By Barry H. Hendrix
The 2026 halftime show of the Thomasville High School Mighty Tiger Marching band will feature a tribute to Boy Bands of the 1990’s, particularly the Backstreet Boys.
The band will feature a portion of the show during halftime of the jamboree game on Friday, Aug. 14, hosting Washington County. Fans will see the complete show likely after a few weeks of the regular season, said James Boyett, the band director for the Thomasville City Schools District.
The marching band had a very successful band camp in late July, he said, and the students made considerable progress. “They worked really hard,” he said. “We got a lot done. …We have learned half of it (the show) so far. …Our band camp is an intensive whole week, (however) once school starts, we basically get four hours-a-week (of practice) on the field. Having this much on the field early is encouraging. This band is ahead of schedule.”
The halftime show will feature three songs by the Backstreet Boys: “Everybody,” “Larger Than Life,” and “I Want It That Way.” The show will end with “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC (actually from 2000). “It is kind of a departure for us,” Boyett said. “The students are really interested in it. It should be a fun show.”
The 2026 marching band includes 38 students with 25 musicians, which is an increase from recent band numbers. The song selection for the halftime show will highlight the work of the trombone players. “The melody lines are in that tenor voice.” Trumpet players will also be showcased, he said.
Senior Holly Garrick is in her second year as Drum Major. Other student leadership in the Marching Band includes Emonii Smith, Color Guard Captain; Isabella Sims, Feature Twirler; Keyana Bettis and Kristin Howard, Dance Captains; Jude Dailey, Band Lieutenant and Trumpet Section Leader; Katie Harrington, Band Librarian; Amy Roberts, Band Lieutenant and Woodwind Section Leader; Braden Stauffacher, Band Captain; and Zack Posey, Percussion Section Leader.
The Marching Band will compete in two competitions this year: Sept. 26 at Patrician Academy in Butler and Oct. 24 at the University Charter School in Livingston (Tiger Stadium at the University of West Alabama).
The Marching Band will invite alumni members to play with the band in the stands at a home game this season. More details will be released later, he said.
Boyett continues to recruit students for the band program by working with fourth grade students at Thomasville Elementary School and fifth and sixth grade students in the THS Band Room. There will also be a musical instrument petting zoo for fourth grade students later in the spring.
Photo cutline: (front) Emonii Smith, Color Guard Captain; Isabella Sims, Feature Twirler; Keyana Bettis and Kristin Howard, Dance Captains; (back) Jude Dailey, Band Lieutenant and Trumpet Section Leader; Katie Harrington, Band Librarian; Holly Garrick, Drum Major; Amy Roberts, Band Lieutenant and Woodwind Section Leader; Braden Stauffacher, Band Captain; and Zack Posey, Percussion Section Leader.