Vallejo to open for Zac Brown Band

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

Madelyn Victoria Vallejo

The Zac Brown Band’s “Chicken Fried” is about to get “Country-Fide” by San Benito’s own Madelyn Victoria Vallejo.

Vallejo, a country musician who performs as Madelyn Victoria, will be opening for the Zac Brown Band on Friday, March 1, when they play BorderFest at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo.

“I just got the call from the State Farm Arena,” Vallejo said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. She’s currently residing in Dallas. “I’m really excited that I got the call. They wanted someone from the Valley to open for the Zac Brown Band. He seems like a cool guy. I’m really humbled and honored that they called me. This is the first time that they’re going to be here in the Valley. It’s a pretty big deal.”

Vallejo, who has made a name for herself performing around the Valley and opening for big-name acts such as Easton Corbin and Wade Bowen, Tracey Laurence, Clay Walker and Josh Thompson, Kevin Fowler and the KTEX 10-Man-Jam with other up-and-coming artists, had to be approved by either the Zac Brown Band or their representative in order to open for the group.

Even with such an accomplished resume, and the recent news of her upcoming performance, Vallejo said she remains grounded.

“When I first heard that the Zac Brown Band was coming to the Valley, I thought I would love being their opening act, but I thought it was impossible,” said Vallejo. “When I got the call, I immediately thanked God for the opportunity. It was kind of like God saying that it is possible. I am very humbled.”

Vallejo will take the stage at 8 p.m. on Friday, performing an acoustic set with her brother Albert Vallejo and a fiddle player.

In 2011, Madelyn Victoria released her self-titled debut EP of original tracks, including “Country-Fide” and “Sand in a Bottle.”

Read this story in the Feb. 27 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.