Country singer Easton Corbin will perform at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino's Rollins Center Nov. 27 at 9 p.m. (Submitted photo)

With a string of No. 1 songs and a recently released hit album to his credit, country singer Easton Corbin heads to Dover Downs Hotel and Casino’s Rollins Center Friday, Nov. 27 for a post-Thanksgiving bash.

His third album, “About to Get Real,” was released in June and became his first No. 1 record on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

The album’s third single, “Yup”, was released in July, with its second song “Baby Be My Love Song” hitting No. 3 on the country charts.

Mr. Corbin said by phone Tuesday morning from his home in Nashville, Tennessee, that he’s gratified by the response the new songs are getting.

“It’s been great. The record is doing really well for us. People are glad that there is new stuff out there and it’s been getting a great reaction,” said the 33-year-old Florida native.

The album follows up his 2012 record “All Over the Road,” which reached No. 2 on the Country chats.

“I think my music has evolved over time,” he said.

“The new album is countrier than a lot of stuff out there but at the same time you have to stay current and find a way to keep the music fresh.”

He grew up on his grandparents’ cattle farm listening to country greats such as George Jones and Conway Twitty, from whom he draws inspiration.

“Merle Haggard, George Strait, George Jones, those are all of my heroes. That’s the kind of stuff I loved growing up,” he said.

“I think a lot of the younger generation didn’t really grow up listening to those guys so anytime you can get them exposed to some of that, the better I think.”

On his first album, “Easton Corbin” released in 2010, he became the first country male artist in 17 years to have his first two singles — “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It” — reach No. 1.

“That was a great experience. I just feel so blessed to have had that and to continue do what I love,” he said.

In a six-month period, he received 13 country music award nominations and won three country music trophies.

He received three nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards and won every Breakthrough Artist category at the 2011 American Country Music Awards (Artist of the Year, Single of the Year and Music Video). He tied with Lady Antebellum to earn the most nominations, garnering seven.

Billboard named Mr. Corbin the Top New Country Artist of 2010 and “Roll With It” the No. 6 Hot Country Song of the Year, while “A Little More Country Than That” was ranked No. 19.

On his latest album, Mr. Corbin co-wrote three of the tunes. It’s an aspect of the business he says he loves.

“As the years have gone on, I’ve liked it more and more,” he said.

“It’s a fun experience and I love sitting down with other writers who have more experience than I do and just learning as much as I can about songwriting.”

Shows like the Dover Downs gig have become even more fun for him with the release of the new songs, he said.

“The more music you have and the more music that people know makes it easier to entertain. I’ve been fortunate to have some hits along the way that people know and that gets the crowd involved and singing along with you,” he said.

“When the crowd’s having fun, I have fun, too.”

He’s looking forward to more fun come January when he sets out on a world tour with country superstar Carrie Underwood. The tour starts in Florida and will take him to places as far away as London and Ireland, lasting through May.

“That’s going to be great. It’s a huge opportunity for me,” he said.

“To be able to play in front of 10,000 fans a night. I’m just honored she asked me to be a part of it. I’ve met Carrie a few times and she’s always been very nice. I’m really looking forward to that.”

Although wanting to be a country music singer since he was small, Mr. Corbin attended the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and earned an agribusiness degree in 2006.

He graduated in May of that year and moved to Nashville in October, working at a hardware store during the day and performing at writers’ circles in the evenings.

A distant cousin, who is a professor of entertainment management, recommended him to contacts in Nashville.

Although he may never need his degree, Mr. Corbin said he’s glad he attended college.

“A lot of people never get the chance to be heard. I think it was a smart thing to get my education while making music on the side,” he said.

“I got my degree which I’m proud of. But I’m also glad I landed where I did.”

Ticket prices for his 9 p.m. show range from $45 to $85, based on location, and can be obtained by visiting doverdowns.com or calling 1-800-711-5882.

All in at Dover Downs

Staying at Dover Downs, three five-figure guarantee Saturday tournaments, including a $20,000 guaranteed prize pool on the day after Christmas, highlight the December offerings in the Crown Royal Poker Room.

