Billy Gilman: New Everything... And More
By Janelle Landauer
Billy Gilman has gone through so much since he debuted in 2000 with his album, One Voice. "One Voice" received a Grammy Award nomination in 2001 for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song. With his debut at such a young age, it was expected that Gilman would have to take time off as his voice started to mature. Gilman explains, "It was difficult because within those two years, I really had no control over what was happening. For the past, I don't know how many years, since I was 3 years old- I could open my mouth, I could do whatever I wanted with my voice. And then for those two years, I couldn't do anything, except wait." From 2000 until this year, Gilman released a couple albums off and on, but nothing had the success that "One Voice" achieved.
Even through all the hard times throughout his career, Gilman would still do it over again. He describes, "I would do it again in a heartbeat. There are always things, like "Oh, I shouldn't have done that" or "why'd I do that." I think everybody would want to change something."
This year marked a new start to Gilman's career, I would say. Gilman's new album, "Everything and More" hit stores on May 3, 2005. Throughout all of his single and album releases, "Everything and More" presents the "mature" sound of Gilman. On "Everything and More," you find a collection of 12 songs, including his debut single from the album which is also the title track. Gilman goes on to explain his new single: It was during the first process of getting some of the demo songs that they possibly wanted me to record. I was sick that day. As a matter of fact, I was so sick- I think I had the flu or 100 degree temperature. It was bad. So I was sitting in bed, and my mother came in and said "Oh, you've got songs, do you want to listen to them now?" I said "sure, pop them in." I was half asleep, half not, when this song came on and at that time, there were different lyrics. I said "this is the one." Even at that time, I knew it was going to be the first single. I just had a feeling from day one. It's beautiful. I was un-sick for like 5 minutes or however long the song is. And, I was reading who wrote the song, and one of the writers was Senator Orrin Hatch which I thought was amazing too. It's amazing that he has time to write such a beautiful song. It was just an unbelievable song and thank God it came to me.
Billy Gilman's biggest achievement within his music career is actually just to be back and to be singing again. Gilman continues, "It was such a rough point for me because I would try to sing within those two years when I was off with the voice change, but it wouldn't come out I contemplated whether it was going to come back or not. That's how bad it was. So it's great to be back and belting and doing what I love. That was a feat in itself. But, I think the biggest thing was the Opry. Grand Ole Opry was number 1 for me. I think it always will be." With all the goals that this young bright star has accomplished, Gilman still has his sights set on what's next in line to accomplish. Gilman hopes to return to the Opry to perform some new material. Gilman has the drive and determination to get where he needs to be. With a little bit of time and acceptance from radio, Gilman will be back on the same road he traveled earlier- this time from a more mature stand point. Even though a lot has changed since the debut of "One Voice" to the release of Gilman's new album, "Everything And More," one thing still stands for certain Billy Gilman is always drawn back to the music and singing.
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QUICK FACTS:
Birthday: May 24, 1988
2001 American Music Awards - "Favorite New Artist"
2001 TNN/Country Weekly "Discovery Award"
2001 Billboard - "Best New Artist"
2001 Billboard - "Best Video" for "One Voice"
2000 & 2001 Grammy Nominee
2001 CMT Video Award
National Youth Chairman for MDA and MDA Telethon Co-Host with Jerry Lewis and Ed McMahon
"Count On Me" appeared on Stuart Little Two soundtrack
Feature | Interview
Added: July 2005
