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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > September > 07 > Entry
9/8: Kellie Pickler interview in advance of CMA Music Festival on ABC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I hope you all had a great weekend. I enjoyed mine, hitting both a Sean Hannity/Neal Boortz event and Kathy Griffin the same evening. Talk about polar political opposites.
Anyway, I interviewed Kellie Pickler in late July in advance of Monday night’s airing of “CMA Music Festival Country’s Night to Rock” at 8 p.m. She co hosts with Julianne Hough and Taylor Shift. She also sings her current single “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful.”
Since I didn’t feel I got anything that would entail “breaking news,” I decided to wait until today to actually post it. But she’s always entertaining. She’s so conversational and sweet and even when she doesn’t want to answer a question (say, about her boyfriend), she’s nothing but gracious and never defensive. She’s in my top 5 of “Idol” folks to interview. You can tell she’s far sharper than her “blonde” act she does sometimes. She speaks in full sentences and has real opinions. She’s not an empty vessel. As I’ve noted before, she may not know the longest running British monarch but she’s people savvy and knows how to manage her career.
Where are you now?
I’m in Idaho. I’ve been about everywhere. I never really get to see anything. I kind of like come in and sing and get the hell out of here and go on to the next show. It’s a bummer. I go to some great places and don’t have a chance to see them! I’ve been on the road for three years straight!
You’re a new artist. That’s what you have to do, right?
Country music is like that. You see Kenny Chensey touring all year long, every year. It never changes. I’ve looked at pop schedules. They don’t usually tour all year long. They might do 20 or 30 dates. We do like 200 dates a year.
So how’s your second album looking?
I think it turned out real well. This is album is 10 times better than the first one. I’ve been able to spend time with it and really love everything.
[The album is self titled and set to come out September 30.]
What’s the music mix going to be?
They’ll be fun uptempo girl anthems as well as ballads. I think my songwriting has improved a lot. I’ve grown a lot more as an artist. A lot has happened in the last few years since my first record. I have a lot to say!
You’ve worked with Taylor Swift on a song, right?
We did “Best Days of Your Lives.” I think it’s going to be a great record. I feel like I know what I’m doing now. I didn’t the first time around. It was kind of thrown on me. I had to rush to get it done as fast as possible. I didn’t fall in love with every song.
Why do you think Taylor is so hot now?
I think it’s the young demographic. I describe Taylor as the country Hannah Montana. She really appeals to the same crowd and she works really hard. She deserves the success she’s getting.
I hear you’re going to be touring with Atlanta’s Sugarland starting in September.
I just love Jennifer [Nettles] and Kristian [Bush.] We’ve done one show together before. I see them in Nashville when we’re both there. We’ll have a lot of fun. It will be good to spend some quality time to get to know them out on the road. They seem so sweet, so humbled by everything. I’m a big fan.
What’s been the strangest concert date you’ve done so far?
I think some of the festivals get a little crazy, the ones that last all day like Country Thunder [in Twin Lakes in July]. People get here at 9 or 10 in the morning and get their lawn chairs out. By the time I get on late in the evening, they’re all wasted! You get people toted off in handcuffs for hitting somebody’s wife. It’s never a dull moment. I try to look away or I’ll start laughing.
Have you ever really lost it during a song?
I have laughed in the middle of an uptempo song. It’s easier to hold it together during a ballad. People will throw stuff on stage. I’ve had people throw bras! I’m not Kid Rock! I’ve seen people dressed up like pickles with a face and arms. And red heels. People will do the craziest things to get recognized. That’s part of the show.
Are you sick of the whole red high heels thing?
A lot of times girls will throw their red shoes on stage. Anytime people throw anything on stage, they want you to sign it. I’ll sign and throw it back. I have to be careful though. They can lose an eye!
Do you feel obligated to wear red high heels all the time?
