Thompson Square to Serve as 2012 Santa Train Celebrity Guest

KINGSPORT, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Award-winning country music duo Keifer and Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square will return to the Santa Train on Nov. 17 as this year’s celebrity guests.

“They were a huge hit last year, and we can’t wait to have them back on the Santa Train.”

“We are extremely honored to be asked to ride the Santa Train again for the second straight year,” said Shawna Thompson. “Last year brought many new opportunities for Keifer and me, but interacting with the families along the route and sharing a piece of Christmas with the children is a memory we will never forget.”

“We fell in love with the region and with the people,” continued Keifer on the duo’s decision to return for the Santa Train’s 70^th anniversary run. “We’ve been so fortunate over the last couple of years that we wanted to return to Appalachia again this year to help give back.”

Thompson Square is continuing to make its mark as one of country music’s hottest breakthrough acts, as the husband-and-wife duo won “Vocal Duo of the Year” from the Academy of Country Music in April, becoming the first new country music act to break through and win the award in 20 years.

“Thompson Square is one of the most talented up-and-coming duos in country music,” said Tori Kaplan, CSX director of corporate citizenship and special events. “They were a huge hit last year, and we can’t wait to have them back on the Santa Train.”

The group was recently nominated by the Country Music Association for Vocal Duo of the Year and New Artist of the Year awards, to be announced at the 46th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 1.

Now in its 70^th year, the Santa Train runs along a 110-mile route through Appalachia, making 14 stops in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. The Santa Train is sponsored by CSX, Dignity U Wear, Food City and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.

The Santa Train begins its journey in Pikeville, Ky., and rolls to a final stop in Kingsport, Tenn. Thompson Square, Santa Claus and dozens of volunteers will distribute gifts to families from the surrounding areas at each of the 14 stops.

Please visit www.teamsantatrain.org for more information. For updates about the Santa Train, visit www.facebook.com/santatrain, follow @TheSantaTrain on Twitter and the Santa Train Pinterest board at https://pinterest.com/santatrain/.