Bush Beans Celebrities Keep Busy at the CMAfest

CMA Festival week is a busy one for Jay Bush and his canine companion, Duke. One look at www.bushbeans.com will show you just how busy the duo is when they arrive in a town.

Tennessee has a special connection to the two because they do call the state home with their corporate office in Knoxville and then a plant in Chestnut Hill. People all over the nation know Jay and Duke and they've even been recognized in the area of Canada thanks to the popularity of those commercials!

When the commercials started in 1995, Bush says "I was most comfortable in the commercials with my dog [Duffy aka "Duke"] and that's how it kind of started. It was actually my dog that we started out with." Now an actor who lives with his owner/trainer in Orlando when he's not on the road portrays "Duke". Don't feel bad though, Duffy is happy to allow, "Duke" to take the spotlight!

Before the CMA Festival began, they spent Wednesday afternoon visiting Nashville area Wal-Mart stores, and giving out free samples, which according to Bush "Wal-Mart is not a typical thing. That's something that we started doing this year." Wal-Mart just happens to be the largest customer for Bush's Baked Beans so it's a good partnership.

If you think Duke is a celebrity dog with a celebrity attitude, think again. He's definitely not! On the way to the Kick-Off Parade for the 2005 CMA Festival Thursday morning, Duke could be seen walking his way to the parade car carrying his own stuffed toy along side his entourage - doesn't every celeb have one?

Then mid-day they made a visit to local celebrities Harry Chapman and Meryll Rose at Talk of the Town [News Channel 5 - CBS] for a local Backyard BBQ giveaway complete with a grill. The appearance at the barbecue on Saturday was keeping the duo away from the team they sponsor in the Busch Series that was racing over the weekend at the Nashville Super Speedway.

"We started that in 2003. We really started because it was an opportunity to get at these fans and just get that name out there again. [because of the cook-out] we're not going to be able to go to the race, which is unfortunate, but we hope that Stacy [Compton - driver] does well". [due to rain it was postponed until Sunday.]

Friday afternoon, the two made their way over to the Bush sponsored Family Zone at the Hall of Fame Park and announced the winners of the children's "Color Me Musical" contest.
Aaron Wood (10) and Jessica Crane (13) each created a poster and wrote an essay on how music makes them feel.

They returned to the Zone, on Sunday, for a free Bush's Baked Beans Cookout where the first 500 fans ate free!

Other available moments were spent greeting fans at their Convention Center booth. It was even reported that one of the performers called in just to find out if Jay and Duke were at their booth so they could come to see the famous duo themselves. They were definitely among the most popular with the adults and the children.

Article Written & Submitted by Michelle Durham