NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Josh Turner makes little girl's dying wish come true

Such a bittersweet story.

Little 10-year-old cancer patient Elizabeth Pitts' biggest wish was to meet Josh Turner and so the Make-a-Wish Foundation arranged for Elizabeth and her family to receive tickets and backstage passes to Josh's July 17th Valdosta, Georgia tour stop. 

Well on June 30th when little Elizabeth's health was failing and July 17th seemed a lifetime away, radio DJ Jeff Whitehead jumped into action and got the word out about Elizabeth's story. 

The story made it to Josh Turner's ears and so he called Elizabeth the next day and sang to her over the phone.  Then, just like a Hollywood tearjerker, sweet Elizabeth died just hours after Josh's call.

Just makes me glad that Josh jumped right on the phone to brighten the day of his littlest fan.

Elizabeth's obituary even mentioned her love of Josh.

She loved God and all the splendors only He could offer. She enjoyed fishing with her Daddy, cooking with her Mommy, and swimming with her Sissy. Elizabeth was an honor roll student at Pine Grove Elementary School. She loved music, especially Josh Turner, the color pink, and Tinkerbell. 

I'm thinking Josh has his own personal guardian angel now. 

Now go ahead and wipe away the tears and smile, it's a sweet story afterall.

 

You guys voted.....Josh Turner is NashvilleGab's Sexiest Country Carnivore

I honestly thought that Blake Shelton or Miranda Lambert would have my very first Sexiest Country Carnivore poll locked up.

Boy was I wrong!

You guys voted to the tune of some 3216 votes and you definitely let your fingers do the talking.

And you voted for.......

Josh Turner with 19.5% of the vote.  Second up with 15.8% of the vote was Luke Bryan.  And rounding out the top three was Andy Griggs.

Congrats guys, you truly are Sexy-ass meat eaters. 

Now if only I had a cool crown or golden bullet or something to give out to the winners.

Josh Turner, still defending Long Black Train

I remember back when Josh Turner's Long Black Train was so hugely popular and all over the radio that there were these reports that would come out occasionally about one group or another having their tail feathers ruffled because they were angry about the song and it's message of suicide or God or whatever else was their argument of the day. 

My feeling is people like to have something to gripe about, it gives them something to look forward to when they get up in the morning so I don't take any of it too serious, but Josh is still, all these years later,explaining the song.

Josh tells Kentucky.com, "I've had so many people asking me the same thing after that song hit. 'Why the faith-based stuff? Why the spiritual songs?' And I kept telling them, 'Why are you all so surprised?' Even back in the early '30s, the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and all these great artists were singing about God. And people considered that country music. Same with Hank Williams. Same with Ernest Tubb, the king of honky-tonk, and Roy Acuff, the king of country music.

"People want to be energized. They want to be lifted up."

"That song opened a lot of doors for me," Turner said. "It helped me get my publishing deal. It helped me get my record deal. It was the first song I ever played at the Opry. It was the title track to my first album. It was my first hit.

"After Long Black Train became such a huge song and launched my career, you started noticing a lot of those types of songs coming out. Artist after artist were putting out these faith-based, spiritual-type songs. It was flattering, but I don't really consider myself a trendsetter. I've always tried to just carve out my own path and walk my own road, like my heroes did — people like Alan, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. But that song definitely sparked something in the Nashville community. 

Reader review: Josh Turner concert

Reader Bobbi reviews Josh Turner at the Strawberry Festival...

Last night I went and saw Josh Turner at the Florida Strawberry Festival. He played alot of his new music off of his Haywire cd and a mix of his other cd's too. Of course he played his "classic" Long Black Train and Your Man. Josh's set was about an hour and fifteen minutes. I have seen him 5 times now and this seemed to be his shortest of concerts but definitely not lacking in anything. He managed to get every song in that you'd want to hear as a fan. He talked about his new single being "All over me".

Usually when would you go with me is played hundreds of crazy fans, usually us girls, rush up to the stage but this show he mixed it up a little and played it half way through. I waited for my chance and noticed when the steel guitar started out the song, Firecracker, people started running for the stage. So of course I joined in for the fun, because I knew my chance for a great picture was here! He then played Your Man for all the crazy fans that rushed the stage. I felt as though I was back in time at a Beatles or Elvis concert the way these girls and ladies cried out to Josh.  I dont know how he sang with such a smile he had on his face! But for a more serious ending he played The Answer and introduced the band and ended the show.

If Josh and the Tonkin'Honkies come play anywhere near you, get out and see him! He puts on such a great show! Enjoy the photos. Josh Turner is an amazing singer.

 

Josh Turner on Letterman

Check out the video of Josh Turner when he visited David Letterman last night.

Also, for your Josh Turner enjoyment....

You have a couple of chances to win a guitar autographed by Josh Turner, and a copy of his new record, HAYWIRE.

