Candi might be recognized from her appearances in Alan Jackson‘s “Too Much Of A Good Thing,” Kid Rock‘s “All Summer Long,” or as the guitar player in Brooks & Dunn‘s “Put A Girl In It” music videos. She’s a rising star and country fans are about to hear a lot about her pretty soon. Get to know Candi here with us at Keepin’ it Country before she hits it big.

“Candi happens to be one of my favorite people in country music. She has it all.” – Little Jimmy Dickens

Read our exclusive interview with Candi below:

Can you just say a little bit on your sound and your influences for fans who might not know you yet?

Well, my influences range from Johnny Cash and Hank Williams to Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin; from Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn to Sting and The Police. My music is a blend of country music, soul, rock and raw emotion, but country is truly the music of my soul. It’s kind of a crazy mix, but it works.

So, has it always been country music for you then?

I’ve been singing right from the time I learned how to talk, which seems to be common with a lot of artists. I started off singing gospel and country, and my influences expanded as I got older.

Is there a song out on the radio right now that you wish you wrote?

Anything Bobby Braddock was a writer or co-writer on. I’m a huge Bobby Braddock fan. I love everything in his catalog, but “Time Marches On” is one of my favorite Bobby Braddock songs.

If you could record a duet with any artist – dead or alive – who would it be?

Has to be Johnny Cash. He’s my hero.

You just released your brand new music video, can you talk a little bit about it?

Absolutely! One of my best friends, Justine Feldt, who is a brilliant director, came up with the idea to put together a music video for an acoustic track that I had recorded for a song called “My Fault Too.” I wrote that song with Bobby Tomberlin, and it sounded like fun. We went out in search of a great location, and we stumbled across 1950′s style diner just west of Nashville that burned down just over a year ago. It seemed like the perfect place, so we talked to the owner and he agreed to let us come out and shoot a music video there. Because of the weather we only had about 8 hours to do it, but everything came together. We were afraid the wind would actually hinder the shoot but it really helped! None of the wind or any effects in the video were staged – it kind of just happened! We did have a smoke machine, but luckily the wind carried the smoke towards me and not away (laughs).

It’s not the first time you’ve worked with Justine, right?

No, I’ve actually been working with Justine for a c0uple of years now. We’ve started work on a webseries called “Candi Land.” There’s a few episodes up on my YouTube page.

If you could tour with any artist who would it be?

I’d love to go on tour with Bob Dylan. He’s just such an incredible poet, such a legend, and an iconic person and I feel I could learn so much from him.

Where do you find you get your inspiration from when you’re writing?

I draw a lot of inspiration in my songwriting from my own personal life experiences, and the experiences the people around me share with me. I like to write about real life and real pain. I just think songs about real life resonate with an audience in a very strong way.

What usually comes first for you, do you find its the words or the melody?

Sometimes the words comes first, sometimes the melody does. There’s really not a formula to writing a song – it’s mostly how you wake up that morning, I guess. It’s how inspiration hits you. It can come from a billboard you see on the side of the road, it can come from something a friend says to you on the phone, it can come from something you read in a magazine or see on television; you can get an idea as simply as that. Sometimes a song can be finished in a few minutes, sometimes it takes a couple of months or twelve hours.

How would you describe your live shows for those who haven’t seen it yet?

Powerful, energetic and exciting.

Can you share a little bit on “My Fault Too” being released as a single?

Actually, “My Fault Too” wasn’t supposed to be released as a single. It’s an acoustic track that we thought we’d just put out there and see what happens. The response has been overwhelming and humbling, I can’t believe how people are getting on board and supporting this video, and it’s really been touching to read their responses and see them re-posting the video and sharing it. We’re asking all of our friends and fans to please get on and re-post the video to help share it around and get out the word. Actually, I’m holding off on releasing a record while we’re shopping around and talking to labels so hopefully exciting things are coming by the first of next year.

Have you ever played up here in Canada?

I’ve never had the pleasure of playing in Canada, but I do have a lot of fond memories of visiting Canada when I was a child. I grew up in Michigan.

I guess you know what our snow is like then.

