UNA Alumni Dillon Hodges Wins Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Original Song
Jan. 07, 2025
Ella G. Stephenson
University of North Alabama alumni Dillon Hodges and his wife Heidi Feek have taken their creative partnership to new heights, winning the 2024 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song with their piece “We’re Home,” featured on PBS’ popular show Reconnecting Roots. This award recognizes their work on the theme song, which was reimagined for the latest season with what Hodges described as a “fresh coat of paint.”
Reflecting on their unexpected win, Hodges shared the surprising moment when he found out.
“I didn’t believe we were going to win, and a ticket to the show in Los Angeles was expensive. Then I received a phone call from a friend saying, ‘Oh, you guys actually won.’ It was a surreal moment.”
Feek also expressed her excitement over the pair’s Emmy win, adding, “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 husband-wife duo has been a driving force behind Reconnecting Roots for four years, lending their talent to revitalize classic songs, often from the public domain, for modern audiences. Their collaboration has helped elevate the show’s innovative 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. Recalling his experience, Hodges mentioned a pivotal moment in his musical 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 explained. 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 Label. There, he produced and arranged a full-length album for Archie Hubbard, an opportunity he considers a defining moment. “That level of creative control and experience is rare, especially for a college student,” he said.
Hodges and Feek’s partnership blossomed in 2014, when they first met at a songwriting appointment in Nashville. Their chemistry as collaborators grew over two years, leading to a romantic relationship and creative synergy that continues to flourish. They later began working full-time on Reconnecting Roots. Their collaboration on the show grew from a shared vision, and they became integral members of the creative team.
With Season 4 of Reconnecting Roots airing its final episodes and Season 5 underway, the couple is already focused on new creative endeavors. Feek is working on a record of cowboy standards, which Hodges is producing. He also continues to work on his solo album featuring instrumental tracks.
For UNA, the success of alumni like Dillon Hodges serves as a testament to the impact of its programs and the opportunities it provides to nurture talent.
About The University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.