NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ CSX) - Country music superstar
Wynonna Judd will revisit her Appalachian childhood when she joins CSX, Food City and the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce as the special guest on the 2009
Santa Train.
Wynonna, a native of Ashland, Ky., is celebrating the release of her recent album, Sing: Chapter 1, and the anniversary of her 25th year in the music business. In celebration of the holiday season, Wynonna will launch her third annual 'A Classic Christmas' tour the weekend after Thanksgiving.
'Sharing the joy of the season with children who grew up just like I did is something that I am so privileged to have the opportunity to do,' Wynonna said. 'Appalachia has always been close to my heart, and participating in the Santa Train is something very special to me.'
The Santa Train will make 14 stops in the mountains of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee on Nov. 21, 2009. Wynonna, along with Santa Claus and volunteers from CSX, Food City and the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce, will deliver 15 tons of toys, including six pallets donated by the Children's Miracle Network, to thousands of residents who live along the route. This year will commemorate the 67th anniversary of the Santa Train.
Wynonna also has previous ties to the Santa Train through her mother, Naomi Judd, who rode the train in 2005 and passed down some of her fond memories of that day to her daughter.
'With more than 30 million records sold worldwide, we are honored to have Wynonna aboard this year's Santa Train,' said Tori Kaplan, director of corporate citizenship and special events for CSX. 'We know she will brighten everyone's spirits in these tough economic times.'
Patty Loveless, Alison Krauss, Naomi Judd, Travis Tritt and Kathy Mattea are among the celebrity guests who have participated in the Santa Train in recent years. Several governors, U.S. senators, representatives, and other local, state and federal officials have also participated in this annual event.
'The Santa Train means so much to the city of Kingsport,' Miles Burdine, Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said. 'Adding Wynonna to the list of prestigious celebrity guests only adds to the legacy of this special event.'
'Being able to be a part of this project is a privilege for Food City, and we are so pleased to share it with Wynonna this year,' said Ed Moore, Kingsport's Food City manager. 'We know that she will brighten the Christmas season for so many.'
For continuous updates about the Santa Train, please visit us on Facebook and Twitter. Find us on our Facebook fan page, The Santa Train, and on Twitter @TheSantaTrain. For a photo of Wynonna Judd, click here or contact kstrauss@mpf.com.
