Singer-songwriter Jerrod Niemann is currently celebrating his very first Top 10 hit as an artist with "Lover, Lover," a remake of Sonia Dada's "You Don't Treat Me No Good" which was a number one hit for the rock group in Australia. Soon, Jerrod will see the release of his album Judge Jerrod and the Hung Jury, featuring "Lover, Lover." Fans of the newcomer can expect a wide range of songs on the project from the opener "They Should Have Named You Cocaine," which he co-wrote with buddy Jamey Johnson, to the emotional ballad "What Do You Want."

Seeing his hard work come to fruition is a dream come true for the Liberal, Kansas native who had hit a low point in his life before landing his record deal. While Jerrod had seen success as a songwriter, particularly for Garth Brooks who he had wrote three singles for including Garth's 2005 hit "Good Ride Cowboy," but he was frustrated by the lack of movement with his career as a performer himself. Along the way, Jerrod had signed two record deals, both of which were dead ends. After those two disappointments, Jerrod became depressed which lead to the end of a relationship, a drastic weight gain and a sabbatical from songwriting, but a chance meeting with one of his friends, Jamey Johnson, inspired him to turn things around by telling him to record an album. As recording Judge Jerrod and the Hung Jury commenced, Jerrod began to come back around and by the time the project was finished, Jerrod had lost the extra pounds he had put on. Soon he shopped the project around Music Row and found a home when he signed his record deal with Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville.

Before hitting town, Jerrod's first exposure to music was through his parents' business, the local skating rink, where he listened to everyone from Queen to Run-D.M.C. to Aerosmith to the Oak Ridge Boys. Upon high school graduation, Jerrod moved to Levelland, Texas to attend South Plains College where he studied music, then the budding songwriter moved to Fort Worth where he played the bar circuit. He made the all-important move to Nashville in 2000. Now, Jerrod is on the verge of seeing his dreams come to life and making his own distinctive mark on country music.

For more on Jerrod Niemann, check out our interview with him, as well as his music video for "Lover, Lover."

Image courtesy of Sony Music Nashville

Nikita Palmer for Citadel Digital © 2010

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