On Saturday, February 11th, McClain Christian Academy will again welcome some of Nashville’s best entertainers and songwriters to present “MCA’s Music at the Mill.” This evening is an exclusive up close and personal concert that will be unlike any other. The event will be held at The Mill, 300 North Maple Street in Lebanon. Limited tickets for the event are on sale now and are available by calling 615-444-2678. Benefit proceeds go to McClain Christian Academy (mcclainchristian.org).

This year’s event features all new artists and songwriters. The line-up includes:  Richie McDonald "I'm Already There," "Front Porch Looking In,"  Josh Turner “Your Man,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “All Over Me,” “Long Black Train” Joey+Rory “Some Beach” (Blake Shelton), “A Little More Country Than That” (Easton Corbin), “Cheater, Cheater,” “That’s Important To Me,” “This Song’s For You” Kevin Denney “That’s Just Jesse,” “Bonfire” (Craig Morgan), “Cowboy And A Dancer” (Tracy Byrd), “Don’t Ask Me About A Woman” (Easton Corbin), “On The Other Side” (Dailey & Vincent) Mandy Barnett “Mandy Barnett,” “I’ve Got A Right To Cry,” “Platinum Collection,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Sweet Dreams” albums; stage star of musical production “Always…Patsy Cline” Sal Gonzalez “Losing You,” “River Bank,” Heroes,” ”Baseball Bats & Photographs” Jason Lee McKinney “Firefly,” “Sounds Like Me,” “Lord Knows,” “Middle of Nowhere”

The venue offers four seating options: General Admission (Chairs Only) $35 (Section C), Reserved Table Seating $60 (Section B), VIP Seating $125 (Section A), and Platinum VIP $150 (Front Row). The VIP seating package affords guests front area seating, meet & greet with artists, dinner, and a Music at the Mill gift package. The Platinum VIP also includes an exclusive meet and greet with Josh Turner. Like this event, the McClain Christian Academy experience is unlike any other. MCA is a private non-profit school. “We have a strong educational foundation that puts Christ and family at the forefront. The specialized instructors in our learning environments focus on each child’s academic needs,” stated Dr. Charles Poston, Headmaster of McClain Christian Academy. The school has grown from Pixie Preschool to having its first high school graduating class in 2011. “All our families, staff, and students have a close bond that is unique. We celebrate everyone’s accomplishments and work together as a team for the advancement of our students and our school,” added Jennifer Whitener, Principal of the Primary School. For more information and a tour of McClain Christian Academy’s schools call 615-444-2678.

 Click here  to purchase tickets!

Country band Lonestar is excited to announce the reunion with their original lead singer Richie McDonald who left five years ago. Although the band members tried others avenues but came to the conclusion that the band is something meant to be. To celebrate this they will start recording a new album next year. The band will also be touring next year and have already announced four dates overseas in Europe. Naturally more dates will be announced in the US as well.

The buzz about LONESTAR began when the band sent a Tweet which read: “Big news for Lonestar fans coming tomorrow! 2012 marks our 20th anniversary. What would you like to see and hear from us?” The Texas-bred band, known for merging their country roots with strong melodies and rich vocals, has amassed RIAA-certified sales in excess of 10 million album units since their national launch in 1995 and achieved 10 #1 country hits including “No News,” “Come Crying To Me” and “Amazed.” The band’s awards include a 1999 ACM Single of The Year for “Amazed” (the song also won the Song of the Year award) and the 2001 CMA Vocal Group of the Year. After McDonald left the band for a solo career in 2007, LONESTAR toured and released their 10th album in 2010, Party Heard Around The World, with lead vocalist Cody Collins. The band wishes Cody the best in his future musical endeavors. Here’s what the band has to say: Richie McDonald: “Well, five years has come and gone since I left Lonestar. We've all tried other avenues and the fact remains that some things were just meant to be. With the Lonestar 20 year reunion approaching, Dean, Michael, Keech and I got together and have decided we have some unfinished business to take care of. I miss those crazy nights running around on stage making music with my band of brothers. Looking forward to a new chapter in the book of Lonestar and reliving some old memories and also making some new ones for the fans that have been loyal to us through thick and thin. See ya soon, God Bless, Richie.”

