Old Dominion honored Alabama, and the late Jeff Cook, when accepting their trophy for Vocal Group of the Year at the CMA Awards. The five-man group spoke more about Alabama’s influence backstage, and why they felt it was important to celebrate Alabama and their legacy, during their own acceptance speech.
“Alabama is a big part of all of our childhood, that just really is in the fabric of country music,” lead singer Matt Ramsey reflected. “Everyone who is an artist out there right now, I don’t think there’s anyone that will argue with that statement. They just absolutely broke total new ground. And we are lucky enough to even share some of the team members that sort of built their career, and are now working with us. They’ve been a complete influence in a lot of ways for us. When you’re a band in this genre, you can’t help but look to them for examples of the right way to do things. They’re just a massive, massive band that really shaped country music, and changed the direction. We wouldn’t be here without them.”
Old Dominion won the Vocal Group of the Year for the fifth year in a row, sharing the category this year with Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland and the Zac Brown Band. While it might seem that Old Dominion is by now an assumed winner, Ramsey is quick to point out that that isn’t the case, at least for them.
“We are pretty shocked every time,” Ramsey insists. “I would say the third time might have been the time that we were like, ‘Yeah, we got this, whatever.’ Now it’s just insane that we’re still getting to do this, period. And that we’re getting this award for the fifth time. It just doesn’t happen. It just doesn’t happen really in any other category where it seems like this category is the one where you take it and you hold it. And we’re just so happy to be holding it right now.”
When accepting the CMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year, Ramsey cited Alabama as one of the biggest influences in the entire genre of country music.
“Obviously, we’ve lost a lot of legends, but there’s nobody in this category, and really any category, that would be here without Alabama,” he said from stage. “And this is crazy. It’s got me thinking, and I’m just so grateful. There’s nothing like being in a band.
“I’m just so grateful to have my friends, and I can’t imagine losing one of you,” he continued, addressing his bandmates. “We love the opportunity to do what we love doing. So thank you guys so much for allowing us.”
See a complete list of CMA Awards winners here.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Country Music Association / Jamie Schramm