News 12 at 11 o'clock / Monday, November 15, 2010

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- Lady Antebellum fever is sweeping the nation. And tonight, the Garden City is welcoming the award-winning country group back home.

More than an hour before show time, crowds were already lining the James Brown Arena.

Jen Davey, Wanda Jackson and "Granny" were the first three in line.

"Oooh, we love them so much!" Granny squealed. "They're a wonderful band! We've been to see them five times this week!"

In fact, the three have followed the band through stops in Tennessee and Georgia, even wearing homemade t-shirts and bearing gifts to be distributed during a meet and greet.

"They're just such nice people! I want to do anything to make them happy!" Granny said.

And they're not the only ones excited to welcome the group home. The James Brown Arena has more than 6,500 seats, all of which were sold out in less than ten minutes.

It prompted the group to schedule a short, acoustic show earlier in the day. They also used it as a way to give back to their hometown; proceeds from that show went to the MCG Children’s Center. The group also donated $3000 in school supplies to three teachers from Lakeside High School, their alma mater.

“Lakeside is where Charles and I learned, we were playing in bands and playing music. It was kind of where we learned everything,” says group member Dave Haywood. “And this community has just been such a supportive family for us.”

Lakeside assistant principal Tim Reeve knew the boys before they became international superstars. Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley graduated in the class of 2000. The group performed at the school two years ago as rising stars.

“They've just followed their dreams,” Reeve says. “And to see them go where very few people get to go and not change them personally…I’m very proud of them.”

During the lunch performance, Mayor Deke Copenhaver presented each group member with a key to the city, along with the street sign for the newly named “Lady Antebellum Way.”

They were also given Augusta Riverhawk jerseys and a planned park in Columbia County will feature a Lady Antebellum Pavilion.