Arts & Entertainment

Lady Antebellum Duo Does 'Georgia On My Mind' At UGA

WATCH: Georgia alums Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood entertained the commencement crowd at Sanford Stadium on Saturday.

ATHENS, GA — Rising University of Georgia graduates, along with their friends and families, got a special serenade on Saturday from a pair of multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artists who once walked the same halls they did.

Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, UGA alumni and members of wildly popular Nashville-based country group Lady Antebellum, delivered the commencement address at spring undergraduate ceremonies at Sanford Stadium. They also crooned out an acoustic version of the Ray Charles classic "Georgia On My Mind."

Both of the country stars graduated from University of Georgia in 2004 with business degrees.

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A video of Saturday's performance shows cap-and-gowned soon-to-be graduates swaying and singing along, cheering the duo as vast walls of cellphones ascend to record the moment. The bandmates hug each other as the crowd cheers them at the end of the performance.

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Formed in Nashville in 2006, Lady Antebellum is Hillary Scott on lead and background vocals, Kelley on vocals and guitar and Haywood on backing vocals, guitar, piano and mandolin. The group has released six albums, spawning nine No. 1 country singles and earning multiple Grammy and CMA awards.


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Along the way, they've sold more than 11 million records. Kelley and Haywood are natives of Evans, in east Georgia near Augusta.

Watch their performance in the video below:


Photo, video courtesy University of Georgia

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