Lonestar, Record Label Part Ways

Lonestar is no longer on the BNA Records roster, according to a spokesman for Sony BMG in Nashville. Mountains, the band's latest BNA CD, was released Oct. 17, 2006. With disappointing sales, the CD is not currently ranked among the 75 titles on Billboard's country albums chart. Their most recent singles include "Mountains" and "Nothing to Prove." The band first BNA single, "Tequila Talking," was released in 1995. They have reached No. 1 on
> Billboard's country airplay chart nine times with "No News," "Come Cryin' to Me," "Amazed," "Smile," "What About Now," "Tell Her," "I'm Already There," "My Front Porch Looking In" and 2004's "Mr. Mom."

Also just read that their lead singer, Richie McDonald is leaving the band to pursue a solo career!

I heard they were leaving the label but they didn't say Richie was leaving the group.IMO he was the group. Well they are all good but him being lead I think he has the best voice

I heard Richie is leaving too--from the radio dj. I think that's a crummy thing to do to your "friends". It will be interesting to hear the whole story behind it. Just won't seem right....kind of like Trick Pony having a new lead singer....

It's weird how the timing of Richie's leaving came out right *after* BNA dropped them. I wonder if Richie had told BNA he was leaving the group and that's why BNA dropped them...yes, Lonestar was a group *before* Richie came onboard as lead singer, but they weren't as successful as they were with him...maybe BNA figured that, not only did their latest album 'bomb' but with them losing Richie, things would go even further downhill for the group. After all, most record companies wouldn't drop one of their most successful groups because of the lousy sales of one album.