Joe Nichols

{{Short description|American country music artist}}
{{for-multi|the New Zealand soldier and cricketer|Joseph Nichols|the American sports journalist|Joe Nichols (journalist)|other people|Joe Nicholls (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Joe Nichols
| image            = Joe nichols 2009 cropped.jpg
| caption          = Nichols performing in 2009
| background       = solo_singer
| birth_name       = Joseph Edward Nichols
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1976|11|26}}
| origin           = [[Rogers, Arkansas]], U.S.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p182661/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Joe Nichols biography |access-date=2008-02-28 |last=Huey |first=Steve |work=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref>
| occupation       = Singer
| instrument       = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
}}
| genre            = [[Country music|Country]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theboot.com/joe-nichols-country-music/|title=Joe Nichols on Country Music: 'We've As a Genre, We've Forgotten Who Loves Our Music|last=Allers|first=Hannahlee|website=The Boot |date=April 29, 2015|access-date=January 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://countryperspective.com/tag/joe-nichols/|title=The Hodgepodge: Mainstream Country Artists Need To Put Up or Shut Up|last=Schott|first=Josh|date=October 29, 2015|access-date=January 4, 2016}}</ref>
| years_active     = 1996–present
| label            = [[Intersound Records|Intersound]], [[Show Dog-Universal Music|Show Dog-Universal]], [[BBR Music Group|Red Bow]], Quartz Hill
}}

'''Joseph Edward Nichols''' (born November 26, 1976) is an American [[country music]] artist. Between 1996 and 2001, he held recording contracts with the Intersound and [[Giant Records (Warner)|Giant]] labels. In 2002, he signed with Universal South Records, now known as [[Show Dog Nashville|Show Dog-Universal Music]].

Nichols began his career with The Rodeo Band, playing in high school gymnasiums and small clubs. Throughout the course of his career, Nichols has released nine studio albums: ''[[Joe Nichols (album)|Joe Nichols]]'' (1996), ''[[Man with a Memory]]'' (2002), ''[[Revelation (Joe Nichols album)|Revelation]]'', ''[[A Traditional Christmas]]'' (both 2004), ''[[III (Joe Nichols album)|III]]'' (2005), ''[[Real Things (Joe Nichols album)|Real Things]]'' (2007), ''[[Old Things New]]'' (2009), ''[[Crickets (Joe Nichols album)|Crickets]]'' (2013), and ''[[Never Gets Old]]'' (2017). These albums have produced over 14<!--counting "Let It Snow!"--> Top 40 singles on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] and [[Country Airplay]] charts, including the Number One singles "[[Brokenheartsville]]", "[[Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off]]", "[[Gimmie That Girl]]", "[[Sunny and 75]]", and the RIAA GOLD-certified single "[[Yeah (Joe Nichols song)|Yeah]]", as well as five other Top 10 entries.

In October 2012, Nichols signed to Red Bow, a new partnership of [[BBR Music Group|Broken Bow Records]] and [[RED Music|RED Distribution]].<ref name="roughstock1">[http://www.roughstock.com/blog/broken-bow-records-red-distribution-announce-red-bow-records-sign-joe-nichols-rachel-farley ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109201056/http://www.roughstock.com/blog/broken-bow-records-red-distribution-announce-red-bow-records-sign-joe-nichols-rachel-farley |date=November 9, 2013 }}</ref>

==Biography==
Joe Nichols was born and raised in [[Rogers, Arkansas]].<ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc.|year=2008|page=299|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}</ref> He was the second son born to Michael Curtis Nichols (May 29, 1956 - July 16, 2002) and Robin Larson Nichols.  Joe has an older brother Michael Curtis Jr. and two younger sisters, Kelli Francis and Lacey Nichols.  His father, who worked as a [[trucker]], also played [[bass guitar]] in local country bands; eventually, Nichols himself found work in a local [[rock music|rock]] band, before taking a job as a country [[disc jockey]].<ref name="allmusic"/> Nichols has stated that his father is part [[Cherokee descent|Cherokee]] and his mother is part [[Comanche]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Shelburne | first = Craig | title = Joe Nichols Stakes His Claim With 'The Impossible' | publisher = cmt.com | url = http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1456431/joe-nichols-stakes-his-claim-with-the-impossble.jhtml | access-date = 2009-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inland360.com/lewiston-moscow/life-as-a-country-song-joe-nichols-returns-to-the-l-c-valley/Content?oid=11373400 |title=Life as a country song: Joe Nichols returns to the L-C Valley |publisher=Indland 360 |accessdate=2023-01-30}}</ref>

