Mega Music Talent

Lady Antebellum is relatively new to the music scene, but this country-inspired group is already making a huge mark in the mainstream music world. Formed in 2006, the group is comprised of guitarist and background vocalist Dave Haywood and co-lead vocalists Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott. Charles and Dave are longtime friends, and when they added new acquaintance Scott to the mix, magic happened. The daughter of well-known singer Linda Davis, Scott brought a musical lineage, in addition to a great network of established contacts, to the group.

The group released their first album in 2007. I Run to You debuted at #1 on the country albums chart, yielded several hit singles including the title track “I Run To You,” and eventually went platinum. The album earned the group a CMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year and “I Run to You” won the CMA Single of the Year award. The group was also nominated for several Grammy® awards, and “I Run To You” won for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

“Need You Now ” the title track from Lady Antebellum’s second album, is already a hit single. Radio listeners are now familiar with the tune, but it was a hit even before receiving radio airplay. “Need You Now” broke the Top 10 of the Billboard’s Hot 100 and went to #1 on the iTunes singles charts.

Several tours have allowed the trio of performers to develop an enduring bond with their fans. Their first was an arena tour opening for Martina McBride. Tours with Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban followed. All told, the group had over 200 performances in their first year. During their time on the road, the group not only created loyalty with their fans, they bonded with each other. This has helped them develop their performing and songwriting capabilities from their first to second albums. Says Haywood, “…the three of us are the closest we’ve ever been as friends. Out on the road, we’ve spent almost every single day together for the past three and a half years.”

Eight of the eleven tracks on the album Need You Now were co-written by the group members themselves. According to Haywood,”…by the time we were writing songs for this (second) record, I think we’d all learned how to interact with each other better.” We can write songs individually, but we definitely have something special when we do it together, and that’s gotten elevated.”

The group taps into their personal feelings when writing. Each member’s personal situations become fair game for inclusion in a song. Discussion of what is going on in their lives serves not only creative, but also therapeutic, purposes. “Songwriting,” Kelley asserts, “is almost kind of like our little group therapy.”

This presence in the all-genre charts is a huge accomplishment for this band with country-inspired roots. They have realized mainstream success with their combination of ballads and upbeat tempo songs and unique format of two lead vocalists. In addition to singing and songwriting, the group can also add co-producing to their credits, as Haywood served in this role on Need You Now.

The band is currently touring with Tim McGraw throughout the United States and Canada to promote their second album. The feel-good hit “Stars Tonight” and the introspective “Hello World” are bound to be part of the song lineup. Purchase your tickets now, as they are bound to sell out quickly!

Author Bio: Written by Heather Maxwell, article sponsored by Stub.com. Stub.com sells Lady Antebellum Tickets, Concert Tickets, and more to just about any event in your area.