On Thanksgiving, a few of the people, events we're grateful for
Before Our Eyes
Getting a good break is one thing. Taking advantage of it is another. Lauren Alaina has done both. She had another great year, including celebrating her 18th birthday, after finishing as runner-up on "American Idol" two years ago, and released her debut album, "Wildflower," last year. She closed out Riverbend 2012 as the headliner. With the release of her third single, "Eighteen Inches," she embarked on a mini tour of the same name. The song was co-written by Carrie Underwood, Ashley Gorley and Kelley Lovelace.
Big White Bucks To Fill
In addition to writing hit songs, Hixson's own Kelley Lovelace has signed on to replace the retired Pat Boone as celebrity spokesman for Bethel Bible Village.
Lasting Impressions
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and Chattanooga natives Fred Cash and Sam Gooden will cap off a busy year by performing at the Lincoln Center Dec. 2 as a new wing of the hall is dedicated. In the last 12 months, they did two tours in Europe and shared the stage with Aretha Franklin in Detroit and blew the crowd away in New York during a posthumous birthday party for fellow Impressions singer Curtis Mayfield.
IN FOCUS
Engel Brings the Heat
You'd think by now we'd know how to act around a movie camera, but locals went gaga when the crew for "42" rolled into town to shoot the Jackie Robinson biopic. Hundreds of people worked as unpaid and paid extras and turned out for two weeks in the blazing heat at Engel Stadium to be a part of the experience.
Church Music
Eric Church must have enjoyed his Riverbend performance because he came back twice -- first to shoot a new video and then to record two shows at The Tivoli for a live CD. Both shows sold out quickly, by the way.
McGraw Yeah
Film crews were back in town to shoot a Tim McGraw video for "Truck Yeah." Scenes were filmed at the former U.S. Pipe site.
ON TRACK
Avec Moi Avetts
We like us some brothers Scott and Seth. Sure, they'd played here before Track 29 opened, and people are still trying to figure out the math, but the Avett Brothers show at Track 29 sold out in 27 seconds.
Jacked Up
Arguably the coolest guy in music right now, Jack White chose Chattanooga and Track 29 as the place to launch his first tour as a solo artist.
On Second Thought
Not only did singer/songwriter Corey Smith return to Chattanooga and Track 29 after an incendiary show there in September 2011, he recorded the performance there a year later and released a CD called "Live in Chattanooga."
More Than a Rumour
Lindsey Buckingham, the voice and guitar behind so many Fleetwood Mac hits, did a solo show here earlier this month.
IT'S ABOUT TIME
Hall-of-Famers
The only real question is what took so long, but both Luther Masingill and Bill "Dex" Poindexter were honored with hall inductions. Masingill went into both the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame. Dex was inducted into the Country Music Radio Hall of Fame.
Hey Now
Future Tennessee Hall-of-Famer (our words) Tommy Jett was honored as well by having a road in Walker County named after him.
-- Compiled by Barry Courter