Lonestar (formerly known as Texassee) is an American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
group from
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
. The group consists of Drew Womack (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Michael Britt (lead guitar, background vocals), Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), and Keech Rainwater (drums). Britt, Sams, and Rainwater co-founded the band in 1992 with original lead vocalist
Richie McDonald
Richard Vance McDonald (born February 6, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter. From 1998 until his departure in 2007, he was the lead singer of the group Lonestar, which recorded seven studio albums on BNA Records during his t ...
and bass guitarist/vocalist
John Rich
John Rich (born January 7, 1974) is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After d ...
. Rich exited the band in 1998 and went on to join
Big Kenny
William Kenneth Alphin (born November 1, 1963), best known by his stage name Big Kenny, is an American country music singer. He and John Rich comprise the duo Big & Rich, who recorded four studio albums and charted fifteen singles on the '' Bill ...
as one-half of the duo
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo ...
. Since his departure, Lonestar has relied alternatingly on session and touring musicians for bass guitar accompaniment. McDonald exited the band in 2007 to record as a solo artist, and was replaced by former
McAlyster
McAlyster was an American country music group founded in Pensacola, Florida. Its members comprised Cody Collins, Josh Walther, Leigh Usilton and Valerie Gills. They were signed to MCA Nashville Records in 2000. Their debut single, "I Know How the R ...
vocalist Cody Collins before returning in 2011. After leaving the band a second time in 2021, McDonald was replaced by Womack, previously the lead vocalist of
Sons of the Desert
A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative.
Social issues
In pre-industrial societies and some current c ...
.
Lonestar has charted more than 20 singles on the
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States.
This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...
chart, including 9 that reached No. 1: "
No News
"No News" is a song recorded by American country music band Lonestar. It was released in January 1996 as the second single from their debut album, '' Lonestar''. "No News" reached the top of the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart i ...
", "
Come Cryin' to Me
"Come Cryin' to Me" is a song recorded by American country music group Lonestar and it was released in April 1997 as the first single from their second studio album ''Crazy Nights''. The song reached the top of the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles ...
", "
Amazed
"Amazed" is a song by American country music group Lonestar, released on March 22, 1999, for country radio as the second single from their third studio album ''Lonely Grill'' (1999). The power ballad is the band's longest-lasting number one sing ...
", "
Smile
A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile.
Among humans, a smile expresses ...
", "
What About Now", "
Tell Her", "
I'm Already There
''I'm Already There'' is the fifth studio album released by American country music band Lonestar. Released in 2001 on BNA Records (see 2001 in country music), the album was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.
Serving ...
", "
My Front Porch Looking In
"My Front Porch Looking In" is a song written by Richie McDonald, Frank J. Myers and Don Pfrimmer, and recorded by American country music group Lonestar. It was released in March 2003 as the first single from the band's compilation album '' From Th ...
", and "
Mr. Mom
''Mr. Mom'' is a 1983 American comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti and produced by Lynn Loring, Lauren Shuler, and Aaron Spelling. It stars Michael Keaton (in his first lead role), Teri Garr, Martin Mull, Ann Jillian, and Christopher Lloyd. It ...
". "Amazed" also charted at No. 1 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming the first country song to do so since "
Islands in the Stream" in 1983. "Amazed" and "My Front Porch Looking In" were the top country songs of 1999 and 2003, respectively, on
''Billboard'' Year-End. The group has recorded seven albums, one EP, and a greatest hits package for the defunct
BNA Records
BNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, was a label group that shared ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company Sony Music Nashville, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, T ...
, and one album each for three different independent labels. Three of their albums have been certified platinum or higher by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA). The band's first two albums were defined by
honky-tonk
A honky-tonk (also called honkatonk, honkey-tonk, or tonk) is both a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons and the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano (tack piano) ...
and
neotraditionalist country
Neotraditional country (also known as new traditional country and hardcore country) is a country music style that emphasizes the instrumental background and a traditional country vocal style. Neo-traditional country artists often dress in the fash ...
influences, but subsequent albums largely drew from
country pop
Country pop (also known as pop country or urban cowboy) is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. Country pop music blends genres ...
. Along with his work with the band, McDonald has co-written singles for
Clay Walker
Ernest Clayton Walker Jr. (born August 19, 1969) is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single " What's It to You", which reached Number One on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Son ...
,
The Wilkinsons
The Wilkinsons were a Canadian country music trio from Belleville, Ontario. Founded in 1997, the group consisted of lead singer Amanda Wilkinson, her brother Tyler Wilkinson, and their father, Steve Wilkinson. The Wilkinsons achieved success late ...
,
Billy Dean
William Harold Dean Jr. (born April 2, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter.
He first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition ''Star Search''. Active as a recording artist since 1990, h ...
, and
Sara Evans
Sara Lynn Evans (; born February 5, 1971) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is also credited as a record producer, actress, and author. She had five songs reach the number one spot on the '' Billboard'' country songs ch ...
, in addition to singing guest vocals on
Mindy McCready
Malinda Gayle McCready (November 30, 1975 – February 17, 2013) was an American country music singer. Active from 1995 until her death in 2013, she recorded a total of five studio albums. Her debut album, 1996's '' Ten Thousand Angels'', w ...
's 1996 single "
Maybe He'll Notice Her Now
"Maybe He'll Notice Her Now" is a song written by Tim Johnson and recorded by American country music artist Mindy McCready featuring Richie McDonald. It was released in October 1996 as the third single from McCready's double-platinum selling album ...
".
Foundation
Lonestar began in 1992 as a band named Texassee. This
portmanteau
A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words[Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...](_blank)
, and met in
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
's
Opryland USA
Opryland USA (later called Opryland Themepark and colloquially "Opryland") was a theme park in suburban Nashville, Tennessee. It operated seasonally (generally March to October) from 1972 to 1997, and for a special Christmas-themed engagement eve ...
theme park.
The original lineup consisted of lead singer/rhythm guitarist
Richie McDonald
Richard Vance McDonald (born February 6, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter. From 1998 until his departure in 2007, he was the lead singer of the group Lonestar, which recorded seven studio albums on BNA Records during his t ...
