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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- WGHP -- This time last year, Bucky Covington was painting cars in his father’s Richmond County body shop. Being discovered by American Idol in Greensboro has completely changed Bucky's life. Right now he is in Nashville recording his first album. Only on myfoxwghp.com, FOX8's Shannon Smith goes into the studio with Bucky.
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Life After Idol
I'd barely parked the rental car before Bucky Covington bounded out of the studio doors. "Hey ya'll," he said - thrusting an Apple iBook our way, "watch this..." With that, the gangly good ole boy pressed play and a YouTube clip of a foreign gameshow sputtered to life. On screen, timid, middle-aged men desperately try to repeat a singsong tongue-twister before being hit squarely in the nuts. Every time an aging Japanese gentleman dropped to his knees, Bucky convulsed with jagged laughter, almost dropping the laptop in the process. Only when the sixty second clip ended did Bucky formerly greet us, hugging the very pregnant Shannon Smith and high-fiving your humble lenslinger. A few minutes we set up our gear deep inside producerthe studio - a rambling, mannerly spread somewhere outside Nashville.
"When I first came over here, I told them I don't want overnight success, I want 20 years, I want a career."
To help build that career, the 29 year old American Idol finalist has sought the counsel of those who've gone before him. As the first ever winners of 80's talent show juggernaut Star Search, the guys from Sawyer Brown know alot about turning a title into a dynasty. For now though, lead singer Mark Miller's happy just to twist the knobs on Bucky's debut CD - especially since he loves what he's hearing. During our visit, the ballcapped impresario and his fellas exchanged reassuring glances as Bucky belted out finishing tracks to "Empty-Handed" - a Sweet Tea twist on 'Welcome to the Jungle' that is still eching somewhere in my subconsciousness. Miller agrees. "All the musician's who played on this album kept coming up to me saying this is going to be BIG - guys who have been around the business and don't just throw comments out like that."
"It really all comes down to a good song, you get a good song out there and that's what it takes..."
As I skulked about Miller's well equipped recording lair, I found myself bobbing my head and singing off-key back-up. Over on the zebra-print couch, Shannon and her baby grooved in unison as Bucky's smoky snarl filled in the gaps of the Southern-Fried anthem. As outright throbbing as 'Empty-Handed' is, it isn't the only sound Bucky and the Sawyer Brown gang have captured on their Masters. Percolating on a hard drive nearby is at least two honky-tonk ballads that showcase the softer side of this goofy good ole boy. It's those kind of Tear In Your Beer drenchers that will appease Covington''s female fans - many of who are pining for a little roadhouse tenderness. On that he can deliver, for the former body shop worker fairly oozes swamp grease and Sunday School. For now though, Bucky's gettin' his growl on.
"I knew I wanted to make a country album -- but I'd like to get as much rock in it as I can get away with..."
What Bucky Covington ultimately hopes to get away with is a full-blown music career. American Idol brought him to the attention of millions, but the show's hokey pop structure failed to showcase this giggly hillbilly's impressive pipes. With veteran producer Miller at the helm, the oldest Covington twin is about to surprise alot of people. Sure, Chris Daughtry can breathe fire through an amplifier stack and Kellie Pickler's still damn cute in red high heels, but my boy Bucky has the homegrown tone, the vocal chops and the goofball charisma to blow the back-doors off the Nashville star factory. Here's hoping radio will give him a chance, before some hotshot Hollywood producer builds the next Hee-Haw Variety Hour around him. S-a-a-a-LUTE!
Here is the funny and snarky preview of the above...it was out before the video but am adding it at the end because it is just hysterical I think:
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I was gonna hold off telling you why I dashed to Nashville, but a certain giggling hick's rabid fansite figured it out: I went to see Bucky. Covington, that is - former American Idol Contestant, fellow Carolina Boy and official Friend of the Show. Currently he can be found in a booth outside Music City, slathering swamp grease vocals all over his post-Idol polish. He and his hosts - the fellas from Sawyer Brown - were perfect video specimens, ignoring me completely as my lens and I skulked about their swanky digs. While they twiddled knobs and laid down tracks, I moved around like an assassin and tried not to tap my foot. It was a tough though, as the song being built around me was both highly approachable and surprisingly potent. (Think young Charlie Daniels channeling Axl Rose...if you can.) My bosses ask that I not say much more before our series piece airs next Thursday and since on the stipend I rely, I'll happily comply. Coming Thursday: Quotes, photos, video links and enough southern fried charm to choke a Possum Queen. For now though, Bucky Fans - scrawl down these two words: Empty-Handed.
