ACM award winner Adkins returning to fair

(Photo submitted) Louisiana-native Trace Adkins was awarded an Academy of Country Music Award for Single of the Year for "Your Gonna Miss This," in early April.

The 2009 Clay County Fair will feature a night with a pair of country's hottest stars on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Louisiana-native Trace Adkins, burst onto the county scene in 1996 with his debut album Dreamin' Out Loud. The album garnered his first Billboard number one hit with "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing." Other hit singles produced from that album including "Every Light in the House" and "I Left Something Turned on at Home."

Most recently, Adkins released a second Greatest Hits compilation, American Man: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2. His first single, "I Got My Game On," was released in August of 2007 followed by the second single, "You're Gonna Miss This." On April 5, Adkins received high recognition when he was awarded an Academy of Country Music Award for Single of the Year for "Your Gonna Miss This."

In 2001, Adkins released the album Chrome, which marked his first to reach the Top Five on the Country Album charts. The title track of the same name, reached Top 10 on the charts in late 2002.

Adkins reached a milestone in his country career in 2003, when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. He also released two albums in that year, a greatest hits collection and Comin' on Strong.

2005 marked the release of Adkins' album, Songs about Me. The tremendously popular hit, "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk", came from the album and served as a successful crossover hit landing in the Top 40 for the Billboard Hot 100.

Joining Adkins at the Clay County Fair will be former Trick Pony lead singer, Heidi Newfield.

Newfield hit the country charts in 2000 when her group, Trick Pony, released their first self-title album. Hit songs emerged from the album including "Pour Me" and "On a Night Like This," which received a Grammy Award nomination. The group's success was recognized in 2001 when they received the Artist of the Year award from the Country Music Association as well as the American Music Association's Top New Artist Award.

In 2006, Newfield announced that she would be leaving Trick Pony to pursue a solo career. Her debut single, "Johnny & June," was released in early 2008 followed by the release of her first album, What Am I Waiting For. In late September, "Johnny & June" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Country charts. Her second single, "Cry Cry (Til' the Sun Shines)," continues to climb the charts.

Early February 2009, Newfield received high honor recognition with the announcement of five Academy of Country Music Award nominations. Her song, "Johnny & June," was nominated for Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year.

Trace Adkins, with special guest Heidi Newfield, will appear in front of the Grandstands at 6 p.m. on the last evening of the fair. Further information on tickets sales will be announced soon. The 2009 Clay County Fair will be held Sept. 12-20. For more information visit www.claycountyfair.com or call the office at 262-4740.