Exclusive: Chris Young Talks Grammy Nomination And Mentoring Music’s Next Generation

Chris Young. Photo: David McClister

Chris Young’s career is in high gear right now, with an opening slot on Jason Aldean’s They Don’t Know Tour beginning in April. On Feb. 12, the singer/songwriter will vie for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

His collaboration with Cassadee Pope, “Think Of You,” is nominated against recordings by Dierks Bentley and Elle King, Dolly Parton and Pentatonix, Kenny Chesney with Pink, and Brothers Osborne. The category notably includes three male/female duets.

“I think there are a lot of great collaborations. That’s one of the reasons we are excited to be in that category because of those songs. It’s like, ‘That’s a huge song, and that’s a huge song.’ It’s been a good time for male/female duets right now,” Young says.

In the midst of promoting his current single, “Sober Saturday Night,” Young is also focused on giving back to others, through his recent alignment with Folgers. The Folgers Jingle Contest will offer aspiring singer-songwriters a chance to put their own spin on the iconic Folgers jingle, for a chance to win several prizes, including a mentoring session with Young.

“I loved the idea,” Young says. “It’s such an iconic jingle. Being able to have up and coming musicians take their spin on it and move forward with an idea like that is so cool.”

One grand prize winner will earn $25,000.

“When I was an up-and-coming musician there were multiple times when that would have been just life-changing money for me,” Young says of the grand prize. “I’m really excited about it.”

Young credits growing up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, just south of Nashville, with providing him numerous mentors that helped him learn the craft.

“I met so many people that wrote with me while I was still trying to figure out how to even write a song. I got to watch singers and songwriters play that other people wouldn’t get to watch, just because I was close to Nashville. I have a long list of mentors.”

Young is dedicated to helping the next generation of artists. He recently launched an annual scholarship for recording industry students at his alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University.

“I don’t think I can do what I do every day without learning from a lot of people Music education is a huge part of that. This is my life and I love my job. I want to do all I can for people who are trying to come up in the music industry right now.”

Individuals can submit their videos for the Folgers Jingle contest through Feb. 27, 2017, at folgers.com.