Country artist Lauren Alaina to perform 'Antarctica' theme song

ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ has partnered with award-winning country artist Lauren Alaina to perform the official theme song for the new attraction at SeaWorld® Orlando, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™, opening May 24, 2013.

Alaina recorded two songs for SeaWorld, including the theme song for the ride in Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, and a remix version called "Antarctica: One World, One Family." Alaina also will be performing the song live at SeaWorld Orlando for the attraction grand opening the week of May 24^th. The remix version will be available for free download at www.SeaWorldOrlando.com/Antarctica starting May 9. Alaina is currently in the studio working on her forthcoming sophomore album, and is scheduled to perform her new single "Barefoot And Buckwild" on American Idol Thursday, May 9, airing nationwide on Fox networks.

“I have such great memories of growing up and going to SeaWorld with my family, so being a part of the theme park and their new attraction is so exciting,” says Alaina.  “Recording the official theme song for the ride was so much fun – SeaWorld even brought a penguin named Pete to the studio to help inspire me!”

Georgia native Alaina captured America's hearts when she appeared on Season 10 of American Idol.  Her first album, Wildflower, debuted at no.1 on the iTunes Country chart and no.2 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart in 2011, and was the best-selling digital album by a debut country female. Alaina has been nominated for several Teen Choice and CMT Music Awards, and recently took home the Artist of the Year: New Artist trophy at the 2012 American Country Awards.

Alaina is also the Special Olympics Project UNIFY® Ambassador for North America and traveled to   Pyeongchang, South Korea in January for the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. In celebration of this partnership and their mutual support, SeaWorld will make a donation to Special Olympics. A Special Olympics athlete and family members also will receive a special visit to SeaWorld Orlando for the grand opening of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, courtesy of Lauren Alaina.

“We’re excited to continue our strategy of expanding beyond family theme parks into different types of entertainment enterprises,” said Scott Helmstedter, Chief Creative Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “We’re so thrilled to welcome Lauren into our family and look forward to working with her on this project and many more into the future.”

For the behind-the-scenes story of Lauren Alaina recording the theme song for Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, watch an exclusive webisode at www.SeaWorldOrlando.com/Antarctica.

WFTV