(
Lubbock
Lubbock ( )
is the 10th-most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of government of Lubbock County. With a population of 260,993 in 2021, the city is also the 85th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the northwe ...
), lead guitarist Michael Britt (
Fort Worth
Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. According ...
), drummer Randy "Keech" Rainwater (
Plano), keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Dean Sams (
Garland
A garland is a decorative braid, knot or wreath of flowers, leaves, or other material. Garlands can be worn on the head or around the neck, hung on an inanimate object, or laid in a place of cultural or religious importance.
Etymology
From the ...
), and bass guitarist/lead and background vocalist
John Rich
John Rich (born January 7, 1974) is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After d ...
(
Amarillo
Amarillo ( ; Spanish language, Spanish for "yellow") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat, seat of Potter County, Texas, Potter County. It is the List of cities in Texas by population, 14th-most populous city in Texas and th ...
).
Before Lonestar's foundation, Rainwater and Britt were members of the group
Canyon
A canyon (from ; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), or gorge, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosion, erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tenden ...
,
which recorded two albums for the independent
16th Avenue Records
16th Avenue Records was an independent record label specializing in country music. The first 16th Avenue label was founded in Toronto in May 1981 by Apple Productions Corporation principals Stan Campbell and Veronica Mataseje. In May 1984, 16th A ...
and charted in the country top 40 with "Hot Nights" in 1989. Soon after foundation, Texassee changed its name to Lonestar. The band first played at a concert in Nashville in 1993 and signed to
BNA Records
BNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, was a label group that shared ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company Sony Music Nashville, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, T ...
in January 1995.
Musical career
199596: ''Lonestar Live'' and ''Lonestar''
Lonestar's first release for BNA was an
extended play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. titled ''Lonestar Live'', recorded at the
Wildhorse Saloon
The Wildhorse Saloon is a country/western-themed restaurant, live music venue, and Nightclub, dance club located in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. It is managed by Marriott and owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (formerly known as Gaylord En ...
in Nashville and issued in January 1995.
Their debut single, "
Tequila Talkin'
"Tequila Talkin'" is the debut single by American country music band Lonestar, released in August 1995 from their self-titled debut album. The song was written by Bill LaBounty and Chris Waters. It peaked at number 8 in the United States and at nu ...
", was released that August, peaking at No. 8 on the ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States.
This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...
) chart. It was included on their
self-titled
An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''.
Usage of the word
The term ''epon ...
debut album,
which was released that October. Its
producers
Producer or producers may refer to:
Occupations
*Producer (agriculture), a farm operator
*A stakeholder of economic production
*Film producer, supervises the making of films
**Executive producer, contributes to a film's budget and usually does not ...
were
Don Cook
Don Kirby Cook (born May 25, 1949) is an American record producer and songwriter whose work is mainly in the field of country music. Artists who recorded Cook's material include Barbara Mandrell, John Conlee, Mark Collie, Wade Hayes and Brooks & ...
(best known for his work with
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn are an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, both of whom are vocalists and songwriters. The duo was founded in 1990 through the suggestion of Tim DuBois. Before their formation, both members were solo ...
) and songwriter
Wally Wilson, with whom Rich wrote the track "I Love the Way You Do That". Other contributing songwriters included former solo artists
Bill LaBounty
Bill LaBounty is an American musician. He was initially a singer-songwriter in the soft rock genre. As a solo artist, LaBounty recorded six studio albums, including four on Curb/Warner Bros. Records. His first charting single, " This Night Won't ...
,
Rick Vincent, and
Larry Boone
Larry Eugene Boone (born June 7, 1956) is an American country music artist and songwriter. Between 1985 and 1993, Boone recorded five major label studio albums, in addition to charting several singles on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Singles c ...
.
The next single, "
No News
"No News" is a song recorded by American country music band Lonestar. It was released in January 1996 as the second single from their debut album, '' Lonestar''. "No News" reached the top of the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart i ...
", became the band's first No. 1, holding that position for three weeks in April 1996. A physical single release of "Tequila Talkin'" and "No News" as a
double A-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...
also went to No. 22 on
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...
. After these two songs, "
Runnin' Away with My Heart
"Runnin' Away with My Heart" is a song recorded by American country music band Lonestar. It was released in May 1996 as the third single and fourth track from their self-titled debut album. It peaked at No. 8 on the country charts in the United ...
" also went to No. 8 on the country charts. It was followed by "When Cowboys Didn't Dance" (co-written by McDonald), which failed to reach the top 40, and "
Heartbroke Every Day
"Heartbroke Every Day" is a song written by Rick Vincent, Bill LaBounty and Cam King. It first appeared on the 1994 self-titled album of the band Pearl River.
It was later recorded by American country music band Lonestar. Lonestar's version was r ...
", the only single to feature Rich on lead vocals, at No. 18. Both of these songs had previously appeared on the ''Lonestar Live'' EP. Their chart runs both overlapped with then-labelmate
Mindy McCready
Malinda Gayle McCready (November 30, 1975 – February 17, 2013) was an American country music singer. Active from 1995 until her death in 2013, she recorded a total of five studio albums. Her debut album, 1996's '' Ten Thousand Angels'', w ...
's "
Maybe He'll Notice Her Now
"Maybe He'll Notice Her Now" is a song written by Tim Johnson and recorded by American country music artist Mindy McCready featuring Richie McDonald. It was released in October 1996 as the third single from McCready's double-platinum selling album ...
" (from her debut album ''
Ten Thousand Angels
''Ten Thousand Angels'' is the debut studio album of American country music singer Mindy McCready. It was released on BNA Records in 1996 and sold two million copies being certified double platinum by the RIAA. The album peaked at #5 on the US cou ...
''), which featured McDonald as a backing vocalist and peaked at No. 18 as well.
