Cole Swindell has won another ACM Award. The Georgia native, who won the trophy earlier in the evening for Song of the Year, also won Single of the Year. Both ACM Awards are for his “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” song, his tribute to Jo Dee Messina‘s “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”
“I do want to just thank the fans,” Swindell said when accepting his award. “I was letting everybody talk earlier. Thank you, country music fans. This is all I’ve ever been. There are so many people in this room that I’m looking at, so many people in that category that are so deserving of this. Not everybody gets to be this fortunate, but I love all of you, and Warner Music Nashville, thank y’all for giving me a chance … I’m just proud to be here tonight.”
Swindell wrote “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” with Thomas Rhett, Ashley Gorley and Jesse Frasure. Mark D. Sanders and Tim Nichols, the writers of “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” are also credited on the song as well.
“I wouldn’t have this song without them,” Swindell said when accepting the ACM Award for Song of the Year. “But I moved to Nashville, Tennessee because I wanted to be a songwriter, and that’s what this award is. Jo Dee, we wouldn’t have this song without you making the original song a hit. Thank you so much.
“Everybody on my team, thank you all,” he continued. “And there’s a kid that’s out there watching tonight, and they’re going to get inspired by somebody’s song, and they’re going to follow it up and chase a dream like we all have. God bless you all, and God bless country music.”
Swindell has plenty to celebrate besides ACM Awards. The 39-year-old just got engaged to Courtney Little, whom he has been dating since 2021.
“It’s hard to put into words how happy I am,” Swindell told People. “I feel like I’m very fortunate to be where I am in my career, but I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot of real-life moments. I’m just glad to have somebody to share everything with. She makes me better, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in all parts of my life.”
Swindell is currently on the road, serving as the opening act on Rhett’s Home Team Tour. He will follow that with his own headlining Twelve Tour this fall. Find music and tour dates at ColeSwindell.com.
