Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
NASHVILLE -- For three hours leading up to the 48th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, dozens of county stars - super and upstarts - hit the red carpet to talk about their upcoming projects.
Here are some excerpts.
Darius Rucker on his new Christmas album, “Home for the Holidays.” He duets with Sheryl Crow on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and covers “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”
“Sheryl and I have been friends for 20 years. We decided to do that song and she was my first choice. I texted her and she agreed immediately. The great thing about that song is we did it together in the studio, so it made it so much more fun. The “Grinch,” it was the first song I decided to do. I found out there were six verses to it – I didn’t know that!”
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Clare Bowen, who plays Scarlett on “Nashville,” on her friendship with Atlanta’s Zac Brown Band:
“They’re really good friends of mine. They invited me to do the Southern Ground Music Festival (in 2013). Zac was the one who made me realize that there is nothing more amazing than going out in front of thousands of people and singing your own words to them and giving that gift if they’ll have it. He’s a big inspiration to me. “
Thomas Rhett, a native of Valdosta, on his upcoming tour supporting Florida Georgia Line. The arena tour kicks off in January, but doesn’t have an Atlanta date yet:
“Tyler (Hubbard) and BK (Brian Kelley) went to Belmont and I went to Lipscomb (University). I went to their showcase before they ever had a record deal. I’ve known them four or five years and we’ve always talked about touring together and this seems like the perfect year.”
Danielle Bradbery, on touring with Hunter Hayes, Blake Shelton and now Scotty McCreary:
“I learned a lot from (those tours). Hunter’s confidence onstage, he jumps around more than anybody else on stage. With Blake (it was about) seeing more of his talking points, making everybody laugh. I just started the Scotty tour. It’s funny having the two sides with ‘Idol’ and ‘The Voice,’ (Bradbery won ‘The Voice in 2013). We have so much fun talking about the two different worlds.”
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Chase Bryant, in a snazzy Hugo Boss suit, on touring with Jefferson’s Brantley Gilbert:
“Brantley is a good guy. He’s a fast runner. I have raced him out in the parking lot a few times and never have won. I’m a little ashamed of that. But he’s not gonna let the opener win!”
Jon Pardi, on touring with Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and next year, Newnan native Alan Jackson:
“I’m blown away that he even chose me. I only met him once, so it will be good to get some hang time with ALAN JACKSON.”
RaeLynn on her new EP, coming in January (she’ll also join Miranda Lambert on her “Certified Platinum” tour:
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
“Everything on the EP is original music. It’s from my heart and it’s going to relate to a lot of things. It’s really cool to see these songs connect with fans – they’ve already looked them up on YouTube.”
Frankie Ballard, who is also touring with Florida Georgia Line in 2015:
“ ‘Helluva Life’ was my first hit song and now ‘Sunshine & Whiskey’ and we’re getting this big tour…it finally seems like everything is starting to happen. I have a huge responsibility on (the FGL tour) because the ticket holders are expecting a party and they’re gonna see me first, so I’ve got the tough task of kicking it off with a bang.”
Dustin Lynch, who will tour with Luke Bryan next year:
“I’m looking forward to being on Luke’s tour to do some huntin’. I know he likes to hunt. Going on tour with Keith Urban last year was a big spectacle, but we’ve already started talking about production for Luke’s tour. I love having acreage on stage and being able to run around.”
Craig Campbell is a native of Lyons and his mother and siblings still live there. He has the song “All American Kid” on the upcoming Garth Brooks album:
"I’ve never had anybody record any of my songs until now, so I started at the top. It was going to be on my new record, but when I got that call that Garth wanted it, I said, ‘He can have it!’”
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Cole Swindell, who attended Georgia Southern but left 18 credits shy in 2007, on his reaction to his new artist of the year nomination:
“I was in the shower, and when I got out I had four missed calls and a text from my manager and I was so freaked out that something was wrong...Stuff seems so far away that I still dream of it but everything I’ve ever dreamed of is happening to me. I just want to soak it in because not many people get this opportunity.”
Maddie & Tae, the young ladies behind the hit “Girl in a Country Song”:
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
"It was definitely the right message at the right time,” said Tae (Taylor Dye). “We’re very passionate about this message of letting girls know that they don’t have to look a certain way to be accepted. Basically, the expectations that guys have for us these days in country songs is unrealistic and we’re kind of annoyed at it.”
Michael W. Smith, who walked the carpet with members of the Marine Corps to promote his involvement with Toys for Tots. Toys will be collected at the CMA Country Christmas show being taped in Nashville on Friday:
“There’s a lot of need. We always think everybody wakes up to Christmas presents, but there are a lot of poor people in this town. We’re just trying to make a kid’s Christmas. We collected 5,000 toys last year and we’re trying to break that this year.”
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