By Jeanne Sager
BETHEL — March 6, 2007 — They’re going country – back to their roots.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will welcome back country star Brad Paisley in July.
He’ll be joined onstage for his Bonfires and Amplifiers tour by American Idol runner-up Kellie Pickler – the Southern girl who plucked heart strings all the way to a sixth place finish on last year’s show and a recording contract in Nashville.
Pickler’s “Red High Heels” has been vying for position with on the country charts with the songs of two other Nashville stars expected to join her in Bethel – Jack Ingram and Taylor Swift.
According to concert industry Website Pollstar.com, the country stars are expected in Bethel on July 29, the day after performing in Hershey, Pa.
Pollstar ranked Paisley’s last tour, Time Well Wasted, fourth in total attendance for country tours – that included his July 28 stop in Bethel with Eric Church and Restless Heart.
Bethel Woods Marketing Director Matt McNeil couldn’t confirm Paisley’s upcoming appearance – although he admitted it’s been well documented on the Web.
“We can’t control what’s out there,” McNeil said. “Country notoriously books extremely early.”
Bethel Woods will make its own announcements on the 2007 summer season line-up when it has every detail in line, he said.
“Bethel Woods is currently working on an exciting line-up for the 2007 season,” McNeil noted. “We are not ready to announce any programming, but look forward to providing more information as we confirm events."
McNeil said last year’s performance by Paisley was the best-attended all summer by residents of Sullivan County.
Of just over 6,800 tickets sold for his 2006 concert, more than 40 percent went to residents of Sullivan County.
“Brad Paisley is hands-down the local favorite,” McNeil said.