James Otto says if he hears his name called tonight as co-winner of CMA Song of the Year for the Jamey Johnson hit 'In Color,' (written with Jamey and Lee Thomas Miller) it will mean more to him than just about anything he's done.

"As a songwriter, I've written probably 1,000 songs in Nashville, literally, and you don't ever get a song like that. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," James tells The Boot. "Honestly it means more to me than the success of 'Just Got Started Lovin' You' or any of the other songs I've written."

James says plenty of other artists knew how special 'In Color' was too -- Alan Jackson put it on hold, and Trace Adkins actually recorded it but then landed 'Celebrity Apprentice,' which postponed the release of his album.


As for an acceptance speech, James says he'll defer to his buddy/co-writer Jamey on the podium, which should make for an interesting moment, no doubt. "We won Song of the Year at the ACMs, and now it's up again, so it sure would be cool to win. I would have to give the speech to Jamey, although he's a man of few words...you never know what he'll say!"

Find out if Jamey gets his chance to say something -- and if James is a winner all over again -- when the CMA Awards air live tonight at 8:00 PM ET on ABC!