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Jordan Davis, well-known for sentimental singles like “Buy Dirt” and “Next Thing You Know,” is set to take part in one of the most heartfelt moments of the 57th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday evening (November 8). The award-winning country star will honor military veterans, particularly spotlighting Blake Hogan, CEO of Bunker Labs, a nonprofit organization that aims to support veterans and their families in entrepreneurial goals.
Davis said in a recent interview with iHeartCountry that it’s “going to be a special night.” Having grandparents and a cousin who have served in the military, Davis said it was a “no doubter” to take the opportunity to join Crown Royal in its annual CMA Awards moment to honor veterans during Country Music’s Biggest Night. Davis said he was moved to be involved in this moment because of “the sense of doing something for people that are braver than I am, a way to say 'thank you.'”
Davis was nominated in multiple CMA Awards categories for “Next Thing You Know,” a single included on his 17-track album, Bluebird Days, which he debuted earlier this year. The Louisiana-born singer-songwriter “didn’t sleep great” the night before CMA nominations were revealed, though he didn’t mind once it paid off. Davis told iHeartCountry that the song and music video mean a lot to him because of his family, and his work with his producer and fellow songwriters. Davis and his wife, Kristen, announced Baby No. 3’s arrival in June. Son Elijah Patrick joins big sister Eloise and big brother Locklan, born in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
“The day we wrote it, I think touched all of us,” Davis said of “Next Thing You Know.” “I think we can all look and see how fast time goes and how fast the years go. And then you throw kids into the mix, and it's the age old saying, ‘the days are long, the years are short.’ I've truly come to realize that truer words have never been spoken, especially considering that I spend half of the year on the road and away from my kiddos.
“But I think what's so special about this song and what's been really cool seeing it through the various tours that we've been on is there's a spot in this song for everybody, whether maybe you just started dating somebody or maybe you're a new mom or maybe you're a new dad, or maybe you're a first time grandparent,” he continued. “I think everybody has a line in this song, which is why I think it is so special that it has such a wide net that catches a lot of people that can kind of understand what these lyrics stand for.”
Last year, Davis scored a CMA Award for his single “Buy Dirt,” featuring Luke Bryan. As Bryan returns to host the show with NFL star Peyton Manning, Davis said he’s looking forward to the “absolutely hilarious” hosting duo.
“Peyton has such a deep love for country music, I think it's cool that people are starting to get to see that,” Davis said. “And then country music is Luke Bryan. There's nobody more country than that guy, but two buddies and I think they're going to crush it again.”
Looking ahead, Davis is gearing up for his global tour with Mitchell Tenpenny and Ashley Cooke. The “Damn Good Time World Tour” will kick off in February 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark, with stops across the U.S., Canada and Europe through next October. The international tour also comes as Davis is getting started on the next chapter of his music.
“We're starting the next album here…we've gotten the studio and started working on some new music. So, definitely it's always fun to start a new project and see where the music goes,” Davis said. “I’m excited about it. I feel good about the music I'm writing and I'm really, really excited for people to hear this new stuff.”
The 57th CMA Awards will air live on ABC from Bridgestone Arena in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee, beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT. Watch the three-hour show live on ABC (available next day on Hulu), or listen on iHeartCountry Radio and on iHeartRadio Country stations nationwide.