Jamie O’Neal will be bringing country classics to the main stage as the headliner for this year’s Watermelon Festival.

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

When this year’s headliner hits the main stage at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Watermelon Festival, festival-goers will be listening to a Grammy-nominated and platinum-selling country star.

Jamie O’Neal, who is perhaps best known for No. 1 singles “There is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels,” said she plans to bring an upbeat, family-friendly show to the festival.

“Hopefully (the crowd) enjoys everything,” O’Neal said. “I think we’re pretty high energy. We like to have a good time. There’s a little bit of humor in there, as well.”

Cassie Medley, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce director, said O’Neal’s style and music made her an ideal choice for the festival this year.

“The Chamber searches for those entertainers who are family-friendly, will entertain the crowd and stay within our budget,” Medley said. “The process is not always easy, but Jamie O’Neal seemed to be a perfect fit for the Watermelon Festival.”

O’Neal plans to bring her greatest hits to the stage along with country classics from the album she released last year, ETERNAL.

Produced by O’Neal and her engineer/musician husband Rodney Good – who will join her onstage at the festival, as will daughter Aliyah – ETERNAL is an 11-song collection that combines country classics with new energy, featuring O’Neal’s unique take on iconic tunes such as “Leavin’ on your Mind” (Patsy Cline), “The Sweetest Thing” (Juice Newton) “Help Me Make It Through The Night” (Kris Kristofferson), “I’ve Done Enough Dying Today” (The Gatlin Brothers) and the George Jones and Tammy Wynette classic duet, “Golden Ring,” which features O’Neal with Andy Griggs.

The bonus track on the new disc is titled “Wide Awake.” It is the only original song included on the album. ETERNAL, O’Neal said, is made of songs that were “an honor and a challenge” to record.

“I grew up listening and looking up to all these incredible artists who helped pave the way for singers like me,” she said. “These songs helped shaped me into who I became as a performer.”

O’Neal’s claim to fame includes four Grammy nominations, winning ACM and Billboard Awards and appearing on numerous national television shows such as Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman and many others. Next up for her includes releasing new music with trio 3 Story house, in which she performs with Ty Herndon and Andy Griggs.

But there’s one place she hasn’t been.

“I don’t think I’ve ever played at a watermelon festival,” O’Neal said. “I’m really looking forward to being there. I was so happy to play it because it’s just a hop, skip and a jump away. It sounds like a family fun time.”

Jamie O’Neal will take the main stage at 8:30 p.m. In addition to her own hits and songs from ETERNAL, O’Neal said she will also bring a few rock covers to the stage, as well as songs that she wrote and other artists originally recorded.

“I think it’s one of those shows the whole family could come to,” said O’Neal, explaining that she tailors a show’s atmosphere to the location and audience. “This will definitely be geared toward family entertainment.”

O’Neal will have CDs and pictures for sale at the show.