Nelly

“Pretty cool,” is how Nelly sums up the last year.  It’s a sly understatement for a rapper who after monumental hits like “Country Grammar” and “Hot in Herre” in the early 2000’s, struggled to sustain the popularity his rhymes had achieved in a variety of markets, from urban to pop.  Nelly himself is quick to clarify his reemergence to the top of the charts with single “Just A Dream.” “I don’t want to say reinstating yourself, but just kind of reminding people that I do this a little bit,” he laughs.  “It’s not a bad thing.”  His subsequent singles showcased collaborations with T-Pain, Akon, and an old friend, Kelly Rowland, who paired with Nelly on 2002’s hit “Dilemma.”

Miranda Lambert 

At the 2010 CMA’s Miranda Lambert not only scooped the Female Vocalist of the Year Award, but moments before took the stage with a music legend.  “Performing with Loretta Lynn and then her handing me the award–that’s probably the biggest moment I’ve had, maybe ever,” Lambert says.  Yet the year only grew bigger for Lambert, who continued to rack up honors at the Grammys and ACM’s for her latest album.  “Revolution was a really special record.  It pushed my career to a new level,” she comments. “[Loretta Lynn] always says I’m country.  I’m really proud to be in that genre, that’s my roots and that’s where I’ll always stay.  It means a lot to me that she knows that.” 

Zac Brown Band

“We’ve won awards.  We’ve had number one hits, and guys have had newborn babies, and all this crazy stuff,” Zac Brown Band member Clay Cook reflects.  Since named Best New Artist at the 2010 Grammys, the band has found their success realized in performances with music giants like Jimmy Buffet, James Taylor, and a Grammy Award winning single with Alan Jackson. “It’s a metaphor for the way Alan has counseled us on a few things in business and in life, and in this whole crazy country music world,” Cook explains.  Yet their greatest collaboration has been with the USO tour.  “When we went to Iraq, it pushed us out of our comfort zone,” Cook says.  “We realized how much joy we brought to people over there.”

Neon Trees

Neon Trees has blazed into the pop spectrum with lead single “Animal,” a drum driven purge of teenage angst.  So it wasn’t too much of a surprise when the high school warblers of Glee covered the song, furthering the band’s earnest and youthful following.  “I see myself in [our fans] a lot,” lead singer Tyler Glenn says.  “I see my younger self.  It’s exciting to see there are still people out there that love music as much as I did as a teenager.” Yet the band still takes pride in the universal appeal of their music.  “I get excited at shows when an atypical sort of ‘bro’ male is dancing and putting his hands up, and singing every song,” laughs lead singer Tyler Glenn.

Skillet

“An incredible ride,” is how Skillet frontman John Cooper sums up the band’s last year.  After 15 years on the road, the group has racked up plenty of mileage, but until now, a certifiable hit remained elusive.  Then came their single “Awake and Alive,” which went to number one on Active Rock Radio outlets nationwide.  Combined with airplay of their music during ESPN coverage of sports events like the Daytona 500, the exposure propelled Skillet’s album Awake to gold status. “I really thought ‘Awake and Alive’ was not a single,” Cooper reflects. “I felt there were other songs on the record that would be better. I guess God teaches you–sometimes you’re too close to your own material.”