vocalist of the Year for the ninth consecutive year, surpassing Reba McEntire as the most awarded in the category. Additionally, in 2015 she became the first woman to have won the Country Music Association Awards' Album of the Year twice.
Grammy's: 3
Country Music Association Awards: 14
Academy of Country Music Awards: 29
CMT Music Awards: 7
Total: 53 Awards, Honours and Accolades
8) George Strait
They don't call George Strait 'The King of Country' for nothing! A pioneer of neo-traditional country music, he has a whopping 60 Number 1 singles under his belt. He set a new record for largest indoor concert in North America in 2014, with 104,793 attendees. Plus, he is the 11th best selling album artist in the United States.
Grammy's: 1
Country Music Association Awards: 22
Academy of Country Music Awards: 19
CMT Music Awards: 6
American Music Awards: 4
Billboard Music Awards: 1
Country Music Hall of Fame Inducted
Honorary Doctoral Degree Texas State University–San Marcos
Total: 55 Awards, Honours and Accolades
7) Lady A
In 2009, Lady A exploded onto the country music scene with their smash hit, 'Need You Now', which helped them sweep the country music Grammy's in 2011. They've gone on to rack up nine No. 1 hits while selling over 18 million album units.
Grammy's: 7
Country Music Association Awards: 6
Academy of Country Music Awards: 14
American Music Awards: 5
Billboard Music Awards: 6
CMT Music Awards: 16
Canadian Country Music Award: 1
Tony Award: 1 nomination
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 57 Awards, Honours and Accolades
6) Shania Twain
Shania Twain has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history. She is the only female artist in history to have three consecutive albums certified Diamond by the RIAA and is the sixth best-selling female artist in the United States.
Grammy's: 5
Country Music Association Awards: 2
Academy of Country Music Awards: 4
American Music Awards: 6
Billboard Music Awards: 7
Canadian Country Music Association Awards: 29
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Officer in the Order of Canada
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Inducted
Total: 57 Awards, Honours and Accolades
5) Vince Gill
Vince Gill has also earned 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other male country music artist and has sold more than 26 million albums. He's a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, and recently joined the Eagles tour.
Grammy's: 22
Country Music Association Awards: 18
Academy of Country Music Awards: 4
BMI Icon Award
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: Inducted
Total: 58 Awards, Honours and Accolades
4) Dolly Parton
National treasure Dolly Parton is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian. That's a mouthful! She has sold more than a hundred million records worldwide, had 44 career Top 10 country albums, a record for any artist.
Grammy's: 11
Country Music Association Awards: 10
Academy of Country Music Awards: 13
CMT Music Awards: 14
American Music Awards: 4
Billboard Music Awards: 4
Guinness World Records: 2
Kennedy Center Honors: 1
Library of Congress, National Recording Registry: 1
Songwriters Hall of Fame: Inducted
Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2 nominations (turned down)
Academy Awards: 2 nominations
Tony Awards: 1 nomination
Emmy Awards: 1 nomination
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Grand Ole Opry Member
Honorary Doctorate of Humane and Musical Letters Degree at the University of Tennessee
Total: 71 Awards, Honours and Accolades
3) Taylor Swift
You might think that Taylor Swift is so high on this list due to her superstardom since moving to pop. But these accolades are solely from her country era. Her impact and success in country music cannot be understated.
Grammy's: 7
Country Music Association Awards: 12
Academy of Country Music Awards: 8
CMT Music Awards: 6
American Music Awards: 15
Billboard Music Awards: 12
Canadian Country Music Awards: 5
CMT Artists of the Year: 2
Guinness World Record: 8
Total: 75 Awards, Honours and Accolades
2) Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks is now the only artist in music history to have released nine albums that achieved Diamond status in the United States (surpassing the Beatles' former record of six). Brooks is one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold more than 170 million records.
Grammy's: 2
Country Music Association Awards: 18
Academy of Country Music Awards: 23
CMT Music Awards: 2
American Music Awards: 12
Billboard Music Awards: 17
Canadian Country Music Awards: 1
Golden Globes: 1 nomination
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Emmy Awards: 2 nominations
Country Music Hall of Fame: Inducted
Songwriters Hall of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 82 Awards, Honours and Accolades
1) Carrie Underwood
Coming in at the top is none other than Miss Carrie Underwood - and she's only just getting started. Having sold 70 million records worldwide, she is the highest-certified female country artist of all time on the RIAA's Top Artists (Digital Singles). She is also the female artist with the most Number 1 entries on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, with 15.
Grammy's: 7
Country Music Association Awards: 9
Academy of Country Music Awards: 15
CMT Music Awards: 22
CMT Artist of the Year: 5
American Music Awards: 15
Billboard Music Awards: 11
Golden Globes: 1 nomination
Guinness World Record Most Country No. 1s for a Female Artist in the U.S.Hollywood Walk of Fame: Inducted
Grand Ole Opry Member
Total: 88 Awards, Honours and Accolades