==Musical career==
[[File:JoeNicholsApr10.jpg|thumb|right|Nichols in April 2010]]
Through a meeting with record producer Randy Edwards, Nichols began to work on his singing and songwriting skills. At age 19, he was signed to his first record deal, with an independent label known as [[Intersound Records]]. There, Nichols released his first album, 1996's ''[[Joe Nichols (album)|Joe Nichols]]''. Despite the minor success of its lead-off single "Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other" (which reached No.&nbsp;74 on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' country charts in [[Canada]]), the album sold poorly and he was dropped from Intersound's roster. A second record deal, this time with [[Giant Records (Warner Bros. subsidiary label)|Giant Records]], was short-lived and did not produce any singles or albums.<ref name="allmusic"/> After his short-lived record deals, he took many jobs in Nashville, including moving furniture, installing cable TV systems, and selling steaks door to door.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/nichols_joe/bio.jhtml|title=Joe Nichols Biography|work=CMT|access-date=2011-07-13}}</ref>

===1999–2003: ''Man with a Memory''===
In 1999, Nichols met [[Brent Rowan]], a [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] session guitarist who helped him land a recording contract with Universal South Records (which became [[Show Dog Nashville|Show Dog-Universal Music]] in December 2009). July 2002 was the release of his second album, entitled ''[[Man with a Memory]]''. Its lead-off single, "[[The Impossible (song)|The Impossible]]", became a No.&nbsp;3 hit on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now [[Hot Country Songs]]) charts, and was declared by ''Billboard'' as the tenth most-played country song of 2003.<ref name="allmusic"/> The same year, his debut album was re-issued under the title ''Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other''.<ref name="allmusic"/>

''Man with a Memory'' earned Nichols a Top New Male Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music, as well as three [[Grammy Award]] nominations and platinum certification from the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref name="allmusic"/> Its second single, "[[Brokenheartsville]]", became his first No.&nbsp;1 hit on the ''Billboard'' country charts in 2003, while "[[She Only Smokes When She Drinks]]" and "Cool to Be a Fool" both reached Top 20.<ref name="allmusic"/> Also in 2003, Nichols received the [[Country Music Association]]'s Horizon Award.<ref name="whitburn"/>

===2004–2007: ''Revelation'', ''III'' and ''Real Things''===
Nichols spent most of 2004 on tour with [[Alan Jackson]]. In June of that year, he issued his third studio album, ''[[Revelation (Joe Nichols album)|Revelation]]''. It produced two Top Ten hits in "[[If Nobody Believed in You]]" and "[[What's a Guy Gotta Do]]", at No.&nbsp;10 and No.&nbsp;4 respectively. Later that same year, he also issued an album of Christmas music, entitled ''[[A Traditional Christmas]]''. Four of the tracks from this album received enough airplay to enter the country charts.

''[[III (Joe Nichols album)|III]]'' was Nichols' fourth album and was released in October 2005.<ref name="allmusic"/> Its lead-off single, "[[Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off]]," became his second ''Billboard'' Number One hit, and both the single and the album receiving Gold certifications from the [[RIAA]]. The album also produced the Top Ten hits "[[Size Matters (Someday)]]" and "[[I'll Wait for You (Joe Nichols song)|I'll Wait for You]]", at No.&nbsp;9 and No.&nbsp;7, respectively. In 2005, [[Anna Nicole Smith]] met Nichols at the [[Grand Ole Opry]] and she became a fan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1553643/joe-nichols-to-sing-at-anna-nicoles-funeral.jhtml |title=Joe Nichols to Sing at Anna Nicole's Funeral |website=CMT.com |date=2007-01-03 |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref> After Smith's death, he performed two songs ("Wings of a Dove" and "I'll Wait for You") at her funeral service. Nichols joined [[Toby Keith]] on tours in both 2005 and 2006.

