It might be more American than apple pie: Bluegrass music is a homespun tradition, especially here in Pigeon Forge. Make your Smoky Mountain wedding music to your guests’ ears with a Bluegrass playlist that celebrates Appalachian heritage.

Bluegrass music has deep roots in the Smoky Mountains. Though the genre takes influence from everything from old ballads to gospel and rhythm and blues, Bluegrass music was born right here in Southern Appalachia, inspired by music imported by immigrants from Ireland, Scotland and England and tweaked with influence from African-American music.

Most folks agree Bill Monroe is the father of modern Bluegrass. He rose to fame in the 1940s with his band The Bluegrass Boys, named after his home state’s famed feature. At that time, though, his style of acoustic music played on stringed instruments was known as Mountain Music or Hillbilly music. As a genre, Bluegrass eventually borrowed the name from Monroe’s band.

Classic Bluegrass songs about love and marriage will make your ceremony a memorable mountain experience. Consider asking your DJ to add the songs below to your Smoky Mountain wedding playlist!

• "My Heart's Bouquet" by Hylo Brownt" by Hylo Brown
• "Walk Through This World With Me" by The Seldom Scene (also recorded by George Jones)
• "Your Worries and Troubles are Mine" by Ralph Stanley
• "Please Be My Love " by Jim and Jesse
• "That's How I Can Count on You" by Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys
• "How Mountain Girls Can Love": by The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys

No matter whether you love her or hate her, you might spot her if you’re in our neck of the woods this week.

Alana Thompson, also known as TLC reality star Honey Boo Boo, is vacationing in Pigeon Forge this week! So far, we know she checked out the Comedy Barn’s show last night and Pigeon Forge tipsters have reported seeing the precocious pint-sized beauty queen and her crew at Dollywood, too.



Honey Boo Boo and her rural-living family have become a media sensation since their initial appearance on the show “Toddlers and Tiaras” and her namesake spin-off series. And most folks are clearly on one side of the fence when it comes to their thoughts on Honey Boo Boo. Millions of fans have encouraged TLC to renew the show for a second season, but Honey Boo Boo has been parodied in an episode of “South Park” and pundits including Dr. Drew and Anderson Cooper have spoken about their disgust of the show and the Thompson family lifestyle.

The Thompson family does give critics a lot of fodder.Honey Boo Boo’s mother, June, is known for giving her pageant-competing daughter a special concoction for energy before she takes the stage: what she calls “Go Go Juice” is a mix of Mountain Dew and Red Bull. Additionally, Honey Boo Boo’s sister Anna “Chickadee” Thompson became a teen mom during the show’s first season.



On the other hand, the Thompson family is known for their love of togetherness, confidence and just plain silly lifestyle. I, for one, “red-neck-ognize” as one of Honey Boo Boo’s legions of fans.

New episodes of her show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” will start airing later this summer, according to info from TLC. No word yet on whether or not footage of her Pigeon Forge trip will be included, but we’ll be watching just in case.

Mark your calendar and lace up your sneakers: The PigeonForge.com Midnight 8K Road Race is on tap for July 27!

Runners appreciate this fast, flat course because it almost guarantees personal best times! Run on by the Knoxville Track Club, the race combines the uniqueness of a midnight starting time with racing down the middle of the divided boulevard in the brightly lit neon jungle of Pigeon Forge.

Race sponsors include PigeonForge.com, Collier Restaurant Group, Dollywood Splash Country and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Pigeon Forge Holiday Inn is hosting the event.

More information, including registration, will be available soon.



In the mean time, it's time to start training. Novices and seasoned road racers alike can benefit from pushing themselves! Here are our top 5 training tips to help you get ready for the run:

1. Have a plan.
Work on your personal race roadmap. Conquer the race by working on a training plan and sticking to it. Hal Higdon has a thorough 8 week training plan for a 8K race, with workouts leveled novice, intermediate and advanced.

2. Be flexible.
Even though it’s crucial to have a training plan to prepare for the race, it’s also important to have a bit of flexibility, too. Injuries and illnesses can occur, soreness will hit. Be prepared to "phone it in" through one training day and hit it hard the next.

3. Make yourself miserable.
Hate hoofing it up hills? Do it anyway. These things are often miserable because they’re hard, but doing them will make them easier and more enjoyable in the long run.

4. Set goals.
Make the most of your training program by breaking your big goal -- the PigeonForge.com 8K -- into smaller goals. Don’t just run to log the miles, aim for improvement. Consider interval training and cadences to help you reach the end.

5. Think positive.
Don’t just train your body for the race, train your brain, too! Visualize yourself crossing the finish line and think about how good you’ll feel. Celebrate each time you reach a goal in your training.You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish if your attitude is on your side!