An in-depth Interview with Chris Young

Jan:
Can you tell us a little history on how you decided that you wanted to be a Country Music Performer? Did you just decide on day “Hey I want to be a Country Music Star” or has this been a long-term dream for you? Can you see yourself doing anything else? If so what?

Chris Young:
I can’t imagine ever doing anything but music.
When I did the Nickelodeon special where I swapped lives for the day with a rapper (Walk in Your Shoes) I realized that although I love all kinds of music, country music is what plays in my soul. My grandfather sang and played my whole life, and I would love to follow in his footsteps.
When I first started singing at 9, all the kids wanted to be performers when they grew up – I wanted to be an astronaut.
When I got into high school, and all the other choir students wanted to be professional singers, I was thinking about being an attorney (by that time I’d already been on TV twice singing).
When I turned 16, I realized that I was really, really happy when I was on stage, and that I loved singing – I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
When I thought about my future, and I thought about how I was going to be singing/performing, and whether or not I would like my “day” job. Then I realized, that I could do this for a living.
Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Jan:
What preparations have you done in your life to get to this point?

Chris Young:
I took voice lessons from the time I was about 9 until last year, I’ve performed every chance I got (including in front of the cereal at the grocery store), and I took every chance to learn more about music – how to read it, how to write Nashville notes, how to write regular music, how to play guitar, write songs, etc.

Jan:
Can you give any advice to the younger people who have similar aspirations and dreams?

Chris Young:
Don’t give up. There are a whole lot more “no’s” in this business than “yes’s.” Some of the best singer/songwriters I know were told they didn’t have any talent at one time or another, but they kept on plugging along. Believe in yourself and keep at it.

Jan:
We hear that you have done some acting as well? What type of projects were they? Any new one’s coming up in the near future?

Chris Young:
I’ve done quite a bit of musical theater (I’ve been Ren in Footloose and Javert in Les Miserables), a couple of videos – “I’ll Be” by Reba and “Southern Comfort” Buddy Jewell. I also did a Toyota truck commercial when I was younger. I don’t have any plans for anything this summer, although I did audition for an independent movie. You just never know – I really like acting, but I try to work it around the music, not the other way around.

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