Nashville’s Josh Turner Takes Listeners On Tour With The Release Today Of His New Cracker Barrel Project: Live Across America

Fans who saw Josh Turner perform in any of a dozen cities during his 2012 tour (which continues through December) have a chance to relive a special moment from each concert with the release today of Josh Turner—Live Across America. The new CD is available exclusively at Cracker Barrel locations, crackerbarrel.com, Amazon.com and on iTunes for $11.99 and features one tune performed at each show included in the project. The album marks a continuation of Turner’s longstanding relationship with Cracker Barrel, which is the star’s exclusive sponsor on the road and also collaborated with the Grand Ole Opry member in the release of his 2007 project, Josh Turner—Live at the Ryman.

During a recent interview, Nashville.com asked Turner about his decision to include his never-before-released version of the Waylon Jennings classic “America” on the project, along with “Long Black Train,” “Firecracker,” “Would You Go With Me” and other huge Turner hits recorded live in a mobile studio.

“Waylon has always been an icon in country music and he really expressed who he was as a person,” explains Turner. “He was a ‘man’s man’ who stood firm in what he believed and stood by his word. Choosing ‘America’ for this record basically came from the need for a song that wasn’t your standard patriotic song but yet spoke of the journey that America has taken as a country and a democracy. Making this record was a journey and the listener gets to join us as they go from track to track. With that said, the song really fit with the record’s concept.”

As someone who reveres the contributions of the musical legends who came before him, Turner pays homage to them not just in the music he writes and performs, but also through his awareness of his own role as someone aspiring musicians and writers are watching and looking up to.

“I take what I do very seriously,” he proclaims. “I want people to know that I care about country music and I am very hands-on with a lot of things in my career, because I know how powerful music can be and how it affects people. With that said, I know how easy it is to turn people off to your music, so I try really hard to win them over and keep them as fans. Longevity has always been my goal in this business and having younger artists and musicians look up to me is a huge advantage in trying to accomplish that.”

As one of a handful of country superstars who can consistently be counted on to deliver pure country music—drawing from the past while helping chart the genre’s future with every new project—Turner’s ongoing impact on his fans, as well as on aspiring musicians, seems assured. But for one lucky fan and a guest, that impact will be up-close and personal as Cracker Barrel celebrates the release of Live Across America with a sweepstakes offering winners an all-expense paid trip to Nashville to meet Turner and see him perform at the Opry. Entries will be accepted through Sept. 14 and a winner will be announced on or about Sept. 30. See official rules for details at: crackerbarrel.com/joshturner.

In the meantime, pick up a copy of Josh Turner—Live Across America and get a taste of some of the best tunes and one of the best live performers today’s country music has to offer.

Track listing:

1) “All Over Me” – Live In Biloxi, MS (3:28)

2) “Firecracker” – Live In Lancaster, PA (3:47)

3) “Everything Is Fine” – Live In Knoxville, TN (3:52)

4) “So Not My Baby” – Live In Lake Charles, LA (3:35)

5) “Would You Go With Me” – Live In Plant City, FL (3:48)

6) “Long Black Train” - Live In Austin, TX (5:27)

7) “I Wouldn’t Be A Man” – Live In Savannah, GA (3:39)

8) “Me And God” – Live In Key Largo, FL (3:17)

9) “Another Try” – Live In Atlanta, GA (3:51)

10) “Your Man” – Live in Kansas City, MO (3:38)

11) “America” – Live in Charlottesville, VA (3:33)