April 1: Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum is 25 today.

Hillary grew up in Nashville and was raised around other artists and writers. Her mother is country music singer Linda Kaye Davis who charted three minor country singles as one half of the duo Skip & Linda and won a Grammy for her duet with Reba McEntire. In her solo career, Davis has recorded five major-label studio albums and more than 15 singles.

When she was young, Hillary had no desire to become a musician herself, since it required being away from home too often.
That changeed after her first performance during her junior year in high school, when she joined her mother on stage for a family Christmas show at Opryland. Following the show, she changed her mind, and decided she wanted a career in music.

After high school at Donelson Christian Academy, Scott worked with singer-songwriter Victoria Shaw and earned some publicity, but was unable to secure a contract with a major studio. She auditioned for American Idol twice, but was rejected by the judges in both cases.

Then she met future band members Charles Kelley and later Dave Haywood. She ran into Kelley at a Nashville bar and had recognized him from his MySpace page, where she had previously heard his music. She asked him if they could play music some time.

The trio got together to write some songs at first, but ended up forming Lady Antebellum. Scott claims that being part of Lady Antebellum, as opposed to being a solo artist, lessens the pressure on her on the stage.




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Lady Antebellum officially formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone," before signing to Capitol Records Nashville and releasing "Love Don't Live Here." The song, which nearly reached the top due to its breakthrough performance by the group peaked at #3 on the Hot Country Songs chart in May 2008, served as the first single to the group's self-titled debut album.

Certified platinum in the U.S., the album also includes the singles "Lookin' for a Good Time" and "I Run to You," the latter of which became the group's first Number One in July 2009.

"Need You Now," was released in mid-2009 and was the first single off the band's new album released in January 2010; it was also the group's second number one single. "American Honey," the second single from Need You Now, was released in January 2010, and became their 4th top 10 single, as well as their third #1 single. "Our Kind of Love," the album's third single, was released in May 2010, and became their fourth consecutive Number One on the Hot Country Songs chart.

Lady Antebellum has been awarded Top New Duo or Group in 2009 by the Academy of Country Music and New Artist of the Year in 2008 by the Country Music Association. They were nominated for two Grammy Awards at the 2009 51st Grammy Awards; and two more at the 2010 52nd Grammy Awards.

Of these nominations, they took home the award for Best Country Performance by Duo or Group with Vocals for "I Run to You." More recently on April 18, 2010, the group was awarded Top Vocal Group, Song of the Year ("Need You Now"), and Single of the Year ("Need You Now") at the 45th ACM Awards.

The group was nominated in six categories for the 2011 53rd Grammy Awards.  The trio won the Grammy for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Country Song, Best Country Album and and Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals.


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