Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley

LADY ANTEBELLUM

The hit country trio takes control of its own chemistry

“If we could combine all our talent into one person, we’d be one hell of a good songwriter,” jokes Charles Kelley, one-third of the Grammy-nominated country trio Lady Antebellum.

Kelley and bandmates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood are doing just fine as it is. After finding fame with 2007’s platinum-certified self-titled album, the Nashville-based group returns with its much-anticipated follow-up, Need You Now. The first single and title track—which recently spent five consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s country singles chart—is about the romantic longing and regret that creeps in late at night after a few drinks. The song shows a more adventurous side of the trio, one that takes advantage of the chemistry between Kelley and co-lead singer Scott.

Kelley believes the success of the first album’s hit “I Run to You” proved that the group could connect with fans on a more mature level than its record company had expected. “If ‘I Run to You’ hadn’t worked, I don’t think the label or anybody would have felt confident about putting out ‘Need You Now,’” he says, sitting in his manager’s Nashville office. “But because it did, people responded to the [vocal] back-and-forth, the honest lyrics and taking some chances with production.”

And now there’s no turning back. Following their debut’s breakout status, Kelley, Scott and Haywood decided to take the production reins on Need You Now alongside behind-the-boards veteran Paul Worley. “We wanted to take more of a role on this one,” Kelley says.

In doing so, the band has put together a set that builds on its debut without duplicating it. “There’s still some stuff that’s very reminiscent of [our hits] ‘Love Don’t Live Here’ and ‘Lookin’ for a Good Time,’” explains Kelley. “But this album is more about getting creative and taking chances.”

The trio co-wrote seven of the album’s 11 tracks with such noted Music City tunesmiths as Rivers Rutherford, Monty Powell and Craig Wiseman. Kelley (whose older brother is the well-known singer and songwriter Josh Kelley) points out that the group’s original songs typically start with an idea from its least high-profile member, guitarist and harmony singer Haywood. “He’ll riff and Hillary and I

will melodically come up with a vocal melody over it,” Kelley says. “When we get stuck, he’ll come in and chime in as far as a vocal melody. He knows exactly where I’ll want to go. It’s almost like he’s in my brain. I don’t like working without either of them.”

–Melinda Newman

Jan/Feb 2010 Issue of M Music & Musicians