For a little while, in the mid-2000s, Sugarland was kind of a big deal. The country pop duo (initially a trio, but third member Kristen Hall left the band after their debut record) released five albums between 2004 and 2010, landing three in Billboard’s top ten and two at #1. Four of those albums went Platinum or multi-Platinum, and the band landed five #1 singles on the country chart and four more at #2.

Then, in 2011, the band played the Indiana State Fair, where high winds caused an outdoor stage to collapse, killing seven people and injuring 45 others. Subsequent lawsuits were settled to the tune of $39 million (paid by the band, concert promoter Live Nation, and 16 other defendants).

Less than a year later, the band went on hiatus. Lead singer Jennifer Nettles got married and had a child, while guitarist Kristian Bush pursued a solo career.

The band reunited in 2018 to release a sixth album, titled Bigger.

Today’s track comes from 2008’s Love On the Inside, one of Sugarland’s most successful albums and the one I know best. ‘Joey’ is a song about a teen romance derailed by a fatal car accident.