Nichols' fifth album, ''[[Real Things (Joe Nichols album)|Real Things]],'' was released in August 2007.<ref name="allmusic"/> Its two singles, [[Another Side of You]]" and "[[It Ain't No Crime]]," were both Top 20 country hits. The album also included a cover of "Let's Get Drunk and Fight," which Canadian singer [[Aaron Lines]] released as a single in 2008.

===2008–2011: ''Old Things New'' and ''It's All Good''===
Nichols released a new single, "Believers," to radio on March 27, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicrow.com/2009/03/joe-nichols/|title=Joe Nichols|date=2007-03-29|work=Music Row|access-date=2009-06-03}}</ref> Written by Ashley Gorley, Wade Kirby and Bill Luther, it was the first single from his sixth album, ''[[Old Things New]]''. The song failed to reach the Top 20, reaching a peak of number 26. However, the album's second single, "[[Gimmie That Girl]]," became Nichols' third Number One hit on the country charts in May 2010. The album's third single, "[[The Shape I'm In (Joe Nichols song)|The Shape I'm In]]," was released in July 2010 and peaked at number 17 on the country charts.

Following a merger with his label and Show Dog Records, ''[[It's All Good (Joe Nichols album)|It's All Good]]'' was his seventh album released on November 8, 2011, via [[Show Dog Nashville|Show Dog-Universal Music]]. The album's only single "[[Take It Off (Joe Nichols song)|Take It Off]]" peaked at number 25 on the country charts, and Nichols parted ways with Show Dog-Universal in May 2012.<ref>[http://www.roughstock.com/blog/joe-nichols-and-show-dog-universal-part-ways ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605052151/http://www.roughstock.com/blog/joe-nichols-and-show-dog-universal-part-ways |date=June 5, 2012 }}</ref>

===2012–2015: ''Crickets''===
After parting ways with his longtime label, Nichols signed in October 2012 to Red Bow, a new partnership of [[Broken Bow Records]] and [[RED Distribution]].<ref name="roughstock1"/>

On April 22, 2013, "[[Sunny and 75]]" premiered exclusively online at [[AOL]]'s The Boot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theboot.com/2013/04/22/joe-nichols-sunny-and-75/ |title=Joe Nichols, 'Sunny and 75′ – Exclusive Song Premiere |website=Theboot.com |date=22 April 2013 |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref>  The song was available on [[iTunes]] May 7, 2013. On Monday, May 13, it was announced that the song had the biggest country radio add week of his entire career, with 52 first week adds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=7140 |title=Nichols sets PR for adds for new single |website=Countrystandardtime.com |date=2007-10-23 |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref> It peaked at number one on the [[Country Airplay]] chart in December 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5812332/sunny-returns-joe-nichols-to-no-1-on-country-airplay-chart |title='Sunny' Returns Joe Nichols To No. 1 On Country Airplay Chart |publisher=Billboard |date=2013-12-03 |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref> Nichols' eighth studio album, ''[[Crickets (Joe Nichols album)|Crickets]]'', was released on October 8, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Whitaker|first=Sterling|title=Joe Nichols Reveals Cover Art, Release Date and Track Listing for New Album|url=http://theboot.com/joe-nichols-crickets-details/|access-date=August 26, 2013|newspaper=The Boot|date=August 26, 2013}}</ref> On January 9, 2014, it was announced that "Sunny and 75" was certified Gold by the RIAA for single sales in excess of 500,000 digital downloads.<ref>[http://joenichols.com/643-joe-hits-hot-gold-with-sunny-and-75 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114102754/http://joenichols.com/643-joe-hits-hot-gold-with-sunny-and-75 |date=January 14, 2014 }}</ref> The album's second single, "[[Yeah (Joe Nichols song)|Yeah]]", was released to country radio on January 27, 2014. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in July 2014. The album's third single, "[[Hard to Be Cool]]", was released to country radio on September 1, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicrow.com/calendars-2/single-releases/ |title=Single Releases : MusicRow – Nashville's Music Industry Publication – News, Songs From Music City |website=Musicrow.com |date=2014-06-20 |access-date=2016-01-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212165034/http://www.musicrow.com/calendars-2/single-releases/ |archive-date=2014-02-12 }}</ref>

In 2014, he sang, together with [[Lucy Hale]], the song "Red Dress", which appears on her album, ''[[Road Between]]''.

