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."
The Stars
Lady Antebellum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The song “Stars Tonight” by Lady Antebellum is about the excitement and joy experienced during a rock and roll concert. The first verse talks about the audience consisting of women in high heels and skinny jeans and men wearing black pearl buttons that resemble Bruce Springsteen. The mother questions why her child wants to be part of a rock and roll band. However, the child explains that if she were to experience the lights, the high energy, and the roar of the crowd during a Friday night concert, she would understand why rock and roll is so appealing. The chorus of the song emphasizes the excitement of the crowd as they sing and cheer, feeling like stars tonight.
The second verse talks about how the audience is involved in the concert experience, whether they are swaying to a slow song or raising their hands in the air with cell phones (or lighters) in hand. The line “in the floor/in the stands” refers to how involved the audience is in the show, feeling like they are part of the band. The chorus repeats the message that they are all stars tonight, emphasizing that everyone is part of the experience.
This song is a perfect anthem for anyone who has ever attended a rock concert, as it captures the energy and excitement of being a part of a live music experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Girls in their heels and a skinny pair of blue jeans
Women dressed in high heels and tight blue jeans
Boys in black pearl buttons lookin just like Springsteen
Men wearing black pearl buttons, resembling Bruce Springsteen
Momma says why you wanna play in a silly rock n' roll band
Mother asks why the songwriter wants to play in a rock and roll band
Well if you stood here Momma,
If the mother was present here,
I know you'd understand yeah
the mother would have understood the appeal of rock and roll
It's the lights
The lighting effects of the performance
It's the high
The feeling of excitement and exhilaration
It's the roar of a crowd on a Friday night
The noise of the enthusiastic audience on a Friday evening
And everybody's screamin out yeah, yeah, yeah
The audience is shouting in agreement
And everybody's singing out yeah, yeah, yeah
The audience is singing along
Get on your feet if it feels good
Stand up if you're enjoying the performance
If it feels right
If the performance feels right
We're all stars tonight
Everyone in the audience is a star tonight
So sing it out yeah, yeah, yeah
Sing along with the song
Hey!
An enthusiastic exclamation
Let's get a little rowdy
Let's get a little wild
Gonna party all night long
Going to party all night
And boys sway along with your girls
Men should dance along with their partners
When we play a little slow song
When the band plays a slow song
Put your hands in the air
Raise your hands
Shine a lighter or a cell phone
Hold up a lighter or a cell phone light
You better buy another round
Buy another round of drinks
We ain't goin home no
We're not leaving yet
In the floor
On the dance floor
In the stands
In the audience stands
Tonight we're all in the band
Everyone is part of the performance tonight
And we're screamin out yeah, yeah, yeah
Everyone is shouting in agreement
And everybody's singing out yeah, yeah, yeah
Everyone is singing along
Get on your feet if it feels good
Stand up if you're enjoying the performance
If it feels right
If the performance feels right
We're all stars tonight
Everyone in the audience is a star tonight
So sing it out yeah, yeah, yeah
Sing along with the song
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Enthusiastic agreement
Oh yeah
Positive affirmation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HILLARY SCOTT, DAVE HAYWOOD, CHARLES KELLEY, MONTY POWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FEZZ Dealers Kenya
This song is beautiful ❤️
Mwesigwa Fred
I love every piece I listen to from you guys
Your music is extra ordinary
Claudemir Santos
Música que esquenta o coração e a alma S2
Ivaldo Marques
Isso mesmo, o meu coração tambem 🤩🥰
AgentD2009
I can't believe this song isn't more popular ... I have had this on repeat for the last 24 hours.
Amy Hoover
I love how endearing this song is, and you can apply these lyrics to any person in life that you love and cherish. <3
Sharilynne Crocker
I always knew music could.🌈
Yurilaend Yuri gomes dos santos
@Sharilynne Crocker eu l. L
Autumn Angelica
I love this song so much, I can really relate to the lyrics.
Mariam GHARIB
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THESE GUYS SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL IT'S BEEN 5 YEARS NOW ...AND OMG I'LL NEVER GET ENOUGH OF THEM . THEY JUST MAKE ME REMEMBER THE MOST PRECIOUS MEMORIES . I LOVE U LADY ANTEBELLUM . FROM A MOROCCAN FAN ❤