Bucky Covington is a native of Rockingham, N.C., who grew up listening to country music and taught himself to play guitar after graduating from high school. He worked in his family's auto body shop during the week and started playing in clubs in the Carolinas on the weekends. He and his twin brother, Rocky, auditioned for American Idol, and Bucky was chosen as a finalist in the 2006 season. He placed eighth in the competition, and the exposure helped him connect with Sawyer Brown's management company. The band's lead singer, Mark Miller, produced Covington's studio sessions. Lyric Street Records will release his debut album in 2007.