National American Legion officials and the local American Legion World Series (ALWS) committee announced today that Martina McBride, the country artist who has received more than 15 major music awards, will be the headliner for the concert portion of the 7th Annual 7th Inning Stretch Festival on Saturday, Aug. 10, in Uptown Shelby.

“We have scored another big hit by bringing Martina to the Festival,” says Eddie Holbrook, chairman of the local ALWS committee. “This artist is phenomenal and we’re thrilled that area residents can hear her at a festival dedicated to them.”

The music begins at 6:00 PM with an opening act to be named later. McBride will take the stage at 8:00 PM as the highlight of the festival and the closing act. The festival is free and open to the public.

The Kansas-born McBride is known as a singer-songwriter, record producer, promoter of charitable causes and a lifestyle influencer through her work supporting cancer research, combating domestic violence and helping children in need. Active in the music industry since 1988, McBride has garnered six No. 1 hits and 20 Top 10 singles, selling more than 18 million albums to date. She has earned 14 Gold, nine Platinum, three Double Platinum and two Triple Platinum Certifications. McBride has four awards from the Country Music Association and three Female Vocalist of the Year awards from the Academy of Country Music. She has been nominated for a Grammy® multiple times.

Acclaimed for her soprano singing range, McBride has remained on the top of the charts with songs that include “Wild Angels,” “My Baby Loves Me,” “Independence Day,” and “This One’s for the Girls.”

McBride’s charity initiative Team Music Is Love has been responsible for many successful fundraising and volunteer projects. She also hosted “Martina’s Table,” a Food Network show, and compiled two books, “Around the Table” and “Martina’s Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life.”

The festival, with title sponsor The North Carolina Department of The American Legion, is a “thank you” from the ALWS committee to the community for local support of the ALWS, an annual baseball tournament held in Shelby-Cleveland County since 2011. The tournament and its related events have become the county’s largest annual tourism event.

The Festival opens at 8:00 AM with a 5K run that begins at Future Energy. The Little Miss ALWS Pageant is scheduled for 10:00 AM at the Don Gibson Theatre. From 3:00 – 10:00 PM, festival attendees can play games, purchase crafts and eat everything from barbecue to fried Oreos®.

The ALWS games begin at 10:00 AM Thursday, Aug. 15, at Keeter Stadium, Shelby High School. For more information about the festival, visit www.7thinningstretch.cc or www.americanlegionworldseries.com. A game schedule is available also on the ALWS website. The ALWS office can be reached at 704-466-3103 weekdays 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.