The no-limit Texas Hold ’Em tournaments for the weekend include:

•Friday, Dec. 18: 11:15 a.m.; $10,000 guaranteed; $125 buy-in; 15,000 starting stack; 20-minute blinds

•Saturday, Dec. 19: 11:15 a.m.; $15,000 guaranteed; $175 buy-in; 15,000 starting stack; 30-minute blinds

•Sunday, Dec. 20: 11:15 a.m.; $2,500 guaranteed; $35 buy-in

A Super Satellite for the Dec. 19 tournament will be held Monday, Dec. 14 at 7:15 p.m. For a $25 entry, one in 10 players will win a seat into the $15,000 guaranteed tournament.

After Christmas, two more December big-guarantee no-limit Texas Hold ’Em tournaments are scheduled, including:

•Saturday, Dec. 26: 11:15 a.m.; $20,000 guaranteed; $195 buy-in; 20,000 starting stack, 20 to 30 minute blinds; room at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino only $79 with tournament registration.

•Sunday, Dec. 27: 11:15 a.m.; $3,500 guaranteed; $35 buy-in; room at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino only $49 with tournament registration.

A Super Satellite for the Dec. 26 tournament will be held on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7:15 p.m. For a $25 entry, one in 10 players will win a seat into the $20,000 guaranteed tournament.

For more information on tournaments, promotions and giveaways at the Crown Royal Poker Room, visit doverdowns.com, or call (302) 857-3275.

Funk and soul in Smyrna

On Saturday night, an evening of funk and soul with Pristine Raeign and Fuzion Sol awaits at the Smyrna Opera House.

Pristine Raeign and Fuzion Sol are both female-led bands that specialize in high-energy funk/soul and even a little country. Pristine Raeign is from Wilmington and Fuzion Sol is from Bear and both bands are making their debuts at the Opera House.

There will be some Soul Line Dancing instruction going on between sets during this event courtesy of Ida with Forever Active Lifestyle in Smyrna.

Tickets are $16, $14 for members, seniors and military, and $8 for children younger than 12.

They can be obtained by visiting www.smyrnaoperahouse.org, calling (302) 653-4236 or visiting the box office at 7 W. South St.

‘Magical Lamp’ in Milford

The students of Milford High School’s Drama Club will present “The Magical Lamp of Aladdin.”

The play takes the audience to the city of Shammar where we meet Aladdin (played by Tobias Biro) and his pet monkey Alakazam (Brandon Morgan). The evil magician Jammal (Silas Wheedleton) and his sister Halima (Jessica Creigh) try to trick Aladdin in order to gain possession of a magic lamp. With the help of three genies (Millisen Dill, Calvin Gillespie, and Kieran Pheasant) Aladdin must defeat Jammal and rescue Princess Jasmine (Ciera Emich).

Performances will be held in the Milford High School Auditorium, 1019 N. Walnut St. today and Saturday at 7 p.m. There also will be an afternoon matinee at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets will be available at the door. They are $6 for ages 2-18 years old and those 60 or older. They are $8 for all others.

For additional information, contact producer Erica Snyder at (302) 422-1610 or esnyder@msd.k12.de.us.

Director sought

The Possum Point Players in Georgetown are looking for a director for “Moon Over the Brewery” its spring 2016 comedy. Anyone interested in directing the show should contact Jim Hartzell, the players’ Director Selection Chair, at jlhart8@mchsi.com or 302-856-6166.

The show is scheduled to run April 15 - 24, 2016.

The Players have two application forms for potential directors; one for those who have directed shows at PPP before, and one for those who have not.

Anyone interested in securing either of the application forms may contact Mr. Hartzell or PPP Executive Administrator Dawn Conaway at executiveadministrator@possumpointplayes.org or (302) 856-3460. Forms also may be downloaded from the PPP website at www.possumpointplayers.org.

Now showing

New in theaters this weekend is “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,” the suspense-thriller “Secret in Their Eyes” and the Christmas comedy “The Night Before.”

On DVD and download starting Tuesday is the thriller “No Escape” and the Meryl Streep music comedy-drama “Ricki and the Flash.”