People give them to me all the time. I don’t want them. I’m so sick of having red shoes now. I’m just burned out on them. I’ll be at Wal-Mart or a restaurant and people will ask why I’m not wearing red heels. I’m going to have to do a song now about diamonds or a Mercedes!
This doesn’t mean you’re giving up on heels in general?
I actually look better in heels. I walk better. I stand up better. They have never bothered me. I have a big arch in my foot anyway. I did gymnastics for a long time.
Tell me about the CMA hosting?
Julianne [Hough] and I cohosted. We had so much fun! Hopefully they’ll ask me to do more.
What’s the rumor of you doing “Dancing With the Stars” one day?
It’s so funny. I did one interview. They asked me about the future and what I’d like to do. I said Julianne Hough thought it’d be fun if I did “Dancing With the Stars.” I don’t think I have the time now. It’d be fun. But I’d rather sing. Music is more important to me than dancing.
**You just shot your video for “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” earlier this week. How did it go? You can watch it here. She looks great. Like her hair! The embedding mechanism is disabled. Sorry!
Here’s the “behind the scenes” video at least:
Anyway, here’s her answer to my question: It was a lot of fun. I love the video because it’s so positive. Everytime I see it, I smile. I shot over two days. First, Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital. And we do a scene at a roller rink.
Are you dating somebody?
I’m seeing someone but I don’t talk about him.
Fair enough. How about your favorite TV shows?
I don’t watch TV at all. I have a short attention span. It has to be a good show. One of my friends sent me the DVD box set of “24.” I had never heard of it. I had never seen one episode. But I gave this a try. It’s like a movie where I don’t have to watch commercials [since it’s on DVD.] I’ve watched all of season three and have one more hour of season four. I love “24”!
I know you tend to have trouble keeping your iPod around but do you have any favorite songs?
I have iPods but they’re at home with no songs on it. I actually have 10 iPods. If you want one, just stop by the house! You can have two or three! I actually buy CDs. I’m not a big downloading person. Plus, I want people to buy my records. I buy other people’s records. We work so hard putting in packaging and spending so much money on these photo shoots. It costs more to make CDs. I know that now. I know the expense and time that goes into making an album. I’m going to buy another person’s album before I download it. I want to read what the artist has written in their packaging. I want to see the pictures. I like things to be tangible. I want to see the CD and put it in my car.
How about movies?
I am a movie fanatic. Just in the past week, I saw three movies in the theatre. I saw “Dark Knight.” I thought it was great. I thought everyone did a great job. That was the best I saw this week. I also saw “Wanted” with Angeline Jolie. Really gory! There’s a lot of slow-motion killing. You see the blood coming out. It was a little harsh on the stomach. I don’t recommend eating and seeing it. But Angeline is so beautiful. I can just sit and stare at her. I also watched “Journey to the Center of the Earth” in 3D last night. It gave me a headache! I couldn’t focus. It was blurry and weird.
-Jordin Sparks was up for best new artist on the MTV VMAs Sunday night. Tokyo Hotel won in a surprise victory over the likes of Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus. I have no clue who Tokyo Hotel is, which tells you I’m not quite attuned to the MTV demo anymore. Video of her appearance will probably be up on one of the other Idol blogs in a matter of seconds but I’m posting this Sunday night first. I’ll include it on the next blog entry I’ll put up either Monday night or Tuesday morning.
She also appeared on the “Support the Troops” special on ABC but I didn’t catch it. I’m sure the video on YouTube will be up soon enough.
Comments
By Nana
September 8, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
Kellie is one of my favorite people. Thanks Rodney for the update on her. Her video was enjoyable to watch. She looked like she was having a bad hair day. I kept waiting for her to fall while skating, and Bingo, at the end , she did. Really looking forward to tonights CM special.
On the previous blog, I told everyone good morning, but will say it again.
Good Morning Blogesters. Hope you all had a good weekend.
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
Morning!
She’ll ” have to do a song now about diamonds on Mercedes” LOL!!!! Little Kellie Pickler is kinda growing on me.
