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Simpson, Swift Among Strawberry Festival Headliners

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By DAVE NICHOLSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

Updated: 11/26/2008 09:02 am

PLANT CITY - What do a "top female country artist" award winner, a former "Dancing With the Stars" champ and a singer-actress dating a Dallas Cowboy have in common?

They are all part of the 2009 entertainment lineup for the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Taylor Swift, who won an American Music Award on Sunday, Julianne Hough who recently announced she's leaving the popular ABC dance show to pursue her country music career and Jessica Simpson, best known for her "Dukes of Hazzard" short shorts and relationship with quarterback Tony Romo, are among the highlights on the fest's diverse lineup.

Also on the bill are comedian Jeff Foxworthy, who hosts the Fox television show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader"; country superstar George Jones; former "American Idol" contestant Kellie Pickler; and popular R&B/soul group Kool & The Gang.

The festival was looking for diversity in the lineup, spokeswoman Lizz Harmon said Wednesday.

The festival runs Feb. 26 through March 8.

Concert prices haven't been released but each show will have about 3,000 free seats available the day of the performance.

Festival tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. Dec. 8 at www.flstrawberryfestival.com or the box office at 2209 W. Oak Ave. For information, call (813) 754-1996.

Here's the lineup:

• Feb. 26: 3:30 p.m., George Jones

• Feb. 26: 7:30 p.m., Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers

• Feb. 27: 3:30 p.m., Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

• Feb. 27: 7:30 p.m., Kellie Pickler

• Feb. 28: 3:30 p.m., Jake Owen

• Feb. 28: 7:30 p.m., Third Day

• March 1: 3:30 p.m., Rodney Atkins

• March 1: 7:30 p.m., Taylor Swift

• March 2: 3:30 p.m., Jim Ed Brown/Helen Cornelius

• March 7::30 p.m., Randy Travis

• March 3: 3:30 p.m., Connie Smith/Marty Stuart

• March 3: 7:30 p.m., Travis Tritt

• March 4:3:30 p.m., Brenda Lee

• March 4: 7:30 p.m., Ray Stevens

• March 5: 3:30 p.m., Mel Tillis

• March 5: 7:30 p.m., Lorrie Morgan

• March 6: 3:30 p.m., Ronnie McDowell

• March 6: 7:30 p.m., Jeff Foxworthy

• March 7: 3:30 p.m., Mark Lowry

• March 7: 7:30 p.m., Kool & The Gang

• March 8: 3:30 p.m., Julianne Hough

• March 8: 7:30 p.m., Jessica Simpson

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