Lynyrd Skynyrd To Get A Country Tribute

The Country Music Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama,” is set to come out July 20th only at Wal-Mart. Among those artists who have recorded tracks for “Sweet Home Alabama ” are  Eric Church, Randy Houser, Uncle Kracker, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Randy Montana, Eli Young Band, and Ashley Ray. This eight-track collection mixes a variety of Skynyrd classics such as “Simple Man” by Houser, “Gimme Three Steps” by the Eli Young Band, “Call Me the Breeze” by Shooter Jennings, “Tuesday’s Gone” by Randy Montana and “Sweet Home Alabama” by Joyce protege Ashley Ray — with more obscure cuts such as “The Ballad of Curtis Loew” (Church), “Four Walls of Raiford” (Johnson) and “All I Can Do Is Write About It” by Uncle Kracker. “It’s all these young country bucks doing Skynyrd songs, which is pretty cool to us,” Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant tells Billboard.com. “It gives me great pleasure, because they’re doing older stuff…my brother (Ronnie Van Zant) wrote while he was still alive. People still love that stuff. They did what he did. He was a poet for the common people, and it’s always great when other people are interested enough to re-do the songs.” Currently, Skynyrd is on a summer tour that lasts until September 3rd, mostly with Bret Michaels and .38 Special. The group releases “Live From Freedom Hall,” recorded at a 2007 concert in Louisville, Ky., on June 22, and Van Zant says Skynyrd is hoping for a quick follow-up to last year’s studio set, “God & Guns.”Country Music Photo Gallery

Hank Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd on Tour in 2008

After a great success on their last tour, Hank Williams Jr and Lynyrd Skynrd are making plans to hit the road together again for the 2008 Rowdy Frynds tour this spring. The tour will kick off in Hershey, PA and finish off in the birthplace of Lynyrd Skynrd in Jacksonville, FL. “Our following of fans fits together perfectly,” says Skynyrd vocalist Johnny Van Zant, also a member with brother Donnie in the country duo Van Zant. “We can’t wait to get back out there and have some fun.” “Last year was incredible,” Hank Jr. adds. “How could we not get together for another round?!” 2008 Rowdy Frynds Tour Dates: April 4 Hershey, Pa. Giant Center April 5 Cincinnati, Ohio US Bank Arena April 11 Cleveland, Ohio Wolstein Center April 12 Columbus, Ohio Nationwide Arena April 18 Chicago, Ill. Sears Centre April 19 Detroit, Mich. The Palace of Auburn Hills April 25 Lafayette, La. Cajundome April 26 Shreveport, La. CenturyTel Center May 2 Atlanta, Ga. The Arena at Gwinnett Center May 3 Biloxi, Miss. Mississippi Coast Coliseum May 9 Greensboro, N.C. Coliseum Complex May 10 Knoxville, Tenn. Thompson-Boling Arena May 16 Charlottesville, Va. John Paul Jones Arena May 17 Pittsburgh, Pa. Mellon Arena May 30 Lexington, Kent. Rupp Arena May 31 Charlotte, N.C. Bobcat Arena June 6 Memphis, Tenn. Fed-Ex Forum June 7 Enterprise, Ala. Bama Jam June 13 Marion, S.C. Marion County Country Music Festival June 14 Jacksonville, Fla. Veterans Memorial ColiseumCountry Music Photo Gallery