I stopped by the 94.9/The Bull advertising party at the Park Tavern Thursday night to say hey to Josh Gracin, the ex-Marine who finished in fourth season two of “American Idol” back in 2003. He was there to help the new country station woo advertisers such as Home Depot, Six Flags and the Mall at Stonecrest. He sang for about 30 minutes acoustically, sounded great.
Here he is with Lance Houston, the new music director (left), and Clay Hunnicutt, the program director (right). It’s the grip-and-grin:
Gracin has gained a few pounds since his Marine days. And oddly, he’s on his second radio single on a new CD that has yet to come out called “All About Y’all.” HIs first CD, the self-titled “Josh Gracin,” generated three top 10 country hits and sold more than 600,000 copies. But the first single “Favorite State of Mind” from that second CD barely scraped the top 20. The next song “I Keep Coming Back” has just entered the top 30.
He seems like a perfectly nice guy. I felt obligated to ask him a couple of questions for the blog, no big deal. But Gracin’s tour manager said there was “protocol,” meaning he wouldn’t let me actually interview Gracin because I hadn’t gotten (gasp!) clearance from Vector Management. I had a couple of other events to go to so I simply said, “It’s his loss” and left. The fact he is being blocked by “protocol” strikes me as silly. I mean, he’s not exactly Britney Spears. He’s not even Carrie Underwood. He’s a moderately successful country act. That’s all.
Gracin is coming back to Atlanta for a public concert at Cowboys in May. Should I bother interviewing him then? I’ll get your feedback bloggers. What do you think?
ANd Rodney falls victim to the overprotective road manager! LOL
It does seem silly Rodney, but in a way I understand it, they probably don't want to get stuck playing 20 questions with multiple reporters at every stop.
I do think you should request an interview in may when he comes back. I think the "protocol" question might be a good one to ask.
Posted by: Rodney Ho on February 23, 2007 8:09AM EST
Are there that many reporters pounding down Josh Gracin's door? And it's not like he's Mr. Scandal. He's a dad with three kids without a whiff of controversy in his zip code. But I'm a reporter. I hate when people tell me no when there's no particular reason for it! I think the road manager was just worried that the Powers That Be would get mad if Josh (who probably wouldn't care one way or another) spoke to me w/o their knowledge and they found out. The horrors! Free publicity!
DING DING DING!!!! Give that man a cookie. You just hit it dead on the head Rodney.
I just read that Josh and his wife have a new baby girl now. I think it is great that he has become successful and still has a wonderful family life too. I hope he stays grounded.
I think sometimes being Moderately successful is the way to go -- you see so many magestars that have so much trouble coming to grips with thier fame. Couples like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are the huge exception in entertainment.
Rodney, I would definately agree with you that it would be people other than Josh. I saw Josh in concert at Billy Bobs Texas a couple years back. He took time to talk with and sign autographs for everyone there that wanted to get in line.
I would definately try for the "proper protocol" interview.
Posted by: YoDaddy on February 23, 2007 9:14AM EST
I am a big Josh Gracin fan, but there's no need for the attitude. He ain't Kenny Chesney. Sounds like a self-important manager was trying to prove his worth. And he pissed Rodney off! I can't imagine why a second tier celeb like Josh wouldn't want all the free publicity he could get. He seems like a nice guy. Cute, too!
Posted by: Heather on February 23, 2007 9:38AM EST
I would love to hear what Josh is up to now. He was one of my favorites ... But YoDaddy is completely right, he a'int no Kenny Chesney or even Brad Paisley for that matter.
At least now you know. When you hear someone is coming to our area, get the requests in early and get it in writing. Maybe even make them pay for the meal when dont actually eat with you.
And Josh may get more publicity by not speaking to you. Media loves controversy.
Posted by: Diane1 on February 23, 2007 10:02AM EST
How did he have so many top ten hits, yet only sell 600k copies?
Posted by: mystique on February 23, 2007 11:22AM EST
Josh seems like a perfectly nice guy and I always really liked him on idol, but his managers seem like real jerks. I wouldn't bother with the proper protocol next time. They obviously don't want or need the publicity for him!
Posted by: Rodney Ho on February 23, 2007 12:31PM EST
I wasn't looking to do a real big interview. Literally, it would have been a couple of questions. I'll do a proper interview come May then. He's been to Cowboys at least a couple of times before and has done well. As for selling only about 600K, this is 2007. That's a lot of sales nowadays. But it does seem a wee bit low. Unlike Carrie, I don't think Josh has that depth of a following. Some folks who generate singles hits don't always get as much in the way of CD sales.
Rodney...why you think Sanjaya's sister got cut....I thought she was just as good as a few of the other girls that are in the top 24.....and brother sister in the top 24 would have made for good press....right?
Then again, AI producers probably thought we would think the show is fake if both of them made it.
We all know AI producers decide who goes on and not the three stooges.
Posted by: linnykat on February 23, 2007 2:44PM EST
maybe they didn't want to seem to be copying Nashville Star, where Angela and Zac Hacker are blowing AWAY the competition... the ONLY way David St. Romaine has a chance in H#### of winning is if the Hacker vote somehow gets split, and i don't think it will because sis has one fan base, bro another.... st.romaine is only there for the pretty-boy vote, imho.
Mitch, Mike, anyone, did you watch last night? I just wish they would ask the Hackers to sing a song together, just for show.... the perfect miracle for Nashville Star would be a dead-on tie for the Hackers, lol
ah well
back to the grind, as you have probably guessed, linny is working HARD these days!
Linny, I did watch last night. Last night was the first night I was really not impressed with Angela Hacker. I still think she will win. Next week is the finally. Chris Young sang last night and was awsome as usually.
Posted by: linnykat on February 23, 2007 3:57PM EST
I agree about Angela, which, as I told my husband, gives Zac the edge. Also, Zac is more original, constantly, whereas Angela is the more "versatile" as to style... But i absolutely LOVE "Strawberry Wine", so i didn't mind her singing that one bit,lol
I thought CY was good, but not as good as i remembered, strangely enough, maybe it was just the song....and i was absolutely BORED by BS, unfortunately, because i love his personality... but what would have been absoLUTEly fantastic last night ... when BS finished performing, if Angela, Zac, Josh and David had critiqued him.... they missed a good opportunity there!
and Jewel...she was RIGHT ON last night with the quips, i Loved the comeback to BS about Zac signing autographs...
next week maybe interesting... i'll be happy with either Hacker, NOT so happy if DSR wins
The competition this year just does not seem up to par with last year. I guess last year with Chris Young and Casey Rivers, it was just going to be hard to match it.
Do you ver buy digital music online from iTunes?
Posted by: linnykat on February 23, 2007 4:47PM EST
nope, i don't have a player, lol, and my computer is like ancient.... i'm in the bronze age, i think
This year, the contestants are recording the songs in their entirety and they are available on iTunes. Last year was the live version from the show. This year is a studio version.
Posted by: RZ on March 2, 2007 11:00AM EST
The chick that sang the ditzy chick song deserved to be voted off. What moron would pick a song by a group of controversial singers that half of America hates? What a stupid move on her part.
