During a year that has included inking a record deal and debuting on the Grand Ole Opry, Jimmie Allen continued on his journey to stardom with national TV debut on NBC's Today on Tuesday (Oct. 9). Allen performed his current single, "Best Shot."

“It took about ten years to get my first record deal,” Allen tells Today hosts Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb and guest host John Cena before his performance. “You figure all that hard work I put in before, now it’s kind of paying off and it feels great.”

Jimmie Allen's Live RISERS Performance Is Irresistible

The performance occurred on the same week Allen is set to release his debut album, Mercury Lane. In recent weeks, the rising country star has shared a handful of songs from the album, including "Make Me Want To" and "County Lines."

Earlier this year, Allen sat down with Taste of Country before a show in Chicago to talk about the crazy ride he's been on lately.

"This past year has been exhausting but its been totally worth it," he admits. "You work so hard for so long to get to this point, and each time I feel like my body is tired and I’m done, I realize why I am doing it. I’ve sacrificed a lot to get to this point."

Following a busy release week, Allen will be heading overseas with Chase Rice for Rice's Lambs & Lions U.K. Tour. He'll hit the road with Scotty McCreery on McCreery's Seasons Change Tour starting in November.

See Country Music's Sexiest Men of 2018!

More From 99.9 KEKB - Grand Junction's Favorite Country