‘Catch of the Day’ – Chris Janson – “Holdin’ Her” [VIDEO]

Today our focus turns to an artist that felt the Nashville "establishment" had turned their backs on him, so he did what any good southern boy would do...he did it himself!

Born and raised in Perryville, Missouri, Chris Janson first came to Nashville's attention in 2009 when he wrote and recorded two duets with Holly Williams for her album Here With Me, soon after signing his first record contract with BNA Records in October of the same year. His debut single "'Til A Woman Comes Along" was met with across the board critical acclaim, but soon after its release in April of 2010, BNA was restructured and Janson left the label.

He spent the next couple years playing around the Nashville area, concentrating on his writing and also working as a session musician. Janson wrote "Truck Yeah" for Tim McGraw, played harmonica on Lee Brice's Hard 2 Love album and during the period wrote for Justin Moore, Hank Williams, Jr., Randy Houser, Joe Nichols, Parmalee, Frankie Ballard, Tyler Farr, Jerrod Niemann, Craig Campbell, JB and the Moonshine Band.

In 2013 Janson signed with Bigger Picture Music Group, releasing the single "Better I Don't", which peaked at #40 in June of the year. But bad luck struck Janson once again, as Bigger Picture closed it's doors in early 2014. Music Janson recorded for his original record contract with BNA was purchased and released by Columbia Records later in the year. The company failed to offer Janson a contract after the material was released as the EP Take It To The Bank.

Once again Janson found himself cast aside and decided he had to do it himself if his dream of Nashville stardom was going to happen.

Janson wrote, self-produced and self-released his next single, 2015's "Buy Me A Boat". After debuting the song on a national morning show, it debuted at #33 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It quickly caught the attention of Warner Brothers Records, who signed Janson and officially released the song as a single.

In the meantime, Janson teamed with the members of LoCash to write their #1 single "I Love This Life" and with Randy Houser to pen Houser's latest single "Song #7". In October, the single for "Buy Me A Boat' hit #1, the same week Janson's debut album of the same name was released. A second single from the album "Power of Positive Drinkin'" failed to capitalize on the success of the lead single, peaking at #35.

As Janson looks to rebound from that disappointment, the third single from Buy Me A Boat, is in our spotlight today. Chris Janson and "Holdin' Her" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.