THOMPSON SQUARE MAKES COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY AS FIRST MARRIED DUO ACT TO WIN VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR IN 46-YEAR HISTORY OF CMA AWARDS
Independent Label Act Breaks Five-Year Category Lock Out
THOMPSON SQUARE SWEEPS EVERY COUNTRY MUSIC DUO CATEGORY IN 2012
New Single, “If I Didn’t Have You,” Rising Fast at Country Radio & Earning Critical Accolades
(NASHVILLE, TN) – Stoney Creek Records’ Thompson Square made Country music history in more ways than one last night when the husband/ wife duo became the only established married duo act in the 46-year history of the CMA Awards to win the Vocal Duo of the Year Award.
Additionally, it’s been 25 years since a husband and wife team won in the category. Individual performing artists Ricky Skaggs and wife Sharon White (of The Whites) won the award in 1987 when they collaborated that year on the hit single “Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This.”
Thompson Square won the award which has evaded many of Country music’s most iconic duos including Johnny & June, George and Tammy, Dolly and Porter and more.
“Ever since I was about 5 years old I used to practice in the kitchen with one of my mamaw’s mason jars for this moment right here. So thank you so much to the CMAs and thank you to Country Radio and the fans. You guys rock,” an emotional Shawna Thompson told the crowd as tears streamed down her face.
“This is one of the coolest things we’ve ever experienced and being able to do it with your best friend is awesome,” said Keifer Thompson after also thanking the duo’s record label Stoney Creek Records, his manager Shawn Pennington and agency William Morris.
Keifer and Shawna Thompson also broke reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Sugarland’s five-year winning streak in the category which had been a shut-out since 2007.
With last night’s historic win, Thompson Square has swept every mainstream Country music awards show duo award in 2012. Earlier this year, Thompson Square became the first new act to win the ACM Vocal Duo of the Year Award in 20 years – and only the 3rd act to win the Vocal Duo of the Year award during that 20-year period. Keifer and Shawna Thompson also picked up the CMT Music Award for Duo Video of the Year for their hit, “I Got You.”
Last night’s CMA win topped off one of the biggest weeks of Thompson Square’s career. On Monday, the duo’s highly anticipated new single, “If I Didn’t Have You” earned the biggest first-week add total of the duo’s career. Keifer and Shawna Thompson also picked up songwriting awards from both ASCAP and BMI this week at the performing rights organization’s annual awards shows. The duo performed an intimate, acoustic version of “If I Didn’t Have You” for VIPs and industry at Sunday night’s annual SESAC Nashville Music Awards to a standing ovation.
“If I Didn’t Have You” earned an astounding 56 first-week adds, making it the most added song at Country Radio this week. “If I Didn’t Have You” debuted on at #46 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and at #50 on the USA Today/ Country Aircheck chart, powered by Mediabase.
USA Today also heralded, “If I Didn’t Have You,” as the outlet’s official “Song of the Week.” Thompson Square tops the tastemaker’s “Playlist” ahead of new singles by the legendary Rolling Stones, superstar Bruno Mars, critical darlings Ellie Goulding and Martha Wainwright, and chart-toppers Missy Elliot and Timbaland. Thompson Square is the only mainstream Country act to be featured on this week’s USA Today “Playlist.” Read more of what USA Today had to say here: http://smarturl.org/xiqiq
“If I Didn’t Have You” is available at digital retailers now. To preview and download the new single on iTunes visit: http://www.itunes.com/thompsonsquare
“If I Didn’t Have You” is a commanding, fast-paced ballad which equally showcases the undeniable strength and versatility of both Keifer and Shawna Thompson’s voices. While the fiercely swelling instrumentation embodies life’s heartaches, Thompson Square’s vocals exude a powerful tenderness that clearly expresses their love for one another.
Written by Keifer and Shawna Thompson alongside Jason Sellers and Paul Jenkins, “If I Didn’t Have You” was penned by the same foursome that collaborated on Thompson Square’s awaring-winning hit single, “I Got You.”
Thompson Square’s highly anticipated sophomore album will be released in Spring 2013.
ABOUT THOMPSON SQUARE
Reigning ACM and CMA “Vocal Duo of the Year” Thompson Square has earned an astounding list of accolades in its short time on the Country music scene. Signed to Stoney Creek Records, the husband/wife duo’s #1 smash, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” earned them 2 GRAMMY Nominations as well as an American Music Award nod, 4 CMA, and 5 CMT Music Award nominations as well as a 2012 Teen Choice Award nomination for “Choice Country Group.” Keifer and Shawna Thompson are also winners of 3 fan-voted American Country Awards as well as a 2012 CMT Music Award for their follow-up smash, “I Got You.”
“Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” is nearing Double Platinum sales status, was the #1 Digital Soundscan Single for 5 weeks straight, the #1 Country Ringtone for 12 consecutive weeks and was iTunes 2011 Country Song of the Year. Thompson Square’s whirlwind 2011-2012 saw them on national tours supporting Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum as well as gracing the stages of The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Conan, Fox & Friends, FOX’s All American Concert Series, and the 45th Annual CMA Awards. Thompson Square (or T2) ended 2011 as Billboard’s #1 New Country Artist in terms of digital sales and the #6 New Artist across all genres. Follow-up hits include the award-winning infectious, “I Got You,” (#6) and the critically-lauded power ballad, “Glass” (#15).
Thompson Square will join award-winning Country star Luke Bryan on his first headlining tour, the 2013 Dirt Road Diaries Tour, beginning January 17 in Evansville, IN.
For more information, tour dates and all the “T2 goins on” visit: http://www.thompsonsquare.com
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