Idols Gone Country: 5/7/11 Edition

By On 05/07/2011 · 49 Comments · In Aaron Kelly, Bo Bice, Bucky Covington, Carrie Underwood, Casey James, Danny Gokey, Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler, Kristy Lee Cook

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Credit Tom McCarthy at My Country 95.5

Here’s your latest edition of Idols Gone Country! We’ve got the titles of new cowritten songs by Casey James and Carrie Underwood, a possible new song title for Danny Gokey, and new VIDEO of performances/interviews by Kellie Pickler, Bo Bice, Kristy Lee Cook, Bucky Covington, and Josh Gracin plus video footage of Aaron Kelly performing an original song. Check it all out, after the jump!

Kristy Lee Cook confirmed during a recent twitter party that she plans on releasing a new single with her new label Broken Bow Records in late summer. She also confirmed that she is no longer with her former fiance Andy Dobner.

Check out recently uploaded video of Kristy Lee performing “Not Tonight”. That’s a song from her debut album cowritten by Carrie Underwood, Brett James, and Chris Lindsey.

Here’s Kristy Lee Cook singing a country rocker called “Oh Baby” cowritten by former Bomshel lead singer Buffy Lawson and Richard Fagan. Bomshel was performing this song back in 2007/2008 when Lawson was still part of the band, but never released a studio version of it because Lawson left before their debut album was released in 2009.

More videos from this show can be found here via rittown.

Danny Gokey recently tweeted

Doing some filming today for a show with HGTV. More info to come. Hope you guys are having a wonderful day!!

An incoming tweet to Danny from songwriter Darrell Brown indicates that Danny has the Brown/Deric Ruttan cowrite “Our Day(s?) In The Sun” on hold to record. Darrell Brown is Leann Rimes’s frequent collaborator/BFF who has also cowritten a bunch of Keith Urban hits and album cuts (“Raining On Sunday”, “You’ll Think Of Me”, plus “Georgia Woods” and “Right On Back To You” on Keith’s current album) while Deric Ruttan is a Canadian country writer who cowrote with Dierks Bentley on his debut album (including the #1 hit “What Was I Thinking”) and Eric Church (on the top 20 single “Guys Like Me” and the top 10 single “Hell On The Heart”). Credit Lucy1234 for finding the comment.

Bucky Covington recently did an interview with a Fox affiliate in which he said he is trying to “tie up some loose ends” with his former label Lyric Street which shuttered before he could release his sophomore album I’m Alright. Bucky said that he hopes to release that album, produced by Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown in the fall. Bucky also commented on the new season of AI.

While you’re waiting for Bucky’s album check out a demo of a song called “No Yesterday” that Bucky recorded for his sophomore album according to ASCAP. The song is cowritten by new Arista Nashville artist Brent Anderson, Cary Barlowe, and Clint Lagerburg (who cowrote the Rascal Flatts #1 hit “Here Comes Goodbye” with Chris Sligh.)

Also check out this photo in Music Row’s Weekly Chart Report of Bucky and his twin brother Rocky visiting country station WTHO.

Kellie Pickler has recently done a bunch of country radio station M&G/acoustic showcases in the Southeast as part of the lead up to the release of the lead single “Tough” from her 3rd album, which is now confirmed to be written solely by Leslie Satcher. Check out the 2 part video of a great session she had with 93.1 The Wolf, where Kellie performs 4 songs and talks about marriage, how Katharine McPhee would have been a bridesmaid had she and husband Kyle Jacobs not eloped, how they cancelled plans for a TV special on their wedding after filming some of the preparations, the challenges of the music business and why she was glad to be on an AI season with Simon Cowell, how she was reacting to people in Hollywood who made fun of her fish out of water personality when she went in a more pop direction for her sophomore album, and what happened one day when she was about to cut the extremely personal “I Wonder” out of her set list.
Here’s footage from Kellie’s Tweet & Greet with WSOC 103.7

Kellie’s on air interview with 93.1 The Wolf. She discusses the timing of her upcoming album, the reality show offers that she has received,

More Casey James song titles have surfaced, this time out of his collaborations with Aimee Mayo and her fellow songwriter/husband Chris Lindsey. Together this trio cowrote “I Miss Your Fire” and “Living Or Dying.”