I remember driving to school with wet hair and from the time I got out of the car and into the building my hair had ice in it. I’m sure you know how that feels (laughs).

So how long have you lived in Nashville, then?

I’ve lived in Nashville for a little over ten years. I was taken out of school when I was 15 and moved to Nashville to pursue a music career. I lived in a run-down hotel room not far from downtown Nashville, and the stages and bars and honky tonk dives became my classrooms – I stayed out until 2:30 in the morning performing instead of getting sleep for school like I should have been. It wasn’t easy, the people who had control of my career then didn’t have my best interests at heart. It was a really scary experience at times, but I think it helped me become the performer I am today.

Is there any plans for a tour or anything in the next few months?

Yes! I’ll actually be doing a Summer Tour all over the country, the dates will be posted on my website as soon as they’re all finalized. There’s a lot of dates up in the Mid West. There will be a lot of dates in Michigan and Minnesota, and also Alabama – it’ll be scattered a little bit.

What would you consider to be the best piece of advice anyone’s ever given you about the industry?

Keep a level head. You know, I guess there’s really not too much else that needs to be said about that one (laughs), just keep a level head.

What is the one thing you hope people learn from your music?

That no matter how much pain you may feel at a certain point in your life that there’s always hope. Hope is what we all need to survive, and hope gives us the strength to carry on.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you?

I’m just so grateful and thankful for my fans for their support, their encouragement, and their kindness. They mean the world to me and I want them to know that.

—

Check out Candi Carpenter at:

http://www.candicarpenter.com

Youtube.com/candicarpenter

facebook.com/candicarpenter

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The following special awards, industry awards, and MBI awards will be given out in a special ACM Honors ceremony in Nashville on September 24th.

The ACM Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are awarded when the ACM Board of Directors feels that these are clear and deserving candidates. Industry professionals are voted on by the professional members of the Academy. The MBI category is voted on by professional members of the Academy classified in the Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist category, and the Producer-Engineer-Studio Manager sub-category. The songwriter of the year ballot is voted on by the professional members of the Academy in the following categories; Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist, Composer, Music Publisher/SRO, Record Company, and the Producer/Engineer/Studio Manager membership.

See the full list of winners below:

Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award

 Emmylou Harris, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs and Dwight Yoakam have been chosen to receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award honoring individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre.

Past recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award include Alabama, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, among others.

Crystal Milestone Award

Kenny Chesney, four-time ACM Entertainer of the Year, has sold more than 10,500,000 tickets on his 11 national tours, selling out stadiums across the country. His successful shows have promoted the entire genre to delighted fans while helping other country acts and cross-over artists gain exposure nationwide. The Academy is honoring Kenny for this remarkable achievement.

Past recipients of the Crystal Milestone Award include Garth Brooks and Jennifer Nettles.

Career Achievement Award

Vince Gill has been chosen to receive the Career Achievement Award, which is presented to an individual artist, duo, group or multiple artist collaboration who have advanced the popularity and acceptance of country music through their endeavors in the entertainment industry in multiple areas during the preceding calendar year.

Vince Gill returned to the country scene in 2011 with an appealing new album, Guitar Slinger, and the enthusiastic response proved that he had been missed. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean proclaimed an official Vince Gill Week in conjunction with the album’s release. Gill also served as Grand Marshal of Nashville’s Christmas parade. In addition, Gill and wife Amy Grant graced the cover of Good Housekeeping, while Sting shared the stage with him on an acclaimed CMT Crossroads. Meanwhile, the Country Music Hall of Fame member appeared on multiple talk shows and earned a Grammy nod for “Threaten Me With Heaven.”

Past recipients of the Career Achievement Award include John Anderson, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Johnny Paycheck, Carl Perkins, Reba and Kenny Rogers.

Jim Reeves International Award

Alan Jackson has been chosen to receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.

