Joe Nichols Finds Life Is 'All Good' These Days

Joe Nichols Finds Life Is 'All Good' These Days

Filed under: Exclusive, InterviewsShow Dog-UniversalJoe Nichols has definitely had his share of ups and downs over the last decade, from being named the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist and garnering three Grammy nominations to losing his father and coming to terms with an addiction problem during a stint in rehab a few years back. Along the way, the singer has also racked up his share of memorable country hits, from 'Brokenheartsville' to 'Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,' gaining the seal of approval from a sea of fans and fellow country stars alike, including the legendary Merle Haggard. Joe also married his longtime sweetheart, Heather Singleton, finding a new lease on life and making his way back into the light after some dark and lonely years. Joe's new album, 'It's All Good,' is a mantra of sorts for the Arkansas native these days, who now makes his home in the Lone Star State, far from the pressures and stress of the music business. The Boot caught up with Joe to chat about the upbeat vibe of his latest project, the challenges of remaining traditional in a pop-country world, and how a shy boy from Arkansas became one of the torch-bearers for that rich, retro-country sound that still blends in quite nicely on today's eclectic country radio dial. You're a traditional artist, but when country swings more pop, is it hard to find that balance between keeping things current and fresh and still creating that old school, throwback sound you're known for? It doesn't really matter to me what the rest of country is doing. I'm not caught up in trying to make a record that sounds like everybody else. That, to me, is a record label's absolute biggest downfall. The people who are competing business-wise out there want what other successful labels and artists have. I don't want what they have; I want my own path, my own sound, my own identity. Record labels care nothing about identity or artistic freedom, they want good business. [laughs]

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