Bo Bice participated in a WTVM Birmingham telethon a couple of days ago to raise money for people affected by the devastating tornadoes that hit the area last week. According to Broadcasting & Cable the telethon raised more than $700,000 for victims of the tornadoes:

One notable participant in the telethon was former American Idol contestant Bo Bice, who saw WVTM’s fundraising efforts on the air, and called Kirkconnell to see how he could help. After working the station’s phone bank Wednesday, Bice strapped on the guitar and performed for the audience–including a heartfelt version of “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Bo also recently performed at the 16th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival. Here he is performing “Wild Roses”, one of the songs on his current album that can be called country, at the Fury Sunset Cruise during that event where he joined songwriters Nashville songwriter Adam James, Sony Nashville singer/songwriter Tyler Farr, and Steve Bogard (who’s written songs for/with Brad Paisley, George Strait, Reba, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, and Tim McGraw.

And here’s Bo bantering and performing “Keep On Rollin” also from his album ’3′:

Another Carrie Underwood cowrite for her new album has surfaced: “Loved By You” is a song that Carrie wrote with Tom Douglas. Credit @Typo21 for finding that one.

Carrie was also voted #2 among CMT’s 20 Greatest Women In The Past 20 Years (referring to female country singers of course!). Reba came in at #1. Here’s the video of Carrie’s segment via maddkat1 with comments from critics from the New York Times, The Tennessean, and Entertainment Weekly plus CMT personnel:

Josh Gracin is making the rounds with radio interviews and performances in conjunction with radio stations. In this interview with KMLE, he performs an acoustic version of “Lie To Me” which he says is his favorite song from his upcoming 3rd album.

Here’s Josh doing a 5 questions segment at the Academy of Country Music offices. He talks about the origins of his song “Over Me”, spending 2011 playing the bars and building up a fanbase from the grassroots.

Aaron Kelly continues to cowrite songs in Nashville, and how he is beginning to perform some live dates to showcase new music. Here is Aaron performing an original song called “Hey Haley”. The shorter clip is a more recent performance.

If you’ve got news about any Idols Gone Country not already covered, please post it in comments and I’ll add the appropriate news bits to this post. Thanks and enjoy!

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  • aidancash1

    Have you not listened to Caseys stuff he has been doing. Its pretty obvious country is where he belongs. Show me a bridge is almost downright traditional country.

  • car3278sweet

    I was hoping there would be some word about the co-writing of I Lied and Show me a bridge. Those are two really great songs.

    Yeah. Me too. Especially “Show me a Bridge” – beautiful, touching lyrics and a great melody. I’m hoping, praying that CJ does play at CMA Fest. It would be odd if he didn’t. Or am I wrong, windmills? Is the fact his single is not out yet likely to hurt him?

    aside from Carrie, Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler and Bucky, I feel like all these other Idol castoffs are just selling out

    Well, I can’t speak for other artists listed on this post since I don’t follow any of them, but I’d add Casey James to this list. He presented himself on the AI show as a bluesy, country rocker and he’s continuing in that vein. His chosen covers show he’s got a deep knowledge of country music. Yes, his sound is not “traditional” country, but I give him kudos for sticking to his guns and making the music he said he would make.

    When looking at All Access for single/album release dates I noticed that Bucky is scheduled to release his album on July 26th with Lyric Street but it is under Christian Contemporary not Country. Is that a mistake or is Bucky going the CC route now?

    Maybe AI vets who are struggling to make it in other genres will now all start to flock to CC? ;-)

  • car3278sweet

    I forgot to say -thanks, windmills, for all this work you do for the country idols. Appreciate it more than you know. You are a big reason I scan this blog – I always read your posts.

    So there’s quite a lot of AI alumni that succeeded in country. So why do we need another country champion this season? Just saying…

    ITA. I listened to Aaron Kelly’s vid for old time sakes – don’t really follow him and didn’t think he was fantastic on the show. But listen to his tone. He’s got a very good, melodic interesting voice. His phrasing is also very good. I then thought of Scotty and the comparison is not good for him. Yes, he’s got a very deep voice. Okay. And then what? I am not really impressed and it will be interesting to see if all these peeps’ predictions that he will race to the top of the country world will come to pass.

  • car3278sweet

    Have you not listened to Caseys stuff he has been doing. Its pretty obvious country is where he belongs. Show me a bridge is almost downright traditional country.

    I’m interested to see this song produced. Acoustically, I agree, it is quite traditional country song. I wonder if CJ would chose to make it a bit more blues or stick with the twangy. He does definitely have a twang – especially when he talks.

