Josh Turner invites fans to join him in scaling what the charismatic performer likes to call his “Mount Rushmore of Country Music” on his outstanding new studio album COUNTRY STATE OF MIND, scheduled for release August 21 on MCA Nashville. The 12-song collection finds Turner in an enlightened “country state of mind” as he pays homage to a cross-section of classic country music icons, including five legends who have long held a firm place in his musical journey: Randy Travis, John Anderson, Johnny Cash, Vern Gosdin, and Hank Williams, “I’ve always said that any song you hear coming from my voice, you’re going to hear bits and pieces of those five guys,” says Turner. “They taught me how to be Josh Turner.”
Earlier today, Josh Turner treated fans to an exclusive first look at COUNTRY STATE OF MIND during a special Facebook Live session-you can watch it HERE. Fans can pre-order COUNTRY STATE OF MIND HERE, listen to the title track HERE, as well as watch a video teaser for the album HERE.
COUNTRY STATE OF MIND showcases Turner as a disciple of country music history, with the album spanning more than half a century of classic country music, encompassing both well-known standards and deep-catalog cuts, many of which hold deep personal meaning. Turner also invited other stellar country voices — some heroes, some contemporaries — to join him in the studio as he crafted his celebration of classic country.
The new rendition of the Randy Travis classic “Forever and Ever, Amen” marks Travis’ first recording session since an incapacitating 2013 stroke. “Randy has always been my hero. He was the reason I wanted to become a country singer,” recounts Turner. “He’s an inspiring figure, not just to me but to a lot of people, so to have him sing on this record is pretty special.” Early in his career, Turner often performed Vern Gosdin’s first chart-topping single, “I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You’re Gonna Love Me Tonight),” and has long dreamed of re-introducing it to a new generation of listeners, and he also teams up with John Anderson to reprise Anderson’s 1993 hit “I’ve Got It Made.” Turner also plays guitar for the first time on one of his albums on his renditions of Johnny Cash’s “The Caretaker” and Hank Williams’ “Alone and Forsaken” — the album’s oldest, and darkest, songs. Country Music Hall of Famer Kris Kristofferson joined Turner to record a new version of his 1973 chart-topper “Why Me”. Other standout tracks include the title track, originally a 1986 hit for Hank Williams Jr., which becomes a duet with fellow Grand Ole Opry member Chris Janson; the members of Runaway June take George Jones’ part on “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me,” and Maddie & Tae sing with Turner on “Desperately,” a 2004 single for George Strait and the album’s newest song.
I’m excited to reveal the cover for my new album COUNTRY STATE OF MIND out August 21st.
Pre-order the album here: https://t.co/cwBBU2K5eT pic.twitter.com/6odyHTnJrS
— Josh Turner (@joshturnermusic) June 17, 2020
With his rich, deep voice and distinctive style, Josh Turner is one of country music’s most recognizable hit-makers. Turner has scored recognition from the GRAMMY®, CMA, ACM, GMA Dove and Inspirational Country Music Awards. As one of the youngest members inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, Turner has sold more than 8.5 million units, topped more than 2.5 billion in global streaming, and populated radio with such memorable hits as “Hometown Girl,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Your Man,” “Time Is Love,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Long Black Train.”
Audio / Josh Turner talks about his version of "Country State of Mind," and how he got Chris Janson to sing on it with him.
DownloadJosh Turner (Country State of Mind) OC: …is to it. 1:24
“’Country State of Mind’ for me was part of that soundtrack of my life growing up in rural South Carolina. I could just relate to so many lines in this song. Hank Williams Junior’s music has always had a real attitude to it, and I’ve always loved that and just really felt like this record could use some of that, and so ‘Country State of Mind’ felt like a great choice. So, I had known Chris Janson for a little while, and then he and I ended up on a radio show in Augusta, Georgia. That night, Chris broke into ‘Country State of Mind,’ and usually when I’m doing a guitar pull type of show like that, I don’t sing along with other artists unless they ask me to. But that night, I couldn’t help myself. When he started singing ‘Country State of Mind,’ I was sitting right next to him and I just chimed in. I started singing harmony on it. He looked over like, ‘Holy crap. Let’s keep doing this.’ He was loving it, and the crowd went nuts. And I never forgot that, and so when I ended up deciding to do this song on the record, I was like I’ve got to have Chris come in and sing on this, you know? It’s just two good ‘ol country boys singing on a country song and having a good time. You know, that’s about all there is to it.”
