Country Star Josh Turner Talks About New Album And Life On The Road

He's best known for the hit singles "Long Black Train" and "Firecracker." And starting this week, fans of Country star Josh Turner can listen to all of his greatest hits on one album.

The collection is titled, "Live Across America" and features 12 of what Turner says are the "most magical" performances from his 2012 tour across the country, sponsored by Cracker Barrel.

"We wanted to approach this one in a different way," Turner explains. "There's a lot of different energy on this record and when you listen to it you're kind of going on a journey and on tour with us in a sense."

The new album is available exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations as well as on both iTunes and Amazon.com, for $11.99. 

Turner's tour will continue through December with a show in Austin, TX on Saturday, September 1st.

Even though he has performed these same songs hundreds of times, Turner says for him it never gets old and each one holds a special place in his heart.

"They're all my favorite," he says, "all these songs mean something different to me, but 'Long Black Train' is obviously my signature song and it's the one that opened the most doors for me."

This isn't the first time Turner has teamed up with Cracker Barrel for a release. Their last collaboration was in 2007 for "Josh Turner--Live at the Ryman."

When it comes to life on the road, Turner is always joined by his wife and 3 children, each of whom are under 6 years old. And despite a few minor challenges as he calls them, Turner says the good aspects of traveling with his family far outweigh any of the bad.

"We love traveling together as a family. My wife is a part of my band and the boys just love going on the bus with us. We're always seeing new things, and new places and meeting new people so it's always good," says Turner.

He adds, "the challenges are pretty simple stuff, you know, most everybody kind of deals with so we don't have anything to complain about."

Connect With Josh Turner:
New Album: "Live Across America"
Available on ITunes
and exclusively at Cracker Barrel Stores!
Find him on Facebook!
Twitter: @joshturnermusic

"Live Across America" Track Listing:

1. "All Over Me" - Live In Biloxi, MS (3:28)
2. "Firecracker" - Live In Lancaster, PA (3:47)
3. "Everything Is Fine" - Live In Knoxville, TN (3:52)
4. "So Not My Baby" - Live In Lake Charles, LA (3:35)
5. "Would You Go With Me" - Live In Plant City, FL (3:48)
6. "Long Black Train" - Live In Austin, TX (5:27)
7. "I Wouldn't Be A Man" - Live In Savannah, GA (3:39)
8. "Me And God" - Live In Key Largo, FL (3:17)
9. "Another Try" - Live In Atlanta, GA (3:51)
10. "Your Man" - Live in Kansas City, MO (3:38)
11. "America" - Live in Charlottesville, VA (3:33)
12. "Why Don't We Just Dance" - Live In Atlantic City, NJ (4:00)

Other "Fun Facts" About Josh Turner: 

1. Uses G.P.S. on Blackberry to find restaurants, etc.
2. Smokes a cigar from time to time.
3. Loves John Deere tractors.
4. Hates celery and pickles.
5. All major injuries or broken bones have been from the neck up, including a broken jaw.
6. Is a Duke Blue Devils basketball fan!! Go Duke!
7. He's a good handy-man.
8. Never dresses casual to go to church. Always his Sunday best!
9. Only drinks coffee with dessert at nice restaurants.
10. Stays away from crowds.
11. Can't pee when someone's standing behind him.

Some of Josh Turner's Favorites:

• Summer Vacation: For me because we really didn't go to far away from home growing up it was a trip to St. Louis, MO.  We went up in The Arch, saw a Cardinal's game at the Old Busch Stadium when Ozzy Smith was playing and we stayed at the Adam's Mark Hotel.  It was such a complete change from Hannah, SC!
• Summer Job: That would be working in the tobacco fields.  I loved it because I was working outside and physically productive.  I felt like at the end of the day I accomplished something.  When we'd get through working a bunch of us would go down to the creek and swim.
  
• Favorite Teacher: At Hannah Elementary it was my third grade teach Sue Carol Poston who was also my Sunday school teacher.  In 4th grade my teacher, E.K. Hyman took me under her wing and really helped me transition into the new school.
  
• Subject: In high school my favorite subject was always geometry.  I am not good at math, but for whatever reason I was really good at geometry.
  
• Grade Level: Kindergarten through 3rd grade... I was at Hannah Elementary till 3rd grade and then they combined Hannah with Pamplico.  My Grandmamma taught at Hannah Elementary and I never had to ride the school bus.  I rode to school with her every day and on the way home we'd stop at this little country store called Tony's to get a snack.  It was the perfect upbringing and childhood.
  
• Memory: My favorite memory was winning the 2nd grade spelling bee and our school's field days.  We'd have competitions like sack races and kite flying and we'd all get ice cream after.  It was a fun time.