In the past decade, the Carroll County 4-H & FFA Fair has routinely hosted musicians following an initial bout of success, only to watch them bloom into superstardom following their Carroll County concert. Country singer Michael Ray looks to be the latest to do just that.
Fair organizers announced Ray will perform as the headliner for their Saturday night, Aug. 8, concert capping the week of activities. Ray is a country artist, whose single "Kiss You in the Morning" was released in February of this year, and has broken through the top 100 U.S. charts. Ray was the winner of the 2012 singing competition "The Next: Fame Is At Your Doorstep."
"We've just been very, very fortunate to find groups who are on their way up," said Crystal Dell, fair organizer. "We make the joke that once they come to Carroll County, they've made it."
She said fair officials enlist the opinions of the younger 4-H members who are more tuned in to the music scene than many of the adults.
"We pick younger kids in the 4-H and have them go through the program and come up with names. They're more up-to-date and into that stuff," Dell said. "We're just looking for somebody who is good family entertainment. Kids really enjoy it, and the fair is really all about the kids. We want to make it as much fun as we can for them."
Tickets for the concert should go on sale in the next couple of weeks, while tickets for the rest of the fair's events are available now at http://www.carrollcountyfair.com, according to Dell.
Here's a list of the past nine years of Carroll County 4-H & FFA Fair headliners, and their successes.
Jamey Johnson, 2006: Johnson's debut album "The Dollar" was released just several months before the 4-H Fair. The album did well, reaching number 87 on the U.S. charts, based on the strength of his single, also titled "The Dollar." Following his performance in Carroll County, Johnson's follow-up, "That Lonesome Song" reached platinum status, and his 2010 album "That Guitar Song" charted at number 4.
Jason Michael Carroll, 2007: Carroll is one of the rare performers from the last decade whose career peaked before coming to the Carroll County fair. His single "Living Out Love Song" was certified Gold in June 2007, just a few months before his performance. Following the concert, each subsequent album sold less than its predecessor, with "Growing Up Is Getting Old," coming in at 28 and "Numbers" coming in at 138.
Lady Antebellum, 2008: One of the most popular bands to take the stage at the fairgrounds, Lady Antebellum performed just prior to winning Top New Duo or Group from the Academy of Country Music, and about six months out from being nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy Award. Following their performance, their next three albums each reached the number 1 spot on the U.S. charts.
Eli Young Band, 2009: By the time the Eli Young Band performed at the 4-H Fair, they had released three albums, with the first two failing to chart. Afterward, their album "Life at Best" reached number 6 on the charts, and, like their predecessors, they were nominated for Top New Vocal Duo or Group by the Academy of Country Music Awards.
The Band Perry, 2010: The Band Perry released their debut album in October 2010, just months after the 4-H Fair. Prior to the fair, their single "If I Die Young" debuted at 92. The song rose in the charts, eventually becoming a quadruple platinum seller by the end of the year. The Band Perry's next four singles reached top 10 in the charts.
Brantley Gilbert, 2011: Gilbert's 2009 album, "Modern Day Prodigal Son" reached 38 in the charts. The next year, "Halfway to Heaven," made it all the way up to number 4. In 2011, he charted two number 1 country hits, "Country Must Be Country Wide" and "You Don't Know Her Like I Do." "Country Must Be Country Wide" was knocked out of the top spot by fellow Carroll 4-H Fair alumni Lady Antebellum with their song "We Owned The Night."
Kip Moore, 2012: Moore's debut album, "Up All Night" was released in April, and eventually became the best-selling debut album by a solo male artist in 2012. His second album is due in August.
Parmalee, 2013: Parmalee's first three albums — released in 2002, 2004 and 2008 — each failed to chart. Following their Carroll County performance, their December 2013 album reached number 10 on the country charts, and the eponymous single "Feels Like Carolina" became a number 1 country airplay song.
Sam Hunt, 2014: Hunt performed at the 4-H Fair with only a single, "Raised On It," under his belt. His debut album, dropping in October, ended up reaching number 3 on the charts and certifying Gold. By the end of the year, he had two 2014 songs reach the number 1 spot on the hot country charts.
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