Gloriana Couldn't Have Won Without Taylor Swift
A Taylor Swift concert is good for a lot of people. Especially her opening acts. That's why Gloriana's Cheyenne Kimball is so grateful to Swift. I talked with Kimball after the country group won the breakthrough artist award at Sunday night's (Nov. 22) American Music Awards, and she knows how big of an opportunity Swift gave the band.
"We absolutely could not have done this without being in front of 20,000 people a night," Kimball said. "Taylor discovered us when we were out on a radio tour and there was some buzz about the band. So she just called us and invited us to go out on tour with her." Since then, the band's been collecting fans from coast to coast. Those fans obviously took their loyalty seriously when it came time to text in their votes for this fan-voted AMA.
Although Kimball is no stranger to fame (she won America's Most Talented Kid in 2003, then in 2006 starred in an MTV reality show about her life as a budding recording artist), she admits she came into the country quartet a little dishonestly. She first picked up a guitar when she was about seven and had been playing for about 10 years, but when she was auditioning to be in Gloriana, she told me she thought, "They all play guitars already, so I needed to play something different." So she lied and told them she played mandolin. "When they told me I was in the band, I had to learn it really fast. I play by ear but this is definitely a tough one to pick up," she said. But when you hear Kimball playing on "Wild At Heart" and "How Far Do You Wanna Go?" it sounds like she's been at it for years.
If you were among the tiny handful of people who missed Gloriana on tour with Swift, they will end this year with some Las Vegas dates and club stops around the Midwest before setting off again with Swift in 2010.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
merlefan49 says:
They were text votes huh now I see? I would hate to be the parents of some the kids who voted so much when the cell bill comes.
countryiscool says:
Merle, it’s called UNLIMITED texting for $30 a mo. which I have too. One bill without it CAN rack up fast!
merlefan49 says:
That was my point for the ones who don’t have it. Just think how many will be in trouble. I have texting blocked on my cell.
Stacey says:
Taylor’s fans could care less about Gloriana’s success. They voted for Gloriana because Taylor asked them to and apparently Taylor is their god. If her fans cared about Gloriana, they would be out there buying their album. Where’s Gloriana’s multi-platinum certification? That’s right - they don’t have one.
Swilly says:
Yeah, don’t get too excited gloriana. It’s not how good YOU are, it’s how popular Swift IS! If Swift had William Hung, and Sanjaya as her opening duo act, they would’ve won this award, and you’d be sitting around still trying to figure out what country music is.
D Trotter says:
Obviously, Swift’s popularity carries a lot of impact. That’s why they ask her to host SNL, and the reason they feature her so proiminently on the Country Award Shows. And virtually everyone who works with her gets a very large bump in their sales, whether it’s Gloriana or Def Leppard or Boys Like Girls.
But there’s something else. Taylor loves country music first and foremost, but she also has a young and open mind that doesn’t shut itself off from any kind of music … AND she has VERY GOOD TASTE and instincts in new music! The people she likes and gets all excited and bubbling about … tend to be very good!
She seems to love telling her fans about new music she enjoys. That music could be new country artists like Gloriana or Love and Theft, but it could just as easily be the Kings of Leon, Jack White, or Matt Kearney. Hey, at one time she even plugged Kanye West!
The other factor that can’t be ignored is what her opening acts are exposed to, in terms of audiences. Early on in the Fearless tour, Swift was getting raves, but her opening acts were often getting mixed reviews. By the end of the tour critics were calling Pickler a headliner in her own right, and were heaping praise upon Gloriana and their tight harmonies.
Playing in front of 20,000 people at sold-out Madison Square Garden shows and Staple Center Shows can either destroy you or make you a pro real fast. Gloriana blossomed.
countryiscool says:
Hey swill, just think… Taylor could be the new “Oprah”
(ambassador)of “country” music. Isn’t THAT an ironic kick?
Filipino Kid says:
What i like about these new country bands is that they’re not only influenced by country but by almost anything too.
Taylor is influenced by pop and rock.
The Avett Brothers by punk and The Beatles.
Brazos Stone by metal to punk and John Mayer.
But when you listen to their works, you cna still feel the country texturalized on each songs(ok maybe not each songs but definitely on an album as a whole)
So if Taylor or Gloriana could beat up the Lady Gagas and The Pussycat Dolls of this world with their brand of country, i think it’s a very good thing.
I wasn’t a big country fan until i was 12 years old when i discovered Lonestar and Collin Raye. From there, i learned about Alan Jackson and George Strait down to Waylon and Johnny and Hank Sr, and ultimately to my favorite of them all, Willie!
Tomm says:
I think it’s great that Taylor helps out her warm-up group. A bad warm-up group can take part of the luster away from the main act. It’s good to see that Taylor appreciates the work of Gloriana.
JP says:
Once again it’s who you know and this $$$$$$!
Pickler getting the same break hanging out with TS.
Robin says:
Unfortunately Filipino Kid, Taylor is not influenced by Country.
Glorianna is a great band - great vocals - great songs. Musically speaking, I am glad Taylor has highlighted them and brought them out of obscurity.
countryiscool says:
You’re funny JP. ALL opening acts are helped by the people/bands they open for. Brooks and Dunn have helped theirs, Reba hers, Flatt’s theirs, etc. doesn’t matter…
TS hasn’t done any more for Pickler or Gloriana than the others have done for theirs. Besides Pickler already had an IDOL audience, me being one of them, LONG before TS had her for an opener.
