was written about two years over the years, but it always AT. song SK. ways prior, then released after 9/11. I guess comes back around. Sometimes it
are people like Merle Haggard, SK. roots Conway Twitty, George Jones, Oh, that’s easy. We’re the boots. The Tammy [Wynette] and Loretta [Lynn] and Ray Price. They’re the roots of country music and we’re the boots — we’re carrying that tradition forward.
AT. for saying that.
I like that answer. Give me credit
Q.
LOOKING BACK AT THE ROOTS OF COUNTRY MUSIC, IT’S CLEAR THAT MODERN COUNTRY MUSIC HAS CHANGED, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST 10 OR 12 YEARS. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FITTING AMONG THAT CHANGE AND HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOU?
Q.
OU’VE BOTH GONE Y THE INDEPENDENT ROUTE. HOW HAS THAT WORKED FOR YOU?
Records never told me what to do or what to record, but having my own label, I can do special projects. major labels. So many times AT. the the label and artist disagree on I kind of got my belly full with
labels were still building careers and artists and they’re not doing that anymore, that I can see. You can’t knock success, it’s just that some of it’s not for me. I can’t say it’s right or wrong, but I can say that some of it, I don’t like. That doesn’t mean they won’t have success with it.
but I try not to beat the new guys up too much. They’re doing what they’re doing and they’re having success with it, so clearly someone likes it. I’ve always been about a great story and the song. To me, that’s what makes it country music. Sometimes I call what I do “has-been” country, because things have changed so much. I think some of the greatest days in country music were the ‘90s. There weren’t six of us with hits, there were 30 of us — and we weren’t selling singles, we were selling albums.
what I can say about the song is this: there were a lot of songs being released after 9/11, and I think the big difference is most of those other songs were more about being suckerpunched and reacting. I wanted to say something more about who we were as a nation. I’d written that song and the label turned it down two years before. I never pushed the issue; I just put it aside. After 9/11 happened, I remembered I had that song put away and they wanted to do a benefit single, so I got to record it and all the proceeds went to charity for the victims’ families. I wanted to deliver a song of encouragement and hope, as opposed to what a lot of other people were doing.
I enjoy it a lot. It’s always more fun
I ’ve been doing this, singing, since I
I’ve got to agree. Obviously, things
takes longer, but it always comes back. Over the last year, I’ve been busy. This year has been crazy. I’ve seen a lot of people showing up and buying merch and selling out shows. We were playing to a few hundred people a couple of years ago, and now we’re seeing younger fans as well and they’re singing every word. I truly believe that country music is making a comeback.
you can do what you want SK. when to do. I was lucky because Mercury
12 years old — and I’m 48 now. SK. was When I came around in the ‘90s, the
changed a lot and it’s not the AT. have same country music that it used to be,
M ost people don’t know it, but that
Q.
what’s best for a career, and I think that’s usually why they part ways. I felt like I was constantly pulled in different directions. I tried to comply, by I never really felt like we were going in the same direction. After I went independent, it was a real blessing. It made it enjoyable again. When you’ve got a record executive over your shoulder wanting hits, the band doesn’t get to just cut loose and have fun. You end up chasing songs and doing what the label wants — and then, if it doesn’t work, it’s still your fault.
ARON, ONE OF YOUR A BIGGEST HITS WAS “WHERE THE STARS AND STRIPES AND THE EAGLES FLY,” WHICH CAME OUT AROUND THE TIME OF 9/11. CONSIDERING THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE AND THE RECENT SHOOTING TRAGEDIES, DO YOU FIND IT ODD THAT THE SONG IS STILL SO POIGNANT, OR DO YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT?
Q.
OU ARE BOTH VETERANS Y OF THE ROAD AND THE INDUSTRY. WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING AFTER SO LONG?
to work on my planes, but the AT. home economy fell apart and I’ve got two
I was going to try retiring and staying
boys coming up and college tuition to think about, so here I am. When I was with the majors, I always tried to be Elvis, just marking things off the list: a new record, a hit single, winning an award. I’m having more fun now than I did the first 15 years I was playing. me. That’s why I still make new SK. forrecords. A lot of people don’t know
I love what I do. That’s the whole point or realize it, but I still love it and I’m trying to stay relevant until country rolls back strong.
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ou know, that’s a good question. Y I’m really not sure who came up with that, but I guess it’s a good name for a tour.
I’ve seen country go many different
TO
AT.
IF THIS IS THE ROOTS AND BOOTS TOUR, WHO’S THE ROOTS AND WHO’S THE BOOTS?
CA
Q.
LO
&AARONTIPPIN
CONVERSATION STARTER CS
Roots and Boots: Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw and Collin Raye Dec. 28: 8 p.m. Must be 21 or older to attend
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