GAC’s CMA Celebrity Close Up Returns to Summer Lineup
GAC’s Lorianne Crook explores humor and reverence of country music with stars Trace Adkins, Josh Turner, Terri Clark
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- (July 16, 2007) –GAC’s CMA Celebrity Close Up series, hosted by Lorianne Crook, returns to GAC this summer with an all-star lineup of artists. The first show premieres July 18 at 9 p.m. ET and spends one-hour with Trace Adkins, Josh Turner and Terri Clark.
Trace Adkins ignites the energy of his interview by sweeping Crook off of her feet, lifting her from the ground in an enthusiastic hug. This and other unexpected Adkins’ antics continue throughout the show as he answers fan-submitted questions.
Throughout the segment, the audience often roars at Adkins’ witty remarks--he lists his priorities in order as “God, country, family…and cheeseburgers” --yet he also acknowledges the depth and seriousness of songs like his 2005 ballad, "Arlington," saying, "the seriousness of that song is not lost on me." It’s clear that its the ability Adkins has to balance fun and respect with his music that have made him a favorite among country music enthusiasts.
Crook implements a game-show inspired “question lightning round” for her interview with Josh Turner, requiring the deep-voiced South Carolina native to respond in rapid-fire succession. He humorously answers what he’d do if he weren’t singing, (farming,) and which actor he’d like to do a scene with, (Kevin Costner.) With a devious smile, he jokingly describes the exact type of scene in which he’d like to act, “It’d be a gunfight, a western. I’d love to shoot somebody. In fact, I’d love to pick the person I’d get to shoot in the movie.”
For now, it seems he’ll have to inflict his pain through laughter like he does to the audience by admitting to his former job as a specialty show singer, where he once played the role of heart-throb Frankie Avalon decked from head to toe in “pink shirt, pink socks, pink everything.” Sensing the crowd's desire for a showcase of his moves he declares, “my dancing days are over... and I’m hiding those tapes.”
Perhaps, but Turner’s status as a heart-throb has just begun, a trait he hopes to pass down to his son, Hampton Otis Turner.
When Crook asks why he wanted his son’s initials to spell “HOT,” Turner responds, “well, he takes after his mama and I figured it would help him with the ladies later on.”
It seems that Canadian country singer Terri Clark might need some help in the opposite direction of attracting fans. Recalling her most interesting interaction with a fan, Clark recounts once having her arm pulled out of socket by an admirer.
Putting her pain aside, Clark tells Crook she understands the need to use a little action to get what she wants. After revealing her ultimate career goal is to win a CMA award, she jokes, “I’m gonna get that award if I have to clobber Carrie Underwood, steal hers, and take it to my house.”
GAC is the presenting sponsor for CMA Celebrity Close Up. The show was recorded before a live audience at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium during the 2007 CMA Music Festival.
For more information and additional dates and times on CMA Celebrity Close Up, visit www.GACTV.com.
About Great American Country
Great American Country is America’s main street for the widest variety of country music, its artists and the lifestyles they influence. In addition to country music videos, GAC features original programming, special musical performances and live concerts, and is the exclusive television home of the Grand Ole Opry. GAC is available in more than 48 million households and online at http://www.GACTV.com.
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Emily Rebecca White