''Lonestar'' was met with generally favorable reviews.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
of
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
and Brian Wahlert of ''
Country Standard Time
''Country Standard Time'' is a website dedicated to country music and related genres including Americana, bluegrass and rockabilly. It provides news and musical reviews pertaining to the genre. It was established in 1993 by Jeffrey B. Remz as a p ...
'' both praised the band for having
neotraditionalist country
Neotraditional country (also known as new traditional country and hardcore country) is a country music style that emphasizes the instrumental background and a traditional country vocal style. Neo-traditional country artists often dress in the fash ...
influences in their sound,
with Wahlert also stating that the use of both Rich and McDonald on lead vocals gave the album "versatility".
Rick Mitchell of ''New Country'' magazine was less positive, calling the band's sound "
lite rock
Soft rock is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in Southern California and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, melodic songs with big, lush productions. S ...
with a twang".
In 1996, Lonestar won the
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris Christensen. They wanted to promote country music ...
award for Top New Vocal Group/Duet.
199798: ''Crazy Nights'' and departure of John Rich
![JohnRichApr10](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/JohnRichApr10.jpg)
Lonestar's sixth chart single was "
Come Cryin' to Me
"Come Cryin' to Me" is a song recorded by American country music group Lonestar and it was released in April 1997 as the first single from their second studio album ''Crazy Nights''. The song reached the top of the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles ...
", which Rich and Wilson co-wrote with "No News" co-writer
Mark D. Sanders
Mark Daniel Sanders (born September 7, 1950) is an American country music songwriter. He has written 15 No. 1 hits, 50 singles, and over 200 cuts, including the famous Lee Ann Womack single "I Hope You Dance", co-written with Tia Sillers.
Earl ...
. The song became the band's second No. 1 single in August 1997, two months after the release of its corresponding album, ''
Crazy Nights
''Crazy Nights'' is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Kiss, recorded from March to June 1987 and released on September 21, 1987, by Mercury worldwide and Vertigo in the UK. This was the second album to feature the line-up of Ge ...
''. As with ''Lonestar'', it was produced by Wilson and Cook. The next single, "
You Walked In
"You Walked In" is a song recorded by American country music group Lonestar. It was written by Canadian pop-rock star Bryan Adams and producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The song was released in August 1997 as second single from Lonestar's second a ...
", was co-written by
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
producer and songwriter
Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Robert John "Mutt" Lange (born 11 November 1948) is a South African record producer and songwriter, mainly known for his work in rock music as well as his previous marriage to Canadian singer Shania Twain, for whom he wrote and produced several ...
. It peaked at number 12 on the country charts and became the band's first entry on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number 93. "
Say When" and "
Everything's Changed
"Everything's Changed" is a song written by Richie McDonald, Larry Boone and Paul Nelson, and recorded by American country music band Lonestar. It was released in June 1998 as the fourth and final single from their 1997 album ''Crazy Nights''. Thei ...
" followed it, with respective peaks at thirteen and two on the country music charts in 1998. The latter also went to number 95 on the Hot 100. Boone and Paul Nelson co-wrote both of these songs, collaborating with Rich on the former and McDonald on the latter. Also included on the album was a cover of
Pure Prairie League
Pure Prairie League is an American country rock band whose origins go back to 1965 and Waverly, Ohio, with singer and guitarist Craig Fuller, drummer Tom McGrail, guitarist and drummer Jim Caughlan and steel guitarist John David Call. Fuller st ...
's "
Amie
Amie may refer to:
*Amie, an alternate spelling of the female personal name Amy
*AMIE, the Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers, a professional certification given by India's Institution of Engineers
*Amie (song), "Amie" (song), song f ...
".
Thom Owens gave the album a mixed review, saying that "Come Cryin' to Me" and the "Amie" cover were "solid", but criticizing the rest as "slick and bland".
Shortly after the release of "Everything's Changed", Rich left the band, as they and their advisors felt that having two lead singers would be confusing to fans.
Late in 1998,
Keith Harling
Keith Harling (born May 8, 1963) is an American former country music artist. He made his debut in 1998 with the album ''Write It in Stone'', issued on the MCA Nashville label. It produced four singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & ...
charted with "
Coming Back for You", a song which Rich co-wrote with Wilson. Rich later charted two solo singles for BNA between 2000 and 2001, and recorded an album for the label titled ''
Underneath the Same Moon
''Underneath the Same Moon'' is the second solo studio album recorded by John Rich. The album was recorded in 1999, after Rich departed from the country group Lonestar and before he joined Big Kenny in the duo Big & Rich. However, like Big Kenny' ...
'', although it was not released at the time. In 2003, Rich began recording with
Big Kenny
William Kenneth Alphin (born November 1, 1963), best known by his stage name Big Kenny, is an American country music singer. He and John Rich comprise the duo Big & Rich, who recorded four studio albums and charted fifteen singles on the '' Bill ...
as the duo
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich, both of whom are songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before the duo's foundation, Rich was bass guitarist in the country band Lonestar, while Kenny was a solo ...
, in addition to serving as a songwriter and producer for other country artists.
19992002: ''Lonely Grill'', ''This Christmas Time'', and ''I'm Already There''
After Rich departed from the band, the other four members began performing "unplugged" shows which included acoustic renditions of their songs. The band members also expressed a desire to "reinvent" their sound. They chose
Dann Huff
Dann Lee Huff (born November 15, 1960) is an American record producer and songwriter. For his work as a producer in the country music genre, he has won several awards, including the ''Musician of the Year'' award in 2001, 2004, and 2016 at the Co ...
as their new producer, and added three members to their touring band: Robbie Cheuvront (bass guitar), Kurt Baumer (fiddle), and Jeremy Moyers (steel guitar).
''
Lonely Grill
''Lonely Grill'' is the third studio album by American country music group Lonestar, released in the United States on June 1, 1999 by BNA Records. It reached number 28 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, and number three on the Top Country Albums char ...
'' was released in 1999. Huff produced all of the album, except for an acoustic version of "Everything's Changed", which Sam Ramage and Bob Wright produced. In Rich's absence, Cheuvront and session musician
Mike Brignardello
Giant is an American melodic rock band that was formed in 1987. The band originally consisted of founding members Dann Huff (lead vocals and guitar) and Alan Pasqua (keyboard), and had Dann's brother David Huff on drums and Mike Brignardello on ...
