Hot Chelle Rae on AMA Win: It's 'The Biggest Milestone of Our Career' (Video)
The members of 2011's Best New Artist tell THR what they plan to do with their newly acquired hardware.
Serving as an American Music Awards triple threat -- pre-show performers, presenters and nominees -- wasn't enough for Hot Chelle Rae, who added a new award to their resume on Sunday night. The group behind "Tonight, Tonight" and "I Like it Like That" nabbed the honor of Sprint Best New Artist, as well.
PHOTOS: AMAs 2011 Red Carpet Arrivals
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter on a rain drenched red carpet, Ryan Follese (vocals), Ian Keaggy (bass), Nash Overstreet (guitar) and Jamie Follese (drums) gushed about the possibility of bringing home a new piece of hardware during the Nov. 20 ceremony.
"If we win the award tonight for best new artist, we're gonna freak out," said Nash (yes, the brother of Glee's Chord Overstreet). Added Ryan, "It would definitely be the biggest milestone of our career thus far."
PHOTOS: The Best and Worst Moments at the AMAs
"I might have to give it to my parents as a Christmas present," Ryan pondered. "It's definitely the biggest accomplishment for us as a band and it shows our hard work is paying off."
The group is set to release their second album, Whatever, on Nov. 29, which came together in a shocking two months. "The last year has been crazy and because of that, all of the emotions have been heightened that it's enabled us to write and record music from a place that's different for us," Ryan told THR at the group's red carpet style meeting on Saturday, Nov. 19.
PHOTOS: American Music Awards 2011 Nominees
"Tonight, Tonight" cemented its status as a summer anthem this year, but who does Hot Chelle Rae like to rock out to?
"You can't go wrong with Teenage Dream," Ian said of Katy Perry's record shattering album. "We even cover one of her sets when we play live." The boys credit Perry's No. 1 title track as one they wish they'd written, while Jamie piped in with love for LMFAO. "I'd like to have written 'Party Rock Anthem,'" he confessed.
Complete List of 2011 AMA Winners and Nominees
"It’s a friendly competition," the group later noted in the backstage press room. "When someone makes an amazing song, we know we have to do better than that next time."
Later on in the night, THR ran into Keaggy as he arrived at the Jennifer Lopez after-party following a stop at the Rolling Stone bash. Of the band's stellar and no doubt exhausting day, the bassist had this to say: "It was a trifecta of awesomeness."
THR's Daily Must Feeds
-
Beyonce: Pregnant with Second Child - Report
-
'Iron Man 3' Superhero Threequel Passes $1 Billion Mark
-
Michael C. Hall: 'Dexter' Season Eight Trailer
-
Shocking Season-Ending Twist On 'Scandal'
-
Justin Bieber Owes Money for Mally the Monkey Left in Germany
-
Saying Goodbye To 'The Office'
-
Sarah Polley Is (Mostly) Ready to Come Clean
-
How Critics Handled 'Star Trek' Into Darkness’s Bad-Guy Secret
In This Week's Magazine
- MOST SHARED
- MOST POPULAR
- 1
YouTube Breakout Ray William Johnson Sells Comedy to FX (Exclusive)
- 2
Jessica Capshaw from 'Grey's Anatomy': 'Arizona Does Not Forgive Callie'
- 3
Amanda Knox's Former Boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito Appears on 'Today' (Video)
- 4
'How I Met Your Mother' Makes Cristin Milioti a Series Regular
- 5
'Big Bang Theory': A Behind the Scenes Diary of the Sweet Season 6 Finale
- 6
Ken Venturi, Famed CBS Sports Golf Analyst, Dies at 82
- 7
Cannes Jewel Heist: Inside Job Suspected, Hotel Employees Being Questioned
- 8
'Grey's Anatomy' Season Finale Stunner: Who Didn't Weather the Storm?
- 9
Cannes: Peter Mullan's 'Paradise' Creates Buyer Buzz
- 10
'Big Bang Theory's' Kunal Nayyar, Kaley Cuoco on Raj's Big Moment


