Lonestar

Lonestar, initially known as Texassee, formed in 1992 in Nashville, Tennessee. The original lineup included Richie McDonald (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Michael Britt (lead guitar, background vocals), Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums), and John Rich (bass guitar, vocals). All members were originally from Texas, meeting at Nashville’s Opryland USA theme park. Their early performances garnered attention, leading to a record deal with BNA Records in January 1995. Their debut EP, “Lonestar Live,” was released in January 1995, followed by their self-titled debut album in October of the same year. The album immediately produced hits like “Tequila Talkin'” and their first number-one single, “No News,” which held its top position for three weeks in April 1996. The band’s initial sound was rooted in honky-tonk and neotraditional country.

The commercial success continued with their 1997 album, “Crazy Nights,” featuring “Come Cryin’ to Me,” another number-one hit. A significant turning point occurred in 1998 when John Rich departed the band, leading to a shift in their musical direction. In 1999, they released “Lonely Grill,” which marked a transition towards a more country-pop sound under the production of Dann Huff. This album featured “Amazed,” a crossover hit that spent eight weeks at number one on the country charts and also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first country song since 1983 to achieve this. Other number-one singles from “Lonely Grill” included “Smile,” “What About Now,” and “Tell Her.” The album earned a double-platinum certification. Their success was recognized with a Country Music Association Award for Vocal Group of the Year in 2001, the same year their album “I’m Already There” was released, yielding its multi-week number-one title track.

Lonestar released “From There to Here: Greatest Hits” in 2003, which included the chart-topping “My Front Porch Looking In.” Constant touring and continued releases like “Let’s Be Us Again” (2004) and “Coming Home” (2005) further cemented their status. “Mr. Mom” from “Let’s Be Us Again” became their ninth and final country number-one hit in 2004. In 2007, McDonald initially left to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Cody Collins. After several years and albums, including “Party Heard Around the World” (2010) with Collins, McDonald rejoined the band in 2011, commemorating their 20th anniversary with an international tour. Collins would depart from the band in March 2021, and Drew Womack, former lead singer of Sons of the Desert, took over. In 2023, Lonestar announced a new tour and an album, “Ten to 1,” featuring re-recorded greatest hits with Womack’s vocals.