(with whom Huff previously recorded in the rock band
Giant
In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: '' gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 fr ...
) alternated as bassists on the album.
Although lead-off single "Saturday Night" failed to make the Top 40, its followup "
Amazed
"Amazed" is a song by American country music group Lonestar, released on March 22, 1999, for country radio as the second single from their third studio album ''Lonely Grill'' (1999). The power ballad is the band's longest-lasting number one sing ...
" spent eight weeks at number 1 on the country charts. It would later reach number 1 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 as well,
becoming the first song to top both the Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts since
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted mo ...
and
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...
's "
Islands in the Stream" in 1983.
[Billboard's Hottest Hot 100 Hits](_blank)
/ref> The song also peaked at number 2 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stat ...
chart. In addition, "Amazed" was the number-one song on the 1999 ''Billboard'' Year-End chart for the country music format.
All of the other singles from ''Lonely Grill'' ("Smile
A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile.
Among humans, a smile expresses ...
", " What About Now", and " Tell Her") reached the top of the country charts as well, and the album was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
. Erlewine found the album an improvement over ''Crazy Nights'' due to its combination of pop and country influences. "Smile" also achieved its number 1 peak on Hot Country Songs the same week that "Amazed" topped the Hot 100, making for the first time in ''Billboard'' chart history that an act had held the number one position on two different charts with two different songs. "Amazed" was also released as a single in England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
following its success in the States. Also in this album's timespan, McDonald co-wrote Clay Walker
Ernest Clayton Walker Jr. (born August 19, 1969) is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single " What's It to You", which reached Number One on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Son ...
's "She's Always Right
"She's Always Right" is a song written by Richie McDonald, Phil Barnhart and Ed Hill, and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in January 1999 as the first single from his album '' Live, Laugh, Love''. It peaked at ...
" and The Wilkinsons
The Wilkinsons were a Canadian country music trio from Belleville, Ontario. Founded in 1997, the group consisted of lead singer Amanda Wilkinson, her brother Tyler Wilkinson, and their father, Steve Wilkinson. The Wilkinsons achieved success late ...
' "Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend
"Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend" is a song recorded by Canadian country music group The Wilkinsons. It was released in January 2000 as the lead single from their album '' Here and Now''. The song reached number 11 on the Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks ...
", which were respectively released in 1999 and 2000. He worked with "No News" co-writer Phil Barnhart and Ed Hill
Edward Monroe Hill (born in Hanford, California) is an American country music songwriter. Hill has been active since the early 1970s. Hill plays piano and keyboard and has backed Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson. on the former, and "What About Now" co-writers Ron Harbin and Anthony L. Smith on the latter.
"Amazed" also gave the band its first Country Music Association
The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre. The objectives of the organization are to guide and enha ...
nominations, for Single of the Year and Group of the Year.
Lonestar's first Christmas album, ''This Christmas Time
''This Christmas Time'' is the fourth studio album and first Christmas album by the American country music group Lonestar. Their first Christmas album, it was released in 2000 on BNA Records. Most of the tracks are renditions of traditional Christ ...
'', was released in September 2000. It featured seven traditional Christmas songs, plus three original compositions: "If Every Day Could Be Christmas", "Reason for the Season", and the title track. The latter two songs were co-written by McDonald and Sams, respectively. The renditions of "Winter Wonderland
"Winter Wonderland" is a song written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith. Due to its seasonal theme, it is often regarded as a Christmas song in the Northern Hemisphere. Since its original recording by Richard Himber, ...
", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a song written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical ''Meet Me in St. Louis''. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics. In ...
", "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" is a Christmas song featuring Santa Claus written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. The earliest known recorded version of the song was by banjoist Harry Reser and his band on October 24, 1934. It was then ...
", and "The Little Drummer Boy
"The Little Drummer Boy" (originally known as "Carol of the Drum") is a popular Christmas song written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. First recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family, the song was further popularized by a 19 ...
" included on this album all made the country charts in late 2000 based on Christmas airplay. Allmusic criticized the album as "an unfortunately slick and forgettable collection of holiday tunes, cloyingly done in a soulless pop-country style."
''I'm Already There
''I'm Already There'' is the fifth studio album released by American country music band Lonestar. Released in 2001 on BNA Records (see 2001 in country music), the album was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.
Serving ...
'', Lonestar's fourth album, was released in 2001. The same year, the band won the Country Music Association
The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre. The objectives of the organization are to guide and enha ...
's award for Vocal Group of the Year. Serving as the lead single was the album's title track
A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title.
Title track may al ...
, which McDonald wrote with Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers
Frank Joseph Myers (born July 3, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has received multiple awards including a Grammy for "Best Country Song" which he and frequent songwriting partner Gary Baker (forme ...
. The song was inspired by McDonald's son, Rhett. It spent six weeks at number 1 on the country charts between June and July 2001, in addition to reaching number 24 on the Hot 100 and number 2 on the Adult Contemporary charts. After it, " With Me" peaked at number 10, "Not a Day Goes By
"Not a Day Goes By" is a song written by Maribeth Derry and Steve Diamond, and recorded by American country music band Lonestar. It was released in January 2002 as the third single from their 2001 album, ''I'm Already There''. The song reached the ...
" reached number 3, and the Mark McGuinn
Mark McGuinn (born August 19, 1968) is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 2001 with the single " Mrs. Steven Rudy", a Top 10 hit on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. It was the first of three single ...
-penned "Unusually Unusual
"Unusually Unusual" is a song written by Mark McGuinn and recorded by American country music group Lonestar. It was released in August 2002 as the fourth and final single from the album ''I'm Already There''. It peaked at number 12 on the U.S. ''Bi ...
" went to number 12. The album received a platinum certification. Maria Konicki Dinoia of Allmusic compared the album favorably to the ballads on ''Lonely Grill
''Lonely Grill'' is the third studio album by American country music group Lonestar, released in the United States on June 1, 1999 by BNA Records. It reached number 28 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, and number three on the Top Country Albums char ...
