BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene
NASHVILLE – Craig Campbell hasn’t lived in his small hometown of Lyons, Ga., for more than a decade, but one of his annual visits home to see his mother, brother and sister is always for Thanksgiving.
"Going to my mama's, man, that turkey, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce – that's just what mama does," Campbell said in a recent interview before the CMA Awards in Nashville earlier this month.
Campbell will have a shorter drive home this year, though, because he's coming from Atlanta, where he performs Sunday night as part of the Macy's Great Tree Lighting ceremony.
The “Outskirts of Heaven” singer will be joined by Aloe Blacc and Michelle Williams at the holiday celebration at Lenox Square Mall, which kicks off at 7 p.m.
“We’re going to do a couple of Christmas songs, a couple of my songs,” Campbell said. “It’s my first time doing it and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s Christmas and it’s Atlanta – come on! I used to play in Atlanta a lot at Peachtree Tavern so I’ve spent a good amount of time there.”
Campbell, a “ridiculous” Atlanta Falcons fan, also plans to return to the city to accept team owner Thomas Dimitroff’s invitation to watch the Dirty Birds battle the New Orleans Saints on New Year’s Day.
“They’re gettin’ it done,” he said of his favored team. “AND, it will be the last home game at the (Georgia) Dome.”
Campbell is currently working on his third studio album and will play the 30th Annual Downtown Hoedown in Las Vegas on Nov. 30.
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