Blake Shelton

Quite a few people know that I'm a huge Josh Turner fan. I have belonged to his fanclub since it started in 2004. He came out on radio with Long Black Train in the Fall of 2003. He actually wrote the song as a student at Belmont before he had any record deal. I saw a commercial with Long Black Train, advertising that he was going to be at a casino here in Baton Rouge. We RARELY get any country singers coming to the casino's in Baton Rouge- (they do come to the waterpark, LSU, Texas Club-smokey bar room). Anyways, i'm not sure what inspired me to buy my tickets to see Josh, but i'm glad I did. I just loved the video for Long Black Train, and the song itself, and it was the only song I knew of Josh's. Prior to his concert I bought his debut album so I could be familiar with his music. I searched the internet for information about him and found his fanclub, and joined it. I had knew nothing about fanclubs back then, and it was my very first one to join. (I really miss his "old" fanclub- it's not nearly the same anymore). Back then he opened with Folsom Prison. I miss that he has pretty much cut that from shows, because nowadays he has a lot of material to sing. He used to do this thing where he'd sing quite a few cover songs but he'd shorten them and kinda run them together. My favorite album is his debut, but his latest album Everything Is Fine (which is kinda getting to be old) is in a close second place. I really wish his record label/management would have chosen different songs to release because it is an awesome album.
I had always hoped that Josh (as with Blake) would be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Alot of my buddies know that I love trips to TN. Anyways, every fall I go to the Smoky Mountains. Well in 2007, I saw that Josh had an Opry date on October 27th, which was when I was in the Smoky Mountains. I decided to buy a pair of Opry tickets for my first official time to see Josh play an Opry show, and after my trip in the mountains we were to swing by Nashville. Well a month or so after I bought my tickets, he was asked to be inducted, and my luck it was for the day that I had bought the tickets. I was in heaven being there for that. Thru his fanclub I also found out that he was recording a live CD for Cracker Barrel, and in April of 2007 I traveled to Nashville for my first trip ever to Nashville, and had a seat on the front pew of the Ryman. It was a very neat exerience. Josh was actually kinda under the weather that night, and he still did a great job. I was surprised with what songs they left out of that CD, because he performed for at least 1.5 hours.
Josh is supposedly working on a new album, from what i've heard, and his wife is going to have their 2nd child this summer (I suspect Late May or Early June by looking at his tour schedule). His wife plays keyboard in his band, and she went to college with him. From little things they've released on his website, Josh is reported to have difficulty with what I believe to be celiac disease. There was a small article mentioning him being ill alot and finally finding a doctor to figure out what was wrong. I will post a few photos that I've taken of him or with him over the years. I suspect there are at least a few Josh fans here- I hope so anyways :)

(Josh no longer uses this quitar- it is autographed by alot of famous peeps- this was back before I had a really good camera)

My first meet and greet with Josh, 2004

Josh as the "Phantom of the Grand Ole Opry" Halloween 2008 in Marksville, LA

Josh with cowboy hat, lol (you never see him wearing a cowboy hat)

Photo I took the night Josh was inducted :)

Josh and my momma (notice her hands wrapped around him, lol)

Cherokee, NC October 2008

I have a ton of photos, some I have are alot better too, I just can't find them on my computer right now.