Jimmy Wayne Pays Visit to "Top 20"

Jimmy Wayne clowns around with GAC's Top 20 Country Countdown host Nan Kelley. Photo by Cheryl Ecton.

Jan. 9, 2009 — Jimmy Wayne is starting the new year off right: His single "I Will" jumps all the way from No. 20 to No. 11 on the first 2009 installment of GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown, and he’ll join host Nan Kelley on the episode, which debuts Friday.

After earning a trio of hits from his first album, Jimmy waited five years to release the second CD in 2008, and "I Will" follows that album’s first single, "Do You Believe Me Now," which became Jimmy’s first No. 1. Despite his successes, he’s been left to his own on the road, playing clubs and small theaters instead of opening for other acts on arena tours.

"I'm surprised that out of all my hit songs and out of all the years I've been doing this, I haven't been asked by anyone to tour," he told The Tennessean. "It's one of those things where I guess you have to keep building this career a little brick at a time. And hopefully, one day I won't have to depend on someone putting me on their tour. I'll have enough hits to headline my own tour."

"I Will" seems to be adding strength to that gameplan. In the meantime, Jimmy’s definitely busy on the road. He kicks off his tour itinerary for the year with a performance on Saturday at Wild Bill’s in Duluth, Ga.

Top 20 Country Countdown counts down the week's top country videos from No. 20 to No. 1 as voted by viewers on each week on GACTV.com. A new countdown premieres every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on GAC and airs again Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET; Sundays at 1 p.m. ET; and Mondays at 10 a.m. ET. Viewers can vote for their favorite videos, as well as purchase Top 20 artists' albums and ringtones at GACTV.com.

THIS WEEK’S CHART:

1. Trace Adkins "Muddy Water"
2. Kellie Pickler "Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful"
3. Carrie Underwood "Just A Dream"
4. Sugarland "Already Gone"
5. Blake Shelton "She Wouldn’t Be Gone"
6. Miranda Lambert "More Like Her"
7. Taylor Swift "Love Story"
8. Kristy Lee Cook "15 Minutes Of Shame"
9. Julianne Hough "My Hallelujah Song"
10. Brooks & Dunn "Cowgirls Don’t Cry"
11. Jimmy Wayne "I Will"
12. Jamey Johnson "In Color"
13. Toby Keith "God Love Her"
14. Alan Jackson "Country Boy"
15. Brad Paisley & Keith Urban "Start A Band"
16. George Strait "Troubadour"
17. Whitney Duncan "When I Said I Would"
18. Randy Houser "Anything Goes"
19. Josh Turner "Everything Is Fine"
20. Lee Ann Womack "Last Call"