Jefferson County teen and country music singer Aliana Good said the year 2020 will always stand out in her memory, and not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was the year she graduated from Hillsboro High School, released her first album and won a music industry award.
Aliana, 18, of Cedar Hill was named the Josie Music Awards 2020 Outstanding Newcomer of the Year.
She won that honor in September, about five months after releasing an extended play (EP) album titled “Common Ground” during a “virtual garage concert” due to the pandemic.
Aliana received the award – a glass trophy – at the sixth Annual Josie Music Awards, held at the Country Tonight Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
She went to the awards ceremony knowing she was nominated for Young Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for the song, “Don’t Give Up on You.”
However, Aliana said she didn’t know she also was in the running for Outstanding Newcomer of the Year.
“I was definitely not paying attention to this award because I didn’t think I was nominated for it,” she said. “I was sitting there waiting for my categories, and they said Aliana Good (for Outstanding Newcomer of the Year), and I was like, ‘Well, that’s cool.’”
Aliana didn’t win the other two awards she was up for, but she was thrilled with the award she won.
“It was so awesome. I got to go on stage and say my thank-yous, and I was so overwhelmed,” she said.
According to the Josie Music Awards website, the award show, which is owned by the Josie Network LLC, is an internationally recognized independent industry awards program.
Aliana said she nominated herself to be entered in the show.
She said she attended the ceremony with her family and several friends, and since her senior prom was canceled, she wore her prom dress to the event.
Aliana said she took extra material from the dress to have a custom face mask made.
Her dad – local attorney Derrick Good, who’s also the Meramec Township Republican committeeman and the president of the Jefferson County port authority board of directors – said the award ceremony was a “surreal day.”
“It was just really awesome to see somebody outside of the family and your daily friends recognize that she does some really good work,” he said.
Derrick said he is proud of Aliana’s work on her album.
“To watch from the writing process, to the recording process, to the publication of the CD, was just a really neat experience,” he said.
Aliana’s producer, Kelly James Schoenfeld, said Aliana played a major role in writing the music on her album. Schoenfeld lives in Nashville and owns Kelly James Schoenfeld Productions.
“At first she was a little tentative, and then she got quite good at it and got more brave with what she wanted to sing about,” he said.
Schoenfeld said he has known Aliana for about 10 years and been her producer for about three years.
“She’s very well rounded for someone her age, which I think is very impressive, especially in this day and age,” he said. “She definitely has a lot of natural talent, but it takes hard work to become really good and to really draw the listener in.
“I think a lot of young people don’t have a lot of the qualities she does. It’s not just about being a good singer. I think if you’re going to be in the spotlight, it’s important to be a good role model. She’s just a really well rounded person.”
Schoenfeld said he was happy to learn about Aliana’s award.
Her album includes six songs, Ameri-Can, Common Ground, Love’s Unknown, Girl Like You, Already Been through Hell and Don’t Give Up on You.
“It was my first time in the studio actually doing anything by myself,” she said. “It’s a huge process and it was so cool.”
Aliana said she learned the importance of patience while recording her first album.
“I like to get things done, but you just have to see what works and if it doesn’t work, you got to rethink it,” she said.
Aliana said she decided to release her album in April because of the pandemic.
“This was one good thing in such a crappy time that I could control,” she said.
Aliana said her song, “Love’s Unknown,” has been played on several radio stations across the country, including in Missouri, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, and it ranked 56th on the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart.
She said she started singing at church when she was about 4.
“Music has always been a huge part of my life,” she said.
Derrick said Aliana has always loved music.
“She always gravitated towards the music stuff,” he said.
Derrick describes Aliana’s style of singing as ’90s or older country music.
“She’s an old soul,” he said.
Aliana said she plays regularly at several Hillsboro locations, including Saucy’s Pizzeria, The Russell House Restaurant Inn and Brewery, and The Boro and Den.
Aliana said her boyfriend, Brady Horn, 20, of Pevely, often accompanies her on guitar.
She also said the two currently are working on new music together.
“You might hear some new music from us soon,” she said.
Aliana is enrolled at Jefferson College, working toward a music degree.