It’s the perfect storm of success right now for The Band Perry.
Their introspective ballad, “If I Die Young,” recently achieved triple platinum status; they’re nominated for 14 awards among the AMAs, CMAs and ACAs; and they’re in the midst of a tour with Reba McEntire, which stops at Gwinnett Arena Nov. 12.
Oh, and they’ll perform “If I Die Young” on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” on Oct. 18.
“We’re big fans of the show. We always wind up catching up on the season after it’s ended, but I love the costumes,” said Kimberly Perry, calling last week with her brothers Neil and Reid from a tour bus en route to Indiana.
While the past year has seen the trio traipsing all over the country in support of their eponymous debut album, which just turned a year old and also spawned the hits “You Lie” and “All Your Life,” Atlanta is familiar terrain.
The group broke an attendance record at the North Georgia State Fair last month when more than 10,000 fans clamored to see them perform.
And next week, they’ll take a quick detour from the McEntire tour to play a special A-List Lounge show for Star 94 FM.
“We grew up in the deep South, in Mobile [Alabama], so we used to come to Atlanta all the time. It’s where I feel like we musically developed,” Perry said.
Another reason for their frequent visits back in the day? Jan Smith was the siblings’ vocal coach.
And speaking of Smith, she’s now known to the masses as “Mama Jan” thanks to her affiliation with Justin Bieber...with whom The Band Perry recently recorded the Christmas song, “Home This Christmas,” due to appear on Bieber’s Christmas album, out Nov. 1.
The band hit the studio with Bieber while in Canada last month opening for Keith Urban.
“He’s become a little buddy of ours,” Perry said.
Considering that the family is trapped on a tour bus more often than not, it would be understandable if a little crankiness ensued on occasion.
“We were on a bus last year all but 19 days. This is now our home,” said Neil Perry with a laugh. “We know which buttons to push with each other, and we will, depending how boring the day is.”
Middle Perry Reid, meanwhile, takes a practical approach to the siblings’ hierarchy.
“We play our stereotypical roles. Kim is the big sister, Neil is the baby, so he gets away with everything,” Reid Perry said. “And me? I try to keep the peace.”
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