A California-based real estate investment and development company has purchased a majority interest in Fontanel, Barbara Mandrell's former estate near Nashville. The property, which includes a 27,000-square-foot log home, was used extensively during the production of the new CMT reality series, Gone Country, hosted by John Rich of Big & Rich. Tower Investments LLC will become partners with Dale Morris and Marc Oswald, who co-manage Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson, to develop a subdivision on the 136-acres. Morris and Oswald purchased the property for $2.1 million during an auction in 2002. Financial details were not divulged about the new partnership, but the log home is expected to be sold separately from the remainder of the property which will become an upscale subdivision.
Birmingham country music fans were already enthusiastic when they attended George Strait's concert at the BJCC Arena last week; after all, George is a great show on his own, and he'd enlisted Little Big Town and newcomer Sarah Johns for a tough-to-beat ticket.
But just like a late-night TV commercial — "Wait, there's more!" — George's concert had an added bonus. During the encore, George launched into "Amarillo By Morning" with a surprise guest: Kenny Chesney, making his first on-stage appearance of 2008.
"You know," Kenny says, "it's amazing to think about the fact that you've just gone to visit and get onstage and sing with George Strait."
The fans were certainly surprised, though there was good reason for Kenny to be in town. In mending from rotator cuff surgery, he's been spending time of late at a sports training facility in Birmingham. Kenny expects to be back at 100 percent when he kicks off his own Poets & Pirates Tour later this year.
