Sibling Revelry

Singer-songwriter Josh Kelley is currently enjoying the success of his debut country single "Georgia Clay." He previously had hits on the pop charts with "Amazing" and "Only You" and now joins his kid brother in country music's Top 30.

Josh is nearly 18 months older than his brother Charles Kelley, one-third of one of the music industry's hottest recording acts--Lady Antebellum. And Josh now joins a long list of country artists who followed famous siblings onto the charts. In the late 1950s and early 60s, country music legend Lefty Frizzell had huge hits like "Long Black Veil" and "Saginaw, Michigan." By the time younger brother David Frizzell started charting Top Tens--the early 80s--Lefty had long since passed away. He died of a stroke in 1975. Loretta Lynn was an established superstar and legend when baby sister Crystal Gayle exploded onto the country music scene in the mid-70s. LaCosta Tucker, Pake McEntire, and Stella and Randy Parton had Top 40 and even Top 10 success but never came close to the stardom enjoyed by their more famous relatives Tanya Tucker, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton. If Loretta and Crystal are the most successful pair of country music siblings, then John Michael Montgomery and big brother Eddie of Montgomery Gentry have to be second. John Michael's dominance of the charts in the 90s at least rivals that of Eddie's and Troy's in the 2000s. And now we have the Kelleys. And if history is any indication, "Georgia Clay" won't be the last we hear of Josh Kelley.