Just thought I would add some photographs to get this thread going...here is Bucky from last weekend. He did some solo numbers and a duet with Mark Miller as he joined Sawyer Brown on two stops of their tour.
I only started liking him the week before he got kicked off the show...but I loved him on tour! He's just a very genuine and caring person. I hope he does well!
__________________
Thanks to Lindsay (sdnil427) for my Kellie set!
I'll always be picking Pickler!
I saw Kellie on 7/6/06, 9/2/07 and finally saw her in concert again and met her on 1/17/08!
Thanks for posting.
If Kellie does get this sitcom maybe Bucky could make a guest appearance.
That would be a natural for sure. Stuff about their accents and expressions alone could be the basis for a one episode. Or Bucky could play her half-brother or hometown boyfriend in an episode. Oh the possibilities. hahaha Or Bucky could play himself after he gets his album out there and there could be a storyline about her character going to a concert or something. That would be cute too.
Oh fab idea!
Even without my beloved Bucky on it ever ever...I am so looking forward to this show. I have been saying since day one...GET PICKLER A SITCOM OR TALK SHOW! hahaha
"When I first came over here, I told them I don't want overnight success, I want 20 years, I want a career." I love that. I wouldn't want overnight success either. I don't care if I even get big. I'm going to Austin anyways and the radio doesn't like how those artists are "too country." Whatever. I just want to be able to play my music for people. I can't wait to hear Bucky's cd, I bet it'll be great and real edgy - what I love. I hate anything too "vanilla."
Get well soon to Buddy...but what a great opportunity for Bucky!
I am looking forward to some contraband videos and shots from this 19 city concert tour. I wonder what he will sing? I hope a few sneak peaks at the songs from his upcoming album as well as some Christmas classics.
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006
American Idol Bucky Covington To Perform
with GAC Country Christmas
Buddy Jewell will no longer be performing for Country Christmas. The singer broke his wrist while hanging Christmas lights over the weekend and will be unavailable for the rest of the GAC Country Christmas Tour.
Replacing Buddy will be American Idol's own Bucky Covington. Bucky is best known for his renditions of "Superstitious," "Fat-Bottomed Girls," and "Best I Ever Had". Covington hopes to have a single out soon and an album in the next few months and the Idol fans are certainly waiting to listen to it.
Other country fan favorites such as Deana Carter "Strawberry Wine," Julie Roberts "Men and Mascara," Steve Azar "I Don't Have to Be Me Till Monday," and Blue County "Good Little Girls" will all still be playing their own hits and Christmas carols to usher in the holiday season.
Tickets are available for the GAC Country Christmas tour at all Ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.com
'American Idol' Finalist Added to Concert Line-up
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
By Matt Sanders ~ Southeast Missourian
Diversity of Country Christmas Tour boosted by addition of Bucky Covington.
Fans hoping to see rising country star Buddy Jewell at Monday's GAC Country Christmas Tour at the Show Me Center are in for a disappointment. Jewell has been scratched from the tour due to an injury.
Jewell's Web site says the singer fell off a ladder and broke his hand Nov. 19 while putting up Christmas lights at his home. He underwent surgery to correct the break Nov. 22 and won't be able to perform on the rest of the tour. "American Idol" finalist Bucky Covington will take his place instead.
Covington appeared earlier this year on "Idol," blending country and Southern rock in his performances. He will join country newcomers Julie Roberts, Blue County and Steve Azar along with established act Deana Carter on the tour, which was put together by the country music cable channel Great American Country. Christmas tour shows are split in half with singers performing their own songs in the first half and singing a Christmas repertoire during the second part of the show.
Show Me Center marketing director Shannon Buford said having Covington on the tour could help bring in more fans who wouldn't have paid to see a show loaded with artists who are only known as country singers. He hopes the low ticket price of $25 will help.
"I think that you're going to see Bucky draw a lot of those folks that have been so involved with 'American Idol,'" Buford said. "Viewers start to get close to them, and they can pick them out of a crowd in no time flat."
Unlike Jewell, though, Covington has no hits on country radio. Katy Carson, a DJ with country station K103 FM, said she doesn't know if Covington's presence will increase ticket sales since he's not on country radio.
But Carson, a self-professed "Idol" fan, agrees that the addition of Covington might help the concert tap the large population of "Idol" fans in the area. "I think it's cool to see people on TV and then see them in concert," she said.
Keeper of Kellie's 2008 CMT Music Awards Performance of the Year Award
north_clt is offline
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Cool news for Bucky. I'm glad to see he's doing so well.
He had some nice moments on AI, but for whatever reason the show didn't do a good job showcasing his personality or voice. It's great he's hooked up with Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown's lead singer), who really appreciates his talents and appeal, and has enough pull to get his career going.