Alan Jackson’s down-home music and laidback personality has translated well internationally. He played for eager audiences in Sweden and Norway in August 2011, brought back by popular demand following his 2009 shows. Jackson’s album, Good Time, has also earned platinum sales in Norway. Jackson also toured Australia for the first time in March 2011. He’ll play four arena shows in Canada in April 2012, as well as a summer concert at the Craven Country Jamboree in Saskatchewan. Jackson won his first ACM Award as 1990’s Top New Male Vocalist, an honor that coincided with career-building tour dates in the UK and Germany.

Past recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Garth Brooks, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Merv Griffin, Charlie Nagatani, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, among others.

Mae Boren Axton Award

Gayle Holcomb has been chosen as the recipient of the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music.

Gayle Holcomb, a country music industry leader at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, has served as an Academy of Country Music board member for 17 years and five years as ACM chairman.  During her tenure as chair, Holcomb was a driving force for the organization’s rapid change and growth, including moving the Awards show from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2003.  Holcomb helped launch ACM Lifting Lives in 2005, guiding the vision for the charity as it got underway initially, and continuing her support of the organization by becoming chairman.  She made the initial endowment to form the ACM Lifting Lives’ Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund, in honor of her mother, to enable the Fund to respond quickly to unforeseen, immediate financial needs of ACM members, staff and members of the country music community.

Past recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Award include John Dorris, Rod Essig, Jack Lameier, Marge Meoli, Ray Pilzak, Gaynelle Pitts, Gene Weed and David Young.

Poet’s Award

Bobby Braddock and Roger Miller have been selected to receive the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music.

Bobby Braddock is a master storyteller with more than 40 years of songwriting success. A Florida native, Braddock moved to Nashville in 1964 and worked for a time as Marty Robbins’ piano player. His classic cuts include Tammy Wynette’s divine “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” and George Jones’ iconic (and ACM Award-winning) “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” as well as the famous couple’s enduring duet, “Golden Ring.” Braddock also earned ACM nominations as a songwriter for Tracy Lawrence’s “Time Marches On,” Toby Keith’s “I Wanna Talk About Me” and Billy Currington’s “People Are Crazy.” He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011.

Roger Miller charmed listeners with characteristic wit on classics like “King of the Road” and “Dang Me.” Miller, an Oklahoma native, grabbed early songwriting success with Ray Price’s “Invitation to the Blues.” In 1985, he earned acclaim for writing the score of the musical Big River. To honor his brilliant career, he received the 1987 ACM Pioneer Award. Miller died in 1992 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1995. Contemporary stars like Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson have kept his legacy alive with terrific renditions of “Husbands and Wives” and “Tall, Tall Trees,” respectively.

Previous recipients of the Poet’s Award include Bill Anderson, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz and Cindy Walker.

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Dallas Davidson

INDUSTRY AWARDS

CASINO OF THE YEAR – Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV

DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR – Jimmy Jay – Jayson Promotions, Inc.

NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR – Billy Bob’s Texas – Ft. Worth, TX

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR – Brian O’Connell – Live Nation

VENUE OF THE YEAR – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN

MBI (MUSICIANS, BAND, INSTRUMENTAL) AWARDS:

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Frank Liddell

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR – Justin Niebank

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Michael Rhodes

PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR – Shannon Forrest

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR – Kenny Greenberg

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Stuart Duncan

PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR – John Hobbs

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Aubrey Haynie

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Paul Franklin

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Songwriter Bobby Braddock has written 13 Number 1 singles and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1981. Singer Jean Shepard was a popular country singer in the 1950s.

“I haven’t been nervous until now that we are going in the doors of the Country Music Hall of Fame,” Reba confessed prior to the event. “To have my bronze plaque on the wall with all my heroes and people who I’ve learned and studied from all these years, that’s a dream come true.” — Reba

Some of the attendees also tweeted and/or updated facebook with information about the event afterwards. Here’s what they had to say!

Tonight I got to sing at Reba McEntire’s induction to the Hall of Fame ….seriously, I had the greatest night because I had the opportunity to see one of my greatest influences become a part of this incredible group of people! I love music and amazing people! — Kelly Clarkson

Beyond thrilled to get to sing with Kelly Clarkson for @Reba for her induction into the Country Music Hall Of Fame. So special for me. — Martina McBride

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