Can you believe it’s been almost TWO YEARS since we introduced you to Runaway June?
The female-fronted trio have done so much since their musical debut and CS Country has been one of their biggest fans along the way.
From becoming the first all-female trio in over a DECADE to earn two consecutive Top 40 singles on the Mediabase Country Chart to opening for the legendary Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Willie Nelson, it seems like Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland, and Jennifer Wayne have conquered it all — until the nominations came in for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards. The girls scored a nomination in the New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year category and are vying for the win among a sea of male groups and duos including Midland, LANCO, High Valley and LOCASH.
“We are overwhelmed with excitement,” the trio said in a press statement. “A nomination from your peers feels like an award of its own. We could not be more grateful and thrilled!! Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us! Vegas baby!”
Celeb Secrets Country caught up with Hannah and Jennifer moments after they received the nomination to hear what it was like to get nominated for an ACM, who the first person they told was, and what we can expect from the girls the rest of 2018.
Take a read at the full Q&A below and make sure to watch the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 15th @ 8PM ET/PT on CBS.
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 01: Singer-songwriters Hannah Mulholland, Naomi Cooke and Jennifer Wayne of Runaway June take photos together before CMT’s Next Women of Country on November 1, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT)
CS Country: Congrats on your ACM nomination! Tell us about that moment when you found out about the nod?
Hannah Mulholland: “I woke up in the morning to 85 congratulatory text messages ! I had to sort through them all before I finally realized what they were congratulating us on!!”
Who did you call first to share the news with?
HM: “First I woke up my fiancé and told him- then I went on to tell everybody else I know.”
Jennifer Wayne: “My dogs!! Hahaha I screamed when I saw the news and they stared at me like i was crazy! Then my sister :)”
With everything happening so quickly, has it actually clicked that you’re an ACM-nominated artist?
HM: “Nope. I think things like this will always feel so surreal. Totally grateful, and still in shock.”
JW: “No! I am still pinching myself. We are looking at clothes for the red carpet and I can’t believe this is our life!”
Juliet Schroder/Celeb Secrets Country
What would it mean for you to win New Vocal Group of the Year?
HM: “Being recognized in the industry you’re in is always such an honor. But truly, being nominated is equally as exciting. We get to be on the ballot with other amazing talented friends and peers, so we’ve already won.”
JW: “Honestly that would just be icing on the cake! To even be honored with a nomination, included with the incredible 4 other acts in the category is a win in and of itself! ”
You’re in amazing company in this category, so how does that feel to know that not only you, but other amazing artists are getting recognized for their hard work as well?
HM: “It’s so exciting to share the category with our buddies. Everybody in the category is so talented and deserving, and we’re so proud of everybody on that list!”
JW: “It’s tremendous. All the acts are our buddies and we all support each other and root each other on. That’s what’s so amazing about country music. We are all a family. ”
It’s been a crazy few months for you — you had amazing success with “Wild West” (which we love!) — and have been playing shows with some pretty notable acts. What’s one standout moment that you’ll remember forever?
HM: “I don’t know if anything can top Willie Nelson for me… that’s just my most cherished road memory.”
JW: “Thank you for loving our song! Gosh, there are SO many moments! One of the highlights was ending our year opening for Garth Brooks at the Bridgestone arena in our own town. We couldn’t have dreamt of something cooler than that!”
Jozie Schroder/Celeb Secrets Country
You’re the first female trio to break the Top 25 in a decade… what do you think resonates with your fans when it comes to your music that makes it so successful?
HM: “I think we try to speak in an honest and real way, without excluding anybody. We want men, women, kids, grandparents…everybody can hopefully relate to the things we write and sing about. So hopefully we can continue to resonate with them for years to come.”
JW: “I think that our music is authentic. It comes from our hearts. We write and sing what we care about and our passionate about. We love spreading a positive message, and we love that our music makes people feel something! That’s our whole goal. ”
Can you tease anything about the upcoming music you’re working on?
HM: “We are SO excited to be back in the studio. We’re keeping it country, that’s for sure. But there will be modern elements bringing it into 2018.”
JW: “We are in the studio with Dann Huff, and we CANNOT wait for you to hear it!!! He is truly incredible and we are so passionate about the songs. We feel honored that he has taken such a liking to us and our music :)”
Anything else you want to conquer in 2018?
HM: We just can’t wait to put more music out there- so get ready your iPods ready!!
JW: “Let’s go get that ACM!! And if Keith Urban wants to take us out with him, that would be pretty cool too ;)”
