CMT Blog: Bucky Covington

As Brent Keith made his way out to judges Simon, Paula, Kara and Randy, to try his shot at becoming the next American Idol, I thought he looked rather familiar. As I sat there watching his audition, I tried to figure out where I had seen his face and heard his voice. Then it hit me. This handsome young man had performed on Unplugged at Studio 330 a couple of years ago around the same time CMT released Dale, its movie about legendary racecar driver Dale Earnhardt. Keith sang the theme song, "Looking for a Road." But I hadn't heard anything more from Keith until now. Already, he's paved his way through the grueling weeks of Hollywood and has become one of American Idol's top 36 contestants for season eight. This opportunity has surely faired well for other country AI contestants who've gone on to pursue country music like Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Josh Gracin and Bucky Covington to name a few. Tonight we'll find out if his Tuesday night (Feb. 17) performance of Jason Aldean's "Hicktown" is enough to keep him in the competition. Perhaps Brent Keith has finally found the road he's been searching for all along.

I've heard Kenny Chesney do Conway Twitty. Dierks Bentley do Johnny Cash. Miranda Lambert do Steve Earle. Darius Rucker do Hank Williams Jr. Tim McGraw do David Allan Coe. And Luke Bryan do John Anderson. And I love when country stars cover other country stars, much more so than, say, Martina McBride doing a Journey song or Joe Nichols trying to pull off Nickelback's "Rockstar. " But all those country singers getting covered have legend cred. They're seasoned artists who've been around long enough to earn a spot in a newer artist's set list. But lately, I've been noticing very current, very contemporary artists getting covered.

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All I have to hear is a little piano and then "we were 18, it was prom night" and my inner voice screams, "Ohmygodilovethissong." And then I turn the volume from soft to a full-on blare in about two seconds. That's because "I'll Walk," Bucky Covington's newest single, is my newest turn-it-up song.

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The IEBA's (International Entertainment Buyers Association) annual conference is in Nashville this week, and last night (Oct.12), the group of music business folks held a special showcase at the Stage on Broadway. The rapid-fire show featured some big names in a three-songs-and-you're-done format that made for a few surprises. Here's a short list of highlights ...

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This is no old plywood boat with a 75 Johnson and an electric choke. Take a look at the vintage yacht Alan Jackson used to get up the Cumberland River for his CMA show last Saturday.

Look who showed up near Mayberry. This rare photo of Brad Paisley and Andy Griffith has them working together in North Carolina on a video for Paisley's "Waitin' On A Woman" video.

OMG, Jessica is so not happy that Carrie and Tony still text and email each other. It's like 7th grade all over again. Let the hair-pulling begin.

Eight is enough? After Sara Evans marries Jay Barker, they're considering having one more baby to add to their brood of seven kids.

This kid will get the world's tiniest backstage pass. Keith Urban wants the baby to tour with him, so he doesn't miss any firsts.

As soon as Bucky Covington finishes up his first marriage, he may make an honest woman out of his current girlfriend, Katherine.

Scheduling conflicts have forced Miley Cyrus to cancel today's show for Wal-Mart employees. Make that 15,000 disappointed Wal-Mart employees.

Everybody burps. But it's nice to hear someone as gorgeous Carrie Underwood admitting to such an ugly little secret.

Forget about her new country album. Jewel has already sold more than 18 million albums, earning her an industry career milestone award.

When Billy Ray Cyrus calls, Bucky Covington picks up. So now Bucky's got himself a part in the new Hannah Montana movie that the Cyrus' are filming in Tennessee.

Jessica Simpson on blonde moments, Tony Romo and how country music feels like warm peach cobbler.

So far, American Idol has introduced two successful female singers into the country format - Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler. Unfortunately, time has run out on the guys. A finalist from the 2007 season, Phil Stacey has sold just over 25,000 copies of his self-titled debut album in the month since its release. Josh Gracin, who came in fourth in 2003, isn't faring much better - less than 45,000 in two months. The debut CD by Bucky Covington, the 8th place finalist of season six, started strong with "A Different World," but stalled at 345,000 units. Not bad, I guess, considering the current record-buying climate. However, country still hasn't had a male crossover champ yet - how long until Taylor Hicks, David Cook or Ruben Studdard gives Nashville a try?

