Country star Lucas Hoge to perform at Cd'A Casino

Watch out for another celebrity sighting in the Coeur d’Alene area next week.

Rising country-music star Lucas Hoge will be in North Idaho to perform a private show at the Coeur d’Alene Casino on Aug. 11 and, according to lucashoge.com, another show the following night, also presumably private, at the Golf Club at Black Rock.

Hoge made his first Billboard album chart appearance just this week. His latest album “Dirty South” debuted at No. 12.

Originally from Nebraska and now living in Nashville, Hoge has been recording independently since 2002, according to billboard.com.

Hoge’s career began in the church where he sang with his family of six in a town of 44 people. He fronted three bands in the styles of worship, southern rock and, his personal favorite, country, all while running his own construction company.

“I just grew up listening to all sorts of music but it wasn’t until I listened to a Garth Brooks record, his record that came out was ‘No Fences’ and I just loved it,” Hoge said in a telephone interview with The Press.

After graduating from high school in 2003 and then going on to graduate from college, Hoge moved to Nashville with a degree in architecture and business and started building custom homes while working on his music. His first big break was when Warner Brothers featured his song, “If I Only Could” on the hit TV show, “Smallville,” beginning his lengthy repertoire of TV, film and commercial credits.

Hoge started performing music with the likes of George Jones and Rascal Flatts and quickly reached the Rolling Stone Country Artist You Need to Know list.

Hoge’s long and growing resume included his experience on Animal Planet’s “Last Chance Highway,” where Hoge helped animals in kill-shelters across the United States find loving homes and he wrote and recorded the show’s theme.

“It was so rewarding and humbling all at the same time to be able to help rescue and find new homes for 160 to 180 dogs every single week,” Hoge said.

This isn’t Hoge’s first time near the Panhandle. He visited Spokane for his radio tour, where he worked on promotions with The Big 99.9 Coyote Country. He said he loves the area.

“It’s gorgeous,” he said.

One of his new songs, “Go With the Whiskey,” revealed how he gets some of his inspiration.

“Sometimes, I like to go to a bar in Nashville and just kind of sit in the corner and just watch people and listen to conversations. You get so much out of those for inspiration and to just let things kind of flow and come to you is kind of cool,” Hoge said.