Lady Antebellum are Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. With their refreshing look and contemporary sound, they seem to be setting themselves up very nicely - to be one of modern country’s brighter hopes.

The trio have already earned ‘Top New Group’ honors at the 2008 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and grabbed a No.1 Spot at the top of country album charts.

I spoke with Charles Kelley, when they were all at the Warner Chapel Studios in Nashville, TN. Originally starting work on seven songs back in July 2007, they found the single, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” very early on and Capitol Nashville decided to send them straight out on a 3 month radio tour, to promote that very single.

I know that Josh Kelley who has had great success is your brother. How many years apart are the two of you?

“We’re about a year and a half apart. He’s the oldest and we’re real close too.”

Are you guys having fun?

“We’re having a blast! This is definitely what all three of us live for the most – getting here in the studio, seeing things brought to a different level and then going out on the road to play it live. Initially we cut the songs and demoed them ourselves, but Paul Worley produced them with Victoria Shaw.”

Do you ever use your friends and family as a little tester to see if they like your music?

“Normally I do, I think close friends and family can be brutally honest with what they do and don’t like. And it’s good because when you write them, sometimes it’s hard for you to separate yourself from them and you tend to kind of like them all, or have certain favorites so it’s always interesting to see what everyone else thinks is the best. Sometimes it could be very different from what you thought.”

You and Dave are both from Augusta, GA and grew up together and now live in Nashville – are you glad you moved to Nashville?

“Oh yeah, of course – it was the best decision we ever made. It was just a really cool thing. It was kind of nerve-racking to take a chance like that and move to a new place and it’s nice to have someone you know to take that chance with you. So it was fun man! Obviously it was the best decision we ever made as it led to this, so we’re very grateful that we took a chance and my brother Josh let us stay at his house for the first few years we were here.”

What about Antebellum, it’s an area in Nashville, is that where you got your name from?

“No, we actually got it from those big white column homes, those big ‘Gone With The Wind’ looking homes, colonial style - they’re called antebellum homes. It’s just a period of time and we thought it had a nice nostalgic ring to it.”

You guys did a lot of the writing on this album.

“We did. There is one song that we didn’t write and it’s actually a song that Victoria Shaw, our co-producer wrote with a couple of guys and we heard it one day and said ‘that’s exactly what we need,’ and it’s a duet too.”

Quick On The Spot Question for you. What are your 6 favorite bands/artists?

“Let me think. I’d have to say - Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Urban, Don Williams, U2 and Fleetwood Mac.”

Well keep doing what you’re doing, as it seems to be going well so far.

“Thanks so much Chris.