One of Nashville's most promising new Country acts is Lady Antebellum.  During the past year, the trio has had a Number One album, a Top 5 single, and also won its first major industry award.  VOA's Mary Morningstar has this report on Lady Antebellum's self-titled debut album.

Love Don't Live Here was the first single from Lady Antebellum's debut album.  The song climbed into the Country chart's Top 5 and led to their CD's Number One debut on the Country Albums list.

Lady Antebellum won the Top New Group honor from the Academy of Country Music just one month after its album was released.

The three members of Lady Antebellum are Charles Kelley, who's the brother of pop-rock singer Josh Kelley; Hillary Scott, the daughter of award-winning Country singer Linda Davis; and Dave Haywood, who studied finance at the University of Georgia before deciding on a career in music.

One of the group's favorite tracks from its album is Things People Say.  But, the day Dave co-wrote the song he was nearly carjacked.  He left a restaurant to get the CD from his car when four men jumped him, punched him in the face, and tried to steal his keys.  

Dave says, "Luckily I got away and the CD was still in my left hand, no scratches."

Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum brings together diverse musical influences from rock, pop, Country and rhythm & blues.  Charles Kelley was inspired by the music of Joe Cocker and Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Hillary Scott lists Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire and Bonnie Raitt among her favorite singers.  And, Dave Haywood grew up listening to 1970s groups like the Eagles and the Allman Brothers Band.

Lady Antebellum is currently opening concerts on Martina McBride's "Waking Up Laughing" tour.  On September 10, they were in Nashville to help announce the nominees for the 2008 Country Music Association Awards.  In early October, the trio will launch "CMT On Tour 2008" with headliner Jason Aldean.