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If there’s one thing Danielle Peck loves more than singing, it’s her family. That’s one reason she became the spokesperson for Nashville’s Safe Haven homeless shelter.

“Safe Haven is one of only two homeless shelters in Tennessee that takes in the whole family as a unit,” she says. “Because I’m such a big family person, it made sense to get involved with a place that helps whole families together. I just fell in love with the whole place. They do so much -- they keep the kids in school, [they have] budgeting and skill classes for the parents, and they get parents that are out of work back into work. And the success rate is like 84 percent of all the families they take in. That’s incredible!”

On March 24, the “Findin’ a Good Man” singer headlined the second annual Danielle Peck and Friends Benefit Concert for Safe Haven at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville. Performers include Keith Anderson, Eric Church, Bucky Covington and Carolyn Dawn Johnson.

“We’re raising awareness and making money for [Safe Haven] to continue doing what they do, because it’s not a government-funded place,” says Peck. “Anybody who’s ever had to go through hard times, whether it’s a natural disaster or too many medical bills or the loss of a job, their family can find themselves in a position where they lose their homes. It’s a terrible thing to happen to anybody, but there’s a place that tries to help out, and that’s Safe Haven.”

Peck is so sold on the shelter, she volunteers there as often as possible throughout the year. “Anything I can ever do for them, any holiday, any festival, they’ve got my number, they can count me in!”

Every week, I like to see who's at the top of the country sales chart, even though it's usually the same folks - Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, etc. But this week I decided to start from the bottom up. You might be as surprised as I am at these low sales by familiar names.

Let's start with the hits compilations released late last year. Faith Hill's The Hits isn't even halfway to a half-million copies, so no gold album there. Back in 1999, Breathe sold more than seven million copies. Meanwhile, Trisha Yearwood's Greatest Hits hasn't cracked 90,000 copies yet. Songbook: A Collection of Hits, from 1997, sold more than four million copies. Both of these singers have released some amazing songs over the years, and they put on a good face for country music (even when that face is screaming out, "WHAT?!?!?) but I think they simply waited too long. Their careers have kind of cooled off in the last few years. Plus, in the digital age, if you already have the older albums on your computer or iPod, you can just add the new tracks for a few bucks.

I would imagine that Blake Shelton and Joe Nichols will release Greatest Hits albums in the next year or so, because their current albums simply aren't moving. Shelton's Pure B.S. is just under 265,000, after nearly a year on the chart. You can add about 11,000 copies to that total when you consider the additional sales of his Collector's Edition, which certainly includes repeat buyers. Nichols is being outsold by Jason Michael Carroll and Bucky Covington, although they're toward the bottom of the chart too.

And who's at the top? Alan Jackson, with Good Time, showing that there is still a place for longevity on the country sales chart - but not as much as you might think.

It may be called the New Faces of Country Music Show, but they really mean "new-ish." Because in order to be considered for this make-or-break night, each artist must have at least one Top 25 single. So these performers on the last night of Country Radio Seminar -- Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Jake Owen and Taylor Swift -- are certainly not names you've never heard of.

But still, they're new enough to make me bummed I wasn't there. I just have this thing for new-ish artists. I love them. Not because I'm a fair-weather fan and change my mind every time someone new comes along. I love them because they breathe new life into the genre and renew my love of country music. After a day of hearing the same songs by the established stars, it's so refreshing to hear an unfamiliar name cross the DJ's lips. Think about it: there was a time when those artists that are household names now were once the New Faces themselves. Last year was Miranda Lambert and Rodney Atkins, and look at them now. In the years before that, there was a younger Dierks Bentley, a greener Sugarland, and in 2002 a little boy band called Rascal Flatts.

So last Friday night, radio execs were able to watch these New Faces for a few songs each. I know industry audiences are rough, but that had to be a cool event. Just the way Taylor Swift swings that mane of blonde curls around is enough to grab the attention of even the most jaded program director. And without the typical big-star attitudes, I'm guessing the show was more intimate and down-to-earth, because artists try harder when they're new. Right? Let's hope this year's crop maintains that enthusiasm longer than most.

See photos from the show.