Congrats to UGA, Tech AND the Falcons. They gave us a rip-roaring football weekend here in Georgia!
Has anyone else noticed that Kat McPhee’s movie is STILL number 3 at the box office? Anna Faris has gotten some really good reviews and the movie is definitely holding it’s own!
By Nana
September 8, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
D: I will add another congrats to Cathy Cox, the School Superintendent of Georgia, for winning a million dollars Friday night on Fox’s show, “Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?”. I watched the show and was pulling for her. She is the FIRST to win the big prize. She is giving the money to the schools. What a fantasic lady she is. If anyone cares to, bring up CNN website and click on the US tab, scroll down to the news of the south (on the left side), there is an article of her winning and also you can answer the same questions she was asked. I did, and missed 2 out of 11.
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
Also…and somewhat easier…head on over to Rodney’s other blog…Radio and TV News. He lists all the questions as well.
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
I want to make one comment about the host of the VMA’s last night.
No matter what your political affiliation, referring to the President of the United States as “a retarded cowboy fellow” is rude, out of line, childish and should end that Englishman’s career here!
By Nana
September 8, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
OMG! I missed that comment. I agree whole heartly with you D. Whom ever it was that said that, should have been bleeped. Remember years back when the Dixie Chicks where on tour in the UK, they also said something about the prez and was really blasted for it. The country music radio stations refused to play their records because of it. Tours, awards, or whatever else, is NO place to disrespect anyone. That is just a low caliber person in my opinion.
BTW - D, how are you and your mother adjusting since the move?
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Mom’s doing really well, Nana. She played Bingo the other night and has people dropping by her room all the time. She’s adjusting to the schedule which has her eating much earlier than she was used to and she has made some nice friends. Hubby and I are learning what it’s like to be empty-nesters all over again. I still feel like she’s in the house but that’s beginning to fade.
By Nana
September 8, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
I’m glad to know that she is adjusting well. I do know that it can be a very dramatic experience for all involved. Before my oldest sister passed, she lived with me for nearly three years and I was her caregiver. Her children and I had to end up putting her in an assisted living facility in Opelika AL, which was where she was from. She didn’t really adjust to well, but was glad that she was by herself so that she would do what she wanted and I wasn’t there to make sure she ate properly and took her meds. She was a very stubborn person.
By kellyfan
September 8, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Hi all! Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend. Dawgs won! :)
Rodney, thanks for that interview. Kellie is such a riot! I’ve always liked her sense of humor. (Y’all should check out her Loaded Questions videos on cmt. Link:http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/163661/loaded-questions-kellie-pickler-1.jhtml
Rodney, can we ask who the other 4 are from your Top 5 interviews? :)
VMAs were really bad this year, IMO. I had it on in the background as I wrote. I thought that Russell Brand guy was trying way to hard to be funny. And wow, those jokes about Bush. Holy innapropriate. But kudos to Jordin for standing up with the Jonas Brothers on the promise rings.
Oh, did y’all see the Stand Up to Cancer special? It had me laughing, crying and everything in between. Lance Armstrong and Elizabeth Edwards in Chicago. Wow. Patrick Swayze…sigh I loved the performance of the single. Carrie sounded right at home.
PS. I’m actually not that surprised that The House Bunny is doing so well. It’s a cute, simple, funny movie.
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
Hey kf!!! I wish I’d seen Stand Up to Cancer. We got home really late from visiting mom.
And yes! Kudos to our Jordin Sparks for putting the VMA host in his place. What a jackazz!
And great question! Rodney, who are your all time favorite Idol interviews?
