Arkansas native and independent artist Blane Howard is putting his own personal stamp on the Nashville music industry. In February of 2022, the singer-songwriter released the album, Looking For Nothing To Do, debuting at #27 on iTunes. The album included several singles co-written with top charting song writers including the single, “Boot ‘N’ Rally,” written with Keesy Timmer (“Yeah, Boy”– Kelsea Ballerini), which was an anthem for those who’ve been knocked down but keep getting back up. In May, the music video for “Boot ‘N’ Rally” premiered on CMT Music, and at the end of July it hit #1 on CMT Music’s 12 Pack Countdown show. The album suffered delays due to the pandemic, but followed on the heels of the releases for “All Those Empties,” written with Rick Huckaby (“Beer With Jesus,” “Muddy Water”), and “Rock On Her Window,” co-written with Huckaby and Doug Johnson (“Three Wooden Crosses,” “Love Like Crazy”), which made a splash debuting at #5 on the CMT 12 Pack Countdown show. The music video, directed and produced by Jenny Gill, once again made an impression on CMT with Howard being selected as their Next Up Now artist for May 2021. The video also hit #1 on The Country Network in October.
Howard’s biggest success to date comes from a song he wrote as a wedding gift for his wife, Megan. Co-written with ACM Award winner Jordan Reynolds (“Tequila,”“10,000 Hours”) and produced by Grammy, ACM, and CMA nominated producer Brad Hill (Maren Morris’ Hero, Brothers Osborne), “Promise To Love Her” has grown into a massive success, garnering more that 125 million streams across all digital platforms, with the music video spending 17 consecutive weeks on CMT Music’s 12-Pack Countdown, including a week at Number 1. Quite impressive for an independent artist! Howard has continued to grow his fan base having consecutively doubled his Spotify numbers the last three years. In 2021, he accumulated over 1.2 million listeners, along with 6.2 million streams.
Recognized for his resonating baritone vocals and his presence behind a microphone, Howard also continues to hone his songwriting skills. He has collaborated with some exceptional writers; in addition to Timmer, Huckaby, Johnson, and Reynolds, he also has written with hit songwriters Steve Dean (“Watching You”), Jim Collins (“Big Green Tractor,” “The Good Stuff”), Graham Edwards (Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated”) and others.
In late 2020 with the NFL playoffs approaching, Howard received a boost of recognition. While his touring was halted during the pandemic, Howard, a life-long die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan, wrote a new song, “Run It Back,” which became Chiefs Kingdom’s new anthem during their playoff run. The song was played by radio stations all over the Kansas City Metro area and on surrounding mid-west stations. With another successful season expected for the Chiefs in 2021, Howard created a REMIX, “Take It Back” which was just as successful as the original. “As the guy whose job it is to fire up the Chiefs crowd at Arrowhead Stadium, ‘Run It Back’ from Blane Howard fires ME up!! Fun song to celebrate the defending Super Bowl Champs (and favorite to win it AGAIN!!!),” ~ Dale Carter, KFKF-FM PD/Morning Guy and Stadium Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Since graduating from Belmont University, Howard has opened for numerous country icons including Justin Moore, Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Joe Nichols, Charlie Daniels, Lauren Alaina and Trace Adkins. He and his band are also popular on the state fair and festival circuit, with multiple returns to the State Fair of Texas, among others.
Named the Arkansas CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in both 2018 and 2019, Howard embraces his unique style of country, modern traditional, mixing the authenticity of the 90s with the contemporary edge of today! His relatable lyrics, powerful vocals, and entertaining shows are winning him fans around the world.
Howard released his first Christmas album, "Christmas in the Car," on November 18, 2022 and we recently had the opportunity to chat with him about it.
Hi, Blane! Thanks for spending your morning with us today. We love your new album “Christmas in the Car." Can you give us a little background on how it came about?
The past 4-5 few years I’ve done some small Christmas shows, just me and a piano player, and the crowds get bigger every year and everyone wants me to do an album. Plus, I’ve always wanted to do one as well, but I always forget you have to start recording in the Spring! This year I got everything started in February and had plenty of time to get everything done.
You’re also going on tour across your home state of Arkansas in December. Anything you’d like to mention about that?
I can’t wait for this! My previous Christmas shows have only been private parties, but this year I’m playing two public shows with my entire band - Dec. 15 at King Opera House in Van Buren, AR and Dec. 16 at Vapors Live in my hometown of Hot Springs, AR. I will also play two other private shows but I’m excited to play them with the full band!
Dec 15: King Opera House - Van Buren, AR
Dec 16: Vapors Live - Hot Springs, AR
Dec 17: Private Show - Little Rock, AR
Dec 18: Private Show - Hot Springs, AR
What’s your favorite part about Christmas and the holiday season?
Just being with family. I don’t want presents, I just want to see my family. And, I do enjoy giving out presents to people. I’ll go out of my way to get gifts for everyone. I enjoy giving them, but not really getting them.
What is your least favorite Christmas song? Why?
Haha, that one’s easy! “Little Drummer Boy”!! There’s just no melody and the “parum pa pum pums” get annoying after about 30 seconds.
What can we expect from you in 2023?
I’m excited to get a full schedule of shows for the year and to get in the studio to record new music. The normal stuff I do this time!
For more information, visit www.blanehoward.com and follow Blane on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Spotify.