CLICK HEREto enter with yallwire.com

CLICK HEREto enter with CountryStarsOnline.com

Reader review of Josh Turner's Haywire

I had gotten the new Josh Turner "Haywire" CD back a week or two ago but hadn't had the chance to review it myself or send it to one of my reviewers yet.  Luckily, one Gab reader was nice enough to send a great review my way.  Love when that happens.  Thanks to Bobbi or Jim (not sure which it was who wrote the review) for taking the time to send a review my way.  

Hi Nashville Gab!
I spent the day with Josh Turner yesterday! And what a day it was! Well not really the actual Josh Turner, but with his new cd Haywire. I put the deluxe copy of the cd in the player and didn’t stop it until the end. Which by the way, the end is different than the other cd's because the deluxe edition has two unreleased songs, This kind of Love and Let's find a Church. Also there are two more songs these are live versions of Long Black Train and Your Man.

Haywire is full of fun loving' good country music. And Josh's voice shows all types of ranges not only his deep sexy voice but different tones and rhythms. And that's probably my favorite reason why I love this cd so much. He shows all kinds of sides to him. The lyrics come with the cd and if you read them, you probably wouldn’t think that Josh would be singing them, but he shows his fun side on this cd,Haywire, and I think fans of his are going to love him and his Tonkin'Honkie's even more!

The deluxe version comes with an extra cd cover,autographed And also digital downloads on the computer of videos and interviews. Oh and also a membership on joshturner.com to his fan club. I ordered this cd last week and it came 5 days early. Thank goodness because I wouldn’t want to be missing this cd in my collection of great country music! Make sure you get a copy Tuesday!

1. Why don’t we just dance
2. I wouldn’t be a man
3. Haywire
4. Your smile
5. Lovin' you on my mind (best song )
6. As fast as I could
7. Ill be there
8. All over me
9. Eye candy
10. Friday paycheck
11. The answer
Deluxe Edition:
12. This kind of love
13. Lets find a church
14. Long black train (Live)
15. Your Man (Live)

Spontaneous dance numbers to Josh Turner tunes are definitely good for the soul

Have you ever seen one of the YouTube videos where all of a sudden in a crowded area a bunch of people will seemingly out of nowhere break into some routine, usually a dance?  They are so friggin' much fun to watch.  The people's reactions who aren't in on the joke are the best.  Some are shocked, some are confused, and some are just downright ready to join right in.  They're so great.

 

Well a group of these "spontaneous" dancers (called a Flashmob, which I didn't know until I read it on CMT) recently broke out into dance at a Nashville Predator's game and just happened to be shakin' their booties to Josh Turner's latest single "Why Don't We Just Dance."  Enjoy!

 

 

And if you enjoyed that, here's my favorite flashmob performance of all time that took place at Central Station of Antwerp in Belgium.  Yes, it's for real.

 

A Josh Turner press release

I get sooooo many press releases during the week that it's nearly impossible to write about each and every one.  I would love to give each of them my own Gabby spin, but it's just not possible under the current 24-a-day constraint. Oh if only there were about 10 more hours in the day.  Anyway, to make things a little easier I've decided to go ahead and post some press releases just how I get them.  I'd rather post the boring press release in its cut-and-dry entirety rather than you guys missing out on something you really want to read just because I don't have enough time.  So here you go, a Josh Turner press release... 

Josh Turner announced today that he will release a deluxe version of his new album, Haywire, on February 9th. The deluxe version will include the 11 songs that appear on the standard version (also in stores on February 9) PLUS two previously unreleased songs as well as live audio tracks of his hits "Your Man" and "Long Black Train." There will also be digital elements that include the music video for the debut single "Why Don't We Just Dance" and behind the scenes footage of Turner in the recording studio discussing every song on the album.

In addition, Turner will be featured in GAC's one-hour Origins series premiering on Thursday, December 17 at 8PM ET. During the special, Turner shares personal stories about his musical journey from Hannah, SC to Nashville and how he and his wife Jennifer have adjusted to touring with their two sons, Hampton (age 3) and Colby (6 months). The show also features an intimate performance taped at the famed Loveless Barn.

"Why Don't We Just Dance" jumped three spots this week to #13 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and it moved up five spots to #12 on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart.

Josh Turner gives us a webisode

Josh Turner dishes on being a dad again

Josh Turner chatted with People about finding out he was going to be a pop again, saying he was praying for a good song but ended up with something even better. 

"I was in town writing songs one day and had been praying for something good to happen," he says. "We did write a song and it wasn't that great, but when I came home, my wife, Jennifer, and (2-year old son) Hampton were playing and she told me she was pregnant again.  Man, I was speechless! It was like, 'Wow, we're doing this again!' "

He also says that he's not as freaked out this go around. 

"I do feel more confident," says Turner, 31. "Jennifer talked about little things she's worried about but I'm like, 'Hey we've been through this before.' The fundamental things you freaked out about with the first child, I don't think you'll freak out about them as much. I'm more prepared for those newborn months, the crying and trying to figure out what's wrong."

Josh's wife, Jennifer, is due this summer.