Lady A

For the Seattle-based singer known as Lady A, see Anita White.
"Lady Antebellum" redirects here. For the group's debut album, see Lady Antebellum (album).

Lady A
Lady A performing in December 2012
Lady A performing in December 2012
Background information
Also known asLady Antebellum
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Years active2006–present
Labels
Members
Websiteladyamusic.com

Lady A, known until 2020 as Lady Antebellum,[1] is an American country music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006. The group is composed of Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals), Charles Kelley (lead and background vocals, guitar), and Dave Haywood (lead and background vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin). Scott is the daughter of country music singer Linda Davis, and Kelley is the brother of pop singer Josh Kelley. The band abbreviated the name to "Lady A" in June 2020 during the George Floyd protests in an attempt to blunt the name's associations with slavery and the Antebellum South, inadvertently causing a dispute with Black blues and gospel singer Anita White, who had been using the name Lady A for more than 20 years.

The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone", before signing to Capitol Nashville. Lady A has released six albums for Capitol: Lady Antebellum, Need You Now, Own the Night, Golden, 747, Heart Break, plus one Christmas album (On This Winter's Night), and one for Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment: Ocean. The first three albums are certified platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The albums have produced sixteen singles on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, of which nine have reached number one. The longest-lasting number one single is "Need You Now", which spent five weeks at that position in 2009; both that song and 2011's "Just a Kiss" reached number one on the Adult Contemporary charts.

Lady A was awarded Top New Duo or Group by the Academy of Country Music and New Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2008. The band was nominated for two Grammy Awards at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards and two more at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, winning Best Country Performance by Duo or Group with Vocals for "I Run to You". It was awarded Top Vocal Group, Song of the Year ("Need You Now"), and Single of the Year ("Need You Now") at the 44th ACM Awards on April 18, 2010. It won five awards at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Need You Now".[2] At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, Lady A won the award for Best Country Album for Own the Night. By August 2013, the group had sold more than 12.5 million digital singles and 10 million albums in the United States.[3][4]

  1. ^ Willman, Chris (June 11, 2020). "Country Group Lady Antebellum Drops 'Antebellum' from Name". Variety.
  2. ^ Richards, Chris (February 14, 2011). "Esperanza Spalding, Arcade Fire top a night of upsets at 2011 Grammys". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  3. ^ "Lady Antebellum's 'Golden' New Album". Huffington Post. May 8, 2013.
  4. ^ "RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America – September 30, 2014". Riaa.com. Retrieved September 30, 2014.