  • meme4cj_

    ITA , car3278sweet Hey! I FLOVE that Texas twang! it’s kinda sexy :D & unique!
    Have you noticed that the majority of the cowrites are with Texan musicians & writers! which is kinda cool ! & I love that! :)
    I hope that at some point of his career he can release an Acoustic / Bluegrassy CD ( or at least an EP ) , something at the same vein of that amazing Acoustic set! like what the Dixie Chicks done with Home , An instant classic! that will showcase many faces of Casey’s musicianship!
    BTW , I was lurking for along time here , but decided to join these past days! I mainly lurk but always on Twitter & at Shari’s new forums . Also , I flove your recap from the summer , car3278sweet ;)

  • car3278sweet

    Also , I flove your recap from the summer , car3278sweet

    Wowza! You remember that from so long ago? LOL. Thanks! It was a total ode to Casey James, I know, but it was a heck of a lot of fun to write.

    It was a treat to hear Casey acoustically again. This is where the rubber hits the road for a singer. Either they have it or not. For example, I never was a follower of Adam. Not until someone posted his WWFM acoustic performance at a radio show. I was amazed. That guy can sing. I just wish he’d get away from the glam and go more to the gut.

    Anyway. Casey’s acoustic set shows the guy can sing. And play. I defy any of his critics from the show who complain about his inability to sing to listen to any of that set. Listen, the guy was sick throughout the show with allergies, flu, etc – except unlike the current Casey, he told the show not to broadcast it. He’s well now. And he can sing.

  • meme4cj_

    car3278sweet , & who can’t forget that recap ?!! ;)
    Anyway! , I totally forgot about the Randy Owen collaboration , I remember that they stayed several days in Alabama . Aimee tweeted a pic! & everyone seemed happy about the results! Now I’m more curious about that! :D
    the bottum line , is the producer! I hope that we’ll get a hint about it the next days!

  • steph6449

    aside from Carrie, Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler and Bucky,

    Josh took his share of criticism, I believe.

    just like them I’ll be focusing my time and dollars are actual authentic artists like Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, and Jason Aldean.

    May need to be careful about that time and dollars. I distinctly recall one of those “inauthentic castoffs” opening or appearing in lineups with both Blake and Jason, at least twice each :lol: And Blake also participated in a funny photo with said horribly inauthentic castoff, at one of the country music award events.

    ETA: http://yfrog.com/mkob5j

  • LVD

    It was a treat to hear Casey acoustically again. This is where the rubber hits the road for a singer. Either they have it or not. For example, I never was a follower of Adam. Not until someone posted his WWFM acoustic performance at a radio show. I was amazed. That guy can sing. I just wish he’d get away from the glam and go more to the gut.

    Anyway. Casey’s acoustic set shows the guy can sing. And play. I defy any of his critics from the show who complain about his inability to sing to listen to any of that set. Listen, the guy was sick throughout the show with allergies, flu, etc – except unlike the current Casey, he told the show not to broadcast it. He’s well now. And he can sing.

    I have to agree with that, having to get up there with just your voice and your guitar is a pretty good test. I loved Casey’s acoustic set and his singing & guitar playing was fantastic.

  • chrislongisland

    I will say this about Casey James — his performance of Jealous Guy on Idol was my favorite of the year last season that wasn’t done by Crystal.

  • windmills

    Lucy1234: When looking at All Access for single/album release dates I noticed that Bucky is scheduled to release his album on July 26th with Lyric Street but it is under Christian Contemporary not Country. Is that a mistake or is Bucky going the CC route now?

    Mistake in all probability. If you watch the Bucky video interview, he says he’s trying to work things out for a fall release. It’d be highly unusual for an album to come out before an artist thinks it will. Besides that the songs he’s been performing that are supposed to be on his album wouldn’t fit CCM. It’s pretty funny thinking about Mexicoma on a CCM album though ;)

    chrislongisland: also, I just started delving into country music more than I have in the past, and aside from Carrie, Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler and Bucky, I feel like all these other Idol castoffs are just selling out and doing it for the money, thinking country music fans will just buy anything country.

    I’m no Kristy Lee Cook fan but I do think she’s legitimately country/pop. She just wasn’t a good storyteller or a very expressive singer despite having a really nice vocal tone. Aaron’s legitimately country/pop too. CaseyJ seems pretty authentically Texas country to me.

    Things get dicier with some of the others. But people like Bo and Crystal are marketing to country but they’ve been honest presenting themselves as people based in other genres with a country influence. I know Taylor Hicks tried to send “The Distance” to country radio but for a lot of different reasons (record label, not having a country voice) it didn’t go anywhere.

    car3278sweet: Yes, he’s got a very deep voice. Okay. And then what?

    Scotty’s a very gifted storyteller, which matters in country music. I don’t think he is overall great now (the way he uses his voice frustrates me) but I think he’s got a good sized up side in the country world. If things go right he’s my pick to show the most growth between the end of the season and the end of this year.

