Despite the success of his hit single "You Should Be Here," Cole Swindell didn't get any love from the CMA Awards for the song. The tune, co-written by Swindell about the passing of his father in 2013, reached No. 1 on the charts, and scores of fans related to its message, so Swindell admits that he's a bit surprised the track didn't receive a Song of the Year or Single of the Year nod.

"I don't know. It was a little shocking at first," the singer tells OneCountry. "That's not what I was really dwelling on. I didn't know what to expect. There are so many great songs out there. I knew it could've gone either way. I would have liked to have seen it, just because I hope to have other hits but I'll never have another song like that."

Still, Swindell is quick to add that, at the end of the day, the song isn't about getting a trophy -- it's about his father and how the track's message resonates with listeners, fans, family and friends.

"That was a moment for me," he adds. "I could either get upset about it or I could say, 'Why did you write this song?' And it wasn't to get nominated or win an award, it was to help other people. I think I've had every stat thing, and I know that song has served its purpose. I know how important it is to me and those people I get to see every night."

Swindell is nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 2016 CMA Awards, and that's an honor he's not taking lightly.

"Any time you get nominated for anything in the industry, that's huge," he says. "To have the new artist thing, we'll see. I'm just glad I still make the qualifications with that. We'll see what happens with that."

The 2016 CMA Awards wil air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 2 at 8PM ET on ABC.

More Surprises and Snubs Among the 2016 CMA Awards Nominees

Test Your CMA Awards Knowledge!

More From B105