Joe Nichols music career started at the age of 19 playing high school gymnasiums and small clubs in a group entitled, The Rodeo Band. His first, self-titled album, “Joe Nichols”, was released in 1996 with limited sales success. It was the release of the single, “The Impossible” (on his second album, “Man With A Memory”), in 2002 that launched his career commercially with that single reaching #3 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles Tracks. It also earned Nichols a Top New Male Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music (ACM), as well as three Grammy Award nominations and platinum certification from the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA). The second release from that album would become Nichols’ first #1 hit in the song, “Brokenheartsville”. That same album would produce two more Top 20 hits in, “She Only Smokes When She Drinks” and “Cool To Be A Fool”. He would go on to record a total of 18 Top 40 hits including “If Nobody Believed In You”, “What’s A Guy Gotta Do”, “Tequila Makes her Clothes Fall Off”, “Size Matters (Someday)”, “I’ll Wait For You”, “Another Side of You”, “It Ain’t No Crime”, “Believers”, “Gimme That Girl”, “The Shape I’m In”, “Take It Off”, “Sunny and 75”, “Yeah” and “Hard To Be Cool”.

For the first time ever, Downtown Country Jam will feature two nationally known artists in the lineup. In addition to Joe Nichols, Morgan Myles will serve as direct support. She place 3rd on The Voice in 2022. Myles had the distinction of turning all four judges’ chairs during her initial audition on the show. John Legend and Blake Shelton were effuse in their praise of Morgan. Building on the success of The Voice, it led to her first ever appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. A multi-instrumentalist and touring artist with a five-octave vocal range, Myles has opened for country superstars including Luke Bryan, Jake Owen and Kane Brown. Some of her songs to check out online and on YouTube include, “Vertigo”, “Holy Water”, “Acapella”, “Whiskey Dreaming”, “Sanctuary”, and “Chains (The Tambourine Song)”. The two latest singles from Myles include, “Two Words, One Finger” and “Reap”. “Her rendition of the song, “Hallelujah” is especially inspiring, said Shellabration Inc. President, Jim Reed. Listening to it can be move you emotionally. Having her in our lineup will make this year’s DCJ really powerful”, added Reed.

Formed in 2015, the opening act with be Iowa’s Tyler Richton & The High Bank Boys. From the banks of Deep River (Iowa), the band is known for their neo-traditional country sound. They play a combination of popular covers and original material. Their original works are strongly influenced by Owen Bradley from the 60’s, the Outlaw sound of the 70’s and Red Dirt icons of today. They recently played at Fort Dodge's newly renovated Laramar Ballroom on Friday, April 5th of this year. They'll be the perfect kick off Fort Dodge's Downtown Country Jam 2024!