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If the total number of albums sold by the three headliners of this year's Foothills Fall Festival were distributed to every man, woman and child in Blount County, each individual would be given close to 500 CDs.

For the 121,511 people living here -- according to a 2008 estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau -- that's a grand total of almost 60 million albums. All of that adds up to what City of Maryville officials hope will be the biggest festival in years, thanks to the three acts that will close out each night of the event -- classic rock band Kansas on Friday, Oct. 16; country legend Alan Jackson on Saturday, Oct. 17; and East Tennessee native and country star Rodney Atkins on Sunday, Oct. 18.

"We're excited to celebrate the 10th year of the Foothills Fall Festival with what we feel like is one of the best lineups we've ever had," city Events Coordinator Jane Groff told The Daily Times on Monday. "Alan Jackson will be a great highlight of this year's event, and with ticket prices still very low, we think the Foothills Fall Festival will remain an affordable and entertaining family event for those who live here others who make the festival a vacation destination."

Tickets for this year's festival go on sale July 24 at the Maryville Municipal Center, at select Blount County branches of First Tennessee and GreenBank and through Tickets Unlimited. Through Aug. 21, a three-day festival pass will cost $40 -- a bargain, considering a single ticket to see a single artist like Jackson perform at various venues around the country runs that much or more: tickets for an Aug. 7 performance by Jackson at Ironstone Amphitheatre in Murphys, Calif, cost $45-$230; tickets to see him play Sept. 19 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., are priced at $35-$75; and an Oct. 4 show at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre in St. Augustine, Fla., will cost show-goers $59.50 or $85.

Factor in the other entertainers that round out this year's bill -- Knoxville rockers The Dirty Guv'nahs, the Little River Band, Justin Moore, Trailer Choir, Mic Harrison and The High Score, Holly Alejo and Jackie Midkiff Jr. -- and the entertainment is befitting of a festival marking its 10th year.

"We're very fortunate in these uncertain economic times that our sponsors felt confident enough in the success of the festival and its value to the Blount County community to do everything in their power to ensure the show would go on this year," Groff said. "We're proud to partner with them and continue a Blount County tradition that will, as always, include an area for children, arts and crafts vendors throughout downtown and some of the most respected names in popular music."

Jackson a Coup

Jackson, in particular, is a coup -- with roughly 42 million albums sold throughout his lengthy career, seven Academy of Country Music awards, one Grammy and 17 Country Music Television Awards, he's charted more than 30 No. 1 singles and will headline Saturday night's portion of the festival, capping a day that will also include local roots-rockers Mic Harrison and The High Score; up-and-coming country artist Justin Moore, whose "Small Town USA" currently sits at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart; and Trailer Choir, a country party band that just released the album "Off the Hillbilly Hook."

"It's unbelievable that we are celebrating ten years of bringing our families and friends together for a weekend of world-class entertainment, free weekend-long activities for the family and kids, and the areas best arts and crafts, but most of all to enjoy the company and the setting of the Foothills Fall Festival in Maryville," Mayor Tom Taylor said in a statement. "This event has stood the test of time and it's due to our volunteers and our sponsors who have helped to make this an affordable weekend vacation for our community, friends and neighbors. Alan Jackson is a special treat for our festival guests to help us celebrate a tenth year of great entertainment that has become a trademark of the Festival."

The rest of the lineup is just as exciting, Groff added -- Friday will feature Knoxville rock band The Dirty Guv'nahs, winners for the past two years of the Best Rock Band title in Metro Pulse's annual "Best of Knoxville" poll; the Little River Band, a classic rock outfit from Australia that's sold 25 million albums and charted such hits as "Lonesome Loser," "Reminiscing" and "Lady"; and Kansas, a classic progressive-rock band that climbed the charts with such hits as "Carry On My Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind," among others.

'Idol' contestant to open Sunday

Sunday will open with Alcoa teen and "American Idol" contestant Jackie Midkiff Jr., following by contemporary Christian artist Holly Alejo and Atkins as the festival's closer. In May, Atkins -- raised in East Tennessee -- charted his fifth No. 1 single with "It's America," the title track to his most recent album.

Tickets will remain $40 for a three-day pass through Aug. 21, after which the cost goes up to $50 -- but Groff advises those who wish to attend to purchase tickets soon.

"The past two years, the festival has sold out in record time," she said. "We've had no ticket sales at the gate, which is unfortunate for those who are used to attending on the spur of the moment, but I think it speaks to the quality of entertainment that folks are eager to buy their tickets several months in advance."

Sponsors of the festival include Ruby Tuesday, Massey Electric, Clayton Homes, DENSO, Cherokee Millwright, The Daily Times, WIVK-FM, GreenBank and the City of Maryville. The festival hotline is 273-3445; online, the festival can be found at www.foothillsfallfestival.com, as well as on Myspace, Facebook and Twitter.