Uncle Kracker‘s year is about to take a very country turn. The pop crossover singer recently learned that he will be hitting the road this fall, opening shows for Brantley Gilbert on the ‘You Don’t Know Her Like I Do’ hitmaker’s first headlining tour. The Hell on Wheels Tour is set to kick off on September 27 in Lafayette, Indiana.

While Uncle Kracker is no stranger to touring in the country market, he is particularly fired up about this particular tour mainly for the fact that he is a huge fan of the Georgia native’s music.

“I’m just happy to be part of it, to be honest,” Uncle Kracker tells Taste of Country of being able to tour with Gilbert. “I’ve never met him, but I love his stuff. When they asked me about it, I was like, ‘Well hell yeah I want to go out with him!’ I don’t know if he decides [who his openers are] because everybody is different. I know I like to decide who goes out with me, but sometimes they’ve got their people that they decide for him. It’s so far away right now, so it’s hard to wrap my head around, but I’m sure I’ll have a different take on it come August!”

Uncle Kracker’s music made its way onto the country music scene starting back in 2004, when he collaborated with Kenny Chesney on ‘When the Sun Goes Down.’ Earlier this year, Kracker headlined his own tour, taking along country openers Sonia Leigh and Ty Stone.

Brantley Gilbert’s 2012 Hell on Wheels Tour will also feature newcomers Greg Bates and Brian Davis sharing the opening act duties.

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