Josh returned home this past weekend, and celebrated his birthday with friends from WMIL Milwaukee at their “Class of 2010” concert. Before he began his set, WMIL and the “moo crew” morning jocks surprised Thompson with a custom-made Pabst Blue Ribbon cake, while the sold-out crowd stood to sing him “Happy Birthday.” “It was awesome to have our hometown hero in town to celebrate his birthday. It was a great feeling seeing 500 people sing to Josh,” says Kerry Wolfe, Clear Channel Milwaukee Dir. of Programming.

Thompson played songs from the upcoming February 23 release of his debut album, Way Out Here, of which Thompson wrote or co-wrote every track including his Top 20 “Beer On The Table.” Immediately following his set, the crowd stood once again – this time to give his performance a standing ovation. The “kick ass performance had the crowd singing along to every word,” Wolfe adds. “I hope Josh comes home every January 23rd to celebrate with Milwaukee!”

Thompson recently spent some time celebrating some of his own hometown heroes. Earlier this month Thompson visited the children at St. Jude, and this week he helped national charity Musicians On Call by performing for hospitalized veterans at the Nashville VA hospital. “I got to put a smile on 20 faces and, I hope make their situation a little better for a little while,” Thompson said of his experience. “Really makes you appreciate what people have sacrificed for us.”

With his debut single, “Beer On The Table,” rocking the country airwaves, his 32-date Jagermeister Country Tour with Eric Church only a few short weeks away, and his debut album Way Out Here releasing on February 23rd, Thompson is preparing himself for the busy months ahead. In the meantime, fans can catch his show on the road and pre-order Way Out Here now!

* Thanks to "BikerMama" for letting the "powers that be" know it was Josh's big day ;)