Jimmie Allen Covers Toni Braxton Ahead of 2022 Grammy Awards

Check out this un-expected cover of "Un-Break My Heart."

Written by Chris Parton
Jimmie Allen Covers Toni Braxton Ahead of 2022 Grammy Awards
Jimmie Allen; Image Courtesy of Academy of Country Music

In a few days Jimmie Allen will represent country in the biggest vote of his career so far, nominated for the all-genre Best New Artist award at the 2022 Grammy Awards. He’s hoping to do his genre proud, but before that, the rising star is doing a little ’90s-pop dabbling.

Teaming up with Spotify for the streaming platform’s popular Spotify Singles series, Allen puts his own spin on Toni Braxton’s un-forgettable “Un-Break My Heart.” The lavish soul-pop ballad gets a dramatic piano-and-vocal strip down, with Allen’s powerful vocal on full display. Meanwhile, the country star also re-imagines his breakout hit “Best Shot” in similar style, and together, they help show why he was chosen as the only country artist in the coveted Best New Artist Grammy category. The 64th annual show will air April 3 from Las Vegas.

“It’s super cool when you’re recognized for doing something you love,” Allen says of the honor. “As for ‘Un-Break My Heart’ — I love the song; it’s one of my favorite songs ever. I’ve always wanted the opportunity to sing it, this is my chance, hopefully, Toni approves.”

Also on Spotify this week, Allen is featured on a new episode of the Mic Check podcast, where he talks further about scoring such a big nomination for his first-ever Grammy nod — plus a lot more.

“I didn’t think I was getting nominated for anything,” he says. “So when I found out I was getting nominated, it threw me off. I was shocked. And then when they told me it was all-genre, I was like, ‘Wait, what?’ And I’m the only country artist in that category. Man, I was like, ‘Wow,’ you know, because I feel like in order to get that nomination, I had to have some votes outside of Country. There’s a lot of country artists that could have fit into that, so many people could have been in that category — but I got in there, so, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around it.”

Allen is just coming off a co-hosting gig at the 57th annual ACM Awards, and his current single is the touching “Down Home” — a track dedicated to the memory of his late father.