If nearly 1,000 people are at Touch of Texas on a Thursday night, then you know it must be a big event. You would be right as Lonestar came back to the Southern Tier for the third time and this time with a new lead singer.

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Former lead singer Richie McDonald left the group for the second time to form a new group called "The Frontmen of Country" with Larry Stewart (voice of Restless Heart) and Tim Rushlow (frontman for Little Texas).

Lonestar's New Lead Singer

Drew Womack is the new lead man for Lonestar and that name will probably ring a bell for long-time country fans. He was the lead singer for Sons of the Desert and they had a top 10 hit with "Whatever Comes First" in 1997. Drew is second from the right.

Glenn Pitcher
Glenn Pitcher
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They also were the guest vocalists for Lee Ann Womack's (no relation) 2000 #1 hit "I Hope You Dance" and Ty Herndon's #1 in 1997, "It Must Be Love." Drew has also written songs for other country artists including Kenny Chesney's "She's Got It All" which was #1 for four weeks.

You may remember when Sons of the Desert opened for Trace Adkins at Pine Valley Campground in the 90s. Speaking of Pine Valley Campground, it was recently sold and the new owners have tons of cool ideas for it.

Don't miss your chance to revel in what it looked like when you were a kid with these photos below.

Own a Piece of Endicott History With the Pine Valley Campground

Top Country Songs of 2021, Ranked

You'll find much more than just the Top 10 Country Songs of 2021 on this list. Enjoy the 21 best country songs of the year, based on Taste of Country staff and country music fan opinion, plus commercial data (sales, streaming, airplay).

To be considered, the song must have been released in 2021 or have actively charted for a portion of the year (see "Wine, Beer, Whiskey"). New artists including Lainey Wilson, Larry Fleet and Morgan Wade crack the top songs list, while hitmakers including Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean and Luke Combs make the Top 10.

Let us know your favorite song of 2021 on Twitter, or email us at staff@tasteofcountry.com.

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