America chose Buddy Jewell as the very first winner of the USA Network's hit reality show "Nashville Star". Buddy was the true viewer favorite from the very beginning, capturing 65% of the nationwide voting and beating out 11 other contestants, most notably, Miranda Lambert, by over 2 million votes on the final episode. He and America have been involved in a love affair ever since.

His self-titled Columbia Records debut release landed at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Album charts, was certified GOLD later that same year and garnered two back-to-back top five hits with "Sweet Southern Comfort" and "Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)" Both tunes are RIAA certified 1 million radio air plays.

Buddy has been recognized by the Grammy's, ACM, CMA, ABC Radio Networks, ICMA, ICGMA and CMT with multiple awards and nominations. In 2011, he won the International Country Gospel Music Association's “Entertainer of the Year” and “Crossover Artist of the Year” awards. In 2015, he was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainer’s Hall of Fame. In 2018, his #1 Christian Country hit, “I’m There”, won the ICMA “Song of the Year” and in April 2019, Buddy won ICMA “Male Vocalist of the Year”.