    I’m looking forward to seeing what Scotty and LaurenA do in country. I don’t think they’ll take that genre by storm right away but I can see them thriving there.

    car3278sweet: I’m hoping, praying that CJ does play at CMA Fest. It would be odd if he didn’t. Or am I wrong, windmills? Is the fact his single is not out yet likely to hurt him?

    It didn’t hurt him getting other gigs so I don’t see why it would hurt him at CMA Fest. I figure CaseyJ will play somewhere during CMA Fest. If not the Riverfront then at one or more of the smaller fan jams that take place throughout the week.

  • BootStar

    Late to read the post, but thanks again, windmills! Your hard work is much appreciated.

    Really like that little bit of Aaron Kelly I’m hearing in that video. I think he has tremendous potential. He, like Scotty and Lauren, is just a kid. All three, I am certain, will grow tremendously as they mature. I can’t help but root for all three of them, even if my preference is generally with more mature artists, who’ve lived a little and have incorporated that living into their music. But age doesn’t automatically equal maturity. I’m crazy for bluegrass wunderkind Sarah Jarosz, who has a new album coming out next month. She’s just 18 and is brilliant, although I doubt you’ll ever hear her on commercial radio.

    chrislongisland, there’s a lot more to country music than the stuff you hear on the commercial country music stations. Most of those artists you cited as being authentic are mainstream commercial country. While I like some of that stuff, my preference is for bluegrass, Americana and alt-country artists, where IMHO both Crystal and Casey fit right in. Bo, to me, is more of a southern rocker, but even southern rock is far more “country” than some of the silly pop crap they play on my local country station.

    ETA: Here’s Casey’s “Show Me A Bridge.” Doesn’t get much more “authentic” than that IMHO.

  • car3278sweet

    Scotty’s a very gifted storyteller, which matters in country music. I don’t think he is overall great now (the way he uses his voice frustrates me) but I think he’s got a good sized up side in the country world. If things go right he’s my pick to show the most growth between the end of the season and the end of this year.

    I’m looking forward to seeing what Scotty and LaurenA do in country. I don’t think they’ll take that genre by storm right away but I can see them thriving there.

    Telling a story in country music is important and you’re right, windmills, Scotty does have a nice way of phrasing. Unlike Lauren, who often has blank eyes when she sings – she really does not connect to many of her songs (see “Natural Woman”) – Scotty really understands the lyrics he’s singing.

    I honestly wish the youngsters nothing but the best. And who knows what will happen as things roll through the years? They both can sing, they are both cute and they now have exposure. I just feel like they are so young. I worry that stage moms, labels out to make a quick buck, and the fact they don’t know who they really are as an artist yet, are worrisome for their future.

  • car3278sweet

    Thinking about this some more… I wish Scotty would go back to NC and play ball and date some cuties and be a kid. Learn about life. Become a good songwriter and a better singer and guitarist. Because he does have good instincts and he knows exactly what kind of music he wants to make. I just wish he’d live life for awhile before getting thrown into a sharkfest.

    I want this for Lauren too. I want her to stop dressing in her mom’s clothes. I want her to go to college and be a giggly sorority girl. I want her to fall in love and get her girl heart broken and learn. Then she can come back and be the next Carrie.

  • car3278sweet

    I will say this about Casey James — his performance of Jealous Guy on Idol was my favorite of the year last season that wasn’t done by Crystal.

    This is what bothers me about this season. The producers, Jimmy are pushing these kids into slots. Commercial slots. My guess is that one of the reasons Scotty is doing so well is that the kid is very, very solid on where he wants to go. No one is able to push him into something else. But he’s too young to make a moment and the rest of the contestants are bouncing around trying to figure out how to please the gang of judges, producers, mothers, etc. instead of trying to be who they are.

  • aidancash1

    Bootstar I disagree about Casey. To me he is commercial country. Crystal I agree with.

    Why does Scotty need to go back home. He has a passion for country music. When you have a passion you wouldnt tell your kids to not follow those dreams. The Jury is out whether he will suceed or not because of his age. Its hard for males that young no matter how traditional he is.

  • car3278sweet

    Why does Scotty need to go back home

    It’s his life. I’m not telling him to go home. LOL.

    But there are risks with pursuing fame/wealth/exposure at such a young age. I remember very clearly when CJ was asked if he agreed with the decision to lower the age limit to 15 for AI. CJ is a diplomatic guy, but he said very clearly NO. He said he felt AI was so overwhelming – this music BUSINESS (not music) bootcamp – that kids, babies, would really have a tough time navigating this whirlwind at such an unformed age. He seemed honestly worried about what was to come.

