Marla Jones, Managing Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — Fort Payne natives and all-around country icons of Alabama have announced their 2022 Fan Appreciation Week schedule.
Alabama hosted the first June Jam Festival in 1981. Fans descended upon Fort Payne, from across the United States, in hopes of seeing bandmembers Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and Jeff Cook.
Fan Appreciation replaced the June Jam Festival in 1997, and fans show up to celebrate the band's longtime success in country music.
Since Alabama was formed, the trio has 21 straight chart-topping hits, plenty of number one albums, and hundreds of industry awards including numerous Grammys, along with selling 73 million albums.
This year Fan Appreciation Week will be June 16-19. The schedule of events is as follows:
- Teddy Gentry’s “Singing with the Stars” Talent Contest, which benefits the DeKalb County Children’s Advocacy Center will be held on June 16 beginning at 7 p.m. at Northeast Alabama Community College. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling (256)997-9700 or purchase will be available at the door.
- The Fans Songwriters Showcase Spectacular, which will feature some of the biggest songwriters around will also be held at Northeast Alabama Community College on June 17, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $64 and can be obtained from the NACC website at www.nacc.edu All proceeds benefit the June Jam Foundation.
- A Fan Appreciation Concert, which is exclusively for prepaid members of the Alabama Fan Club, will be held on June 18. Tickets are $75 for regular tickets and $125 for VIP tickets. Proceeds benefit the Alabama Fan Club and Museum. Please call (256)845-1646 to purchase. Please have your membership number available.
- Weather permitting, Fan Appreciation Day concludes on June 19 at Randy Owens Pandemonium of the Farm. The event is located at 553 Randy Owen Drive NE, Fort Payne. Gates will open at 10 a.m. with lunch being served at 11 a.m. A $2 donation to St Jude is greatly appreciated.
Alabama still continues to tour across the United States. For more information on their tour schedule, visit www.alabamaband.com
