2021 CMAs: Jimmie Allen Wins New Artist Of The Year

36-year-old country music artist Jimmie Allen was overwhelmed with emotion after winning the New Artist of the Year award at the 2021 CMA’s. Allen tearfully thanked his late father, James “Big Jim” Allen, for introducing him to the country music genre, as well as his family and loved ones.

In his speech, Allen stated: “Five years ago I spent my last $100 and came to the CMAs 50th to watch Charley Pride perform on stage, and I got to perform with him last year. Everyone who voted for me, thank you. My wife, I love you. My kids, my mother’s here. My manager Ash Bowers…Ash found me playing at a writer’s round at Puckett’s grocery store in Franklin and signed me after 10 years of being here, living in my car, living in a trailer, working every job, this is amazing…Growing up listening to country music, I loved it. It’s all my dad listened to.My dad was like, ‘Well, you should be a country singer,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, nah, they’re all white. I don’t know if they let people like me even sing country music.”

Source: BET