For many viewers of "American Idol" in 2006, Kellie Pickler will forever be remembered as the ditzy, Southern blonde who had no clue what calamari was. Many presumed she'd disappear into the fame ether.
But the 22-year-old Albermarle, N.C., native is far savvier than she appears in developing her own career path even if she isn't going to be on "Jeopardy" anytime soon.
Her debut CD "Small Town Girl" has sold nearly 800,000 copies, generating three top 15 hits and outselling season winner Taylor Hicks. She's won three CMT awards, recently hosted a CMA Music Festival special on ABC and is releasing her self-titled sophomore album Sept. 30. And she's set to be a correspondent on "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve" this year with Ryan Seacrest.
Not bad for a gal who, on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" said she had never heard of the country Hungary.
We spoke to her by phone before her appearance tonight at the North Georgia State Fair in Marietta:
Q: Where are you now?
A: I'm in Idaho. I've been about everywhere. I never really get to see anything. I kind of like come in and sing and get the hell out of here and go on to the next show. It's a bummer. I've been on the road for three years straight!
Q: You're a new artist. That's what you have to do, right?
A: Country music is like that. You see Kenny Chensey touring all year long, every year. It never changes. I've looked at pop schedules. They don't usually tour all year long. They might do 20 or 30 dates. We do like 200 dates a year.
Q: So how's your second album looking?
A: I think it turned out real well. This is album is 10 times better than the first one. I've been able to spend time with it and really love everything.
Q: What's the music mix going to be?
A: They'll be fun uptempo girl anthems as well as ballads. I think my songwriting has improved a lot. I've grown a lot more as an artist. A lot has happened in the last few years since my first record. I have a lot to say!
Q: What's been the strangest concert date you've done so far?
A: I think some of the festivals get a little crazy, the ones that last all day like Country Thunder [in Twin Lakes, Wis., in July]. People get here at 9 or 10 in the morning and get their lawn chairs out. By the time I get on late in the evening, they're all wasted! You get people toted off in handcuffs for hitting on somebody's wife. It's never a dull moment. I try to look away or I'll start laughing.
Q: Have you ever really lost it during a song?
A: I have laughed in the middle of an uptempo song. It's easier to hold it together during a ballad. People will throw stuff on stage. I've had people throw bras! I'm not Kid Rock! I've seen people dressed up like pickles with a face and arms. And red heels.
Q: Are you sick of the whole red high heels thing [based on her first hit single "Red High Heels"]?
A: A lot of times girls will throw their red shoes on stage. Anytime people throw anything on stage, they want you to sign it. I'll sign and throw it back. I have to be careful though. They can lose an eye!
Q: Do you feel obligated to wear red high heels all the time?
A: People give them to me all the time. I don't want them. I'm so sick of having red shoes now. I'm just burned out on them. I'll be at Wal-Mart or a restaurant and people will ask why I'm not wearing red heels. I'm going to have to do a song now about diamonds or a Mercedes!
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