'', also praising McDonald's "vocal prowess." Alanna Nash
Alanna Nash is an American journalist and biographer.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1950, Nash holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is the author of several acclaimed books. She is a 1972 graduat ...
of ''Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' was less favorable, saying that Huff's production was "generic". Also in 2001, the band announced a 30-date international tour with Jamie O'Neal
Jamie O'Neal (born 3 June 1968) is an Australian country singer and songwriter.
In 2000, O'Neal released her first studio album, ''Shiver''. The album included the back-to-back number one singles " There Is No Arizona" and "When I Think About ...
and Blake Shelton
Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is an American country music singer and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single " Austin". The lead-off single from his self-titled debut album, "Austin" spent five weeks at ...
.
200305: ''From There To Here: Greatest Hits'' and ''Let's Be Us Again''
BNA released Lonestar's first greatest hits
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
package, '' From There to Here: Greatest Hits'', in 2003. Three new songs were recorded for this album: "My Front Porch Looking In
"My Front Porch Looking In" is a song written by Richie McDonald, Frank J. Myers and Don Pfrimmer, and recorded by American country music group Lonestar. It was released in March 2003 as the first single from the band's compilation album '' From Th ...
" (written by McDonald, Myers, and Don Pfrimmer), a cover of Marc Cohn
Marc Craig Cohn (; born July 5, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1992. Cohn is best known for the song "Walking in Memphis" from his eponymous 1991 album, which was a Top 40 h ...
's "Walking in Memphis
"Walking in Memphis" is a song composed and originally recorded by American singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, for whom it remains his signature song. It received a Song of the Year nomination at the 34th Grammy Awards in 1992, the same year that the ...
", and "I Pray". The first two of these were both released as singles; "My Front Porch Looking In" went to number 1 and became the top country hit of 2003 on the ''Billboard'' Year-End charts, while the "Walking in Memphis" cover peaked at number 8.
''Let's Be Us Again
''Let's Be Us Again'' is the fifth studio album by American country music group Lonestar. It was released in 2004 on BNA Records, and has been certified gold by the RIAA in the United States. The album produced three singles for the group on the ' ...
'' was released in May 2004. This album produced three singles, all co-written by McDonald. The title track
A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title.
Title track may al ...
was the first, reaching number 4 on the country charts in mid-2004. "Mr. Mom
''Mr. Mom'' is a 1983 American comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti and produced by Lynn Loring, Lauren Shuler, and Aaron Spelling. It stars Michael Keaton (in his first lead role), Teri Garr, Martin Mull, Ann Jillian, and Christopher Lloyd. It ...
" followed it, becoming their final number 1 by the end of the year. After it, "Class Reunion (That Used to Be Us)
"Class Reunion (That Used to Be Us)" is a song recorded by American country music band Lonestar. It was released in January 2005 as the third single from their album '' Let's Be Us Again''. Lead singer Richie McDonald co-wrote the song with Frank J ...
" peaked at number 16 in early 2005. Huff produced the entire album except for the closing track "Somebody's Someone", which the band produced by itself; although never released as a single, this song charted at number 53 on the country charts in mid-2004 due to unsolicited airplay. Also included on this album was "Let Them Be Little
''Let Them Be Little'' is the seventh studio album by American country music singer Billy Dean. His first album since ''Real Man'' seven years previous, it is also his first release on Curb Records. The album was originally to have been released ...
", co-written by McDonald and Billy Dean
William Harold Dean Jr. (born April 2, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter.
He first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition ''Star Search''. Active as a recording artist since 1990, h ...
. Dean recorded his own version of the song for his 2005 album of the same name for Curb Records
Curb Records (also known as Asylum-Curb and formerly known as MCG Curb) is an American record label started by Mike Curb, originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963. From 1969 to 1973, Curb merged with MGM Records where Curb served as President of ...
, and his version peaked at number 8 on the country charts in early 2005. Another track on ''Let's Be Us Again'', "From There to Here", featured a guest vocal from Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
lead singer Randy Owen
Randy Yeuell Owen (born December 13, 1949) is an American country music artist. He is best known for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band that saw tremendous mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Alabama became ...
. Erlewine praised the album for containing more up-tempo songs than its predecessors. Jeffrey B. Remz was less favorable, writing in ''Country Standard Time'' that "everything tends to have the same typical anthemic feel making it all sound so radio ready."
200506: ''Coming Home''
'' Coming Home'' followed in 2005. For this album, McDonald noted that Huff had told the band that he "didn't want to produce us anymore", so McDonald began searching for a new producer. In doing so, he purchased fifteen different albums at a Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
to help in seeking a new producer, and chose Justin Niebank after hearing a demo
Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to:
Music and film
*Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release
* ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes
* ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
that he produced for another group called BrittonJack. On July 19, 2005, Lonestar previewed the album at Sony Music Nashville
Sony Music Nashville is the country music branch of the Sony Music Group.
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Sony Music Nashville includes its three country recording labels Arista Nashville, Columbia Nashville, and RCA Nashville, as well as Ch ...
's offices, accompanied by Moyers, Cheuvront, fiddler Rob Tyler, and BrittonJack member Jack Sizemore, who also co-wrote the track "Doghouse" on it. Only two singles were released from this album: "You're Like Comin' Home
"You're Like Comin' Home" is a song recorded by American country music group Lonestar and it was released in June 2005 as the lead single from their sixth studio album '' Coming Home''. The song peaked at number 8 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Coun ...
", which reached number 8, and "I'll Die Tryin'", which became their first single since "Saturday Night" to peak outside the top 40. Both of these songs were co-written by songwriter and producer Jeremy Stover
Jeremy Stover (born August 20, 1972) is an American country music songwriter and record producer. Stover is an alumnus of Belmont University. Stover has written singles for Tim McGraw, Jon Pardi, Wynonna, Martina McBride, and others.
His first ...