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 8, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
Rodney thanks, and yes, who are the other 4 in your top 5 to interview?
kf, you must have been in my pocket … i was so moved by the Stand Up to Cancer show, and amazed NOT at the individuals coming together, but at the corporate world also dropping all rivalries and coming together for a cause that is oh-so-worthy. I had chills at some points, tears in my eyes at others, and as you said, laughed out loud at some of the things… in a good way.
back to Kellie - she’s always struck me as one smart cookie — not “book” smart maybe, but no dummie, no way. She’s been one of my favorites since the beginning, although i got really tired of the my daddy’s in jail stuff in the very early days.
i’ve not seen bunny house yet, but i was stunned when hubby was listing movies HE wants to see and included that one!!! that was definitely out of left field for me, but he said “it looks like FUN” … and so it goes…
off to the salt mines, see you guys maybe later on!
Oh, and D, glad your mom is settling in so well, and glad you’re finally getting to relax a bit!!! enjoy!
peace!
By kellyfan
September 8, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Hi D. Sorry you missed it. I’m sure there are highlights somewhere. But since, I’m apparently the “link queen,” here is the video for the single:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr5mvNPyV1I
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
kf, thanks for the link. my only question would be…where was Kelly Clarkson? She should have been there.
By Nana
September 8, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
I saw the Standup for Cancer show. The part that got me was the little girl they showed that has the brain tumor. And then to have her on the show itself was the icing on the cake. She is a very mature child to be only 9 years old. After seeing someone, whether it be a child or an adult who is battling this terrible disease and any other, should make one thank God for their health and the health of their love ones. I thought that Patrick looked really good, a little thin, but still very nice looking. I liked the performance taht was done by the ladies. My only disappointment was that the program was only on for an hour. I wonder how much money was raised. Has anyone heard?
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
Maybe I should take this opportunity to update y’all on my friend who is battling pancreatic cancer. She’s still with us(after docs gave her 6 months over a year ago) and seeing a doctor who’s willing to TRY. He doesn’t guarantee success but he has kept her going long enough for her to welcome her first grandchild into the world. She’s still on chemo and still not cancer free but she’s hanging in there!
By Nana
September 8, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
D: I will add your friend to my prayer list and hope that she will continue to do well. A person’s mental attitude, IMO, makes a huge difference in fighting this disease. One has to fight back and NOT give in to it. While we are on this subject, I ask that y’ll say a prayer for my youngest daughter who has to have surgery on 9/26, to remove a medium size lump in her left breast. I know that she will be okay, but prayers are welcome and are answered.
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
She’s on my list, Nana…I wish her the best!
By kellyfan
September 8, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
D and Nana: Positive thoughts and prayers to those who are affected by cancer.
Regarding Kelly, I’m not sure why she wasn’t there, D. I would’ve LOVED to have seen her in this. I guarantee if this had been before My December, she would’ve been included. I’m thinking that maybe they didn’t want to “Idolize” the song? Also, I read somewhere that the record labels actually paid to have their people sing(as a donation to the cause). Since we know how much Kelly’s loves her…that could also be a reason. I would like to think that she wasn’t asked, rather than she turned it down. Who knows?
I’m not sure they’re going to release the total of funds raised yet. I believe they said during the telecast that they would be collecting donations for the next week. Maybe they will announce later next week.
By flats
September 8, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the kind words..I’m dealing the best i can.Great weekend for state of georgia.Balls look good so far in the state!!
By Nana
September 8, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
Hey flats. How you doing? You still sound unhappy and depressed. With all the wins this week-end, you should be jumping for joy. As we all said last week, if there is anything we can do to cheer you up, just let us know. That’s what friends are for.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
September 8, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
if you guys don’t mind…tech saw a “shadow” on my last mammo… i go wednesday to see my gen.pract. dr. to determine what needs to be done next to determine what’s what, if anything. prayers appreciated from my blog fambly!!!
catch you later, still swamped!!!
mmmmmWAH!
By Nana
September 8, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry hon….. you will definitely go on our prayer list. Just think good positive thoughts only.
Been a very peaceful and quite day today. Not much to talk about or we are all so busy that we don’t much time to post.
Still worry about our friend, flats.
By Deirdre
September 8, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
linny, you got it! Good luck! :-)
By Woodpappy
September 8, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Pullin for you Linny and Flats !!!!!