    If I were Scotty’s parents, I’d say… no. If I were Lauren’s parents I’d definitely say a big NO.

  • aidancash1

    Scotty is almost a adult. He can do what he wants. Taylor Swift seems to be well grounded. It didnt hurt her. Its not about being young its about you parents instilling values and morals in them. That way they no who they are. Scotty seems to have that and he handles everything very well. Matter of fact at 17 he even stands up to Jimmy. He has the personality to handle everything just fine.

  • Nostradamas

    car3278sweet says:
    05/08/2011 at 6:25 pm
    Thinking about this some more… I wish Scotty would go back to NC and play ball and date some cuties and be a kid. Learn about life. Become a good songwriter and a better singer and guitarist. Because he does have good instincts and he knows exactly what kind of music he wants to make. I just wish he’d live life for awhile before getting thrown into a sharkfest.

    I want this for Lauren too. I want her to stop dressing in her mom’s clothes. I want her to go to college and be a giggly sorority girl. I want her to fall in love and get her girl heart broken and learn. Then she can come back and be the next Carrie.

    Exactly….

    And when you compare these children to someone like a http://www.hunterhayes.com it really shows how kareoke this show is.

    Neither has shown any true “artistry”, songwriting, or talent outside of being a novelty act….because of their age.

  • easyrider707

    Rolling Stone magazine did a very nice article in November or December edition where they interviewed the CMA president. According to the article, and others on MJ’s have actually more detail about the stations, there are now 3000+ country stations 600 pop/rap and 300 rock/traditional rock (again, this is per article and realize other groups left out and actual totals not as important as the point).

    According to the CMA official “country does best when it has a broad umbrella.” Since rock and country are brothers that were born out of the blues and many of the same instruments from blues are used in country and traditional rock (I.e. harmonica for example) the broader umbrella approach, combined with a declining rock picture and a pop/rap picture that goes more offline from live performances and heavier on the studio mix, leads to a very nice expansion in “country” given the station power.

    I found the article kind of sad as a traditional rocker, but the reality of the business environment was point on. The article also points out that country fans also still buy cd’s. I also think the CMA wider umbrella strategy is a good one for this environ.ment as all of these stations wil need more and more new material. I remeber when the CMA did not have the broad approach in the 60′s and 70′s and acts such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, David Allan Coe, and other rowdy’s were consider outside mainstream. I think country learnedb there lessons.

    So, I am not sure the artist are “migrating” their music more to country or just producing their music to their strengths and style and now a wider country “umbrella” is picking it up. I could easily see country being the format for another folk revolution instead of rock or pop as the last one. But, the folks in country still seem to be live overwhelmingly as pop goes the other direction. Most idols sing very well and do well live (as the show) and the expanded umbrella is likely to catch more of them.

    I do not think this at all means they go country after “failing” elsewhere as some above tried to suggest. In fact, the live nature and up close in the face of your fans will demand that you have live skills and in the total music picture this is fewer folks than more. Just a matter of working where yhour individual music expression is best received. If you can truely sing, in the future they will likely be in Nashville given the current market trajectory and the CMA strategy.

  • chrislongisland

    Remember when Kristy Lee Cook did a bluegrass version of Eight Days A Week? Remember when she went on and on about having to sell her horses to audition, yet she already had a failed record deal previously? She might want to be a storyteller, but her stories are all disingenuous to me.

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE Crystal’s album and if anyone deserves to be a superstar, it’s her. Whether people see her as country or folk, which personally I see her as, she is authentic, passionate, and a GREAT storyteller.

  • idol23

    More Casey James song titles have surfaced, this time out of his collaborations with Aimee Mayo and her fellow songwriter/husband Chris Lindsey. Together this trio cowrote “I Miss Your Fire” and “Living Or Dying” .

    Really can’t wait to hear these new songs!
    I hope his single is out by June – there seem to be a lot of good material to choose from! :D

  • ri

    thanks for the great article EASYRIDER707. eliminates all speculation that Casey James is not exactly where he should be.

  • Lucy1234

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE Crystal’s album and if anyone deserves to be a superstar, it’s her. Whether people see her as country or folk, which personally I see her as, she is authentic, passionate, and a GREAT storyteller.

    I think the same could be said for Danny. He may not have a twang, but he is authentic, passionate and a great storyteller. He is also fabulous live. I like what easyrider said about the big country umbrella. Danny did respectably with his first album and is working on his second. He is working very hard. Who are we to say who should succeed or who belongs under that umbrella. There is room for all of them.

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