Induction Into Walk of Fame, Free Bridge Street Concert May 26 To Honor Arkansas Country Music Star Buddy Jewell
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — A ceremony inducting Arkansas’ country music star Buddy Jewell into the Arkansas Walk of Fame, followed by a free public concert in the Bridge Street Entertainment District are scheduled for Friday, May 26, in downtown Hot Springs.
Jewell, an Arkansas native, was the winner of Season One of the hit TV series “Nashville Star” and is a consistent chart-topper on the country music charts.
“Buddy, a true friend of Hot Springs, will be inducted into the Arkansas Walk of Fame in Hill Wheatley Plaza at 5 p.m. May 26, and we’ll feature him in a free public concert at 7 o’clock that evening in the Bridge Street Entertainment District,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said. “I know his fans will enjoy this double honor for an Arkansan who has brought so much favorable attention to our state and to Hot Springs.”
Jewell will join dozens of other Arkansans who have been honored with plaques in the Walk of Fame that borders Hill Wheatley Plaza. His plaque will read:
BUDDY JEWELL
COUNTRY MUSIC
OSCEOLA
SINGER - SEASON ONE WINNER OF TV’S “ NASHVILLE STAR” - WROTE THE HIT SONG HELP POUR OUT THE RAIN (LACEY’S SONG) - ICMA ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - ABC RADIO’S NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR-MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS ENTERTAINERS HALL OF FAME - NOMINATED BY THE CMA FOR THE HORIZON AWARD, ACM FOR BEST NEW ARTIST AWARD - NATIONAL FATHERHOOD AWARD WINNER.
Jewell burst onto the country music scene after winning the inaugural season of the USA Network’s hit television series “Nashville Star.” After that win, Columbia Records released his self-titled debut album “Buddy Jewell,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Album charts as well as No. 13 on the Top 100 Pop Album Charts. The album was certified Gold later that same year, selling over 500,000 copies. His first two singles, “Sweet Southern Comfort” and “Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey’s Song),” both landed in the Top 5 on the singles chart.
After living throughout the Arkansas Delta in Dyess, Helena-West Helena and Forrest City, Jewell’s family finally settled in Osceola, not far from Dyess, where his mother and father grew up with the family of music immortal Johnny Cash. Conway Twitty hailed from nearby Helena, and Glen Campbell is a native of Delight. Jewell was influenced by the music of all three.
Jewell was also a natural athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football. He was team captain and quarterback of his high school team and played college football at Arkansas State University as well. While in college, he began to perform in clubs and talent contests, igniting his passion for performing and country music.
After moving with his family to Nashville, Jewell became Nashville’s most popular “demo” singer. That’s an anonymous vocalist who is hired to record a demonstration of a song that is then played for a star’s consideration. George Strait’s “Write This Down,” Lee Ann Womack’s “A Little Past Little Rock,” Clay Walker’s “You’re Beginning to Get to Me” and Gary Allan’s “The One” were all first sung as Buddy Jewell demos.
Encouraged by his wife, Tené, Jewell entered the USA Network’s contest “Nashville Star” in 2003. Thousands of performers tried out for the show; 125 of them made it to the semifinals; 12 were chosen for the nine-week series. Jewell was the true viewer favorite from the premiere episode, capturing 65 percent of the nationwide voting among the 12 contestants and beating out, most notably, a young Miranda Lambert, by over 2 million votes on the final episode. Columbia Records rushed him into the studio with producer Clint Black, and within two weeks Buddy Jewell delivered his superb debut CD.
The year that followed his win on “Nashville Star” was truly a dream fulfilled for Jewell. He earned major award nominations from the Academy of Country Music for Best New Artist, the Country Music Association for the Horizon Award, their version of the Best New Artist of the Year and a Grammy nomination for his participation in “Amazing Grace III,” a special gospel project. He was also named “New Artist of the Year” by the prestigious ABC Radio Networks.
In April 2005, he was honored by the National Fatherhood Initiative as a recipient of their annual Fatherhood Award. Recipients of this award are individuals who exemplify the ideals of involved, responsible and committed fatherhood. First Lady Laura Bush spoke at the event. In 2011, Jewell was named “Entertainer of the Year” and “Crossover Artist of the Year” by the International Country Gospel Music Association. Most recently he was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainer’s Hall of Fame, taking his place alongside music legends Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell.
For more information call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.