(CSC) 1. Congratulations on the release of your tenth studio album, “This Country Music Thing,” available August 16th on MCA Nashville! Reflecting on the creative process, how does this record define you at this current chapter of your career?
(Josh Turner)
Well, first of all, I haven't made a mainstream country record in several years, so it's good to be back in the studio to do a record like that. And, you know, I've watched our business change since I did a record like this, so it was interesting choosing songs and trying to navigate the current landscape.
And so, I feel like I did that in a pretty decent way. I had a lot of things going on in my personal life when I was making this record. So, it was hard for me to really kind of devote a lot of time and attention to a lot of the nitty gritty details, but I did the best that I could. And I really leaned on my producer on this record. And I feel like he and I both really delivered a record that I think the fans can enjoy and be proud of and look forward to. And hopefully they love it as much as I do when they hear it.
(CSC) 2. Having such a great working relationship with your longtime producer Kenny Greenberg, what do you admire about him and what have you learned from him as an artist?
(Josh Turner)
I think the biggest thing is that he's still a fan of music, and that's a big thing with me. You know, if I ever sense that you're getting jaded or tired or bitter and not continuing to learn, not continuing to enjoy what you do and love what you do, that can be a problem.
And so, he's always just had an excitement about music. He lives it and breathes it. He plays the music in a lot of different arenas, literally and figuratively. But he's always looking to try to make a song better. And so, he's always looking at songs in a different way than I am, and so I think he and I make a really good team. I've been able to make songs that he's crazy about better, and vice versa. So, it's been a good partnership and I look forward to continuing to make records with him.
(CSC) 3. What would be some of your most favorite highlights from the recording of this record in the studio with Kenny and the other musicians who were a part of it?
(Josh Turner)
We had a lot of great musicians play on this record. Some that I've played with for years and then there's others that have been fairly new to me. So, all of them played together really well. They were just as excited about the music as Kenny and I were, so that's always a good sign. I just really enjoyed the creative process like I usually do when I'm making a record.
When we finally nailed the songs down, especially getting the list of songs together was the hardest part. But once we got that, going in the studio, tracking all of this stuff, singing the vocals on it, was just a blast. We had a great time putting all this stuff together, and just like I say, there was a lot of great moments.
One in particular that kind of stands out is a song that I wrote called “Unsung Hero.” And it's basically a tribute to my granddaddy who was a World War II veteran. And just being able to kind of woodshed with Kenny and Brian Sutton on the arrangement of that, and then going in and singing that and just seeing how that turned out was pretty epic.
(CSC) 4. You have contributed your talents as a songwriter to three of the eleven tracks on the record (“This Country Music Thing, “Whirlwind,” and “Unsung Hero.”) What do you enjoy most about songwriting and what’s most challenging?
(Josh Turner)
Songwriting's never really come easy for me. There have been some songs that have just kind of spilled out. Those songs are few and far between, but songwriting has always just intrigued me because it's so challenging and because it's not easy. I like the challenge of it. When I have the time to sit down and do that but yeah, the more you do it, the more grueling it can be so I just kind of have to do it in phases.
I don't write year-round. Sometimes I wish I did, but I don't really have the time to, but when I have the time to sit down and spend time writing songs, it's a whole lot of fun because a lot of times I'm writing by myself, and then other times I'm writing with my songwriting buddies that I've known for years and that are friends of mine, and so that's always fun to catch up with them.
(CSC) 5. One song in particular, “Down In Georgia” is somewhat biographical to you! Tell us about that special song and the story behind meeting your lovely wife, Jennifer!
(Josh Turner)
Yeah, I've been trying to run down the story on this song because the three guys that I don't even know wrote this song and I kind of heard through the grapevine just recently that they specifically wrote it for me which was the first that I'd heard of that.
So, I'm trying to figure out (Laughs) if that's actually true or not. When I first heard it, I'm like man somebody's been reading my mail, because when I first heard it, we were actually in the process of moving to Georgia, and my wife is from Georgia, and so it was just kind of like, whoa, this is like interesting timing here.
So, obviously it was an easy choice for the record, and musically it's very different from anything that I've ever done. A lot of people really liked that song early on, so it was kind of an easy choice. I met my wife when we were in school together at Belmont University in Nashville and we've been married now 21 years.
(CSC) Do you enjoy Georgia? Nashville really has changed a lot in the past 10 years!
(Josh Turner)
It has changed a lot. You know, I was in Nashville for 25 years and I've watched it change over the years and it's grown a lot. It's gotten a lot busier and I do feel like the culture has changed a lot from when I first moved there. Nashville's been really good to me. Tennessee's been really good to me. That's where I spent most of my married life, we had four boys, they were all born in Nashville and they were all raised there in Tennessee. So, like I say, we made a lot of great memories there. But I think moving to Georgia has been good for all of us. It's been a good change of scenery and good to kind of get out of the Nashville rat race (Laughs).
Enjoy Part II of the interview with Josh Turner;
(CSC) 6. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 21 years (October 14th, 2003) since the release of your album, “Long Black Train.” Which has been certified platinum! I believe it’s the song’s message and authenticity that resonates with the listener. What does it mean to you at this stage of your life?
(Josh Turner)
Yes, it was not long after the record was out that it was certified platinum. Last year we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the “Long Black Train” record and we released it on vinyl for the first time. So that was good to celebrate that anniversary and kind of share that with the fans and all that.
But yeah, it's been a good song for me. I still consider it my signature song and there's fans to this day, that they come just waiting to hear that song, that one song.
(CSC) 7. Having been on the road for quite some time now, you’re currently celebrating your “Greatest Hits” tour across the country. What do you enjoy most about the opportunity to perform for your fans and revisit your storied collection of hit songs!?
