News 12 at 11 o'clock, November 18, 2008

AIKEN, S.C.---A special homecoming tonight for two members of Lady Antebellum -- a country music group playing in Aiken at Kicks 99's annual Guitar Pull.

The group just recently won the Country Music Award for New Artist of the Year and News 12 was the only station to sit down with the trio that's taking Nashville by storm.

A happy homecoming indeed, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley were childhood friends who went to school in Evans. Together with Hillary Scott -- the three make up Lady Antebellum. If you haven't heard of them yet, get ready...they're the next big thing.

"Your hometown heroes, Lady Antebellum," announce the Kicks 99 Crew.

A trio taking the stage, side by side with other big country artists. But they're sitting pretty having just won the CMA New Artist of the Year. And we were the only station to sit down with them backstage.

"We didn't expect it at all and then when it came we were flipping out," says Dave Haywood. "Genuine shock," adds Charles Kelley. "Yes, we really were," adds Hillary Scott.

They may have been shocked, but the award has them working hard to keep fans just as happy.

"It's one more foot in the door and now its kinda up to us to stay out there and keep putting out good songs," says Charles Kelley.

Friends since middle school, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood were were bulldogs together at UGA. In 2006, they moved to Nashville, met Hillary Scott and like they say, the rest is history. But don't think the fame hasn't taken away their sense of humor.

"We date all the way back to middle school," says Dave. "We date? No we did not date! We both separately date back to riverside and lakeside high school," corrects Charles. "So this is definitely a homecoming for us so it's gonna be fun," Dave picks back up.

And don't think Hillary doesn't enjoy coming home with the boys either. "I always like to visit and dig around and find some embarrassing stories," says Hillary. "Yes there are many," adds Charles.
"Some blackmail on Charles and Dave, you never know when your gonna need it," finishes Hillary.

Blackmail or not, these are just three friends, like one of their hit songs, that are just lookin' for a good time.

Now their name Lady Antebellum came from Charles. They were taking pictures in front of an old southern antebellum house and they liked it enough for their first show, but then when they took off, it was hard to go back.