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Josh Turner
Background information
Birth name	Joshua Otis Turner
Born	November 20, 1977 (1977-11-20) (age 32)
Origin	Hannah, South Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Country
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2001–present
Labels	MCA Nashville
Associated acts	John Anderson Ralph Stanley Randy Travis Trisha Yearwood
Website	JoshTurner.com

Joshua Otis "Josh" Turner (born November 20, 1977) is an American country music artist. Signed to MCA Nashville Records in 2003, Turner has released four studio albums for the label. The first of these was 2003's Long Black Train, whose title track was his breakthrough single release. 2005's Your Man accounted for his first two Number One hits: "Your Man" and "Would You Go with Me," while 2007's Everything Is Fine included a #2 in "Firecracker." Haywire, released in 2010, produced his biggest hit in the #1 "Why Don't We Just Dance." Overall, Turner has charted ten times on the Billboard country singles charts, with all but one of his singles reaching Top 40 or higher.

Biography

Early in his life, Josh Turner, a devout Christian, sang lead and bass parts in his church choir. He also formed a gospel quartet called Thankful Hearts in which he sang bass and occasionally lead. After attending school at Hannah-Pamplico High School in Florence County, South Carolina, Turner attended nearby Francis Marion University.

In 1996, Turner developed a lesion on his right vocal cord. Surgery was not needed, but he did have to rest his voice for a year. Turner states that he "learned how to whistle really well during that year."¹ Turner was examined by the Vanderbilt voice clinic who advised him to let it heal on its own. While Turner rested his voice back at home, he learned classical vocal techniques and how to take care of his voice and avoid developing further problems.

Shortly afterwards, Turner moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music and attend Belmont University. At Belmont, Turner went through a classical training vocal program. While there, he also met Jennifer, whom he married in 2003, prior to the release of his album.² Jennifer also plays piano and sings background vocals in Turner's road band.

Personal life

Josh Turner met his wife Jennifer in 2003 at a classical training vocal program. They have two children: Hampton Otis Turner, born on October 6, 2006.³ and Colby Lynch Turner, born June 26, 2009. His wife travels with Josh when he's on tour, playing keyboards and singing background vocals. Josh has one sister and one brother.

Music career

2001–2004: Long Black Train

On December 21, 2001, Turner debuted on the Grand Ole Opry with the song, "Long Black Train."

In 2003, Turner released his debut album, also entitled Long Black Train. Prior to its release, Turner had released 7" vinyl singles of "She'll Go on You" and "Long Black Train." Both singles featured Long Black Train album track "Backwoods Boy" as a B-side. While neither "Backwoods Boy" nor "She'll Go on You" were successful (the latter peaking at #46 on the country charts), "Long Black Train" spent more than forty weeks on the Billboard country charts, reaching a peak of #13 and receiving a gold certification. The third single, "What It Ain't", was less successful, reaching #31.

2005–2006: Your Man

In early 2006, Turner released his second album, Your Man. The album's first single and title track, "Your Man", was co-written by Jace Everett and released in late 2005. "Your Man" also climbed the charts slowly, eventually reaching #1 in early 2006. Your Man was certified Gold by the RIAA four weeks after its release, and later went Platinum six months later.⁴

"Would You Go with Me" was the second single released from Your Man. Like the album's title track, "Would You Go with Me" also reached the top of the country singles charts, holding that position for two weeks; it also reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100. Turner also performed it on the CMA Awards in November 2006.

Shortly after the album's release, a song called "Me and God" was released as a single to Christian radio. A duet with bluegrass musician Ralph Stanley, the song also featured members of the band Diamond Rio on background vocals. "Me and God" reached a peak of #16 on the country charts.

In December 2006, the 49th Annual Grammy Award nominations were announced. Turner received nods for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and for Best Country Album. That same month, featurette on CMT Insider showed Turner in the studio working on the album. He mentioned that he wanted it to sound like music in the 1700s and 1800s. Turner performed at the Ryman Auditorium where a live album was recorded, singing a song called, "Church in the Holler." Turner's album Josh Turner: Live At The Ryman was recorded in April and is available exclusively through Cracker Barrel restaurants.

Turner, along with veteran songwriters Brett James and Don Schlitz, wrote a song entitled "Say Yes"; recorded and released by singer Dusty Drake in 2007, the song was a minor Top 40 country hit for Drake, peaking at #36.⁵

2007–2008: Everything Is Fine

Turner's third studio album for MCA Nashville, titled Everything Is Fine, was released on October 30, 2007. Its lead-off single, "Firecracker", became Turner's third Top Ten hit on the country music charts, peaking at #2. The second single from Everything Is Fine, a duet with Trisha Yearwood entitled "Another Try", was released in late January 2008, peaking at #15. The title track has since been released as the third single and peaked at #20. Everything Is Fine has been certified gold.

2009–present: Haywire

At the end of June, Josh wrapped up recording his fourth album, Haywire. The lead-off single, "Why Don't We Just Dance", which was released on August 12, 2009, debuted at #57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of September 5, 2009. The album was released on February 9, 2010, as well as a deluxe version.

Grand Ole Opry induction

On September 29, 2007, while giving an award to Roy Clark on Clark's 20th anniversary on the Grand Ole Opry, Josh was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was inducted by Vince Gill on October 27, 2007.⁶ He is the second youngest member, after Carrie Underwood.

Billy Graham Biopic

Turner plays George Beverly Shea in the film titled Billy: The Early Years, the film is a biopic of the evangelist Billy Graham. George Beverly Shea led the music on many of Graham's crusades.⁷

Discography

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Official website
• Official Josh Turner page at Universal Music Group Nashville
• Josh Turner Interview at CountryMusicPride.com
• Josh Turner at the Internet Movie Database