The year in review: Lady Antebellum remembers Columbia County ties

Featuring native sons Charles Kelly and Dave Haywood, Lady Antebellum crossed over into superstardom this year with numerous Grammys and Country Music Awards but one of the country’s hottest musical group’s didn’t forget its local roots. The trio, which also features bandmate Hillary Scott, performed Oct. 28 at Evans Town Center Park and the new pavilion named to honor the hometown connection of Kelly and Haywood, who graduated from Lakeside High School.

They will return to the Augusta area next year for shows on May 22 and 23 at James Brown Arena.

The group’s crossover ballad Need You Now captured record and song of the year at the Grammy Awards in February to put them in supergroup status.

The trio added to its collection two months later when it won three Acad­emy of County Music Awards, including album of the year and top vocal group.

Lady A’s popularity locally showed when announcements of its concerts drew long lines of fans camping out to make sure they secured a ticket.

Patrick Richardson, who made sure he was first in line to buy tickets at the Columbia County Library for the group’s Oct. 28 concert by camping out three days before they went on sale, summed up the feelings of many fans.

“There are only 3,100 tickets and you can only buy four,” said the Evans resident. “If everybody buys four, that’s only 775 people getting tickets. … I knew I couldn’t take any chances.”