I joined this band as 2009 started up. "Chicken Fried" had already been #1 but we were still playing clubs & well over 200 shows that year. You could say that things are very different 3 years later. Some things stay the same.

Since last I blogged, we had our 9th consecutive #1 country song in "Keep Me In Mind." The CMA's came & went. As did Thanksgiving & Christmas. Zac has been nominated for yet another Grammy. Our new light & video stage show premiered just before the end of 2011 in Evansville, Nashville, & Atlanta. I assure you that it is lightyears beyond what we had been trotting out there. If you were there, you know that New Years Eve in Atlanta was EPIC... hopefully a preview of the year to come.

If you judge by our performance schedule, it may seem like we've been doing a whole bunch of nothing. Untrue. We began recording our new album (due out this year). I've been ordered to not mention anything beyond that. Sorry to disappoint... but we're all BIG fans of surprises.

Zac also got Camp Southern Ground approved by the city... so, if I'm not mistaken, they can start moving from the planning phase to the building phase very soon. It's silly that you have so many hoops to jump through to make something that will be inherently good.

2012 will bring a pair of twin girls to the John Driskell Hopkins'. We'd also like to congratulate Zac & Shelly on their one year anniversary of NOT being pregnant. I believe this is the longest strech since they started.

I think that's all I'm allowed to talk about now. I will say that we have an immense amount of work ahead of us. Many, many things that are in early stages that can't be talked about just yet. All I know is that the past 3 years have been amazing... & 2012 has the makings of being the best year yet.

-Clay