Countryfest 2001 Memories 10 Years Later

As we get set for a huge WGNA Countryfest 2011on July 9th, I thought I would take a look back at Countryfest 2001. Its hard to believe it was 10 long years ago.

What is amazing is how much the careers can change in 10 years of a musician. The lineup for Countryfest 2001 was Chris Cagle, Phil Vassar, Billy Ray Cyrus , Diamond Rio and the headliner was the red hot redhead Jo Dee Messina. Here's what's going on with those acts today. Jo Dee Messina's careerhas been struggling with Curb records. She hasn't had a hit single in a while. Diamond Rio lost a band member to cancer and has all but disappeared. Billy Ray Cyrus is more famous now because he is Miley Cyrus' dad than he is because he is Billy Ray Cyrus, Phil Vassar has lost his recording contract and is trying hard to release music on his own label, and to date nothing has surfaced. Chris Cagle is the most viable of all these artists today and has had a top 5 recently with "What Kinda Gone" and has some new music in the pipeline that he is promising to get out to us shortly.

This year's lineup in 2011 is huge for WGNA Countryfest and you can learn all about Miranda Lambert, Sunny Sweeney, Randy Houser, Chris Cagle, Brett Eldredge and Joanna Smith right here.

Let's take you back to 2001 for Jo Dee Messina's big hit "Bye Bye".