Drew Baldridge Commemorates Historic No. 1

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Hipgnosis’ Ashley Alexander, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart and BMI’s Clay Bradley; (L-R, front row): Nick Schwarz, Cameron Jaymes, Drew Baldridge and Jimmy Yeary. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Industry members, family and friends gathered on the BMI rooftop on Thursday (Oct. 3) to celebrate the achievement of Drew Baldridge and his historic No. 1 song.

“She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” written by Baldridge, Cameron Jaymes and Jimmy Yeary, and produced by Nick Schwarz, is the first song ever released by an independent artist to reach No. 1 on the country radio charts. Originally released in 2019, the momentous track made way for a tearful, heartfelt celebration.

Among those who spoke, a good friend and early believer in Baldridge, Rusty Gaston, took to the stage to share his congratulations with the artist and co-writers.

“Drew and I have worked together for about 12 years now, and there’s a few things that I want you guys to know about him. He has a heart of gold, he is genuine, he is loyal, he is honorable, he is faith-filled, he is resilient, he is creative, he is an overcomer, he is tough and he is never a victim,” Gaston said with tears in his eyes.

He continued, “When chasing a dream for 12 years, there can be a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but the difference-maker in Drew is when those downs came along, he never allowed himself to be a victim. He was never a person that said, ‘if I only had that,’ or, ‘if that person had only done this.’ Those words were never in his vocabulary. He chose to lean into things that he could control—and that was to create. He would create a new song, a new video, a new way to tour and a new way to get his music exposed.”

After words from Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton and Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, who presented the crew with a donation to Warrior Nation Cancer Foundation on their behalf, it was time for the writers and producer to speak.

Up first was Schwarz, Baldridge’s producer for the last five years, “A few things stood out to me immediately with Drew. One, he is a great songwriter, two, he is great on the mic and most of all, he is an incredible worker. The drive and vision that he has is amazing. It is bold as an independent artist to take your song to radio in the first place, but to get it to No. 1 takes an incredible amount of work.”

Jaymes, who was also celebrating his first No. 1, began by thanking God in a short prayer before sharing gratitude for his family, friends and Drew. “No one deserves it more than you, truly. You are the definition of the ‘good guy.’ In a world and a business where it feels like the nice guys finish last, man, it feels good to see the good guy finish in first.”

Inspired by Jaymes, Yeary took a moment to reflect on why he does what he does. “My intention is in 2 Corinthians, where it says we are supposed to comfort others with the same comfort that we have been given. I think the best way we can do that is to help others realize they aren’t alone in their trials and tragedy.”

Finally, Baldridge started by thanking God and his family joking,“Y’all didn’t know you were coming to a church service did you? We’re getting a little Jesus in here!”

He continued, “What I realized when I was in people’s backyards playing music during the pandemic is that I, and these guys on stage, aren’t writing music for this town. We are writing for people and their human hearts—that is what changed everything for me.”

John Nix Arledge
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