Open Talk with Nashville Star Winner, Chris Young

Nashville.about.com writer Mary Maggart interviewed the newest Nashville Star, Chris Young as he prepared to embark on the 2006 Nashville Star Tour. Find out what makes Chris Young a true Nashville star. Chris is a great musician as well as being a very thoughtful, sensitive, and insightful person.

Mary: First question that everyone asks... do you have your truck yet and what color is it?
Chris: No, but it has been ordered. I'm getting a 2007 model in dark blue.

Mary: You just made your Opry debut June 10th, what besides singing on stage was one of your favorite moments backstage?
Chris: My grandfather was backstage with me. We were sitting in the dressing room singing "Beggin' To You", the Marty Robbins' classic that my grandfather taught me. It was pretty surreal.

Mary: How much input did you actually have in choosing the songs for your new CD?
Chris: A Lot actually. RCA has allowed me to put several songs that I've written on the album also.

Mary: Who are some of the people you have had a chance to write with since winning Nashville Star?
Chris: David Lee Murphy and I wrote "Center of My World" which will be on the album, and I'm very excited about it. I've also written with Tim James ("My List") and a couple of those songs made the cut for the album I think. I got to write with Rivers Rutherford and Bob Dipiero, and I have several more appointments coming up.

Mary: We're all happy with the first single "Drinkin' Me Lonely". Is there a "story" behind it?
Chris: Probably the biggest "story" behind this song is the fact that it finally saw the light of day. I wrote this song almost two years ago and I have always believed in it. I'm just really happy that I got this great chance to release it to the public.

Mary: What is one of the major adjustments that you have had to make in your life since winning Nashville Star?
Chris: Time. Because there has been such a short turnaround schedule on the album - they wanted to get it finished before the tour started in July. I've been in meetings, sessions, song writing appointments, and photo shoots since the day after the show ended. Sometimes my friends are having a hard time understanding that I have schedules to meet that aren't my own. I've loved every single minute of all the stuff that's happening though, so it makes it worthwhile.

Mary: Was there ever a time on NS where you just didn't want to be in the competition anymore?
Chris: No - although I was concerned every single week that I wouldn't make it to the next round.

Mary: You seem so confident coming on stage. What is the first thing you focus on when you greet your audience? Any special thing you look for, to keep from getting the jitters?
Chris: I just love being up there. I've been doing it for so long. I'm nervous before and after, but when I'm on stage, I just get focused on the music and the audience is so much a part of that. You can see in people's faces whether your music is connecting to them.

Mary: If you could pick someone to go on tour with, who would it be and why?
Chris: Well if it could be anyone, I would pick Marty Robbins. He always stayed and played as long as there were fans wanting to hear him, and I think that's cool.