Eli Young Band photo courtesy of HBPR.

Eli Young Band is enjoying a wave of success that includes a No. 1 song, an ACM Award for Song of the Year for “Crazy Girl,” and opening slots on some of the biggest tours in country music. The band has worked long and hard for this moment, but they don’t hold a grudge against fellow artists who  may have had an easier path to stardom.

“We try really hard to not be judgmental about the way that other people get there, but we like the way we did it and we feel like we appreciate it a lot,” Mike Eli said.

The band wouldn’t trade the experiences they’ve had along the way, nor the lessons they’ve learned. While stars like Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler and Scotty McCreery have become household names on shows like American Idol, Eli Young Band doesn’t think that route would have worked for them.

“I think you look at Carrie Underwood and some of the huge, huge monster talent that’s come out of those [shows and] it’s undeniable that was the perfect way for her to get to center stage,” Jon Jones said. “But something like that I don’t think would have been for us.”

James Young agreed. “We’re not as pretty as she was,” he said. “We had to do it the hard way.”

Their latest single, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” just became their latest Top 20 hit. The group is currently on tour with Dierks Bentley and will hit the road with Rascal Flatts this summer. Watch their music video for “Crazy Girl” HERE.

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