FLORENCE — University of North Alabama alumnus Dillon Hodges; his wife, Heidi Feek; and singer Mandy McCauley recently won the 2024 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song for their piece “We’re Home,” featured on PBS’ popular show “Reconnecting Roots.”
The award recognizes the work the three did on the theme song, reimagined for the latest season with what Hodges described as a “fresh coat of paint.”
“I didn’t believe we were going to win, and a ticket to the show in Los Angeles was expensive,” said Hodges, who also performs as firekid with Feek. “Then I received a phone call from a friend saying, ‘Oh, you guys actually won.’ It was a surreal moment.
“I really wasn’t expecting it. Not only to win an Emmy, but to win with people we care about. It was amazing to be able to celebrate each other. That was probably the coolest part.”
The duo has lent their talent to “Reconnecting Roots” for four years, revitalizing classic songs, often from the public domain, for modern audiences. Their collaboration has helped elevate the show’s sound and connect with viewers across generations.
Hodges’ journey began at UNA, where he discovered his passion for songwriting and production while auditing a course as a high school freshman. Hodges mentioned a pivotal moment in his career when he took a songwriting class taught by Bob Garfrerick, the former chair of the Department of Entertainment Industry who retired in 2023.
“I was playing guitar and mostly had goals of being a guitarist. I had written a little bit but considered it a hobby more than anything else. I took that class and realized I wanted to write and produce,” Hodges said.
Shortly after, Hodges won the national guitar championship at age 17, a major achievement that left him wondering, “What’s next?” It was the songwriting class at UNA that helped him find a new direction.
Hodges attended UNA on a full-tuition scholarship, double majoring in entertainment industry management and accounting, where he also gained hands-on experience at the Singing River record Llabel.
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