Country music breakthrough artist and American Idol fan favorite Kellie Pickler will take the stage at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on August 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 15 at 1 p.m.
Kellie Pickler’s dream took root in Albemarle, North Carolina where she took part in a handful of talent contests, worked as a Sonic waitress and studied to become a paralegal. Then, in the fall of 2005, she auditioned in Greensboro for American Idol. Her raw talent and her attractive and unfiltered personality won her a legion of fans, among them the sometimes unpredictable Simon Cowell.
Pickler reached the show’s final six, signed with BNA Records and recorded her first album in whirlwind sessions sandwiched between dates on the American Idol tour. Its release established her firmly in the country marketplace and her breath-of-fresh-air personality did the rest.
She established herself quickly as both a singer and a songwriter to be reckoned with, co-writing her first hit, “Red High Heels,” her first gold single. Her debut album, Small Town Girl, produced two follow-up hits – the poignant “I Wonder,” which she also co-wrote, and the light-hearted “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind.” Together, they propelled the release to near-platinum status.
Her second album, Kellie Pickler, for which she co-wrote half the songs, spawned the uplifting “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” and “Best Days of Your Life.” The latter, co-written with Taylor Swift, quickly became the biggest hit of her career, rising to the Top Ten and earning Platinum in digital sales.
In her brief but sparkling career, Pickler won three 2008 CMT Music Awards–Breakthrough Video, Tearjerker Video and Performance of the Year–all for “I Wonder,” and has earned many other award nominations. She has received two ASCAP awards citing “Red High Heels” and “I Wonder” as among the most performed country songs of the year. Both her albums debuted #1 country and Top Ten overall in Billboard, a feat equaled by only six other females in country music. She has hosted The View, graced the cover of USA Weekend, and served as correspondent in Times Square for Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest to usher in 2009.
Tickets cost $69, $59 and $44*; all seats are available at the Hard Rock Live Box Office, Tuesday – Saturday from noon – 6 p.m. and Sunday – Monday only open on event days at noon. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.
Hard Rock Live, a spectacular state-of-the-art facility, further expands the ultimate entertainment experience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This 5,500-seat indoor arena regularly hosts South Florida’s greatest variety of musical acts and top comedians and is home to major sporting events. For more information, please visit www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com or www.facebook.com/seminolehardrockhollywood.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino invites you to PLAYHARD! Play, stay, dine, and shop at South Florida’s ultimate entertainment destination. Over 90 tables offer Blackjack, Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker, Casino War and Let it Ride on a nearly three-acre casino floor. Additionally, 2,500 Vegas-style slots include the Native-American Casino linked Multi-Area Progressive Jackpots and Mega Jackpots. Separate high-limit rooms for table games and slots, in addition to a non-smoking room, are available for guests to enjoy. Loyal Player’s Club members also have access to the exclusive VIP Plum Lounge and VIP Chef’s Table show kitchen. The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise hosts various games and tournaments of Limit and No Limit Texas Hold ‘em, 7-Card Stud and two dollar and four dollar limit Omaha Hi Lo games. Located inside the casino is Hard Rock Cafe -Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 134 globally recognized rock ‘n’ roll themed restaurants. The Green Lodging Certified by the State of Florida, AAA Four Diamond-rated resort showcases 500 luxurious guest rooms, 17 restaurants and lounges, 40,000 square feet of meeting room space, the Body Rock Spa, 23 boutique shops, 12 nightclubs, the 400-seat Paradise Live theater and the 5,500–seat Hard Rock Live concert arena. Located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. Take I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way. For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1 800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com or www.facebook.com/seminolehardrockhollywood .