Warren Zeiders‘ career is on a meteoric fast track. The Pennsylvania native celebrated his first No.1 single, with “Pretty Little Poison,” which also earned Zeiders his first major award. Zeiders took home the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year for “Pretty Little Poison,” just part of what seems certain to be the beginning of a promising, lengthy career for Zeiders.
“Pretty Little Poison” is the title track of Zeiders’ impressive, 14-track debut album. Although still fairly new to being a signed country artist, Zeiders knew right away that “Pretty Little Poison” was something special.
“I remember it was a cloudy day in Nashville, and I was writing with my boy, Jared Keim and Ryan Beaver. Fun fact: it was actually all of our first No. 1, together,” Zeiders recalls on Audacy’s Rob + Holly. “Beaver’s been in town for a long time, and he’s had hopeful shots. I just think it makes it that much more rewarding to share it with those boys.”
The original idea Zeiders credits to Beaver, although it was a quick and collaborative effort to bring “Pretty Little Poison” to life.
“We were in the writers’ room,” Zeiders remembers. “I was like, ‘Let’s write a dark twist on a love song, on a ballad.’ Beaver, shout-out to him, he had the idea of ‘Pretty Poison.’ I was like, ‘How does, ‘Pretty Little Poison’ sound?” Wrote itself in two hours, cut a demo. I remember that night, going back after the write, sending it to my team and saying, ‘This song is something special.’ Lo and behold, speaking it into existence, here we are.”
Pretty Little Poison might have just come out last year but Zeiders, who wrote all but one of the songs on the record (with Chris Stapleton co-writing the one Zeiders didn’t write), but he’s already hard at work writing his next project.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
“Honestly, some of my best ideas have come at the end of the night, when I’m dozing off, and then I’m about to fall asleep,” Zeiders shares. “I pull my phone out, and then I jot a note down, just so I don’t forget it.”
When taking home the CMT Music Award, Zeiders touched on his Christian faith and his family’s support when expressing his appreciation and gratitude.
“I guess, first things first, God is good all the time, ladies and gentleman,” Zeiders said when accepting the fan-voted trophy. “And if it wasn’t for Him, I would not be on this stage right now, so I’m just so grateful for that. There’s so many people to thank. Honestly, I try not to get teary-eyed, because I have my best friend with me, sitting next to me, who’s my dad, who’s been my ride or die my entire life … Fans, fans, fans, ladies and gentleman, thank you so much.”
Zeiders is headlining plenty of his own shows this year. He will also serve as the opening act on Jelly Roll‘s Beautifully Broken Tour later this year. Find all of Zeiders’ music and upcoming shows at WarrenZeiders.com.