A proud adherent of country music traditions, singer and songwriter Dillon … Read Full Bio ↴A proud adherent of country music traditions, singer and songwriter Dillon Carmichael is blessed with a rich, deep voice and a talent for finding new wrinkles in the tropes of classic country music. Carmichael's music strikes a sweet spot between the Bakersfield sound of the '60s (embraced by Merle Haggard and Buck Owens) and the outlaw style of the '70s (think Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings), with a dash of Southern rock folded in. The product of a Kentucky family with deep roots in Southern music, Carmichael was performing professionally before he finished high school, and moved to Nashville as a songwriter just a few days after completing high school. After releasing his first single in 2017, Carmichael won the attention of fans and critics with his debut album, Hell on an Angel, in October 2018.
Dillon Carmichael was born in Burgin, a small town in Kentucky, and grew up with a family that was passionate about music. Both of his grandfathers, Harold Carmichael and Harold Montgomery, were professional musicians (the former was a gospel singer and the latter a country picker who appeared on the Grand Ole Opry). Both of Dillon's parents had been singers who often performed in public. And he also had two uncles who rose to fame in country music; John Michael Montgomery enjoyed a handful of hits in the '90s, while Eddie Montgomery was a co-founder of the rowdy, Southern rock-inspired act Montgomery Gentry. Dillon got his first guitar from his father when he was 11 years old, and he taught himself to play. Once he became comfortable with the instrument, teenaged Dillon put together a band with his friends, and they played talent shows and informal gigs around town. The band broke up, and Carmichael struck out on his own, writing songs and playing solo shows at bars throughout Kentucky.
When he was 18, Carmichael's talent came to the attention of a representative of a Nashville publishing house, who offered to strike a deal with Dillon once he graduated from high school. Four days after he got his diploma, Carmichael packed his bags and moved to Nashville, where he signed that publishing contract and began making his way into the Music City music community. As Carmichael honed his talent, his style began to reflect his early influences, which included the home truths of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings and the outlaw rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Eventually, Carmichael found a sympathetic collaborator in producer Dave Cobb, who had developed a reputation for his work with Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and Chris Stapleton. Working together in the studio, Cobb helped Carmichael cut his debut single, an homage to classic country titled "Old Songs Like That," which was released in October 2017. A second single, "Made to Be a Country Boy," followed in February 2018. The two singles received positive notices in the country music press, as did Carmichael's first full-length album, Hell on an Angel, which was released by Riser House Records in October 2018.
Dillon Carmichael was born in Burgin, a small town in Kentucky, and grew up with a family that was passionate about music. Both of his grandfathers, Harold Carmichael and Harold Montgomery, were professional musicians (the former was a gospel singer and the latter a country picker who appeared on the Grand Ole Opry). Both of Dillon's parents had been singers who often performed in public. And he also had two uncles who rose to fame in country music; John Michael Montgomery enjoyed a handful of hits in the '90s, while Eddie Montgomery was a co-founder of the rowdy, Southern rock-inspired act Montgomery Gentry. Dillon got his first guitar from his father when he was 11 years old, and he taught himself to play. Once he became comfortable with the instrument, teenaged Dillon put together a band with his friends, and they played talent shows and informal gigs around town. The band broke up, and Carmichael struck out on his own, writing songs and playing solo shows at bars throughout Kentucky.
When he was 18, Carmichael's talent came to the attention of a representative of a Nashville publishing house, who offered to strike a deal with Dillon once he graduated from high school. Four days after he got his diploma, Carmichael packed his bags and moved to Nashville, where he signed that publishing contract and began making his way into the Music City music community. As Carmichael honed his talent, his style began to reflect his early influences, which included the home truths of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings and the outlaw rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Eventually, Carmichael found a sympathetic collaborator in producer Dave Cobb, who had developed a reputation for his work with Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and Chris Stapleton. Working together in the studio, Cobb helped Carmichael cut his debut single, an homage to classic country titled "Old Songs Like That," which was released in October 2017. A second single, "Made to Be a Country Boy," followed in February 2018. The two singles received positive notices in the country music press, as did Carmichael's first full-length album, Hell on an Angel, which was released by Riser House Records in October 2018.
Made to Be a Country Boy
Dillon Carmichael Lyrics
Verse 1
You can't stop the hands of father time
When the mornin' comes the sun's gonna rise
The clouds are gonna bring the rain
The songbirds are gonna sing
Verse 2
Those old six-string guitars are made for playin'
Mama's bendin' knees were made for prayin'
Plantin' seed was made to sew
And Jesus loves me, this I know
Chorus
And every time I look into that mirror
The reflection I see is gettin' clearer
And who I am is who I'm gonna be
I wouldn't change a single thing
I'm proud of this blood in my veins
Like my daddy and his daddy before
I was made to be a country boy
Verse 3
The apple don't fall too far from the tree
Country music's made in Tennessee
A tractor's made to pull a plow
A plow is made to turn the ground
Chorus
And every time I look into that mirror
The reflection I see is gettin' clearer
And who I am is who I'm gonna be
I wouldn't change a single thing
I'm proud of this blood in my veins
Like my daddy and his daddy before
I was made to be a country boy
Chorus
I wouldn't change a single thing
I'm proud of this blood in my veins
Like my daddy and his daddy before
Every night I close my eyes and thank the Lord
I was made to be a country boy
I was made to be a country boy
You can't stop the hands of father time
When the mornin' comes the sun's gonna rise
The clouds are gonna bring the rain
The songbirds are gonna sing
Verse 2
Those old six-string guitars are made for playin'
Mama's bendin' knees were made for prayin'
Plantin' seed was made to sew
Chorus
And every time I look into that mirror
The reflection I see is gettin' clearer
And who I am is who I'm gonna be
I wouldn't change a single thing
I'm proud of this blood in my veins
Like my daddy and his daddy before
I was made to be a country boy
Verse 3
The apple don't fall too far from the tree
Country music's made in Tennessee
A tractor's made to pull a plow
A plow is made to turn the ground
Chorus
And every time I look into that mirror
The reflection I see is gettin' clearer
And who I am is who I'm gonna be
I wouldn't change a single thing
I'm proud of this blood in my veins
Like my daddy and his daddy before
I was made to be a country boy
Chorus
I wouldn't change a single thing
I'm proud of this blood in my veins
Like my daddy and his daddy before
Every night I close my eyes and thank the Lord
I was made to be a country boy
I was made to be a country boy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dillon Carmichael, Red Marlow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Lana Boyden
I wish the powers that be in Nashville would realize that the people who love country music would love to hear "REAL" country.
MyDogsAsleep
This guy is like the last link between real country and new country...guys like Dillon Carmichael, Cody jinks..I raise my whiskey glass to. Keep on makin music that kicks ass.
Mark Schwartz
Lana very well said
Kyle Stephens
True say there
Bad Driver
Truly perfect!! 👌
clay hayes
@Dillon Carmichael brother you are country to the core i love your music. And I wish you a long and successful career please don't ever change
Eddie Brandenburg
Now that is Country to the core!!!!
Dillon Carmichael
Thanks Eddie, appreciate it!
Greg Peterson
i miss country music. thank you for being you Dillon. i love what you do. keep on.
N2Mtns
agreed, said a Clinch Mtn ..country true and tried. Thank you. Much missed, said the short maw. Keep it alive, please. 🇺🇸