, and both were previously recorded by Canadian country band Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive is a Canadian country music band consisting of Brad Mates (lead vocals), Danick Dupelle (guitars, backing vocals), Mike Melancon (drums), and Dale Wallace (keyboards, backing vocals). The band was founded in 1995 as 12 Gauge, which ...
on their 2004 album '' What If?'' Erlewine wrote in Allmusic that ''Coming Home'' was a "perfectly dull set of songs of happy homes." Michael Sudhalter of ''Country Standard Time'' noted the presence of ballads comparable to the preceding albums, but also felt that most of the other content was comparable to the band's debut album.
In early 2006, Sara Evans
Sara Lynn Evans (; born February 5, 1971) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is also credited as a record producer, actress, and author. She had five songs reach the number one spot on the '' Billboard'' country songs ch ...
released the single "Coalmine" from her album ''Real Fine Place
''Real Fine Place'' is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Sara Evans. It was released in October 2005 via RCA Records Nashville. It is the follow-up album to the platinum '' Restless.'' It features Evans's fourth number one h ...
'', which McDonald co-wrote with Roxie Dean
Roxie Dean (born March 23, 1974) is an American country music songwriter and singer. In 2005, she released her debut album, ''Ms. America''. Her songwriting career includes a 2001 Nashville Songwriters Association International "Top 10 Songs That ...
and Ron Harbin. At a December 2006 concert in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi (; Ecclesiastical Latin: "'' Body of Christ"'') is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat and largest city of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patrici ...
, McDonald was unavailable while recovering from back surgery, so Josh Gracin
Joshua Mario Gracin (born October 18, 1980) is an American country music singer. A former member of the United States Marine Corps, he first gained public attention as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of ''American Idol''.
After h ...
sang lead vocals in his absence.
200611: ''Mountains'', ''Party Heard Around the World'', and departure of Richie McDonald
''Mountains
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher th ...
'' was the band's final album for BNA. Released in late 2006, it was produced by Mark Bright
Mark Abraham Bright (born 6 June 1962) is an English sports correspondent and former footballer.
Born to a Gambian father and English mother, he was adopted into a foster family in Stoke-on-Trent at an early age. He played non-league football ...
, whose other production credits include Blackhawk Black Hawk and Blackhawk may refer to:
Animals
* Black Hawk (horse), a Morgan horse that lived from 1833 to 1856
* Common black hawk, ''Buteogallus anthracinus''
* Cuban black hawk, ''Buteogallus gundlachii''
* Great black hawk, ''Buteogallus urub ...
, Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band founded in 1999. The band members were Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background vocals). DeMarcus is LeVox's second cousi ...
, and Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American singer. She rose to prominence after winning the fourth season of ''American Idol'' in 2005. Her single "Inside Your Heaven" made her the only country artist to debut atop the ''Bill ...
. Its title track
A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title.
Title track may al ...
, co-written by Larry Boone, went to number 10 on the country charts, while followup "Nothing to Prove" peaked at 51.[Song Selection Derailed Lonestar's Success, Guitarist Says](_blank)
/ref> Erlewine criticized the band for taking "fewer risks than ever" on the album. ''Billboard'' writer Ken Tucker praised the album for containing positive messages in the singles, while also noting the use of vocal harmony and country-rock instrumentation. Jeff Lincoln of ''Country Standard Time'' criticized some of the songs for overly "sensitive" lyrics, but felt that "Always in the Band", a song about a singer attempting to balance his career and family life, was "personal".
In March 2007, Lonestar was dropped from BNA's roster due to declining sales. Guitarist Michael Britt attributes the group's commercial downfall in the mid-2000s to the label's choices in singles, saying in an interview with CMT, "I think we painted ourselves into a corner... They started putting out a bunch of family-type songs. I think that really pigeonholed us. The majority of the band didn't really want to continue doing that same thing. But that's what kept getting put out." McDonald also announced that he would be leaving the group at the end of 2007 to begin a solo career. Cody Collins, who had previously been the lead singer of the band McAlyster
McAlyster was an American country music group founded in Pensacola, Florida. Its members comprised Cody Collins, Josh Walther, Leigh Usilton and Valerie Gills. They were signed to MCA Nashville Records in 2000. Their debut single, "I Know How the R ...
in 2000, was confirmed as his replacement. Lonestar's first release with Collins as lead singer was the 2007 Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music regularly performed or heard around the Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or, in the case of carols or songs, may employ lyrics whose subject ma ...
compilation titled ''My Christmas List'', available exclusively at the restaurant and gift shop chain Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., doing business as simply Cracker Barrel, is an American chain of restaurant and gift stores with a Southern country theme. The company was founded by Dan Evins in 1969. Its first store was in Lebanon, T ...
. Dan MacIntosh of ''Country Standard Time'' reviewed this album favorably, calling Collins' voice a "comfortable fit" while also praising the variety of arrangements given to traditional Christmas carols on the album.
McDonald also released a Christmas album in late 2007, titled ''If Every Day Could Be Christmas''. It was followed a year later by '' I Turn to You'', a contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and s ...
album released via Stroudavarious Records (later known as R&J Records
R&J Records is an American independent record label specializing in country music. It was founded in May 2011 by James Stroud and Rick Carter. Stroud is a record producer and former president of Giant Records and DreamWorks Records. In 2008, Stro ...
). After this album, he had two chart singles in 2009, both peaking at number 51: "How Do I Just Stop" and "Six Foot Teddy Bear". The former appeared on his third solo album, ''Slow Down'', which was released via Loremoma in 2010.
The group's first single to feature Collins on lead vocals was "Let Me Love You", which was released in early 2008 on Saguaro Road Records. It is the first single from the album ''Party Heard Around the World
''Party Heard Around the World'' is the ninth studio album by American country music group Lonestar, released on April 27, 2010. It is the band's first studio album since 2006's ''Mountains''. It debuted at No. 20 on the ''Billboard'' Country Albu ...
'', released on April 27, 2010, and produced by the band itself. A review in ''Country Standard Time'' criticized Collins' vocals as being too similar to those of Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is an Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Award ...
