Amy Grant News and Articles

FRANKLIN — In the vein of Ripley's Believe It or Not, Vince Gill and Amy Grant will headline a not-to-be-missed afternoon of celebration at Historic Carnton Plantation on Sunday.

The gates open at 1 p.m. No admission will be charged. A donation of $10 or more per person is requested.

The afternoon of music precedes the regularly scheduled Westhaven Sunset Concert at 5 p.m. featuring Stacy Mitchhart & Blues-U-Can-Use. It goes without saying this is likely the first time he's had Vince and Amy open for him.

The bigger-than-big afternoon is a celebration for Franklin's Charge, the nonprofit effort to acquire the property adjacent to Carnton for a national battlefield park.

To date, $2.5 million has been pledged to acquire the land that served as the eastern flank of the Battle of Franklin. The group of activists, led by Julian Bibb and Robert Hicks, hopes this Sunday afternoon of big-name entertainment will help raise the final $400,000 needed to "close the deal" in November, according to Angela Calhoun, executive director of Carnton.

In addition to Vince and Amy, classical guitarist Jonathan Sargent and two choirs will perform during the afternoon. Word on the street is some of Vince and Amy's big-name music pals may just show up as well.

And the originally scheduled band, Stacy Mitchhart & Blues-U-Can-Use, is nothing to sneeze at. They bring their own unique brand of entertainment to the outdoor stage.

As always, patrons will be packing picnics, lawn chairs and blankets on which to sprawl. Burgers hot off the grill a la Back Yard Burgers will be available for purchase.

Beer, wine, mint juleps, soft drinks and bottled water are also available for purchase.

The afternoon of stellar entertainment would be a bargain at any price; for a requested $10 donation, it surely qualifies for Ripley's. Call 794-0903 for additional information. n

Winner takes all

COOL SPRINGS —Barnes & Noble, 1701 Mallory Lane in Cool Springs, gives a whole new meaning to Game Night with its Friday family night of fun.

"Would You Rather?" is the featured game this week. Winners take the game home.

The price of this Friday night fun is a real winner: free. Call 371-8993 for additional information.

Bring on the band

COOL SPRINGS —The Williamson County Community Band, made up of 40 to 50 musicians ages 17 to 70, offers a free (our favorite price) concert at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Aspen Grove Park.

The music is fun, the price is right and the Law Enforcement Explorer Post will be on hand to sell refreshments. Call 794-2103 for additional information.

Carnton's Carrie McGavock makes her debut

GREEN HILLS — Franklin's Charge co-founder Robert Hicks and his Civil War heroine, Carrie McGavock, make their national debut Tuesday as Hicks' first novel, The Widow of the South, is released as Warner Books' fall lead title.

Hicks will begin his book-signing tour at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills, 4007 Hillsboro Road, at 6 p.m.

A renaissance man who has been a fixture on Music Row as a publisher and manager for two decades, a nationally known art collector and activist for Franklin's Charge, Hicks has now decided to become a novelist.

Early reviews are stellar. Kirkus Reviews: "An impressive addition to the library of historical fiction on the Civil War, worthy of a place alongside The Killer Angels, Rifles for Watie and Shiloh."

Library Journal's starred review: "Based on a true story, music publisher Hicks' first novel brings the reader onto the battlefield and into the lives of its survivors."

Hicks has woven an epic love story around the Battle of Franklin and the woman who lived in the Carnton plantation home and helped to find the final resting place for 1,500 soldiers.

The Davis-Kidd signing offers an opportunity to get a copy of Hicks' novel hot off the press, complete with his John Hancock. •