Josh Turner will never forget the first time he drove through Idaho.
“I was in the car by myself and was actually intimidated by the vast, open space,” said the bass and baritone country singer.
Growing up in South Carolina, he was accustomed to lush, green land filled with palm trees, so the drive near Snake River canyon was new and beautiful to him.
“I went up toward McCall and Lewiston and all of that, and it was one of the most breathtaking drives I’ve been on,” he said.
Now, Turner is returning to Idaho, but not just for a summertime cruise. The Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards nominee will be playing at 7 p.m. Sunday in the sold-out Clearwater River Casino Event Center. And unlike his drive through Idaho, this past year has been a wild one.
“It’s been a great year. The ‘Punching Bag’ record came out a year ago, last summer,” Turner said. “Shortly after that, I had a live record come out … We capped the year off with ‘Time is Love’ being the biggest song in 2012. We’ve been kind of riding on the high of that.”
Billboard rated the hit No. 1 for U.S. country songs in 2012, but it wasn’t the first time Turner had reached high on the charts. “Why Don’t We Just Dance” ended at No. 3 in 2010, and in the same year, “All Over Me” ended at No. 4. While “Your Man” didn’t end the year as a top country hit, it did reach No. 1 early in 2006, and was Turner’s first No. 1 of his career, followed by the multi-week chart topper, “Would You Go With Me.”
Turner became the second youngest Grand Ole Opry member, following Carrie Underwood, in 2007.
All the while, Turner has been married to his wife, Jennifer, and the two have had three sons — Hampton, Colby and Marion — all born between 2006 and 2010. His love of family is evident in his music video, “I Wouldn’t Be A Man,” which Turner said was his favorite one to film.
“Because my wife was in that video with me,” Turner said. “We revealed the fact that she was pregnant in the end of the video and that was the way we revealed it to the world. Instead of in a press release, we did it in a video.”
Now, Turner said he’s been working hard on the road.
“And toward the next record, honestly,” he said. “I’ve just been writing a lot.”
Two weeks ago, Turner was at the five-day CMA Music Festival, and said he was glad to know it’s over, being the busiest week of 2013.
Turner said his crew is traveling west, more than they ever have.
“Usually we may only go one time, maybe two at the most,” Turner said. “We’re going west three times this year. That’ll give me a chance to play for my fans out west a little bit more.”
Turner said the Clearwater River Casino audience will get a great sounding show and because Turner brings his own crew and set, it will look good, too.
“We worked up a brand new show for the year,” Turner said.
He promised a performance that none of his fans have seen before. Treffry can be reached at (208) 883-4640 or ltreffry@inland360.com.
-> if you go: WHAT: Josh Turner performs WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday WHERE: Clearwater River Casino Event Center COST: Sold out
You asked, Josh answered:
Josh Turner fans had an opportunity to ask questions by posting inquires on Inland 360’s Facebook page. Here’s what Turner had to say:
Q: If he could do a duet with anyone, who would he choose? Does Idaho remind him of home? -Kelsey Saintz A: “I’ve done a lot of duets already whether it was on a record or just on stage. One thing that I’ve never really made happen yet is actually singing with Randy Travis on one of my records. I was part of a duet record he did last year, on one of his records celebrating his 20 years. That to me would be really cool for me, because he was the one that inspired me in the first place.” … “It’s as different from home as can be. That’s why I like it though.”
Q: Who are his top 3 favorite music artists? -Jake Wykes A: I’d have to say five. Randy Travis, Vern Gosdin, John Anderson, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.
Clearwater River Casino Event Center grand opening: While the Clearwater River Casino Event Center moved out of a tent and into its new building a couple of weeks ago, grand opening events begin this week and conclude with Josh Turner’s concert.
Wednesday - 5:30 p.m. Chicken Fried Steak Dinner (Event Center, $12.95 per person) - 6:15 p.m. “Tim’neepe– Heart of the Monster” - Nez Perce Play (Event Center, FREE, Open to Public)
Thursday - 5 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony - Then meet Chaske Spencer, Nez Perce actor in the “Twilight” series, “Into the West” television series and the new film, “Winter in the Blood” (Event Center, free, public) - Music by Society’s Child, R&B group (Event Center, free, public) - All-day grand opening Big Spin Wheel drawings (Five drawings for chance at $10,000 to $50,000 prize)
Friday - 6 p.m. Meet Dominique Wilkins, NBA great mainly with the Atlanta Hawks. Nicknamed “The Human Highlight Reel” and known for his amazing two-handed windmill slam dunk (Event Center, free, public) -All-day grand opening Big Spin Wheel drawings (Another five drawings.)
Saturday -All-day grand opening Big Spin Wheel drawings (Still another five drawings.)
Sunday 7 p.m. Josh Turner concert. (Event Center, sold out.)
