Q: Was performing on Nashville Star any different than singing in clubs?
A: Well, other than their being millions of people watching, and the fact that we had the best sound and video crews in the world producing it, other than that, it was the same. Really, I try to give 100% no matter what I do, but when you get on a stage like that at the Acuff theatre, with all those screaming folks and the cameras on you - there were a lot of differences. A lot of people still swear that show was taped, but it wasn't. It was live.
Q: Do you still keep in touch with any of the other contestants from the show?
A: I keep in touch with quite a few of them. I wrote a song with the bandleader from Nashville Star, John Bohlinger. I've done a show with Prentiss Varnon in Texas, he helped me do a show for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Miranda and I were honored by the legislature for our representation of Texas. Amy Chappell, Anne Louise Blythe, Brandon Silveira, Brandi Gibson, Travis Howard, Prentiss Varnon and myself are all doing a show in San Angelo Texas next weekend.
I stay in touch... Anne Louise Blythe has recorded one of my songs, "Everything I Never Knew I Wanted" which is one I performed on the Nashville Star show. So I see most of them.
Q: What artists would you be interested in singing a duet with?
A: Emmylou Harris is the obvious one, she's an incredible harmony singer. But I'd like to do one with Vince Gill and Patty Loveless.
Q: What was the reaction from the people in your home town when you returned from the Nashville Star competition?
A: Well... I can't go eat anywhere without some folks coming up to me and saying something. They were very supportive of me. They pitched a pretty big parade for me, and the producers said it was significantly larger than most of the other Parades and homecoming events that happened. People in the community got together and did things for me and my wife, like they bought her tickets to come see me on the show, and all kinds of things. They mowed my lawn for me, and just tons and tons of stuff.
Q: Who are some of your favorite fellow Texas artists?
A: I love Rodney Crowell a lot. He writes, sings, produces, plays the guitar well. I love him a lot. And of course, everybody loves George Strait. But I also like some of the off the wall ones like Lyle Lovett and.. there's tons of them. You know, the Dixie Chicks are still... as far as musicians go they're really great musicians, and I respect that a lot. I don't always agree with everything they say, but they are incredible musicians.
Q: What are some of your favorite clubs to play in Texas?
A: I love this place called The County Line in San Antonio. I also love this place called The Wildhorse Grill in Marble Falls. It's small, but it's always a good time. There's also a place called The Backyard where I've gotten to do a lot of great shows with Diamond Rio, Emmylou Harris and a bunch of great songwriters. I love The Backyard as well. And there's this place called The Hills Cafe in Austin, I also like that place.
Our sincere thanks to john Arthur for allowing us the time to meet with him and ask him some questions.
