FAIRBORN — Sugarland, the Country Music Association's reigning "Vocal Duo of the Year," is bringing its spring tour to Wright State University's Ervin J. Nutter Center next week for a concert Thursday night.

"Enjoy the Ride" is the name of the group's second — and latest — album, released in fall 2006. It's pretty much stating the obvious to note that Sugarland has experienced a rise of meteoric proportions in its relatively brief history.

Formed as a threesome in 2002, with positive reviews for their 2004 debut album, prophetically titled "Twice the Speed of Light," the Atlanta-based group exploded with the release of their sophomore effort. With original member Kristen Hall bowing out of the limelight about the same time, the ensemble solidified around the duo of lead singer Jennifer Nettles and songwriter and instrumentalist Kristian Bush.

In the four years since that first album, the group has garnered six top 10 country singles, including three No. 1s: "Stay," "Settlin" and "Want To." And the songs "Baby Girl" and "Something More" both peaked at No. 2.

Other awards include a 2007 Grammy for Nettles in the category of Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, for her pairing with rock group Bon Jovi on "Who Says You Can't Go Home."

Opening Thursday night's concert will be the Southern foursome Little Big Town, whose members — Kimberly Roads, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phil Sweet — started singing together in college in the late 1990s. The neo-traditionalist ensemble had been playing together nearly a decade by the time it won the Country Music Association's 2007 award for Best New Duo or Group.

The band released its third and latest album, "A Place to Land," this past November to positive reviews.

how to go

WHO: Sugarland, with Little Big Town.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24.

WHERE: Wright State University's Ervin J. Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Fairborn.

TICKETS: $42.50 and $32.50, available at the Nutter Center box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, including by phone at (937) 228-2323 and online at www.ticketmaster.com