Josh Turner Joins The Kicks Wake Up Krew

Josh Turner is bringing his "Greatest Hits" Tour to The Columbia County Performing Arts Center tonight. Kicks Country loves them some Josh. He's always been a popular artist here in the CSRA, so we're really excited to welcome him back. If you want more info on the show tonight, just click here.

For more articles, lists, photos and videos from The Kicks Wake Up Krew, click here.

Here is our interview with Josh Turner from earlier this morning.

Dub [00:00:00] It's your Wake Up Krew Dub and Cody with you this morning. We are so excited because tonight is our first like big show of 2024 yet. And we're we're so excited to welcome this guy back to Kicks Country. He's been here for our Guitar Pull before. He's been here for a bunch of different events. Our buddy Josh Turner. What's up, bud?

Josh Turner [00:00:18] Good morning. 

Dub [00:00:19] Hey Josh, we are so glad to have you back in Kicks Country. It's the "Greatest Hits Tour" tonight at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center. There are, like, a few tickets left, so if you don't have them yet, hurry up and get them and be with us for a great show tonight. So, Josh, we're talking about your greatest hits and of course, "Your Man", one of the biggest songs of your career. It had a huge life on country radio. But what was it like when that song kind of took on another life and became like a viral sensation? 

Josh Turner [00:00:48] You know, you can't ever predict those things. But it had so many different lives since we released it. It's been kind of wild to watch. You know, it started out as, you know, just, my, my second or actually my third official single, but, it started up short and just, you know, it was, a big departure from "Long Black Train" that had already been hit, which was my first hit and my signature song. And, and so, you know, it was kind of a way for me to kind of show radio and fans and everybody that, you know, I couldn't only do one kind of song. And so we put it out climbing the charts. It becomes my first number-one as an artist. And my wife and I did the video for it at the Hermitage Hotel there in downtown Nashville. And, so it was it was great. You know, it was kind of kind of helped me get past the sophomore curse, as they call it. And then, and then CMT came calling and said, hey, we do this series called Cross Country and we'd love, you know, to know if you if you would want to do it with a guy named Randy Travis. And I said. Are you kidding me? 

Dub [00:01:56] Randy Travis. Who's that? Only one of my of, you know, influences as an artist. 

Josh Turner [00:02:00] The reason I moved to Nashville. So, but they didn't have to twist my arm on that. But when we did that TV show, man, it it took off and the ratings went through the roof. Like, they kept replaying it and replaying and replaying it, and, and so at the time, the Your Man album had already gone like gold, platinum. And then, when, when the Cross Country special came out, it just like we were selling 100,000 copies a week. I mean, it was like, insane, you know? And it was, it ended up going double platinum. And then several years later, American Idol was happening. And then my phone started blowing up one night and somebody said, hey, these young guys playing in your song on American Idol and lo and behold, it was God. 

Dub [00:02:41] Right? 

Josh Turner [00:02:42] And this takes on a whole nother life. And, and it's just kind of crazy to see how it become, you know, branding all social media and just all of this kind of stuff. And it wasn't just Scotty that's buying on these talent shows like we used to do a montage, on the road from a live show before we played the song. We show a, there's probably 15 different young people singing that song on these different talent shows on TV. I mean, it was insane. So. 

Dub [00:03:11] Wow. 

Josh Turner [00:03:12] You know, now we're looking at a, you know, a four time platinum single on a, triple platinum record. I mean, it's it's insane. 

Dub [00:03:19] And those don't just happen anymore. So that's really, really cool. 

Cody [00:03:22] No, they don't. So I know you're doing your "Greatest Hits Tour," so you're on the road. And I know personally, when I'm on the road, one thing I gotta have is snacks. So I gotta know what is Josh Turner's must-have snack on the tour bus?

Josh Turner [00:03:36] So there's these. I guess technically they're considered meal replacement bars, but, they're called Pro Bars. And there's a bunch of different flavors, but the peanut butter chocolate chip Pro Bar. I've, I've joked with people, you know, throughout the years that when my autobiography comes out, the title is going to be Pro Bar Saved My Life. 

Dub [00:03:57] You know. 

Josh Turner [00:03:58] There's a there's so many mornings where I don't have time to eat a, like a full breakfast or I'm on the go and I'm like, you know, running into a radio station or whatever. And then it's like, let's just grab a pro bar, go. 

Dub [00:04:10] Now, Josh, I know that you are a big Clemson fan. I'm a big Georgia fan. And as you and I both know and a lot of people here in Kicks Country knows, the first game of the college football season for 2024 is going to be Georgia versus Clemson. So I would like Josh Turner's official prediction right now. 

Josh Turner [00:04:28] Oh, man. I gotta I gotta stick with my Tigers. Sure. You know, we kind of had a rough year this past year, but, hopefully we'll we'll kind of pick up the pieces and, and have a better, season going forward next year. But, but yeah, it's always fun. I feel like Clemson and Georgia need to play more often anyways. 

Dub [00:04:48] But I'm so glad that they're playing this year because the last, if you remember the last time they played, it was like a 10 to 8 game. I mean, it was so close and they Clemson and Georgia always play each other tough. 

Josh Turner [00:04:57] Yeah. And they that that game they played in Charlotte. Actually playing the national anthem at that game. So it was it was pretty fun. But but yeah, it's, I mean, they're close enough. They should be playing every year. 

