Montgomery Gentry returns to Penn's Peak at 8 p.m. Sept. 15.

When these two Kentucky boys first burst onto the national scene in 1999 with the defiant "Hillbilly Shoes," notice was served. Country music had never seen a hard driving duo like this.Despite the millions of albums sold, the sold-out shows and the scores of awards, Montgomery Gentry remains in touch with its working class roots."We are blue collar workers and we lived the songs that we sing," said Troy Gentry. "Because of that, our fans are able to make the connection and when they hear our songs, they know we are singing with passion and we know what we are talking about."People are going to be able to touch on each one of our songs and say. 'Yeah man, that song is a little bit about me,' or 'I know a person that lives next door to me that's been through what you just got done singing about,'" he said. "People can associate themselves with our songs.""With us is what you see is what you get," Eddie Montgomery said of the duo's down-to-earth demeanor. "We don't act like we don't drink or cuss. We have faults like everybody else and that's who we are."Who they are is a duo with 14 Top 10 singles, including five No. 1s, "Something To Be Proud Of," "If You Ever Stop Loving Me," Lucky Man," "Back When I Knew It All" and "Roll With Me."But awards and accolades aside, it's Montgomery and Gentry's induction into the venerable Grand Ole Opry in 2009 that means the most to them."Unlike other awards, becoming members of the Grand Ole Opry is something people can't take away from you," Gentry says. "Other awards come an go, but once you become a member of The Opry, you are a member for life - that's something that Eddie and I are very proud to be a part of."Montgomery Gentry has secured a place in musical history with a unique blend of country, southern rock and Everly Brothers-like harmonies combined with relatable lyrics."We grew up on Charlie Daniels, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Merle Haggard," Montgomery said. "That's who we are. We cut our teeth in the honky tonks and no matter what you try to do, we have to be us or it just doesn't sound right."County music legendAnd speaking of the devil, Charlie Daniels and his band will take the Penn's Peak stage at 8 p.m. Sept. 22.From his Dove Award winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and his CMA Award-winning country hits, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America's musical landscape than Charlie Daniels. An outspoken patriot, mentor to youngartists and still a road warrior at age 80, Daniels has parlayed his passion for music into a multiplatinum career and a platform to support the military, underprivileged children and others in need.Raised among the longleaf pines of North Carolina, Daniels began his career playing bluegrass music with the Misty Mountain Boys. After moving to Nashville in 1967, he began making a name for himself as a songwriter, session musician and producer.His own unique voice as an artist emerged as Charlie recorded his self-titled solo album in 1970 for Capitol Records. Two years later he formed the Charlie Daniels Band and the group scored its first hit with the top 10 "Uneasy Rider." Since then the CDB has populated radio with such memorable hits as "Long Haired Country Boy," "The South's Gonna Do It Again," "In America," "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" and of course, his signature song, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," which won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1979 as well as single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards."I love what I do," says Daniels of his 50-plus years in the music business. "I look forward to entertaining people. When show time gets here, I'm ready to go, ready to go play for them. It's a labor of love. I just thank God I make a living at what I enjoy doing."Mark your calendarThere's plenty of big name talent coming to Penn's Peak over the next couple months. Make sure to mark your calendar.• Sept. 7, Quiet Riot with Black 'N Blue, 8 p.m.• Sept. 8, Tyler Farr, 8 p.m.• Sept. 10, Make America Rock Again, featuring Scott Stapp of Creed, Drowning Pool, Trapt, Sick Puppies and Adelitas Way, 7:30 p.m.• Sept. 17, America, 8 p.m.• Sept. 21, Rick Springfield, 8 p.m.• Sept. 23, Ana Popovic, 7:30 p.m.• Sept. 29, Jim Breuer, 8 p.m.Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Penn's Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant and Bar. For more information, go to

www.pennspeak.com or call 866-605-7325.