, while also saying that it had " lot of songs about love, life and relationships. The usual clichés you find in today's pop-country." Erlewine found little difference in the band's sound following the change to Collins, saying that "they're still gunning for a wide audience because commercialism simply is in their bones. The Lonestar name means nothing if the band isn't big, slick, and crowd-pleasing."
20112021: ''Life As We Know It'' and ''Never Enders''
Collins left in 2011 and McDonald returned to the group. To honor both his rejoining and the band's 20th anniversary, they began an international tour in 2012. Their first single after his rejoining was "The Countdown", released via 4 Star Records. It peaked at number 52 on the country charts in late 2012. The song is included on an album titled '' Life as We Know It'', released on June 4, 2013. Erlewine was mixed toward the album's content, writing in Allmusic that it was "filled with bright, shiny songs about romance...infused with a genial fondness for everything that comes their way...All this sounds sweet enough in theory, but in execution, the calculation is a bit too apparent." Henry L. Carrigan Jr. of ''Country Standard Time'' wrote that it "is all about singing it loud, with one song barely distinguishable from another musically or thematically".
In 2014, duo Haley & Michaels released "Just Another Love Song", which they wrote with McDonald. The song contains lyrical references to "Amazed", and features McDonald singing its chorus. '' Never Enders'', Lonestar's tenth album, came out in 2016. The album's lead single and title track was delivered to country radio on March 17. ''Never Enders'' was released and distributed through Shanachie Entertainment on April 29. Erlewine was more positive toward this album than its predecessors, noting that "The songs may not be grabbers, but they're sturdy, melodic constructions given a lift by an enveloping, polished production that effectively softens the rougher edges of McDonald's voice; he's hardly gravelly, but he is nicely weathered." The album received a mixed review from Lincoln, who found some of the songwriting formulaic but also praised the melody of the title track and McDonald's singing voice.
2021present: Richie McDonald's second departure
On March 5, 2021, McDonald announced that he would again be departing Lonestar to pursue a career as a member of the Frontmen of Country, which also consists of former Little Texas lead singer Tim Rushlow
Timothy Ray Rushlow (born October 6, 1966) is an American recording artist. Between 1991 and 1997, Rushlow was lead vocalist of country music group Little Texas, which recorded four albums and a Greatest Hits package, in addition to charting ...
and Restless Heart
Restless Heart is an American country music band established in 1984. The band's members are Larry Stewart (lead vocals), John Dittrich (drums, vocals), Paul Gregg (bass guitar, vocals), Dave Innis (piano, keyboards, guitar, vocals), and Greg Je ...
lead singer Larry Stewart. McDonald was succeeded by Drew Womack, the former lead singer of Sons of the Desert
A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative.
Social issues
In pre-industrial societies and some current c ...
, as Lonestar's new lead vocalist.
Musical style
Early on, the band's sound drew from honky-tonk
A honky-tonk (also called honkatonk, honkey-tonk, or tonk) is both a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons and the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano (tack piano) ...
and neotraditional country
Neotraditional country (also known as new traditional country and hardcore country) is a country music style that emphasizes the instrumental background and a traditional country vocal style. Neo-traditional country artists often dress in the fash ...
influences, but shifted more toward a country pop
Country pop (also known as pop country or urban cowboy) is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. Country pop music blends genres ...
sound with subsequent albums. Erlewrine noted in a review of ''Let's Be Us Again'' that "Toward the end of the '90s, Lonestar decided to move firmly into the mainstream of contemporary country, leaving behind any hardcore country influences they may have had in favor of sweet anthemic ballads and poppy country-rockers." He had previously compared their debut album to Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler.
Haggard was born in Oildale, California, toward the end of the Great Depression. His childhood was troubled af ...
and George Jones
George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song "He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
, while a review of the same in ''Country Standard Time'' said that the band seemed "very similar to Shenandoah — energetic and fun, but not spectacular." The same review praised the same album for having "clever wordplay" on "No News" and prominent fiddle and steel guitar on "Runnin' Away with My Heart". Allmusic writer Thom Owens found the second album "veering toward smooth, Eagles
Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...
-influenced contemporary country". Of ''Lonely Grill'', Erlewine also stated that "Lonestar began as a fairly straight-ahead country band, indebted to pure honky tonk. With their second record, they moved themselves toward pop and, ironically, it didn't pay off in great dividends, even if it spawned a Top 10 single. For their third album, ''Lonely Grill'', they take a middle ground, moving back toward hardcore country while retaining elements of the pop sheen of ''Crazy Nights''." That album's "Amazed" also became a popular choice for fans to play at their weddings, while also becoming their first song to enter Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...
playlists.
Dinoia noted that ''I'm Already There'' continued to emphasize the band's focus on "passionate ballads" as exemplified by "Amazed", while Jeffrey B. Remz of ''Country Standard Time'' described the same album's sound as "satisfactory music that is squarely in the country light category, but never really goes beyond that." He also noted in a review of ''Let's Be Us Again'' that the "big sound" achieved on that album and the ones immediately before it was the result of Huff's production style. For the ''Coming Home'' album, the band members said that they wanted to achieve a sound with more "edge" and less influenced by such ballads. As is typical of country music bands, most of their albums featured session musician
Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...
s instead of having the individual members play most of the instruments themselves. ''New Country'' magazine's review of their debut album criticized the band's sound for this reason, while Andrew W. Griffin of ''Country Standard Time'' also noted the effect on the band's overall sound: "McDonald's voice made Lonestar. It's a good voice. Full of passion and country-embracing enthusiasm. As for his band mates, Lonestar relied way too much on sidemen to have developed a discernible sound of their own."
Television appearances
McDonald competed on one episode of the television game show ''Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune or ''Rota Fortunae'' has been a concept and metaphor since ancient times referring to the capricious nature of Fate. Wheel of Fortune may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Art
* ''The Wheel of Fortune'' (Burne-Jo ...
