Sugarland

A funny and bittersweet look at the struggles that come before any success, “Baby Girl” marked a reversal of fortune for its own creators when Sugarland’s 2004 single became one of the biggest debuts by any country act. The trio of lead singer Jennifer Nettles, multi-instrumentalist Kristian Bush, and songwriter Kristen Hall had been toiling for years as solo artists and in other folk and country groups in Georgia before joining forces in Atlanta in 2002. With Sugarland, they created a sturdy and consistently appealing vehicle for songs that balanced their love of country with an equal affection for shiny pop melodies and the heartland rock of Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp. Sugarland’s debut, Twice the Speed of Life, established them as one of country’s most popular acts, and though Hall left the band shortly after its release, Nettles and Bush kept up the momentum with a string of hits that refined the band’s sound while showcasing Nettles’ powerful yet playful vocals. Sugarland’s first album after a six-year hiatus, 2018’s Bigger lived up to its name thanks to the scope and vibrancy of songs like “Still the Same” and “Babe,” a high-spirited kiss-off number that gave their guest Taylor Swift a chance to return to her country roots.