Stuck on Sugarland - Sugar Land Magazine

Photo Courtesy of Mercury Nashville Records, universal Music Group Nashville
COvER sTORy
<strong>Stuck</strong> on
Sugarland
Country Music Duo Is Sweet on Sugar Land’s Name
Written by Jennifer Heath
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Sugarland is made up of the
country music duo Jennifer
Nettles and Kristian Bush

When Sugarland, the country music band, was searching for a name and first heard about Sugar Land,
the town, well let’s just say it stuck like glue. The band began with three members, Jennifer Nettles,
Kristian Bush, and Kristen Hall. Each singer and songwriter had been enjoying individual success on
the music scene before joining forces. In 2002, though, the three banded together to put out a demo
recording and see how audiences and critics would welcome their harmonized voices.
Sugarland performs for a packed arena at
the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The story goes that one day the three were sitting around talking
about naming their newly formed group. One of Hall’s friends was
in the room and began talking about her history. The friend said
she was raised in Atlanta, GA but born in Sugar Land. Nettles,
Bush, and Hall instantly loved the name. The band Sugarland was
born.
a Sweet Start
A couple months after they first started playing together, Nettles,
Bush, and Hall signed a contract with Mercury Records. In 2004,
the group released Twice the Speed of Life with major hits including,
“Baby Girl” and “Something More.” Early in 2006, Hall left the
band. Hall, a gifted songwriter, was quoted as saying she wanted to
stay home and work on writing, rather than tour with a band.
The band’s success didn’t slow down as it transformed into a duo.
Sugarland won the Academy of Country Music award for best
new duo or group in 2006. Bush and Nettles earned a Grammy
nomination for best new artist in 2006, too, but lost to John
Legend. Nettles also sang a duet with Bon Jovi in the song, “Who
Says You Can’t Go Home,” which reached number one on the
Billboard Country Music Charts. Others began noticing the duo’s
success, too, and in 2006, Sugarland went on tour with Kenny
Chesney.
Sticking Power
Sugarland continued to reach out to country music fans and garner
more attention and accolades. In 2007, Nettles penned the duo’s
award-winning song, “Stay.” The quiet ballad shares a haunting
melody to listeners about being the other woman in a relationship.
The song stayed in the minds of critics as it went on to win
Academy of Country Music awards as best song and single of the
Photo Courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Sugarland decided on its band name after
hearing a friend say she had been born there
year. CMT Music Awards named the song’s video as duo video of
the year.
Sugarland also earned awards at the Grammys in 2009 for “Stay” as
the best country performance by a duo or group with vocals, along
with the best country song. Nettles and Bush went on to create the
album Love on the Inside with more hits including, “All I Want to
Do.”
However, things started to turn sour when in 2008 former band
member Hall filed a lawsuit against Nettles and Bush for $1.5
million. Hall claimed she had an agreement with the two to share
profits after she left the band, but had not received her portion
of the earnings. The suit was later settled out of court for an
undisclosed amount.
keeping Incredibly Busy
Sugarland continues to seek out success with its most recent album,
The Incredible Machine with its label Mercury Records. Nettles
and Bush traveled to England, as well, for a launch of the album
overseas.
Close by, Sugarland recently played to fans in March at the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The duo has also played at the
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands and Reliant
Center in Houston. With many fans in Sugar Land and Fort Bend,
Sugarland’s sweet southern sound continues to stick like glue. SLM
JENNIFER HEATH enjoys writing part-time and loves being a fulltime
mom to her sons Landry and Ryan.
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Sugarland has won two Grammy Awards and
numerous other nominations for its music
Photo Courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
2010
the Incredible Machine
2009
gold and green
Nettles hails from Georgia, while her
bandmate, Bush grew up in Tennessee
2009
live on the Inside
2008
love on the Inside
26 • sugar land magazine Visit SugarLandMagazine.com for Fort Bend jobs, events, news and more.
2006
Enjoy the ride
2004
twice the Speed of life

fast facts
Two-time Grammy award winners for Best Country
Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best
Country Song
Billboard’s Top Artist of the Year Chart in 2009 and
2010
Billboard 200 Albums of the Year Chart in 2005, 2006,
2007, 2009, and 2010
Has sold more than 8 million records
Six number 1 Top 10 Billboard Country Singles,
including “All I Want to Do,” “Already Gone,” “Want
To,” “Settlin’,” “It Happens,” and “Who Says You
Can’t Go Home” (duet with Bon Jovi)
Three number 1 Billboard Top Country Albums,
including “Love on the Inside,” “The Incredible
Machine,” and “Live on the Inside”
Photo Courtesy of Mercury Nashville Records, universal Music Group Nashville
To learn more about Sugarland, visit sugarlandmusic.com. Band members Jennifer Nettles and Kristian
Bush also have their own websites. Visit jennifernettles.com and kristianbush.com.
To advertise, call 281-579-7944 or email sales@sugarlandmagazine.com sugar land magazine • 27