Artist: Jordan Smart
Hometown: Ludlow, Kentucky
Song: “Lonely Is the Wheel”
Editor’s Note: Jordan Smart is the winner of the 2023 Gems in the Rough contest, hosted by GemsOnVHS, for his submission of “Apple Don’t Fall.” He will be supporting Tommy Prine on tour dates from June through October.
In Their Words: “I entered the Gems in the Rough contest a couple times before and had never placed. This year I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to submit or not and actually didn’t get my submission in by the time they had planned to close submissions. Apparently there was an error and they reopened submissions so I figured what the heck. I didn’t expect much from it, and especially did not expect to win. Third time’s a charm I guess. I was able to get down to Nashville the day after receiving the news to shoot videos with GemsOnVHS and Western AF. The song featured here is one I wrote a couple of years ago during quarantine, a love song of sorts. You can expect it to be on my next album later this year.” — Jordan Smart
