DIAMOND RIO RECOUNTS CHRISTMAS MEMORIES WHILE "HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTL...

DIAMOND RIO RECOUNTS CHRISTMAS MEMORIES WHILE "HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS" IS RELEASED TO RADIO

Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 15, 2009... Thirteen time GRAMMY ® nominee Diamond Rio is celebrating the holidays with the release of their single "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" to radio this holiday season.

"It does my heart good to know the whole world is focused on the birth of the Savior," says band front man Marty Roe about the holiday season. "Such a message of unconditional love."

The band recently performed the single on Good Day Atlanta on Wednesday, December 2. To view the performance as well as an interview with the band, visit http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/good_day_xtra/Diamond_Rio_Performs_for_Good_Day_Xtra_120209

In addition, Diamond Rio will be appearing on Gospel Music Channel's Joyful Noise Café airing on Christmas Day where they discuss not only their holiday album, but also latest recording The Reason, book Beautiful Mess and their involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is from the band's holiday album A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines that can be purchased at www.diamondriomusic.com

In the midst of the holiday season, the multi-platinum selling group is recruiting for their sixth annual Team Rio in preparation for the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon on April 24, 2010. To date, 133,000 training miles have been walked and over $425,000 has been raised by the usual 230 total participants.  Anyone interested in joining Team Rio can visit http://www.teamrio.org/.

Diamond Rio unveiled their 11th album The Reason on Word Records on Sept. 22.  The autobiography "Beautiful Mess" from Thomas Nelson coincided with the album release. Formed in 1984, Diamond Rio features lead singer Marty Roe, guitarist Jimmy Olander, drummer Brian Prout, keyboardist Dan Truman, bassist/harmony Dana Williams and Gene Johnson on mandolin/harmony. The band signed with Arista in 1988 and embarked on one of the most successful careers in country music. The band has sold over 10 million albums earning three platinum and five gold records and won the Country Music Association's Vocal Group of the Year award four times as well as netting two Academy of Country Music Awards in the top Vocal Group of the Year category and thirteen GRAMMY ® nominations. When they debuted in 1991 with the hit "Meet in the Middle," Diamond Rio became the first group in the history of country music to have a debut single reach No. 1. They continued to place 32 more singles on the Billboard chart, including "How Your Love Makes Me Feel," "Norma Jean Riley," "Beautiful Mess" and "Love a Little Stronger."

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