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Country artist Josh Turner. Photo Credit: David McClister
Country artist Josh Turner chatted about his forthcoming “Greatest Hits” country album, which will be released on September 8 via his record label MCA Nashville.
“I have been good… Very busy but good,” he said about his life in general.
‘Greatest Hits’ album
On his forthcoming “Greatest Hits” album, Turner said, “I am very excited, that is kind of a milestone in my mind. That’s something every artist aspires to but not every artist gets there. The fact that is coming up on September 8th is really cool. It is just right around the corner. I am excited and the fans are excited as well. Like I said, it’s a big deal for me.”
When asked if he has a personal favorite song on that collection, he responded, “They are all my babies… it’s funny.”
“There are probably some songs that should have ended on there too, but I just couldn’t fit them all in. That was a good problem to have,” Turner said with a sweet laugh.
“The fans have been so supportive and they have allowed me to get to this point. They have allowed me to have a ‘Greatest Hits’ record, and I hope they enjoy it as much as I do. It’s a milestone and something I will always cherish, and I hope they cherish it as much as I do,” he said.
20th anniversary tour of ‘Long Black Train’
On the 20th anniversary tour of “Long Black Train,” he said, “Time flies. Celebrating 20 years of anything is an accomplishment, much less in the music business. That’s simply incredible.”
“We have all grown up since then,” he admitted. “It has been 20 years since my first hit, and in some ways, it doesn’t feel that long but in some other ways, it feels like a lifetime.”
The digital age
On being an artist in the digital age, now with streaming, technology and social media, being so prevalent, Turner said, “It’s pretty cool. I’ve always just tried to embrace any and every medium that we have to get the music out there to the fans.”
“I’ve learned from experience that this planet is huge, and I will never be able to play in all the different places in all of the different countries across this planet,” he said.
“Having all these mediums and all of these technologies to get the music out to the fans makes it easy on me as an artist to get the music out there. With social media, we are able to communicate and respond to the fans. The artists I grew up listening to never had the opportunity to use social media, so it’s a pretty cool thing,” he said.
Josh Turner: The Grand Ole Opry member
Turner was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry back on October 27, 2007. “My debut on the Grand Ole Opry was a big career-defining moment.. Also, all the No. 1 songs and the certifications and being able to establish myself as a legitimate artist in the business,” he said.
He noted that his upcoming 20th anniversary of this Grand Ole Opry induction will “be here before you know it.” “Having high-quality music out there has solidified my fan-base,” he said.
“The fans have been sticking with me and sticking by me for decades now. I have earned their respect, and they have earned mine. I try to be thankful for each and every opportunity that I get,” he added.
Advice for young and aspiring country artists
For young and aspiring country artists, Turner said, “This business has changed a lot since I got signed back in 2001, but there are a lot of things that haven’t changed such as staying true to who you are. Keep the integrity in country music and keep those traditional values alive in country music.”
Turner continued, “I feel like we’ve strayed away from what this genre originally was. I don’t mind change or people branching out and thinking outside the box. That’s what I try to do every time I make a record. I try to push the envelope and I try to change and improve to the best of my ability. There are some things that I feel that need to stay the same in order for it to be and stay country music.”
“Really pay attention to the business side because that’s what you are going to spend a lot of your time focusing on, and dealing with. That’s what nobody prepared me for. I’ve embraced that and I’ve used my brain and my common sense. You need to fight for what is yours too,” he elaborated.
“There is a lot of uniformity in country music these days and I think that’s bad for the genre because country music was built on people that were unique and iconic and had a signature look and sound,” he acknowledged.
Biggest influences that have shaped his sound and voice
“My heroes were people like Randy Travis, John Anderson, Hank Williams, Vern Godsin, and Johnny Cash. All five of these guys have shaped me and my music. The biggest thing that they all taught me was how to be Josh Turner,” he said.
“When somebody hears a song of mine on the radio, I want people to know that it’s Josh Turner, and not have to go on SoundHound or Google it in order to figure out who it is,” he said with a sweet laugh.
Dream female duet choice in music: Lee Ann Womack
Turner listed Lee Ann Womack as his dream female duet choice in country music. “I would love to sing with Lee Ann Womack,” he said. “I also love Patty Loveless too… I did one of her songs ‘You Don’t Seem to Miss Me’ on my ‘Country State of Mind” album with Runaway June, and that turned out great.”
Favorite mottos to live by
On his favorite mottos to live by, Turner said, “I just try to stay in God’s word, I try to stand on his promises, and I stay in his will. That makes life a whole lot easier.”
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, Turner said, “Being able to do what you love to do for a living. Also, having a great family and having your health. Trying to stay debt-free is success too.”
“A big thank you to all my fans,” he expressed. “There is nothing more incredible than a country music fan. They are very loyal… they will stand out in the rain, they will stand out in 100-plus degree temperatures. They love their country music, and I love for them for that. They have been extremely supportive and it has been a joy to play for them all of these years.”
Josh Turner’s “Greatest Hits” album is available for pre-order by clicking here.
To learn more about Josh Turner, check out his official website and follow him on Instagram.
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