Thompson Square becomes only the third duo to win the ACM “Vocal Duo of the Year” Award in the past 20 years (since 1991) with Sugarland and Brooks & Dunn previously winning in the category respectively.
Overcome with emotion, Keifer Thompson confessed,
“It’s hard to talk when you’re crying.” He said, “It’s been a long, long road. This is one of the greatest nights of our lives.”
Fighting back tears, Shawna Thompson added,
“This is a very bittersweet moment for me. More sweet than bitter. My dad passed away a month ago. This is for my dad.”
The tear-filled, bittersweet moment took place just prior to the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. In arguably the biggest awards show upset in recent Country music history, Stoney Creek Records duo Thompson Square were awarded the Academy of Country Music’s 2011 “Vocal Duo of the Year” Award.
The husband/wife duo comprised of Keifer and Shawna Thompson were surprised with the award onstage by ACM CEO Bob Romeo in front of thousands of screaming fans at the ACM Salute to the Military Concert at the ACM Experience at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Saturday night — just moments after they had completed their set.
Thompson Square – who was officially honored as “Country Music’s Breakthrough Artist of 2011” by Music Row Magazine in February — dethroned reigning Country superstars Sugarland who have won the award for 2 years. Sugarland is also the reigning CMA Awards Vocal Duo for the past 4 years.
How’d They Do It . . .
Despite the duo’s seemingly quick skyrocketing career, Thompson Square is no “overnight success” story.
Keifer and Shawna Thompson pounded the pavement for 13 years in the music industry before finally signing to tiny independent label Stoney Creek Records. The young married couple worked odd jobs, played bar shows and knocked on countless closed doors during that time before deciding they would hang up their microphones after one last year of perseverance. During one final showcase, Broken Bow Records President/ CEO Benny Brown recognized something special in Thompson Square and signed them to his brand new independent label Stoney Creek Records (sister label to Broken Bow Records and home to Jason Aldean).
But The Rest as They Say . . . Ain’t History
Two years ago to the very DAY of their ACM “Vocal Duo of the Year” award title, Thompson Square was first introduced to Country Radio at a suite performance during ACM Awards weekend. One year ago to that same WEEK, Thompson Square’s inaugural smash, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” reached the #1 spot at Country Radio.
In the past year, Thompson Square’s star has risen meteorically and shone brightly. The duo’s self-titled, debut album has produced 2011’s #1 Most Played Country Song “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” the follow-up Top 10 hit, “I Got You,” as well as the duo’s latest hit, “Glass,” which showcases a more serious side of the duo as well as poignant, powerhouse vocals from Shawna Thompson.
In only one year, Thompson Square has :
- seen the release of its first self-titled album debut at #3 on the Billboard Country Sales Chart
had the album’s smash single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” :
- reach #1 on both the Billboard and Mediabase Country radio charts
- conquer the Billboard Heat Seekers Chart
- spend 5 weeks at #1 on the Country Digital Soundscan Chart and
- remain the #1 Country Ringtone for 12 weeks straight
And at press time, “Are You Going to Kiss Me Or Not” was nearing double platinum sales status.
Thompson Square also earned 16 major award show nominations in less than 12 months, including two 2012 GRAMMY nominations for “Best Country Song” and “Best Country Duo/Group Performance of the Year.”
In December 2011, Thompson Square returned home for the holidays as the 2nd most awarded act at FOX’s 2nd Annual American Country Awards, winning the fan-voted trophies for :
- Single of the Year by a Group
- Single of the Year by a New Artist
- Music Video of the Year by a New Artist (“Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”)
Also in 2011, Thompson Square :
- was named one of USA Today’s “Six Pack of Success” stories
- was heralded as USA Weekend’s “Who’s Hot in Hollywood”
- peaked at #3 on MTV’s Music Meter (all genres) and
- landed on Entertainment Weekly’s “Hot List”
The end of 2011 found Thompson Square :
- as the “New Country Artist of the Year” (Mediabase) as well as Billboard’s #1 New Country Artist of 2011, in terms of sales ranked as Billboard’s #6 New Artist of 2011 (sales – all genres) and
- “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” was named iTunes’ “Country Single of 2011”
In their short time on the scene, Thompson Square has performed on :
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Conan
- Fox & Friends
- NBC’s The Better Show
- the 45th Annual CMA Awards
- GAC’s Christmas in the Black Hills and
- Fox’s Summer Concert Series
The dynamic duo as well has been featured in :
- USA Weekend
- Entertainment Weekly
- People Country
- the Associated Press
- MSN Wonderwall
- Country Weekly
- Southwest Spirit Magazine
- USA Today
- Chicago Tribune
- The Washington Post
- Pollstar and
- Billboard
Thompson Square is also the only duo to reach #1 on CMT’s Top 50 Artist Chart in 2011 and additionally in 2011 were nominated for multiple CMA and CMT Awards as well as playing to over one million fans, many as part of Jason Aldean’s My Kind of Party Tour.
What About Now . . .
Thompson Square is currently criss-crossing the U.S. as part of Lady Antebellum’s “Own The Night World Tour” with upcoming stops to include two nights at NYC’s legendary Radio City Music Hall on May 3 and 4.
Yet even with all of Thompson Square’s recent success, Keifer and Shawna have still found time to give back. The duo recently partnered with ChildFund International to raise awareness and support for children across the world dying from hunger and poverty. Thompson Square has personally sponsored a little girl named Lady in Indonesia. The duo will also give a free, autographed copy of its self-titled debut album to fans that sign up to sponsor a child at Thompson Square concerts.
For more information be sure to drop in on Keifer and Shawna at www.thompsonsquare.com and learn all about this dynamic duo, like them, follow them and listen to hits from their self-titled debut album such as their current single :
Glass – Thompson Square