Sugarland kicks off tour at Gwinnett Arena

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Sugarland kicks off tour at Gwinnett Arena

Atlanta's award-winning Sugarland kicked off its latest tour at Gwinnett Arena. Sugarland won two Grammys and the Academy of Country Music Award for best vocal duo.

Atlanta's country duo superstars Sugarland, --Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush -- opened their North American tour with a sold out performance at the Gwinnett Arena Friday, April 10, 2009. Georgia native Luke Bryan opened the show. Sugarland.

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles sings "It Happens." Nettles received a Milestone award at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on April 5.

Sugarland was named Vocal Duo of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, ending Brooks & Dunn's nine-year run.

Nettles sang with Jon Bon Jovi on the 2005 single "Who Says You Can't Go Home." The song went on to become a No. 1 hit on the country charts.

Kristian Bush was a founder of Sugarland, along with singer-songwriter Kristen Hall. The group became a trio when Jennifer Nettles was brought in as lead singer. Hall left the band in 2006.

Sugarland won two Grammys this year, for Best Country Song and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group.

In December, 2006, Sugarland scored its first No. 1 country single with "Want To." The track came from the band's second album,"Enjoy the Ride," which also included the No. 1 "Settlin' " and the No. 2 "Stay."

The current Sugarland tour includes stops in Dallas and Austin, Texas, New Orleans and Minneapolis.

Jennifer Nettles is a native of Douglas, in deep south Georgia. While a student at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, she and Cory Jones, then a student at the University of Georgia, formed the group Soul Miner's Daughter, which released albums in 1996 and 1998.

In January 2009, "Already Gone" became the second No. 1 single from "Love on the Inside" and Sugarland's fourth chart-topper.

Singer-songwriter Luke Bryan opened for Sugarland. His debut single "All My Friends Say," was a Top 5 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in 2007.

A native of Leesburg, Ga., who attended Georgia Southern University, Luke Bryan co-wrote Billy Currington's mid-2007 No. 1 hit "Good Directions."

These Sugarland fans from Warner Robbins are, from left, Natalie and Abbi Rainwater, and Laura Janelli.

Part of the crowd at the sold out show.

More of the fans having a good time at the Sugarland show in Gwinnett.

Todd and Dallas of Kicks 101.5 FM talk to the crowd.

The Sugarland set list.

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Atlanta's country duo superstars Sugarland, --Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush -- opened their North American tour with a sold out performance at the Gwinnett Arena Friday, April 10, 2009. Georgia native Luke Bryan opened the show. Sugarland.

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