{"id":2373512,"date":"2026-04-14T22:27:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T22:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2373512"},"modified":"2026-04-14T22:27:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T22:27:45","slug":"great-texas-balloon-race-lands-country-music-icon-for-entertainment-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/great-texas-balloon-race-lands-country-music-icon-for-entertainment-lineup\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Texas Balloon Race lands country music icon for entertainment lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">LONGVIEW, Texas (<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ketk.com\/news\/local-news\/great-texas-balloon-race-lands-country-music-icon-for-entertainment-lineup\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:KETK;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;KETK&quot;}\" class=\"link \">KETK<\/a>) \u2014 Longview is gearing up for its annual hot air balloon race, bringing dozens of hot air balloon pilots, a drone show and several iconic East Texas musicians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The 49th Great Texas Balloon Race, set to take place in June, announced its entertainment lineup on Tuesday. Blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Wes Jeans will headline June 12, followed by June 13\u2019s headliner, iconic country music star Sunny Sweeney.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/lifestyle\/articles\/east-texas-events-honor-america-204237719.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:East Texas events honor America\u2019s 250th anniversary with patriotic fun;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;East Texas events honor America\u2019s 250th anniversary with patriotic fun&quot;}\"> East Texas events honor America\u2019s 250th anniversary with patriotic fun <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The balloon race\u2019s first night will open up with L.A. Roxx, a Louisiana-based rock and roll tribute band, before headliner Jeans takes the stage. Jeans, who comes from the Marshall area, has been voted East Texas Blues Artist of the Year several times, with many successful singles.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Image of L.A. Roxx, courtesy of Great Texas Balloon Race<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Image of Wes Jeans, courtesy of Great Texas Balloon Race\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/9PDbVwVUqeuxfIf7EGuEyg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ketk_tyler_articles_859\/33bd7ada7255452b687f38f3b7ea625d\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Image of Wes Jeans, courtesy of Great Texas Balloon Race<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sweeney, a Longview native, has released five critically acclaimed albums and had several charting songs in her almost two-decade-long music career. Opening for Sweeney will be Rose &amp; Weeds, a country-music group out of Paris.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Image of Roses &amp; Weeds, courtesy of Great Texas Balloon Race\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"733\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FybsuY4y_srVEM5qN1Vb7A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTk0MztjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ketk_tyler_articles_859\/544847de2c894c01a4f40d16ba675477\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Image of Roses &amp; Weeds, courtesy of Great Texas Balloon Race<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Image of Sunny Sweeney, courtesy of Great Texas Balloon Race\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"853\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/Olu96uy8u.yXkZOiXGTsdA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTgxMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/ketk_tyler_articles_859\/6c716424985cd6de7d9d04ec9c7ad858\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Image of Sunny Sweeney, courtesy of Great Texas Balloon Race<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The balloon race kicks off at the Longview Convention Center early at 6:30 a.m. on June 12 with a competition flight in the sky, followed by two days full of vendors, hot air balloon experiences and a drone show.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The music entertainment opens up each night at 7:30 p.m. before the headliner starts at 9:30 p.m.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For the full schedule of events and ticket purchasing, visit the Great Texas Balloon Race\u2019s website at <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/gtbr.net\/\/schedule-of-events\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:GTBR.net;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;GTBR.net&quot;}\" class=\"link \">GTBR.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-4\"\/>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24\/7 on your smart TV <\/em><strong><em><u><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ketk.com%2Fplus%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CPMata%40ketk.com%7C397c5773fcdf4816076b08de3ccb57f6%7C9e5488e2e83844f6886cc7608242767e%7C0%7C0%7C639015041210967506%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=mkzL6yTEpD54iDGRQr5Rv%2F65ORwwNZIPPl7JyRTT8kQ%3D&amp;reserved=0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:with KETK+;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;with KETK+&quot;}\" class=\"link \">with KETK+<\/a><\/u>,<\/em><\/strong><em>\u00a0our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite needed\u2014<\/em><strong><em>watch for free, anytime. <\/em><\/strong><em>Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ketk.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.&quot;}\" class=\"link \"> For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) \u2014 Longview is gearing up for its annual hot air balloon race, bringing dozens of hot air balloon pilots, a drone show and several iconic East Texas musicians. The 49th Great Texas Balloon Race, set to take place in June, announced its entertainment lineup on Tuesday. Blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Wes Jeans [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2373513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[461760,407541,461761,351217,22428,461762],"class_list":["post-2373512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-great-texas-balloon-race","tag-hot-air-balloon","tag-longview","tag-sunny-sweeney","tag-texas","tag-wes-jeans"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Great-Texas-Balloon-Race-lands-country-music-icon-for-entertainment.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2373512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2373512"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2373512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2373514,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2373512\/revisions\/2373514"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2373513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2373512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2373512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2373512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}