The trio originally formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006 by Charles Kelley (lead and background vocals), Dave Haywood (background vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin) and Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals).
Scott is the daughter of country music singer Linda Davis, and Charles Kelley is the brother of pop artist Josh Kelley. It was these family connections and music industry ties that helped launch the band. Kelley moved to Nashville in mid-2005 from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he had been working construction with his brother John. Trying to become a successful solo country artist, Kelley convinced his old middle-school classmate, Haywood, to move to Nashville from Georgia in 2006 so they could write music together. Shortly thereafter, Scott recognized Kelley from MySpace, and they started to talk at a Nashville music club. Kelley later invited Scott to join him and Haywood in the new group, which assumed the name Lady Antebellum. The name Antebellum comes from when the group were photographing "antebellum" homes. The antebellum ('pre-war') architectural style describes the large plantation homes in the American South. While photographing the houses one of the group said that there's a great band name in there, and they adopted the Lady Antebellum name shortly after. The trio then began performing at local venues in Nashville before being signed in July 2007 to a recording contract with Capitol Records Nashville. In an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio, Scott claimed she was rejected from the hit show American Idol two times, not even making it past the first round.
Shortly after the trio signed to the label, adult contemporary artist Jim Brickman chose Lady Antebellum to sing on his 2007 single Never Alone, which reached #14 on the Billboard adult contemporary charts. In mid-2007, Lady Antebellum also wrote a song for the MTV reality television series The Hills.
Their solo debut single Love Don't Live Here was released in September of 2007, with a music video for the song following in December. This song was the lead-off single to the band's self-titled debut album. Released on April 15, 2008, Lady Antebellum was produced by Paul Worley and Victoria Shaw, a Nashville songwriter and former solo artist. Love Don't Live Here reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The album itself was the first album by a new duo or group to debut at Number One on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts.
A second single, Lookin' for a Good Time, was issued in June 2008 and peaked at #11 in December. In addition, Lady Antebellum was signed as an opening act on Martina McBride's "Waking Up Laughing Tour" in 2008. Lady Antebellum also contributed the song I Was Here to the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack, a song which peaked at #24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 based on downloads. In December 2008, their rendition of Baby, It's Cold Outside peaked at #3 on the same chart. Their third official single, I Run to You, was released in January 2009. It eventually became the trio's first Number One in July 2009.
On October 7, 2009 their debut album was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of one million copies in the United States.
In August 2009, the group released their fourth single, Need You Now, the lead-off single and title track to their second studio album. It debuted at #50 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and became their second Number One hit on the charts for the week of November 28, 2009. The song also reached a peak of #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a number-one hit on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart, making it a crossover hit. A second single, American Honey, was released to radio on January 11, 2010 and would become their third #1 hit. Our Kind of Love was released as the third single from the album on May 31, 2010 and became a #1 single in September, 2010.
The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts for the week of Feb. 2, 2010, selling 480,922 copies in the first week. Four weeks after the album's release, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The week of January 9, 2011, the group ventured into the studio to begin recording for their third studio album. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kelley said, "We actually just went ahead and decided we’re gonna take two, two and a half months straight in the studio to create this thing and not have all this distraction. Hopefully that will be a good thing". He goes on to say that the group has around 50 songs which they plan to choose from along with songs from other songwriters. However, he singles out a song called Dancing Away With My Heart as one the band is particularly excited about, a song that the group co-wrote with Josh Kear, who previously wrote with the group on their hit Need You Now.
On May 2, 2011, the group released the first single from their upcoming album, titled Just a Kiss. The group performed the single on stage on American Idol's result show on May 5, 2011.
On June 11, 2020, amid the George Floyd protests, the band announced they would rename themselves "Lady A" in order to avoid racist connotations with Civil War history, as the original name was based on the Antebellum South. The band stated on social media that they were "deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued."
