Sugarland, Bobby Pinson Celebrated at No. 1 Party

Sugarland photo by Kate Powers, courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Oct. 31, 2008 — Black tablecloths with images of ghosts and tombstones reading "R.I.P." were part of the decorations at a Music Row party on Thursday. But the images were clearly meant as a celebration of Halloween and not a bad omen about the careers of Sugarland and singer-songwriter Bobby Pinson.

In fact, both are currently reaching new upwardly mobile plateaus, tied together through the success of "All I Want To Do," which Bobby co-wrote with Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles. BMI, a performing rights organization that represents songwriters, used the Halloween party to honor the song’s recent ascent to No. 1 on the country chart. Sugarland has five nominations at the moment in "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards," including a nod for Entertainer of the Year. Bobby meanwhile is scoring hits at every turn. In addition to "All I Want To Do," he co-wrote Sugarland’s new single "Already Gone" and helped write Toby Keith’s No. 1 "She Never Cried In Front Of Me."

Bobby and Sugarland are an interesting mix of talent. The duo has gained prominence primarily on the strength of songs with big choruses and ultra-positive messages, while Bobby’s lone hit as an artist, 2005’s "Don’t Ask Me How I Know," couched regret and existentialism in a rough-cut vocal setting.

"I’m nothin’ like them, and they’re nothin’ like me," Bobby said, of his musical relationship with Kristian and Jennifer. "And it works real good."

"All I Want To Do" found its genesis when Kristian — who was unable to attend Thursday’s bash — showed his co-writers a video of his daughter dancing while his wife sang a cheerful, off-the-cuff melody.

"I was like, ‘There’s you a melody right there, folks,’" Bobby remembered. "Everybody kind of laughed, but it became really hooky."

The CMA, Country Radio Broadcasters and Country Weekly were among the organizations that joined BMI in honoring Bobby, Kristian, Mercury Records and producer Byron Gallimore.

"All I Want To Do" might have been written months ago, but Bobby didn’t have to wait until Halloween to know it was a winner.

"I knew when I got home and just kinda sang it to my wife and baby," Bobby explained. "[When] my son, Cash, sang it back to me the next day, I knew we had somethin'."

As much as Bobby was thrilled with the song’s achievement, he was able to keep it in perspective. His wife, Lucy, and Cash were both on hand at the ceremony, and he singled them out near the end of his remarks.

"The best thing I’ve ever accomplished," he told them, "is you guys."