The members of Old Dominion are already big fans of Alexandra Kay. After Kay previously opened for them, the band invited her to serve as the opening act overseas in 2026, when they perform in Australia and New Zealand.

At the recent CMA Awards, Kay got to speak to Old Dominion, while hosting for Billboard on the red carpet.

When asked why they chose Kay, lead singer Matthew Ramsey says it’s because of who she is, not only as a singer and a songwriter, but as a human being.

“The songs,” Ramsey says.  “And just a good vibe, good energy. We’re a happy. bunch of guys, and we like positivity.”

Old Dominion Speaks Out About Their CMA Awards History

Old Dominion has been nominated a total of ten times for Vocal Group of the Year at the CMA Awards. The band won every year from 2018 to 2024, with The Red Clay Strays taking home the trophy this year.

For Ramsey, nothing will ever top their first win in the category.

“The first time you win is pretty incredible,” Ramsey says. “It was a big shock to us, and we just learned in that moment how many people were around us, supporting us. Our team, and our family, and our friends, our peers. It just kind of pulled back the curtain for us, and let us see how much support we actually had, in a business that kind of feels like you’re just scrapping out there alone sometimes. It was really eye-opening for us.”

Old Dominion’s Induction Into the Music City Walk of Fame

Old Dominion may not have won a CMA Award this year, but they did just receive an even bigger honor. Old Dominion was recently inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame, along with Charley Pride and songwriter Liz Rose.

“This is such a humbling experience,” Ramsey said during the group’s induction. “Especially for a bunch of guys that consider themselves underdogs. At times, that was very true, and other times not so true. But still, we have that spirit about us, I think. Even now, receiving this, there’s that nagging voice in our heads that’s telling us we’re still underdogs. And in that underdog spirit, we bled for this in a lot of ways. Not for recognition or awards, but for the songs and for the music, and for each other. We had to believe, when it felt like no one else did.”

 

@everythingnash @olddominionband has a star on the Music City Walk of Fame! #olddominion #countrymusic #nashville #musiccity ♬ original sound – EverythingNash

 

Nothing about the early years of Old Dominion was easy for them. To be where they are now is beyond what they could have ever dreamed for themselves.

“The thing about chasing this crazy kind of dream is the voice that’s telling you that you believe in yourself, can very quickly turn on you, and convince you that you were crazy for ever believing in the first place,” Ramsey said. “In those moments, if you don’t have people that believe for you, you’ll never make it. And we have those people. Our families, and our friends, and our team, and our loved ones, and our fans. You cannot make a mark of this magnitude without the people that make a mark on you, so thank you for that.”

Photo Credit: CMA / Erika Goldring