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Star 94’s Jingle Jam 2009 features Leona Lewis, the Fray, Jordin Sparks, Cobra Starship

Oct 21, 2009

Star 94 put together a fairly strong lineup for its annual Jingle Jam, certainly better than last year's.

The top 40 station has brought back the Fray (left), who were at Jingle Jam 2007. The band is now the headliner with four big hits on its resume ("Over My Head," "You Found Me," "How To Say a Life," "Never Say Never"). The band has crossover appeal to both the daughter and the mom.

British reality show "X Factor" winner Leona Lewis, who has a couple of major hits ("Bleeding Love," "Better in Time"), should bring some vocal luster to the package.

What do you think of this year's Jingle Jam lineup?

The youthful, bubbly Jordin Sparks has had four major hits so far in her short career since winning "Idol" in 2007: "Tattoo," "No Air," "One Step at a Time" and "Battlefield." She has been a Star 94 staple for the past two years.

Cobra Starship broke out last month with a top 5 hit "Good Girls Gone Bad."

Owl City has a song called "Fireflies," ranked in the top 20 on Star 94's playlist. It's No. 15 on the Mediabase 24/7 charts.

Justin Bieber is some Canadian teen who's up and coming. I know very little about him though Atlanta's Usher has helped him out big time. He has a top 20 hit called "One Time."

The show is at 7 p.m. December 17 at Gwinnett Arena. In most years, it has sold out. Tix range from $27 to $77 though the $57 and $77 tickets are already sold out. Tickets went on sale on Saturday.

My favorite lineup is still 2003, which included Maroon 5, Sarah McLachlan, Jessica Simpson and Barenaked Ladies.

2004: Duran Duran

2005: Jason Mraz, Switchfoot, Gavin DeGraw, Howie Day and James Blunt.

2006: Hinder, the Fray, K.T. Tunstall, Goo Goo Dolls

2007: Elliott Yamin, Colbie Caillat, Jonas Brothers, Avril Lavigne

2008: We the Kings, Flyleaf, David Archuleta, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw

About the Author

Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.

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