Dub [00:05:07] I totally agree. So. Okay, so so here we are February 2nd. Josh Turner's already predicted Clemson win for August. That's right. There we go. 

Cody [00:05:15] It's all right. We still love you. Yeah that's okay. And so we always ask artists this when we get them in an interview. What was your first big purchase when you got that first big country music check? 

Josh Turner [00:05:29] I bought myself a house. Nice. My my wife and I, we had our first child on the way, and and we bought a small house there, south of Nashville and on three acres. And so it was, it was. That was my first big purchase. 

Dub [00:05:45] There we go. Using that money wisely. 

Cody [00:05:47] I was going to say that's a pretty good investment. 

Dub [00:05:48] And some points down I love it. And Josh, another thing that we wanted to to just convey to you that we really love about you is the fact that you've never shied away from putting your faith in your music. You know, there's a lot of people who kind of, you know, they may be believers and stuff like that, but they don't show it out there to the to the, you know, to the world and stuff. And you've never shied away from it. You put you've you've always put it out there in your music, you've always put it out there in your life. And it's just it's so admirable. And we just want to let you know how much we appreciate that and how cool we think that is. 

Josh Turner [00:06:15] I appreciate you mention and, and, you know, I tell people all the time that, you know, that, that's a huge part of who I am, and I can't separate that, you know, from what I do personally or professionally. So, you know, you can either love it or leave it. 

Dub [00:06:29] Yeah. Abso. Well, listen, I'll tell you all for all our friends around here in Kicks Country, they love it. And we can't wait to see you tonight at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center. Again, there are a few tickets and we say a few tickets. We mean, like, you better get them before you going to be out in the cold. For Josh Turner's greatest hits tour tonight, Columbia County Performing Arts Center. It's going to be a great show. Josh, thank you so much for taking some time out and and hanging with us this morning. Man. We always appreciate talking to you. 

Josh Turner [00:06:53] Oh my pleasure. Looking forward to it.

It should come as no surprise that Josh doesn't drink, but here are some other country stars who don't drink alcohol.

It seems that the Country music industry and alcohol almost go hand in hand. With so many songs about drinking, partying and having an all-around good time, it really isn't a big surprise.

But, as Lady A's Charles Kelley begins his journey towards sobriety, the topic has been top of mind.

"I want to thank everyone who has shown me so much support and encouragement so far on my journey of sobriety," Kelly said in a recent Instagram post. "Y'alls kind words have meant the world to me and really lifted me up over the past few weeks. I can’t wait to get back on the road with Lady A next year."

That got us thinking about which other country stars don't drink. There aren't necessarily a lot of examples of people who are open about it in the industry, but there definitely are a few.

One notable example is Keith Urban, who has been very open about his struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol many times in the past.

"I've nothing against drugs or alcohol. Everyone does what they want to do to have a great time," Urban said in an article by The Times U.K. "I just realized I'm allergic to it. Someone said, 'You have an allergy? What happens when you drink?' And I said, 'I break out in cuffs.'"

Here is a list of 11 other country artists that go against the grain and choose not to drink alcohol.

Keith Urban says he owes his sobriety to his wife, Nicole Kidman. He stopped drinking after they got married in 2006.

It's hard to imagine someone like Tim McGraw hitting "rock bottom," but he said a moment in 2008 "changed my life." It was then, with the help of wife Faith Hill, that he gave up drinking.

It's probably not much of a secret that Chris Janson lives a sober life now, even though he's got songs like "Fix a Drink" out there. Janson told Rolling Stone one of the reasons he doesn't drink anymore is "I just choose not to because it always made me feel bloated and fat — I’m 135 pounds, so 10 beers makes me feel like a balloon, man."

We've all heard by now that Walker Hayes is "just tryin' to stay out of A.A." His hit song has a strong kernel of truth in it.  Hayes told Everything Nash about his struggles since stopping drinking in 2016. "I think about that all the time. I wish I could do anything responsibly. I’m really such an addictive personality. I think part of that is why I was still here in Nashville for this to even happen is I couldn’t put the guitar down."

Shania has made it clear she wants a clean life around her. In her book, she said she doesn't drink alcohol, use drugs, or eat meat.

That powerful social media post from July 29 of this year showcased the big change Jake Owen made in his life just about a year ago. "The next day I told myself, “never again.” I am better than that, and the people I love the most deserve better. My family, my little girls, and my friends."

Josh Turner has been very open about his faith, and how that has guided his choices on things like drinking. He told the 700 Club "I didn't rebel in the way a lot of people do. I didn't go out and have pre-marital sex. I've never had a drink of alcohol in my life. I've never smoked a cigarette. That's not to say I'm perfect. I'm not. I'm a sinner just like everybody else..."

Yes, he's known for Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, but Joe Nichols has also made it clear that he's moved on from his wild past.

Back in 2004, Jo Dee Messina checked herself into rehab to battle her addiction, according to an interview with CMT. She had a bad performance and her manager confronted her. "I forgot the words to 'Stand Beside Me.' That's what I can remember," Messina said.

After many years of extremely wild partying with alcohol and drugs as a member of the Drive By Truckers, Jason Isbell finally had to get things right. The band kicked him out, and he eventually ended up on a sobriety path that he's been very vocal about. One of his best-known lyrics in his hit song "Cover Me Up" says "I sobered up, I swore off that stuff, Forever this time."  This interview with Vanderbilt University was incredibly insightful.

The alt-country star Margo Price told GQ getting sober is the "most rebellious thing I've ever done."