Brittany Howard, Alabama Shakes, Honored By Billboard: Simon Cowell’s ‘X-Factor’ Once Dissed By Singer [Video]

Brittany Howard’s Alabama Shakes music video has now sprung the singer to even greater heights. Billboard is honoring Howard as part of Billboard‘s 2015 Women in Music “Powerhouse” artist, joining Lady Gaga and other famous female singers. The “Alabama Shakes” singer will be receiving her award on December 11, 2015 at Billboard’s annual Women in Music ceremony, which also names the year’s 50 most powerful female music industry executives.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, Lana Del Rey’s Billboard cover story held almost nothing back. Janet Jackson is also set to make Billboard history yet again.

The 27-year-old Brittany Howard started her career as a young girl in Athens, Alabama. Like many aspiring stars, she balanced her day job at a post office with attempts at hitting it big. Early on, she used to perform at restaurant and music venue The Brick Deli and Tavern, but then Alabama Shakes changed her life forever.

According to the Decatur Daily, Alabama Shakes‘ second album even debuted on the No. 1 spot on Billboard charts this past April and she even performed a salute to Eddie Murphy, who received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington on October 18, 2015.

“Brittany Howard is the true definition of a powerhouse, from her unique and crushing vocals, to her meteoric rise in the last four years,” said Janice Min, co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group, according to Billboard. “She led Alabama Shakes to a massive year that included their Coachella debut and is quite deserving of Billboard’s recognition.”

To give you an idea how quickly her star has risen, Brittany Howard once snubbed Simon Cowell’s X-Factor show. Headhunters apparently tried to get hold of Howard via email, but there was an obvious problem with their communication method: ironically, they probably should have used their voice.

“They heard of us through the internet and started sending me emails which kept going into my spam folder. One day, [the talent scout] called me to ask and I told her, ‘No, I’m not going to do that.’ She was like, ‘Are you sure about that?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I’m sure. I have something going on now that I believe in and want to stick to.’ She was shocked.”

At the time, Alabama Shakes’ record deal was still in the air, and Brittany was still working for the postal service, but even then she told Simon to take a hike.

“It’s not fair. You go out there, people gawk at you, they love you or hate you and it doesn’t mean anything to them but it means the world to you,” Howard explained at the time. “So it’s kind of a f****d-up show. I would never do it.”

Audiences may be starting to agree. The X-Factor ratings are sliding just a tad bit, although Simon Cowell is already planning on celebrating his 60th birthday with the X-Factor show.

“Would I like to be celebrating my 60th with ‘X Factor’ still on air? Yes I would,” says Simon, according to the Mirror. “I wouldn’t worry about the future of ‘X Factor’. We’re going to be fine. If we’re sitting here in ten years’ time we’ll have a very large celebration. Ten years on, to be getting ten million viewers in this day and age — it’s a miracle.”

What do you think about Brittany Howard’s Billboard award?

[Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]