Columbus native's work ethic nets dual Grammy nominations

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) — When the 61st Grammy Award nominations were revealed with fanfare on the morning of Dec. 7, Chase McGill had other things on his mind, like scouring the tree line for a big buck.

"It wasn't even on my radar," the Columbus native, 31, told The Dispatch Dec. 12 from his home near Nashville, Tennessee. "I was actually in the deer stand and felt my phone keep on vibrating, and I try not to mess with my phone too much in the woods."

When McGill saw the persistent caller was one of his songwriting partners, Jessie Jo Dillon, he finally answered.

"I picked it up and whispered, 'Hello.