'' recorded at the Grand Ole Opry
The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divis ...
house in Nashville and aired in February 2003. The episode was part of a special week that paired contestants with country music singers, who made donations to charity equivalent to their respective contestants' winnings. For his episode, McDonald donated to Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a US non-governmental, and nonprofit organization which was founded in 1976 by couple Millard and Linda Fuller. Habitat for Humanity is a Ch ...
. All four members of Lonestar appeared on separate episodes of the same game show that aired in February 2007, during another week with identical gameplay and payouts. McDonald and Britt both won the bonus round
A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or demonstrative and are typically directed by a host, sh ...
, respectively donating $61,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility located in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1962, it is a 501(c)(3) designated nonprofit medical corporation which focuses on children's catastrophic diseases, pa ...
and $59,350 for Adopt-a-Platoon, while Sams and Rainwater won $10,000 each for charities. The group also appeared on ''The Price Is Right
''The Price Is Right'' is a television game show franchise created by Bob Stewart, originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman; currently it is produced and owned by Fremantle. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also inc ...
'', serving as the house band
A house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play at an establishment.
It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to bands which ...
on the episode that aired June 17, 2010. They performed the show's theme song, along with a sample of songs from ''Party Heard Around the World''.
Personnel
;Current members
*Drew Womack (born July 8, 1970) - lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2021-present)
*Michael Britt (born June 15, 1966) - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, background vocals (1992–present)
*Dean Sams (born August 3, 1966) - keyboards, acoustic guitar, harmonica, background vocals (1992–present)
*Randy "Keech" Rainwater (born January 24, 1963) - drums (1992–present)
;Former members
*Richie McDonald
Richard Vance McDonald (born February 6, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter. From 1998 until his departure in 2007, he was the lead singer of the group Lonestar, which recorded seven studio albums on BNA Records during his t ...
(born February 6, 1962) - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards (1992–2008, 2011–2021)
*John Rich
John Rich (born January 7, 1974) is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After d ...
(born January 7, 1974) - bass guitar, lead and background vocals (1992–1998)
*Cody Collins (born June 1, 1984) - lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2008–2011)
;Current touring musicians
*Robby Wilson- bass guitar, vocals
;Former touring musicians
*Kurt Baumer - fiddle
*Robbie Cheuvront - bass guitar
*Jeremy Moyers - steel guitar
Discography
Albums
*''Lonestar
Lonestar (formerly known as Texassee) is an American country music group from Nashville, Tennessee. The group consists of Drew Womack (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Michael Britt (lead guitar, background vocals), Dean Sams (keyboards, acousti ...
'' (1995)
*''Crazy Nights
''Crazy Nights'' is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Kiss, recorded from March to June 1987 and released on September 21, 1987, by Mercury worldwide and Vertigo in the UK. This was the second album to feature the line-up of Ge ...
'' (1997)
*''Lonely Grill
''Lonely Grill'' is the third studio album by American country music group Lonestar, released in the United States on June 1, 1999 by BNA Records. It reached number 28 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, and number three on the Top Country Albums char ...
'' (1999)
*''This Christmas Time
''This Christmas Time'' is the fourth studio album and first Christmas album by the American country music group Lonestar. Their first Christmas album, it was released in 2000 on BNA Records. Most of the tracks are renditions of traditional Christ ...
'' (2000)
*''I'm Already There
''I'm Already There'' is the fifth studio album released by American country music band Lonestar. Released in 2001 on BNA Records (see 2001 in country music), the album was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.
Serving ...
'' (2001)
*'' From There to Here: Greatest Hits'' (2003)
*''Let's Be Us Again
''Let's Be Us Again'' is the fifth studio album by American country music group Lonestar. It was released in 2004 on BNA Records, and has been certified gold by the RIAA in the United States. The album produced three singles for the group on the ' ...
'' (2004)
*'' Coming Home'' (2005)
*''Mountains
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher th ...
'' (2006)
*''Party Heard Around the World
''Party Heard Around the World'' is the ninth studio album by American country music group Lonestar, released on April 27, 2010. It is the band's first studio album since 2006's ''Mountains''. It debuted at No. 20 on the ''Billboard'' Country Albu ...
'' (2010)
*'' Life as We Know It'' (2013)
*'' Never Enders'' (2016)
;Number-one singles (Billboard Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States.
This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...
)
*"No News
"No News" is a song recorded by American country music band Lonestar. It was released in January 1996 as the second single from their debut album, '' Lonestar''. "No News" reached the top of the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart i ...
" (1996)
*"Come Cryin' to Me
"Come Cryin' to Me" is a song recorded by American country music group Lonestar and it was released in April 1997 as the first single from their second studio album ''Crazy Nights''. The song reached the top of the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles ...
" (1997)
*"Amazed
"Amazed" is a song by American country music group Lonestar, released on March 22, 1999, for country radio as the second single from their third studio album ''Lonely Grill'' (1999). The power ballad is the band's longest-lasting number one sing ...
" (1999)
*"Smile
A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile.
Among humans, a smile expresses ...
" (1999)
*" What About Now" (2000)
*" Tell Her" (2000-2001)
*"I'm Already There
''I'm Already There'' is the fifth studio album released by American country music band Lonestar. Released in 2001 on BNA Records (see 2001 in country music), the album was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.
Serving ...
" (2001)
*"My Front Porch Looking In
"My Front Porch Looking In" is a song written by Richie McDonald, Frank J. Myers and Don Pfrimmer, and recorded by American country music group Lonestar. It was released in March 2003 as the first single from the band's compilation album '' From Th ...
" (2003)
*"Mr. Mom
''Mr. Mom'' is a 1983 American comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti and produced by Lynn Loring, Lauren Shuler, and Aaron Spelling. It stars Michael Keaton (in his first lead role), Teri Garr, Martin Mull, Ann Jillian, and Christopher Lloyd. It ...
" (2004)
References
Works cited
*
External links
Lonestar Official Homepage
{{Authority control
Country music groups from Tennessee
Country music groups from Texas
Country pop groups
BNA Records artists
Musical groups established in 1992
Musical groups from Nashville, Tennessee
Musical quartets
Musical groups from Texas