Hometown News was an American country music duo from Nashville, Tennessee. The duo consisted of singer-songwriters Ron Kingery and Scott Whitehead, both of whom were vocalists and guitarists. Hometown News recorded two independently released albums, in addition to charting two singles on the Billboard country music charts. Their highest-peaking single, "Minivan", reached No. 37 in 2002.

History Before the duo's formation, Ron Kingery worked as a studio engineer for various country music artists in Nashville, Tennessee, in addition to writing children's music. Scott Whitehead, a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin and formerly a pilot for the United States Navy, was also working a songwriter in Nashville, when he met Kingery at a songwriter's workshop in 1996. In addition, the duo appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, as well as playing gigs at several military bases.

Recording career The duo were then signed to VFR Records in 2002, recording their album Wheels that year. The album produced two singles in its title track and "Minivan", the latter a Top 40 hit. Shortly afterward, the duo embarked on a tour of the United States, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. VFR closed in 2002, and the duo was left without a record deal.

In 2005, Hometown News signed to the independent Quarterback Records label. Their second album, Hometown News, was released in 2006, although it did not produce any chart singles.

Whitehead died on March 12, 2021, of unknown causes.

Discography

Studio albums Title Album details Wheels Release date: June 4, 2002 Label: VFR Records Formats: CD Hometown News Release date: September 20, 2005 Label: Quarterback Records Formats: CD, music download

Singles Year Single Peak positions Album US Country 2002 "Minivan" 37 Wheels "Wheels" 47 2003 "First Second Chance" — 2004 "Revitalize" — "If I Could" — Hometown News 2005 "That's Country to Me" — 2006 "Brand New Me" —"God Bless the Children" — Turbo Twang'n "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos Year Video Director 2004 "Revitalize" "If I Could"

References