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Cole Swindell’s Star Rises As Awards Come In

Cole Swindell had quite a night when the 2023 ACM Awards were handed out in Texas on May 11th. Cole won three awards for his song “She Had Me At…

Cole Swindell's Star Rises As Awards Come In
Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Cole Swindell had quite a night when the 2023 ACM Awards were handed out in Texas on May 11th. Cole won three awards for his song "She Had Me At Heads Carolina." The song won Single and Song of The Year. He also won as the song's producer.

It was a big moment for Swindell, who also performed the song on the show along with Jo Dee Messina, whose 1990's hit "Heads Carolina, Tails California" inspired the hit song.

Cole recently asked his girlfriend, former Charlotte Hornets dancer Courtney Little, to be his wife. According to his Twitter, she said, "Yes."

Swindell posted to Twitter moments (5/8), along with the photos of the moment, "Still couldn't tell ya everything I said down on one knee... All I know is she said "YES"! We're so excited!"

Fans reacted to the post with one writing, "Congrats, brother. She's a lucky girl." Another fan said, "Omg!!!! Yay!!! Congratulations. I love you both!" one more fan commented, "Congratulations Cole you deserve nothing but the best!" (See that post here.)

Little is 2017's Miss Teen North Carolina, and the couple first met at a NASCAR event. Cole told various media outlets that they became "long-distance friends." It wasn't until Cole hired Little for his 2021 "Some Habits" video that the couple finally started to date.

Swindell has been in country music for several years, and his star is rising. We take a look at his years in country music through photos.

Cole Swindell 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Press Room

GettyImages-1489304331.jpgJason Kempin/Getty Images

Cole Swindell, winner of the Single of the Year award for "She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” and Song of the Year award for "She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” and Courtney Little pose in the press room during the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.


Cole Swindell/Jo Dee Messina 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Show

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Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina perform onstage during the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 11, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.


Cole Swindell - 2019 Stagecoach Festival - Day 1

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Cole Swindell performs onstage during the 2019 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Field on April 26, 2019 in Indio, California.


Cole Swindell -CRS 2015 - Day 3

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Cole Swindell performs during the New Faces of Country at CRS 2015 on February 27, 2015 at the in Nashville, Tennessee.


Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell - Georgia On My Mind Hosted By The Peach Pickers

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Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell attend "Georgia on My Mind, hosted by the Peach Pickers and Friends," a benefit for the Georgia Music Foundation at the Ryman Auditorium on May 12, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Cole Swindell -2022 CMT Music Awards - Backstage

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Cole Swindell attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Cole Swindell Celebrates First No. 1 Song "Chillin' It" In Nashville

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Cole's Mother helps celebrate Singer/Songwriter Cole Swindell's First No.1 Song "Chillin' It" at BMI Nashville on May 27, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson - 2022 CMT Music Awards - Show

GettyImages-1390934967.jpgErika Goldring/Getty Images

Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson perform at the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell - 10th Annual ACM Honors - Red Carpet

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Luke Bryan and singer-songwriter Cole Swindell attend 10th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium on August 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.


Cole Swindell - CMA Fest 2022 - Day 2

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Cole Swindell performs during day 2 of CMA Fest 2022 at Nissan Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.