That #VoteCole video wasn't Cole Swindell's idea, but he was willing to get a little goofy to earn your votes for ACM New Artist of the Year.
The rising country star, who made it to the final three in the prestigious category (along with Thomas Rhett and Sam Hunt), admits his label came up with the script for the patriotic clip in hopes of seeing the "Ain't Worth The Whiskey" singer/songwriter walk away with an award come Sunday night.
"Originally I didn't know if I wanted to do it, and I know my band did not want to dress up or do anything, 'cause you just hear that, and it's like, 'Oh man, I don't know about this,'" Cole told AccessHollywood.com of the video, which mimics a presidential campaign ad. "They said, 'Have fun with it.' … I knew me and Chris [Marquart] and Joel [Hutsell] would have fun with it, but it was [my label's] idea, and they decided to volunteer my band to be in it, and me. We figured, hey, might as well make it cheesy and funny, and just act like the dorks that we are."
PHOTOS: Country Star Cole Swindell
The most memorable moment happens in the video's final shot, where Cole can be seen busting a move to House of Pain's "Jump Around." Unfortunately for fans, he doesn’t plan to make dancing a standard part of his act.
"I try not to 'bust a move' on anybody. I'll stick to writing songs and whatever I'm doing on stage – it's not my calling, busting a move," he laughed. "I just have fun. I am not a dancer."
Aviator suit and Uncle Sam wig aside, the Georgia-born artist is well aware of the magnitude of his ACM nod.
"I have so much going on, I'm trying not to think about it too much. But I obviously am thinking about it," he said of Sunday's awards in Dallas, where he will also perform. "It's cool to be going. Last year, it was really my first [time] ever being there, being an artist there. This year, to be nominated… it truly is an honor, and humbling that the fans and everyone thinks I'm in that final three. That's a huge compliment to me."
Adding, "I don't know what's gonna happen when we get there, but I know me and my team are doing everything we can. Either way though, for any of us, whoever wins or loses, it's been a heck of a year. "
That year has included three number one hits on the country charts, touring with Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean (who are both nominated for ACM Entertainer of the Year), and seeing numerous songs he wrote/co-wrote recorded by country icons.
Now that Cole is New Artist of the Year material, with a skyrocketing music career, will he save the songs he pens for his own records?
WATCH:
Cole Swindell's Rise To Stardom
"I think I do have to start keeping my songs for myself, but… for me, songwriting is so much fun. I hope that if a song's not for me, I don't want it to never be heard," he said. "Sometimes you write a song and you're just not going through that, or not feelin' it, and I would love for [artists] to record my stuff if I'm not [feeling it], but I think I have to have first pick at it now… I'm gonna keep the ones I want, and I hope I can always get my songs out there, however I can [whether] it be me or somebody else singing them, I want folks to hear my music."
After releasing the laidback "Chillin' It" and "Hey Y'all" as his first two singles, Cole was excited to reveal another layer of his artistry with his third single, "Ain't Worth The Whiskey."
"There's a lot of songs I have where people sing along, but you can just tell people mean it when they sing [that one]," he said, of why the breakup anthem is currently his favorite song to perform. "I mean, from the first verse, [even] if they're there with their girlfriend or their boyfriend, they may not be going through it, but it's like they've got my back like, 'I've been there.' … It just shows you how people relate. You put out something that folks can listen to and it helps them through something – that's what I'm here to do. I'm more than about just 'Chillin' It'!"
And his debut album proves he's much more than a one-trick party-hit pony – especially when it comes to the album's nostalgic closer, "The Back Roads and the Back Row," which gives listeners an intimate look at Cole's church roots and Southern upbringing.
"You hear [feedback from] people that have only heard the singles – and a lot of it's positive, but there's some negative out there – but I wish they would listen to the whole album. That's why you get the chance to make an album – you can't tell your whole story with three singles," he said. "[The Back Roads and the Back Row] is very special. And heck, I probably need to go back and listen to it right now!
"It definitely reminds me of growing up and where I came from, so that's a good thing," he added.
Cole will soon hit the road with Kenny Chesney. Having worked with Luke, Jason, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and more, which artist would Cole like to collaborate with in the future?
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"I'd have to say [Tim] McGraw or [Kenny] Chesney, for me. I'll be doing shows with Chesney this year, and if I get to sing with him, I'm gonna freak out!" he said, adding that he'd also like to work with Dierks Bentley and Eric Church. "Dierks' first album and Eric Church's first album changed my whole [life] – that was right when I was playing the clubs and [their albums] made me want to write. I saw that they wrote most of their stuff and it was just like, 'I gotta learn how to do that.'"
Catch Cole on the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, co-hosted by Luke and Blake Shelton, Sunday at 8/7 on CBS.
You can cast your vote for New Artist of the Year once daily through Sunday at voteacm.com. Voting ends at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET.
-- Erin O'Sullivan
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