Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment Group

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - A new restaurant concept has arrived on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The new Country Legends Grill combines great food and singing servers to make for one entertaining dining experience.

Formerly the Alabama Grill, the restaurant was purchased in July 2006 by the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group. This spring the name of the restaurant officially changed to Country Legends Grill with a new guitar-shaped logo appearing on exterior signage and on the updated menus featuring tasty new dishes - such as new salads, side dishes, and pasta selections, including lasagna, spaghetti, and chicken alfredo.

Located next door to The Miracle Theater, acquisition of the restaurant made good sense to co-owners David Fee and Jim Hedrick. Fee says, “Not only did we gain valuable parking space, it expands the entertainment we can offer in the area to include a unique dining experience. Plus, it’s a beautiful restaurant.”

The country memorabilia the restaurant was known for as the former Alabama Grill remains on display, but the concept has been tweaked with the addition of a more entertaining wait staff.

David Campbell, general manager of the restaurant, explains that a singing server performs about every 15 minutes, so all customers are sure to be entertained while they dine. Select servers sing various country songs, beginning on the stage and then walking around the restaurant so everyone can get a closer look.

As the only full-service restaurant not connected with a show in the Smoky Mountains area to feature singers, Campbell says the new concept is a big hit. “Diners really like the entertainment. They usually stop eating, watch the singer, and then applaud at the end. It’s something you’re not going to find at any other regular restaurant in this area.”

Seven singing servers had been hired at the end of April, and Campbell says he’s looking to add a few more. He says the new hires are mostly aspiring artist. “Some already have CDs or are working on releasing a record. All of them are terrific singers and we are happy for them to share their talents with our customers.”

Finding talented servers has been easy in the entertainment-driven market. “There are a lot of talented people out there who end up waiting tables. We’re giving them a place to also share their talents,” Fee says.

Alicia Kay Sweany can relate. Originally from Olathe, Kan., she packed up her car and moved to Nashville, Tenn., right after graduating from high school. Having already recorded a CD entitled, “My Everything,” she quickly realized the competition to be discovered in the Music City was fierce. However, it wasn’t the competition that got her down; it was her age.

“After a couple of months, I realized my biggest obstacle was that I wasn’t old enough to play in the clubs. I was 18, and you had to be 21 for the owners to let you in and perform. That became a big problem in gaining exposure,” Sweany says. So she resorted to waiting tables at a Cracker Barrel in Nashville, while singing on the side where she could.

Now age 20, Sweany decided to relocate to Pigeon Forge after hearing about Country Legends Grill’s new concept. “I can sing here every day and gain exposure in an entertainment-centered town,” she says.

Another new hire, Chaz Huseman, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, has worked at a timeshare resort in Gatlinburg for the past six years as a closing officer. After hearing about the new restaurant concept at Country Legends Grill, he says he decided to apply as a singing server “to start pursuing my singing career, which I couldn’t do at my old job.”

Huseman waited tables for a short time in college at a Ponderosa in Indiana, but he says the real attraction of this opportunity is “being able to work on my stage presence, while still making an income. So far, I’m learning songs by Lonestar, Rascal Flatts, and John Berry. It’s really fun.”

All the singing servers have bigger aspirations to make it in country music. That’s Sweany’s hope. “Ultimately, I’d like to be picked up in one of the shows in the area. That would be cool.”

Country Legends Grill, located at 2050 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., is a non-smoking, full-service restaurant serving lunch and dinner. The restaurant opens daily at 11:00 a.m., and closes at 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and at 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are accepted for parties of 20 or more by calling (865) 908-8777.

In keeping with Fee/Hedrick’s mission to offer clean family entertainment appropriate for all ages, all songs performed are screened for language and appropriate subject matter, and no alcohol is served on the premise.