===2015–2020: ''Never Gets Old''===
It was announced on Nichols' website that the lead single to his ninth studio album, titled "[[Freaks Like Me]]", would be released to digital retailers on September 18, 2015, and to radio on September 21, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freakslikeme.com/ |title=Joe Nichols &#124; #FreaksLikeMe |website=Freakslikeme.com |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref>  Nichols released the new single "Undone" on May 12, 2016<ref name="Undone">{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/joe-nichols-undone/ |title=Joe Nichols, 'Undone' [Listen&#93; |website=Tasteofcountry.com |date=13 May 2016 |access-date=2020-04-03}}</ref>  and released his ninth studio album ''[[Never Gets Old]]'' on July 28, 2017, on Broken Bow Records. "Freaks Like Me" and "Undone" are not included on the new album. Joe parted ways with Broken Bow Music Group in August 2018.

===2021–present: ''Good Day for Living''===
On April 23, 2021, Nichols released his first new single in three years titled "Home Run". The song impacted country radio on May 10 under Quartz Hill.

Nichols' likeness, along the Quartz Hills Records logo, was featured on the #8 car of [[Tyler Reddick]] at [[NASCAR]]'s Goodyear 400 race at [[Darlington Raceway]] on May 9, 2021.

Nichols tenth studio album, ''Good Day for Living'' was released in February 2022.

==Personal life==
On January 8, 2005, Nichols returned to Nashville to see a therapist after causing a scene in [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado]], while intoxicated on [[amphetamines]] and alcohol. He had been battling an addiction since 2002 after the death of his father.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lipton |first=Mike |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20060007,00.html |title=Joe Nichols Comes Clean |website=People.com |date=2015-01-26 |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref> On October 13, 2007, Nichols was checked into a substance abuse rehabilitation program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20152296,00.html|title=Country Star Joe Nichols Enters Rehab|last=Triggs|first=Charlotte|work=[[People Magazine]]|access-date=2009-04-23}}</ref>

Nichols married Heather Singleton on September 9, 2007, in [[Savannah, Georgia]]. He had known Singleton since they were 19 years old. The couple have two daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/04/18/joe-nichols-welcomes-daughter-dylan-river/|title=Joe Nichols Welcomes Daughter Dylan River|work=[[People Magazine]]|date=2012-04-18|access-date=2012-04-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1727588/joe-nichols-wife-welcome-a-daughter.jhtml |title=Joe Nichols, Wife Welcome a Daughter |website=CMT.com |date=2014-05-20 |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref> Nichols also has another daughter, born 1998, from a previous relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/02/21/joe-nichols-wife-expecting-a-baby/|title=Baby on the Way for Joe Nichols|work=[[People Magazine]]|access-date=2012-02-21}}</ref>

Nichols is a lifelong fan of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/game-7-world-series-joe-nichols/ |title=Game 7 of the World Series Splits Joe Nichols' Household |website=Tasteofcountry.com |date=28 October 2011 |access-date=2016-01-26}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Joe Nichols discography}}
*''[[Joe Nichols (album)|Joe Nichols]]'' (1996)
*''[[Man with a Memory]]'' (2002)
*''[[Revelation (Joe Nichols album)|Revelation]]'' (2004)
*''[[III (Joe Nichols album)|III]]'' (2005)
*''[[Real Things (Joe Nichols album)|Real Things]]'' (2007)
*''[[Old Things New]]'' (2009)
*''[[It's All Good (Joe Nichols album)|It's All Good]]'' (2011)
*''[[Crickets (Joe Nichols album)|Crickets]]'' (2013)
*''[[Never Gets Old]]'' (2017)
*''Good Day for Living'' (2022)

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Joe Nichols}}
{{CMA New Artist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nichols, Joe}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American people who self-identify as being of Cherokee descent]]
[[Category:American people who self-identify as being of Comanche descent]]
[[Category:BBR Music Group artists]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Arkansas]]
[[Category:People from Rogers, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Show Dog-Universal Music artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Intersound Records artists]]