LEBANON, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Cracker Barrel) - Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, known for its good country cookin', is also the place where thousands of people across
America get some good country music, as measured by sales of the popular chain's newest exclusive CD. Montgomery Gentry's For Our Heroes debuted at No 5 on Billboard magazine's Top Country Album Chart, selling more than 25,900 copies in its first week, according to
Nielson SoundScan, the system which provides data for the Billboard charts. In addition to being one of the top ten country albums for the week, For Our Heroes also landed a spot at No 11 on The Billboard 200, a weekly listing of the top selling music albums in all genres in the country.
"Such outstanding results for this CD show the strength of uniting Cracker Barrel and Montgomery Gentry," said Peter Keiser, Vice President of Marketing. "This achievement clearly demonstrates Cracker Barrel's ability to reach a large audience of music buyers through our 588 locations in 41 states. Cracker Barrel has a unique opportunity to sell quality music in great quantity," he added.
Eddie Montgomery said, "Man, this is really great! I love that so many people are going out and buying this album and supporting Wounded Warrior Project. This really means a lot to me and T." Troy Gentry had the same sentiments, adding "It meant a lot for us to do this for Wounded Warrior Project and that Cracker Barrel chose us to help give back to such a worthy organization. To sell this many CDs in one week is icing on the cake."
In addition to this Top 5 showing, For Our Heroes set several new sales records for Cracker Barrel. It set a record for best selling opening day, best selling opening week, and best selling week of all of the CDs in Cracker Barrel's exclusive music program. The previous record was held by the 2005 Alison Krauss release Home on the Highways.
For Our Heroes includes an exclusive new song "One Of Those Days," as well as four songs that have received only limited release previously. Cracker Barrel will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each CD to Wounded Warrior Project, helping them to ensure this generation of wounded is one of the most successful and well-adjusted in our nation's history. There are 12 tracks on the CD, which is available only at Cracker Barrel locations, at a retail price of $11.99
For Our Heroes is the latest project in an impressive collection of exclusive music available only at Cracker Barrel. It follows March's release of Dolly Parton's Collectors' Edition of Backwoods Barbie and a number of exclusive releases in 2008 - November's release of Bill Gaither's Homecoming Hymns, the August release of Kenny Rogers: 50 Years, the July release of Ricky Skaggs' The High Notes and the April release of Aaron Tippin's He Believed. Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has also released exclusive CDs featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Sara Evans, and Charlie Daniels.
About Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants provide a friendly home-away-from-home in their old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage...all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as its signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 588 company-owned locations in 41 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit: crackerbarrel.com.
About Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry are climbing the country single charts with their new Top 5 hit, "One In Every Crowd." Their current album, Back When I Knew It All, has already yielded the No 1 hit singles, "Roll With Me" and "Back When I Knew It All." The duo recently received two Academy of Country Music Award nominations including "Album of the Year" for Back When I Knew It All and "Top Duo or Group." They are also nominated in the "Duo Video of the Year" category at the upcoming CMT Music Awards for "Roll With Me." Eddie and Troy will join Kenny Chesney on tour this summer, performing as part of the all-star lineup at stadium shows on Kenny's Sun City Carnival Tour. This year marks the duo's 10th anniversary from the release of their debut album, Tattoos & Scars. Fans can check out montgomerygentry.com for all their latest info.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP serves to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. For more information, please call 877 TEAM WWP (832-6997) or visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