Dean Sams: "With 2012 in the near future, we all began thinking of what that meant to us as a band. 2012 is a huge landmark for us, marking 20 years of great music and friendship. It was seeing this milestone that began conversations about the legacy of Lonestar. The music we've created over the years, along with all of the fans we have made along the way, is something we have never taken for granted. We have so much more music to offer the country music fans, and truly feel they want us back on the radio and out on the road performing live for them. After a lot of soul searching and long conversations between all of us involved, we are energized and excited to be writing and recording new music together again!"

Keech Rainwater: “I think fans ultimately wondered if this was ever going to happen again and it always seemed like the original Lonestar as a whole was better than the sum of its parts. With Richie back in the band, fans can enjoy new music and again experience the sound they are used to hearing at our shows. Lonestar has always been very serious about the music we put out. I am excited to see and hear what comes out of this reunion and upcoming album. I think that having a break for a while, will have sparked new ideas and great music, both live and in the studio. Lonestar music seems to strike a chord with fans from all around. More specifically, ‘Amazed’ and ‘I'm Already There’ seemed to have changed people’s lives in one way or another. The thought of continuing that tradition and moving forward is very exciting.”

Michael Britt: “I’m very proud of everything we've achieved in our career so far, doing things that not many bands have been able to do. But even after all that we've done, I think we still have a powerful drive to keep making music and doing new things. In this case, doing a new thing is going to be getting back to where we started and hopefully taking Lonestar someplace new while giving our longtime fans and friends the familiar sound they know as Lonestar. I'm excited about the opportunity to celebrate our 20 years together this way and hope there are many more to come.” 2/26 London, England Wembley Arena 2/29 Belfast, Ireland Odyssey Arena 3/2 Zurich, Switzerland Hallenstadion 3/4 Mannheim, Germany SAP Arena

USNavySeals

Oct. 24, 2011

Sailors aboard the USS George H.W. Bush were treated to performance by the country music singing group The Frontmen on Oct. 19.

The Frontmen member Richie McDonald said “We’re here to lift spirits… Our job is to come out, let everybody have a good time and hopefully put a smile on (the Sailors’) faces.”

The frontmen is composed of Richie McDonald, former lead singer of the country band Lonestar; Tim Rushlow, formerly of the band Little Texas; and Larry Stewart, of the band Restless Heart. This is the first time that they are going on tour as a group, and they chose to make the USS George H.W. Bush as one of the stops in their tour, in order to be able to perfrorm for the sailors.

Aside from performing, the group members also spent time with the Sailors. They had lunch with the crew members and were given a tour of the ship. They also paid a visit to the flight deck, where they watched a barricade drill, as well as the radio studio of the ship.

The group’s performance was held at the ship’s hangar bay, where the ship’s Sailors gathered to watch the first live musical performance during their deployment. Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Chelsea R. Taufaasau shared: “I can’t think of a cooler place to have a concert than on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean.”

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Katie L. Heilmann, on the other hand, expressed gratitude to the group for making an effort to perform for them.

The Sailors sang along to such favorite tunes as “Amazed,” “The Bluest Eyes in Texas,” and “God Blessed Texas,” and were essentially given an opportunity to unwind and take a break from the routine of life at sea.

A review of singer-songwriter Richie McDonald's album "Slow Down," featuring the lead-off single "Footprints on the Moon," among other ballads.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Richie McDonald, the former lead vocalist of the group Lonestar, released his Slow Down album on December 1, 2010, via his independent record label, Loremoma Music.

It features twelve ballads, all of which were written or co-written by McDonald; moreover, he co-produced the record along with Tommy Lee James, who is also featured on backing vocals.

While attending the Liberty Medal of Honor Ceremony in Philadelphia on 9/22/2011, Richie had to opportunity to meet Former Secretary Robert M. Gates.