Dothan, Alabama and the surrounding area accounts for around half of the peanuts grown in the U.S., and the town celebrates the peanut farmers and harvest season every year by putting on a festival spanning multiple days and including several contests, pageants and concerts. Bucky Covington, an American Idol alum and contemporary country superstar, was one headliner at this year’s National Peanut Festival, strumming his magical guitar to the tunes of “A Different World” and “I’ll Walk,” his most recent Billboard hits. Covington’s appearance at the peanut festival was one of the week’s biggest acts, and he performed onstage Thursday night following budding country artist Brantley Gilbert.

Other artists celebrating the peanut harvest season in style at the 2008 National Peanut Festival include a handful of gospel artists as well as up-and-coming musicians Colby O’Donis and Danny and the Tanks. Additional headliners aside from Covington were contemporary country staples Jimmy Wayne and Corey Smith, the latter no stranger to the peanut festival. This year’s theme for the event was “A Peanut Round-Up,” and the 65th annual National Peanut Festival rounded up a lot more than just stellar musical acts. The nation’s largest peanut festival also included animal acts, agricultural displays, food, contests, arts and crafts, a parade and, of course, peanuts! Wrapping up on November 7, the National Peanut Festival is Dothan’s claim to fame and one jam-packed week of entertainment.

For Bucky Covington, a small-town Southern concert is exactly the kind of stuff the red-hot country act is made of. The Rockingham, North Carolina native grew up heavily influenced by the country music scene, narrowing his dreams down to music at a young age after seeing blues guitarist Jeff Healy in the film Road House. Eventually, Covington auditioned for the dream to come true, becoming part of the American Idol phenomenon in 2006 among 23 other aspiring music stars. Ultimately taking eighth place in the singing contest after being dubbed the country-rock artist of the bunch, Covington made the rounds in the 2006 “American Idols Live” tour before storming Nashville with his charming style and booming vocals. Covington lucked into the country circuits, earning a spot on the “GAC Country Music Christmas Tour” when Nashville Star winner Buddy Jewell dropped out of the tour due to a wrist injury.

Seeing an in with the industry, Covington headed straight for the studio following the tour, releasing his eponymous debut in 2007 for Lyric Street/Hollywood Records. The rousing rock-infused country artist tore up the charts with the album, capturing the coveted number one slot on the country charts while singles “It’s Good to Be Us,” “A Different World” and “I’ll Walk” charted in 2007 and 2008, as well. Ever since his success in the big leagues, the long-haired Covington has embarked on a string of live performances, wowing fans across the country with Bucky Covington tickets. Covington’s twin brother Rocky plays drums in his band, and to see the brotherly duo perform together in stage get concert tickets from or , a place to buy and sell concert, sports and special event tickets.