Sugarland’s New Tour Making Stops in K-Hawk Country

They're back! Sugarland (and the joy they bring to the stage) is coming back to K-Hawk Country.

Sugarland has announced the "Still The Same 2018 Tour," with a list of cities that includes both Des Moines, Iowa and Moline, Illinois! A total of 48 cities made the list, which has been posted to the Sugarland website. No dates for any of the concerts have been announced yet, but as soon as they are, you'll be the first to know.

The two members of Sugarland, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, both went solo in 2012 when they took a break from the duo. They never said they wouldn't get together again, but many doubted they ever would. That was due in no small part to the emotional toll that the two endured following the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair on August 13, 2011. It killed seven of their fans and injured nearly 50 others. It was the day before the duo was scheduled to perform at the Iowa State Fair. That show was canceled.

I still remember the first time I saw Sugarland live. It was at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville in early 2005. Their debut song "Baby Girl" was already a hit and during their private performance, I knew I was witnessing magic.

At that time a trio, also featuring Kristen Hall, the group pulled you in... especially Jennifer Nettles. She was just so darn happy on that stage. You knew instantly that performing was a labor of love for her. New to the national scene, they were already polished. Sugarland was going to be something. Everybody in the room felt the excitement that day.

We were still looking to fill the opening slot for that summer's KHAK Free Country Concert. I immediately approached my record label rep for Sugarland after the show. I remember saying to her, "Charlie, Sugarland has to play at this show in June. Can you help me make that happen?"

Sugarland ended up opening that show for Mark Chesnutt but, unfortunately for us and you, Kristian Bush's wife (Jill) had just given birth to a baby and he wasn't able to attend. Regrettably, they divorced six years later.

So there you have it. Now you know why I'm extra excited for the return of Sugarland. If you saw their performance on New Year's Eve (photo at top), you know the magic is still there. It will be coming to a stage near you in 2018.

[Wikipedia, Sugarland, and Wikipedia]