ACM Electric Guitarist of the Year Rob McNelley Talks the Mic on New Song 'Right Back to You'

As Nashville A-lister Rob McNelley releases a tasty power-pop track, “Right Back to You,” on June 28, the karma-themed song represents a full-circle moment that provides a clue to his ascent in Music City.

McNally moved to Tennessee from Columbia, Ohio in 1995 to pursue life as a writer-artist, and the recording captures a raw, angry voice that few people know – because he never achieved his original goal. Instead, he became a high-profile guitarist whose work is probably heard several times an hour on most commercial radio stations in the country. McNelley has appeared on singles by Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, Jon Pardi and Parker McCollum, and was named Electric Guitarist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music on June 17. He will receive his trophy, his fourth ACM Guitar Award, during the ACM Honors on August 21 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

“Right Back to You” is the first in a series of new releases planned for 2024 as a frontman, and is a return to the artistic outlook that guided his rise as a studio player. Music listeners tend to absorb the song and recall it through the singer's voice — after all, people don't often sing keyboard parts in the shower. So McNelley's role as a singer helped him know how to approach the role of lead guitarist.

“That taught me a little bit about how you have to be casual while they're singing,” he says. “That [melody] it has to be the most important thing people are hearing at that moment. There are many other players I know who have never sung a song in their life who know how to do this. But I don't know how their process would be. I feel like that's been a huge benefit for me coming up to being in bands, writing songs, trying to get other musicians to do what I had in mind.”

McNelley is so in tune with this concept that producer Dann Huff (Brantley Gilbert, Keith Urban) recently challenged him to break the rules a bit and play with the singer on a song that needed some tension and some sonic warfare. McNelley has strong rock credentials — he played for about seven years in the last decade in Bob Seger's touring band — so he was able to give Huff exactly what he wanted.

“He's got a punk side to him, which is amazing, which he's never lost,” Huff says.

It fits his story. McNelley was born the son of Bob McNelley, the frontman of country-rock band McGuffey Lane, which earned four titles Advertising sign1980s Hot Country Songs chart during a run with two Atlantic-related imprints. The band partied hard and many musicians hung out at McNelley's house, teaching him guitar almost by osmosis.

“I didn't take classes,” says McNelley. “I was around all these musicians who would show me things — show me a chord here or there, or show me a little lick or a riff or whatever. I would run to my bedroom and do nothing but that for hours.”

His father died of an apparent suicide when McNelley was 17, but he left his son with a keen appreciation for music, particularly musicians whose expression was quite impossible—McNelley cites George Harrison, Muddy Waters, Keith Richards and Chuck Berry as key influences.

Once he moved to Nashville in his late 20s, McNelley hit the road with a parade of bands and worked on his writing and vocal skills. But his guitar work set him apart among the music community's decision-makers. His breakthrough came when he was hired for Lady A's early albums by producer Paul Worley, who had come up through the ranks as a studio guitarist – and, coincidentally, produced some of McGuffey Lane's records in the 80s. Worley introduced McNelley's melodic tendencies and encouraged him to play concisely.

“He was great at shooting down ideas that I would come up with that would be too much, you know, as a younger, inexperienced person,” says McNelley. “He was very good at saying, 'Well, it's great that you can do all that, but this little part of the idea is the essence of what you're doing,' and he made me think more simply. tones that run through a track, simpler ideas that really resonate.”

He racked up credits with Brett Young, Carrie Underwood, Carly Pearce, Corey Kent, Thomas Rhett, Tyler Hubbard and Rascal Flatts, to name just a few. Because of his background as a singer, McNelley understood the artists' point of view and gained their trust as he expanded his resume.

“He always shows up ready to rock, ready to do what every song needs,” says Brian Kelley. “He's got a great feel, a great ear, a great country music history, a knowledge of what sounds can work and how to place a solo to make it sound full.”

McNelley's current ACM win is his first for Electric Guitarist of the Year. His three previous wins — in 2013, 2017 and 2019 — came when the organization pitted acoustic and electric musicians in the same category. ACM split this field in 2021.

Despite this change, this year's victory was similar to the previous three. After the initial nomination, he forgot about it until people he hadn't heard from in months bombarded him with text messages during a session. What sets this year's honor apart the most is that the sideman's recognition comes as McNelley begins releasing new music as a featured artist. This project allows him to get back in touch with his original motivations, although he does not regret the path he has taken.

“When I started getting gigs that got me on tour, I probably realized what people recognize and what jumps out is my guitar playing,” he says. “I love doing it just as much. I like being around.”