'GOOD DOWN-TO-EARTH MUSIC'

At the 2008 Country Music Television Awards, they won the duo video of the year award for "Stay."

The song also won as song of the year and single record of the year at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Yeah — life is pretty sweet for Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, better known as the country music duo Sugarland.

Sunday afternoon they brought their chart-topping music to the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds as part of the Disabled Persons Action Organization/DealMaker Auto Group Summer Concert Series.

"This is the biggest show we've ever done," DPAO Director Joseph L. Rich said. "We happened to pick the right show; they're the hottest country group going."

Mr. Rich estimated more than 7,000 people were in attendance. Both reserved seats and general admission tickets were sold out.

"It was a very impressive catch," said Timothy F. Grosse, Watertown.

Mr. Grosse said he believes it is more difficult to get big name acts to come to town, and he's not the only one that feels that way.

"I think it was cool they did a venue like this," said Rebecca L. Finch.

Ms. Finch drove almost three hours from the Geneva area with daughters Olivia J., 8, and Natalie G., 5, and friends Andrew L. Jensen and Stacey L. Strong to see the show.

"We wouldn't miss her for the world," Ms. Finch said.

This was Ms. Finch's third time seeing Sugarland perform.

"They're great entertainers," Ms. Strong said. "They're fun to watch."

Sugarland played a set that was about 90 minutes long and included several of the group's top hits. Crowd favorites included the award-winning "Stay" and single "All I Want To Do" off their upcoming album "Love on the Inside."

"It's just good down-to-earth music," said Shauna M. Kellogg, Watertown.

Ms. Kellogg and her mother, Dawn M. Kellogg, also of Watertown, and friends Karyl E. Irvine and Marci L. Ormsby, both of Clayton, were having a girls day out at the concert.

"I feel like they're on our level," Mrs. Kellogg said. "Like we can relate to it."

That seemed to be a common theme among Sugarland fans.

"She's like us," said Ralph E. Clark, Great Bend. "She's well-liked because she's down to earth."

This was the first time in 30 years that Mr. Clark has liked a group enough to buy a ticket.

"They're not too country and they're not too pop," Mrs. Ormsby said. "It's a good mixture."

That feeling seems to attract many fans who think of it as "new country."

"Their music is upbeat," said Sherri L. Colligan, Adams Center.

"They just get you going," said her friend Jessica C. Fargo, Black River.

Mrs. Colligan and Mrs. Fargo were joined by friends Cheryl A. Burke, Watertown, and Melissa H. Lance, Copenhagen.

"She has a beautiful voice," Mrs. Fargo said.

Mr. Rich agreed, saying Ms. Nettles has the "craziest voice" he has ever heard.

Deborah D. Aubertine, Clayton, said she loves the crossover music Ms. Nettles does.

"I love the song she does with Bon Jovi," she said.

Ms. Nettles collaborated with singer Jon Bon Jovi on his song "Who Says You Can't Go Home," which reached No. 1 on the country charts.

Sunday the group performed that song, although it was without Bon Jovi. The group also performed its own version of Beyonce's "Irreplaceable," and after closing the show performed an encore that ended with Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me."

New country artist Jeremy McComb performed for about an hour before Sugarland came on. His hit single is "This Town Needs a Bar."

To learn more about the band or to watch some of its music videos, log on to the group's Web site. The new album "Love on the Inside" will be in stores July 29.