Gloriana Feeling the Love With ACM Nomination

What a difference a year can make. In the case of Gloriana, it makes a huge difference. Last year, they attended the ACM Awards as spectators. This year, they've already won the Top New Vocal Group Award and are up for the overall Top New Artist Award, along with Luke Bryan and Joey + Rory. [Watch Gloriana's special ACM video message for Boot readers below!]

"I think that we've waited a really long time to feel embraced and welcomed, and it's starting to happen," the group's Rachel Reinert tells the Associated Press. "That's just the most rewarding feeling ever."

The foursome can now rattle off a list of accomplishments, such as a debut hit with 'Wild at Heart,' the opening slot for Taylor Swift's Fearless tour and the unexpected win at last year's American Music Awards for Breakthrough Artist of the Year (beating Lady Gaga!). With all of that, Gloriana could be construed as an overnight success, but that's really not the case.

"We've all had our own different paths," says Rachel. "The guys were playing bars [for 10 years], and Cheyenne [Kimball] had a record deal as a solo artist when she was 13. For me, I moved out here to Nashville when I was 15 and was playing songwriters nights and doing all this. And when we got together, we all lived in this apartment ... it's been a really long journey for all of us, and we've definitely worked really, really hard."

They have some pretty lofty goals for the future, some of which include winning a Grammy and hosting NBC's 'Saturday Night Live.' In the meantime, they're just hoping to keep building a successful career and continuing the forward momentum. "We would love to have a Top 10 hit at country radio," explains Rachel. "And just to continue to play as many shows as we can, meet as many fans as we can and just keep doing what we're doing -- and just get the word out there about who we are."

Cheyenne agrees, adding, "And bring home an ACM!"

Before heading into the ACMs on Sunday, Gloriana open for Taylor in Los Angeles with a two-night stand beginning April 14. And on Saturday, they will perform in Las Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience concert.

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