MORRISTOWN - For country music fans far and wide, the wait is over - Jamboree In The Hills 2008 is here.
This year's Super Bowl of Country Music will officially get under way this morning with the traditional "Running of the Rednecks," as thousands of fans - many of whom have been waiting since the campgrounds opened Monday - stampede through the outdoor amphitheater gates and jockey for position, hoping to garner the best seats in the house.
While some fan favorites are conspicuously absent from this year's festivities, the 2008 lineup should have plenty in store to keep the crowd roaring all weekend long.
Article Photos
(Photo by Katie Matz)
Terry Duvall, left, and Chuck Marryman get ready to use a spit grill built by Duvall to provide food for a friend’s 50th birthday party Wednesday at the Jamboree In The Hills site near Morristown. The Jamboree officially gets under way today.
Two Ohio Valley natives - Brad Paisley of Glen Dale and Joe Zelek of Mount Pleasant - will perform today. One of Zelek's newest singles, aptly titled "Jamboree In The Hills," has been adopted as the event's theme song.
Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Gary Allan and Crossin Dixon will take the stage Friday.
Reba McEntire and Brooks and Dunn headline the Saturday lineup, along with Rodney Atkins, Neal McCoy, The Chris Higbee Project, The Fabulous Bender Boys, Christian Simmons and The Hitmen of Music Row.
Fact Box
TODAY'S LINEUP
= Tristen "T-Bone" Smith
= Joe Zelek of Mount Pleasant
= Julianne Hough
= Chuck Wicks
= Jewel
= Brad Paisley
Sugarland, Keith Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Paul Thorn and Mayf Nutter will bring JITH 2008 to a close Sunday.
Nutter, who wrote the original JITH theme song in 1978, is making his first appearance at the country music extravaganza since 2001.
Through the years, the Jamboree stage in Morristown has seen the likes of country music legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, The Charlie Daniels Band, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams Jr.
Jamboree In The Hills fans are die-hard, as many will tell you - Patty Palenicek of Shadyside is making her third pilgrimage to JITH, but this year the event has special meaning.
Although she turned 50 on Monday, Palenicek decided to wait until Wednesday to celebrate the milestone - camping out at Jamboree In The Hills with 100 of her closest friends.
"We're going to make it a weeklong celebration," said Palenicek, who noted the group brought a portable shower and pool with them.
Palenicek said she is a relative of Tristen "T-Bone" Smith, who is slated to perform today. She's most looking forward to hearing him, Zelek and Paisley, and said she's having a wonderful time this week.
"So far, we've had a blast - the weather's been nice, and we've met a lot of nice people already," Palenicek said. "It's worth every penny - we're going to have a great time!"
Katie Matz contributed to this report.