Jimmie Allen spent his last $100 driving to Nashville to see Charley Pride perform at the 50th CMA Awards in 2016. In 2020, Allen and Pride shared a duet on Pride’s signature hit “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” on CMA Awards stage.
Allen spent the years between earning his place in country music – and, more recently, pop culture.
In 2019, Allen made history when his debut single “Best Shot” made its way to No. 1 on country radio’s airplay charts. He is the first Black artist to achieve the feat. In 2021, the Delaware native won New Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards, and competed on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
Allen released a duets project, “Bettie James,” in 2020 that included his hit duet with Brad Paisley “Freedom Was a Highway” and later a deluxe version with Babyface, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, and more.
In 2021, Allen put out his children’s book “My Voice Is a Trumpet.”