JP says:
Kellie be-friended the right person to get her exposure, that’s what I’m saying!
She was not an Idol favorite and her vocals are just not that good.
She wouldn’t be selling recordings if she didn’t get this break with Swift.
Swift has all the influence for sure!!!!
Thomas says:
gloriana didn’t blossom. Taylor told her fans to vote for them. If you’re a Taylor fan, you do what you’re told. If Taylor would’ve said vote for Thomas…I would’ve won!
The same thing is going to happen at the peoples choice awards. 1000’s of kids are going to vote 1000’s of times each. Over and over. Guess who’s going to win?
JP says:
Exactly Thomas…nuff said!!!!
Steven says:
Gloriana a great band? First of all they are not a band, they are a group, and they are not influenced by country either.
countryiscool says:
Hate to disagree, but Kellie’s vocals are far better than her friend’s. TS could stand to take few coaching lessons from her buddy. Swift may have influence, but that’s about it-no good vocals.
Sarina says:
Gloriana could definaetly do his without “help”, They are so amazing and thats how they won my vote!! Stop hating!! and taylor and kellie CAN sing!
John says:
Alison, she didn’t play on the record. You wouldn’t know this, but artists rarely play on their records. Nashville has some of the best session musicians in the world. Have you seen them live? Honestly?
debbie says:
I’m happy for Gloriana! They deserve all the success that they have. No matter who they went on tour with, their album speaks volumes of their talent. Congrats to Gloriana! It’s nice to see Country music dominating in awards!
Michelle says:
I think Gloriana completely deserved this award. I greatly dislike Taylor Swift, but I am a huge fan of Gloriana. There are, in fact, people like me who voted for Gloriana not because they were supported by Taylor, but because they make good music.
Any Lady Gaga fans that are unhappy with the results should have voted more. They are the problem in the situation because they hardly voted. They should hate on themselves, not Gloriana, because they weren’t good enough fans and just assumed that Lady Gaga would win.
Pam says:
Gloriana is an up and coming group and they are terrific,so stop dumping on them. Yes, Taylor Swift has helped to promote their career, but they eventually would have done it on ther own.
Life matters says:
Gloriana might make it (too new to tell), but that win is all about Taylor. She is the only reason they won at this time in their career. It should be counted in the awards Taylor won.
gloriana roxs says:
Gloriana is great! They totally deserve this award. I mean shouldn’t we all be happy? This is a giant COUNTRY MUISC victory. I mean they beat out Lady Gaga!This should be a country music win because Gloriana was chosen(by the fans) to represent country music. This was 100% fan voted, so if you are a country music fan and have a problem with it,vote for an uplifting band who sings positive lyrics and are great role models. Taylor did help their career becuase ,like us, she heard Gloriana for who/what they are, and loved it! Taylor is a fan too. And Gloriana has aquired some fans because of the tour. Oh, and you also could vote online for free if you didn’t want to text. What happened to if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all? Let’s be the nice, sweet, loving country people that we truly all are.
Rodrigo Ozores says:
Gloriana really deseve it
It’s like David had beaten Goliath
Long live to internet.
The internet has changed the music industry forever
Joe says:
I really hope the support act Taylor had in England doesn’t make it. He was DREADFUL! Justin Beiber. AVOID!
countryiscool says:
Google him for yourself Bryan.
countryiscool says:
So this is what you’re all about now CMT- a new forum for crass hook-ups? Try the clubs or match.com guys. We are here to talk MUSIC, not emulating Adam. And before you call me homophobic, I voted FOR Adam on Idol- for his MUSIC, not for what should be kept behind closed doors, and that goes for gay OR straight.
barb b says:
gloriana did not need ts
they would have made it on
their own
Leon says:
barb b do you
like the girls in
the band gloria?
Brittany says:
I disagree with some of these comments. I’m a HUUUUUUUUGE taylor swift fan. saw her with gloriana and kellie pickler opening. I don’t really like gloriana and i have never voted for them. Not all Taylor fans are mindless drones…we’re actual individual people with our own thoughts and opinions, believe it or not.
countryiscool says:
I like Gloriana, love Pickler, and don’t care much for Taylor.
countryiscool says:
Stick to the music Eric, we’re not interested in your love life.
Christine says:
I did not vote for Gloriana because of Taylor Swift, I voted for them because I actually like their music. I will see them in concert one day when they are with someone else. I am glad they won. Better than whoever else was nominated for the award.
countryiscool says:
CMT, I was responding to another poster to please stick to the MUSIC, not making the blog about something else. I see you already deleted his comment (thank you) so mine doesn’t make sense now.
Eric says:
Don’t be hatin’. The boys in Glorina are hottttt!!!!
BOBBY B says:
Gloriana had like what one song? Wild at heart.. And it wasnt even that good. How did they even get nominated? Dont get me wrong, they are obviously talented people .. But come on , these award shows are a joke sometimes. I just watch them for the performances anymore. Its all to political now. I love Taylor Swift, but her winning entertainer of the year or female vocalist of the year is a joke.. Its all based on sales and record plays, and that aint right.