Sugarland Makes Success Seem Simple

GAC Music Beat

By Ronna Rubin

Sugarland photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

March 12, 2007 — The group Sugarland makes it look easy. Breeze onto the scene with a debut album, sell 2 million of them, score several hit singles — including one with rock star Jon Bon Jovi — and win an award or two. And then repeat.

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are the singing/songwriting duo known as Sugarland. The act was originally a trio, but Kristin Hall left last year to focus on songwriting. A second album, "Enjoy The Ride," is an aptly named disc from a duo clearly doing just that. Already the disc has been certified platinum, marking more than 1 million units in sales.

"We really try to remember to stay here in this experience," Bush tells GAC Night's Suzanne Alexander in an episode airing later this month. "We are grateful, but never relieved!"

"We like pressure, having expectations to live up to," Nettles says of releasing a follow-up to a double-platinum-selling debut. As far as that pressure, the 32-year-old says that for her it was mostly about the songwriting. "We were bringing in new energy."

Sugarland also has toured with the best, joining both Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn on the road. "Kenny's one to emulate as far as the career he's built," Nettles says.

They've also learned the importance of leading by example. "However you treat others, that filters all the way through your organization, down to the truck driver. If you're laid back and having a blast, so will they."

For their sophomore effort, the group changed producers, hooking up with Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack), and collaborated with writers including Bobby Pinson, Lisa Carver and Tim Owens. Nettles is quick to note that for her, the highest compliment comes from knowing they've touched someone with their songs. "When someone comes up to you and says, 'That's my story,' that they relate to you, that is the highest compliment for a writer."

They've also produced more than a couple of hit music videos, due in no small part to Nettles' good looks. "It's fun to learn how to work the camera and see how it translates."

Could acting projects be the next logical step? "I've read a couple of scripts and am definitely interested in that," she says. "I'd love to do some live theater or musicals."

Nettles and Bush credit their successful partnership to keeping the lines of communication open. "We still talk all the time," Bush says. "You're this close to each other all the time ... you can't be anti-social and enjoy this job."

(Ronna Rubin, a 21-year veteran of the music industry, can be contacted at ronna@gacmusicbeat.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)