Mansion
Lady Antebellum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like diamond rings
I like Malibu beach sights
Sleeping by your side, California king
I like it downtown, valet
Dressed up out there in the city
No, I ain′t got nothin' against things that are pretty
Oh, I don′t need a mansion
Sitting high up on a hill
No, I don't need a man that
Shows his love with dollar bills
Don't need a fancy fast car to come and pick up my heart
And ride off into the blue
No, I don′t need a mansion
Baby, I just need you
I just need you
I just need you
I want your love
Just the way it is
You ain′t gotta dress it up, like Hollywood love
'Cause we already rich
I′m talking no frills, stripped down, real deal
The kind that you can't fake it
Yeah, you can wine and dine me all night
But baby I′m just saying
Oh, I don't need a mansion
Sitting high up on a hill
No, I don′t need a man that
Shows his love with dollar bills
Don't need a fancy fast car to come and pick up my heart
And ride off into the blue
No, I don't need a mansion
Baby, I just need you
I just need you
I just need you
Come on and hold me tight
Give me your affection, your attention
I want you to know tonight
As long as I got you there′s nothing missing
No, I don′t need a mansion
Sitting high up on a hill
No, I don't need a man that
Shows his love with dollar bills
Don′t need a fancy fast car to come and pick up my heart
And ride off into the blue
No, I don't need a mansion
Baby, I just need you
I just need you
Baby, I just need you
The song "Mansion" by Lady Antebellum is a love song that talks about how the singer does not need materialistic things like mansions, diamond rings, Malibu beach sights, and fancy fast cars to feel fulfilled in her relationship. Unlike the typical cliche love songs, she is looking for a real connection with her love interest. She wants someone who can unconditionally love her and provide her with attention and affection. She does not want her partner to hide behind material things and fake affection with money.
The singer highlights the true meaning of love by stating that it should not be measured based on the luxurious things someone can provide. She wants her partner to be real and genuine, without hiding behind a façade of expensive things. The chorus clearly states that she only needs her partner, and nothing else. The song reminds the listener that the most important thing in a relationship is love, not wealth.
Overall, "Mansion" is a vibrant display of true love and the fact that material things are not the essence of a relationship. It displays that an individual needs true love, attention and affection. It's a common narrative among couples, but Lady Antebellum makes it sound even more special.
Line by Line Meaning
I like nice things
I appreciate quality and luxury in life
I like diamond rings
I admire fine jewelry
I like Malibu beach sights
I enjoy the beauty of Malibu's ocean view
Sleeping by your side, California king
I find comfort snuggling with you on a spacious bed
I like it downtown, valet
I enjoy going to downtown and having a valet park my car
Dressed up out there in the city
I love dressing up elegantly for a city outing
No, I ain′t got nothin' against things that are pretty
I don't dislike pretty things, but they don't define me
Oh, I don′t need a mansion
I don't require a mansion to feel fulfilled
Sitting high up on a hill
Location of the mansion is unimportant to me
No, I don't need a man that
I am not interested in a man who
Shows his love with dollar bills
Uses his money to display his love rather than his presence
Don't need a fancy fast car to come and pick up my heart
I don't seek attention or affection from expensive cars
And ride off into the blue
I am not impressed by superficial displays of love
Baby, I just need you
All I need to feel fulfilled is your love
I want your love
I desire your love
Just the way it is
As it is without any embellishment
You ain′t gotta dress it up, like Hollywood love
It doesn't need Hollywood-like presentation
'Cause we already rich
Our love is already precious beyond wealth
I'm talking no frills, stripped down, real deal
I value simplicity, authenticity, and the genuine connection between us
The kind that you can't fake it
True love is not something you can pretend or mimic
Yeah, you can wine and dine me all night
I may enjoy fancy dinners, but they are not necessities for me to feel loved
But baby I′m just saying
I am just expressing my true feelings
Come on and hold me tight
I want you to hug me tightly
Give me your affection, your attention
I long for your love and focus
I want you to know tonight
I need to tell you this right now
As long as I got you there′s nothing missing
I feel complete and fulfilled with you by my side
Baby, I just need you
All I need to feel fulfilled is your love
Writer(s): Hillary Lee Lindsey, Josh Miller, Christopher Michael De Stefano
Contributed by Lauren S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.