2006-Hillary ScottVocals2006-
Charles KelleyVocals, Guitar2006-
Dave HaywoodGuitar, Piano, Mandolin2006-
Known as "Lady Antebellum" for their first 14 years, on June 11, 2020, the trio changed their name to "Lady A" as part of a movement to renounce imagery associated with slavery (a day earlier, NASCAR banned Confederate flags at races). They explained in a statement:
"When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the southern 'antebellum' style home where we took our first photos. As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced us... Southern Rock, Blues, R&B, Gospel and of course Country. But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before The Civil War, which includes slavery."
The Lady Antebellum name came from when the trio were taking pictures to put on their MySpace page in Franklin, Tennessee, where there are plenty of historic antebellum homes. (The antebellum architectural style describes the large plantation homes in the American South). The trio thought "antebellum" was a cool word and stuck "lady" in front of it.
Charles Kelley is the younger brother of singer-songwriter
Josh Kelley. As kids, the Kelley brothers did everything together. When Josh started playing guitar, Charles made a little makeshift drum kit.
In high school, Kelley’s nickname was Chucky Love. "I was tall and awkward with bad skin," he recalled to People, "so I never got the girls."
When they were young teens, Charles and Josh were in a country rock group, Inside Blue, who were discovered by James Brown. The Godfather of Soul and his manager Larry Friday offered them a record deal, but the brothers turned them down. "We were too young," Josh Kelley recalled. "We were, like, 14. It was ridiculous."
Lady Antebellum made their recording debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone," which reached #14 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart.
Their self-titled first album was the first by a new duo or group to debut at #1 on the Country Albums chart.
The trio took home five trophies at the 53rd Grammy Awards on the strength of their huge crossover hit, "
Need You Now." They won Song and Record of the Year honors, as well as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, Best Country Song and Best Country Album.
All three of the members are married. Kelley and publicist Cassie McConnell were wed in 2009, Scott tied the knot in January 2012 with drummer Chris Tyrrell, and Haywood exchanged vows in August 2012 with Kelli Cashiola, who was then a Warner Bros. label executive.
Charles Kelley is the brother in-law of actress Katherine Heigl, as a result of his brother Josh's marriage.
Charles Kelley has a Flower of Life tattoo on his left arm. "I had a Beatles song, a little mantra that, every time I got stressed out, I would sing to myself: 'Nothing's gonna change my world, nothing's gonna change my world,'" he explained to
Taste of Country regarding his ink. "That is a song called '
Across The Universe'... and this Flower of Life represents, kind of, the universe and how we're all connected."
Hillary Scott auditioned twice for American Idol, but she didn't make it through to the judges in either attempt.
Asked during a Reddit AMA what their favorite road trip game is, the Lady A trio replied: "Ping Pong at the venue before each show, mandatory!"
Hillary Scott is the daughter of '90s country star Linda Davis, who topped the Hot Country Songs chart in 1993 with the Reba McEntire duet "Does He Love You."
Because his brother and sister are 10 years older, Charles Kelley was listening to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, and even Black Sabbath at age 8.
