NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The members of Gloriana found out like the rest of us that band mate Cheyenne Kimball was leaving the group: on Twitter.
Singer Tom Gossin told The Associated Press that Kimball took off after their show on Friday without a word and didn't respond to their emails. The next time they heard from her was a post on the group's Twitter page Saturday, saying she was leaving the band. The tweet has since been deleted.
"A band is a lot like a relationship," Gossin said. "Throughout the whole four years of this band there's always ups and downs. It wasn't particularly a down moment or anything like that. So, yeah, it was a big surprise."
Gloriana, formed in 2008, also includes Gossin's brother, Mike, and Rachel Reinert. They've been on tour this summer and are preparing to release their second studio album this fall. Gloriana won the Academy of Country Music's top new vocal group award last year. Their hits include "Wild at Heart" and "How Far Do You Wanna Go."
Gossin said there were no obvious signs from Kimball leading up to her departure, which makes it all the more confusing for the rest of the band. But ultimately, the band is determined to press on with their tour and new album.
"We're sad," he said. "It's definitely kind of shaken things up, for sure. It's kind of a weird time for this to happen. The main feeling now is actually positive. We're going to move forward and start a new chapter where everyone in Gloriana is fully committed. That, in a way, feels really good to know. I'm sure we're going to grow from all this and become stronger for it ultimately."
To complicate matters, Gloriana had already finished the new album and Kimball is an integral part of it. Gossin said there will be some changes made, but the creative decisions still need to be ironed out.
"There's just absolutely no way that the three of us would bail on that," Gossin said.
"Whether it's being voiced or not, if one person's unhappy, it's never a good thing to stay. Although, the way this came about was very abrupt and not really the way we'd like. She's been a member of our family for the past four years. Anyone that close to me, I would never want them to be unhappy. So we really hope that this decision leads her to find her happiness, whatever that is."
The band released a statement to fans on their website Monday addressing Kimball's departure.
"We just really want our fans to know that of course this is a hiccup, but we're 150 percent moving forward with the album, the single, the tour, and we're going to keep the Gloriana train rolling," he said.
They'll release the video for their new single "Wanna Take You Home" this week as planned.
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