(Josh Turner)
Yeah, it's been kind of a milestone year for me, just being able to even say that I have a greatest hits record. A lot of artists don't get the opportunity to even say those words. And so, for me, it's a blessing and a privilege, and I figured what better way to celebrate this than to celebrate with my fans, because they're the ones that have supported me all these years. They continue to buy the tickets. They buy the records. They call the radio stations and they're spreading the word on social media. They've been very supportive and very loyal throughout the years, and they continue to be. So, this is not just for me, it's also for them.
(CSC) 8. Can’t help but think of a complete full circle moment when you and music icon Randy Travis were present to induct Scotty McCreery into the Grand Ole Opry on April 20th, 2024. You all share a love for real country music and its tradition. What was that like for you to be there and be a musical mentor to Scotty?
(Josh Turner)
Yeah, it was an interesting position to be in, being there, standing between my hero and my protege. You know, it was an interesting spot to be in. It kind of felt weird, but it also felt good. Scotty, has you know really proven himself. He's proven that he can make great music and be a viable artist, but he's also proven that he's a good guy and he cares about his family.
He cares about his fans. He obviously cares about people in the business and just the way he carries himself. And so, I've been very proud of the way he's done all of that. Obviously, he's young still, and he's had to learn a lot. But he's done it, and he hasn't given up. I've been impressed with the people that he surrounded himself with. And I just wish him continued success and just proud of what he's done so far.
(CSC) We interviewed him recently, and saw his show shortly after. I was very impressed! Was so happy to see that he had pedal steel in the band!
(Josh Turner)
Yeah. There's not many left that still have a fiddle player or a steel player in their band. So those positions are getting, fewer and fewer.
(CSC) Isn’t it a shame? I was telling another artist it should be a requirement. If you're gonna be a country music artist, you should have pedal steel and fiddle in the band.
(Josh Turner)
Yeah, that's one of the many things that I've witnessed over the years is that these bands have become more and more rock oriented and just it's all about the electric guitar and the drums and even on top of that, they've added a lot of programming, a lot of track machines, a lot of that kind of stuff.
You know and those things have their place if they're used right. I mean I won't sit here and say I've never used them because I have, but you know, I only use it if it helps the song be better. I don't just use it just to use it.
(CSC) Well, you've always kept it country. So does Joe Nichols. And then I was in Key West earlier this year with my mom and we saw Lee Ann Womack. I mean, she's one of the best, I've loved her since the beginning. Isn't she amazing?! And she always keeps it country, like to the core!
(Josh Turner)
Yeah, I had a crush on her when she first came out (Laughs) but yeah, she's always been country and just continues to wave that flag, so yeah, I've always loved Lee Ann's voice.
(CSC) Well, my favorites of all time are George Jones and Loretta Lynn, so I'm a little biased. I just feel like those are big shoes to fill, but people like yourself and Lee Ann and Joe and this newer version of artists like Scotty, I'm glad to see you guys carrying the torch because it's important.
(Josh Turner)
Yeah, absolutely. You know, I tell people all the time that when you really sit down and you study country music, it's undeniable that George Jones is just the king of country vocals. I mean he just had a way of singing with emotion, but not only just emotion, but just the vocal ability that he had was just absolutely incredible. And there'll never be anybody else like George Jones, you know, he was Randy Travis's big hero. Randy was my hero. We all have our unique voices and skills and talents. But man, you know, George, especially in the era that he was in, he was like way ahead of his time and just he was just one of a kind.
(CSC) 9. Speaking of the Grand Ole Opry, this October 27th, you’ll be celebrating your 17th anniversary as a member of the famed institution. What does your membership mean to you as someone who values traditional country and works to keep its legacy alive?
(Josh Turner)
When I got inducted into the Opry, I didn't think I had really earned it. I felt like I hadn't paid my dues enough (Laughs), but I wasn't going to turn them down. I just took it as a responsibility. You know, when they inducted me, I said, hey, you know, if they believe in me this much, then I'm going to treat this with respect and go out and be an ambassador for country music like I had always planned on doing.
Being a member of the Opry kind of gave me a little more credibility and so it was a dream come true because my daddy's family when he was growing up, they would gather around the radio on Saturday nights and listen to the Grand Ole Opry and that was their weekly form of entertainment. They didn't have TV and so they loved listening to the Opry.
When I was really young and my daddy's parents’ house, his mama, I called her granny. She had a huge record collection of just, Southern gospel, bluegrass and country and all the Opry stars. So, I was always exposed to that kind of stuff. So that laid the foundation for me with traditional country music. And so to be a member of the Opry now myself is like, man, it's just such a cool thing.
(CSC) 10. In closing, thinking about your musical legacy, are your sons musically inclined like yourself, and if so, do you all perform together as a family on/off the road?
(Josh Turner)
Yeah. You know we don't perform together as much as we have, but we did a couple of Christmas tours here a couple of years ago promoting my Christmas record, “King Size Manger.” And so, it's always fun to include them. And my oldest son, especially he's very passionate about music. He loves it. He's doing it every single day in some way, shape, or form. So he's kind of got his sights set on doing that for a living, but he's got another year of high school, and we'll kind of see how things go.
(CSC) This is kind of crazy. The last time that we talked in an interview was ten years ago to the day. I was looking at the website at our last article. I was thinking of your book, Man stuff, and I still envision your kids as little, but how old are you? You have three sons, right?
(Josh Turner) Oh wow! There were three boys on the cover of that book because our fourth hadn't been born. But yeah, right now currently they are 17, 15, 13, and 9.
Learn more about Josh Turner, catch the latest tour dates, buy his new record "This Country Music Thing" and enjoy tons of great merchandise here; www.JoshTurner.com
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