When <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong>, the country music band, was searching for a name and first heard about <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Land</strong>, 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 s<strong>on</strong>gwriter had been enjoying individual success <strong>on</strong> 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 harm<strong>on</strong>ized voices. <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> performs for a packed arena at the Houst<strong>on</strong> Livestock Show and Rodeo The story goes that <strong>on</strong>e 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 <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Land</strong>. Nettles, Bush, and Hall instantly loved the name. The band <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> was born. a Sweet Start A couple m<strong>on</strong>ths after they first started playing together, Nettles, Bush, and Hall signed a c<strong>on</strong>tract 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 s<strong>on</strong>gwriter, was quoted as saying she wanted to stay home and work <strong>on</strong> writing, rather than tour with a band. The band’s success didn’t slow down as it transformed into a duo. <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> w<strong>on</strong> the Academy of Country Music award for best new duo or group in 2006. Bush and Nettles earned a Grammy nominati<strong>on</strong> for best new artist in 2006, too, but lost to John Legend. Nettles also sang a duet with B<strong>on</strong> Jovi in the s<strong>on</strong>g, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” which reached number <strong>on</strong>e <strong>on</strong> the Billboard Country Music Charts. Others began noticing the duo’s success, too, and in 2006, <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> went <strong>on</strong> tour with Kenny Chesney. Sticking Power <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tinued to reach out to country music fans and garner more attenti<strong>on</strong> and accolades. In 2007, Nettles penned the duo’s award-winning s<strong>on</strong>g, “Stay.” The quiet ballad shares a haunting melody to listeners about being the other woman in a relati<strong>on</strong>ship. The s<strong>on</strong>g stayed in the minds of critics as it went <strong>on</strong> to win Academy of Country Music awards as best s<strong>on</strong>g and single of the Photo Courtesy of Houst<strong>on</strong> Livestock Show and Rodeo <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> decided <strong>on</strong> its band name after hearing a friend say she had been born there year. CMT Music Awards named the s<strong>on</strong>g’s video as duo video of the year. <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> also earned awards at the Grammys in 2009 for “Stay” as the best country performance by a duo or group with vocals, al<strong>on</strong>g with the best country s<strong>on</strong>g. Nettles and Bush went <strong>on</strong> to create the album Love <strong>on</strong> 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 milli<strong>on</strong>. Hall claimed she had an agreement with the two to share profits after she left the band, but had not received her porti<strong>on</strong> of the earnings. The suit was later settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. keeping Incredibly Busy <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tinues 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, <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> recently played to fans in March at the Houst<strong>on</strong> Livestock Show and Rodeo. The duo has also played at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavili<strong>on</strong> in The Woodlands and Reliant Center in Houst<strong>on</strong>. With many fans in <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Land</strong> and Fort Bend, <strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong>’s sweet southern sound c<strong>on</strong>tinues to stick like glue. SLM JENNIFER HEATH enjoys writing part-time and loves being a fulltime mom to her s<strong>on</strong>s <strong>Land</strong>ry and Ryan. To advertise, call 281-579-7944 or email sales@sugarlandmagazine.com sugar land magazine • 25
<strong><strong>Sugar</strong>land</strong> has w<strong>on</strong> two Grammy Awards and numerous other nominati<strong>on</strong>s for its music Photo Courtesy of Houst<strong>on</strong> 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 <strong>on</strong> the Inside 2008 love <strong>on</strong> the Inside 26 • sugar land magazine Visit <strong>Sugar</strong><strong>Land</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.com for Fort Bend jobs, events, news and more. 2006 Enjoy the ride 2004 twice the Speed of life
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