Cindy Wright's Exclusive AC Interview with Bucky Covington

Bucky Covington came in at eighth place on the Fox television show American Idol. However Bucky proves that it does not matter where you place in the show it does not mean you will not go on to make great music and have a great career. Mark Miller from Sawyer Brown saw Bucky Covington on American Idol and he liked what he heard and saw. Bucky was contacted by Mark Miller and the rest as they say is history. Bucky has said that the main reason he wanted to get on the show was to get enough recognition to start a career. He has accomplished that. Bucky Covington is a 29-year-old from Rockingham, North Carolina. This country boys dreams are just beginning to come true. His first single "A Different World" is playing on the radio and the video airs on CMT. His self titled debut album comes out April 17th and Sawyer Brown singer Mark Miller is the producer. Sawyer Brown was discovered on the television show Star Search.

I was given the opportunity to interview Bucky via phone April 4th. I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was. Bucky caught me off guard. I was expecting someone who works with Bucky to contact me and then patch me through to Bucky. This is what was done when I interviewed Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler and Relient K. I answered the phone and to my surprise it was Bucky asking for me. He said this is Bucky Covington. He did not have to introduce his self as I recognized his voice right away. Well this made me forget to turn on the speaker phone on my other phone so I could record the conversation. I went to turn the speaker phone on after a couple minutes and it caused a lot of squealing. (Poor Bucky's ears) However Bucky is a very down to earth and understanding kind of guy and had no problem with it. After this interruption we began with the interview. (Oh Before anyone asks No my caller ID did not show his number it was blocked, Sorry Ladies)

CW - What is your favorite song on the CD?

Bucky - Oh that's hard. I like them all. Because they each song is different types of country music. It just depends on what kind of mood I am in on which is my favorite.

CW - What song was the most fun to record?

Bucky - You know I really had a good time with "I Walk" because it was something different. Something I'm really not all that use to doing. Like a really slow ballad song.

CW - Did you write any of the songs on your CD if so what ones?

Bucky - There is one on there that I wrote called "Carolina Blues" and also actually about half the album was recorded in West Palm in Florida where Mark has a house and we recorded about half the albums vocals in his master bedroom. We took an engineer and took a bunch of equipment and everything, hoped on a bus and went down to Florida. It was great. We recorded "I Walk" in the bedroom there.

CW - What went through your mind when Mark Miller from Sawyer Brown contacted you?

Bucky - I had some people call me you know but it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. But Mark calls me up and says "What do you want to do? " That sounds a lot better than Man I'm going to make you the next Elvis.

CW - I imagine it had to very flattering to have Sawyer Brown contact you.

Bucky - Exactly, he called me up and said "I am Mark Miller from Sawyer Brown." I said "Hey thank you very much for calling." He said "I just want to let you know I think you sounded good and done a good job on the show, I was watching you," and then I said "Whoa, whoa, whoa he said "What's wrong?" I said "Mark Miller just said I sounded good." He said "Well Soak it up a little bit." He has been a huge help and a joy to be with ever since.

CW - Who was your idol that inspired you?

Bucky - You know I would have to say Jeff Healey. I heard a Jeff Healey album and the next day I went out and bought a guitar. I heard that song "Confidence Man" and I was like God that's a bad song. So I just saw myself singing and playing a guitar. So I went out and bought a guitar. SO definitely Jeff Healey and Elvis, I liked Elvis for his vocals and just everything. I was a big Kid Rock fan also.

CW - If you could sing a duet with anyone who would it be?

Bucky - Umm that's tuff. I don't know. Kid Rock would be cool. Elvis (laughs)

CW - That might be tuff. (Laughing)

Bucky - Yea, With today's technology it could happen.(laughs) That's a tuff one though. I'm not sure. Too many people on the list really.

CW - How are you handing all the fame and the fans?

Bucky - It is going great. I love it to death. The way I look at is if I leave my house, I'm out in public. So come up to me and say hey, my goodness you're not bothering me. As much as fans do for you the least I can do is a picture and autograph.

CW - Is there anything you miss about your life before idol?

Bucky - Seeing my dad, my brother and cousins every day at work. Not so much the work but being with them, and then every weekend during the summer we would always go up to PeeDee River. We would always go there with our boats and hang out all weekend. I would say I miss that a little bit.

CW - How has your life changed since being on American idol?

Bucky - Well I never had anyone come up to me and ask for my autograph, because of a car I painted. That has definitely changed. Oh goodness it's been awesome. I've always wanted to travel around and see more of the world and I am doing that times 10. Being able to have fans is an awesome thing.

CW - What was the strangest thing to happen on idol or during the tour that you will always remember?

Bucky - Well we had some people that followed the bus for 3 hours after a show to just watch us walk into the hotel. We would get there at like 2 am and the security and stuff wouldn't let us go out and meet the people. They would say well they seem like they are fans but they could also put a knife in you. So yea they wouldn't let us go out.

CW - If you could change anything about this year is there anything you would change and if so what?

Bucky - You know I don't think I would. I was asked that earlier and I said I think I would go back and wish this or that wouldn't have happened. But then I got to really thinking about it and I wouldn't really change anything. Because if it was something not so good that happened it was a lesson learned. It's already happened so it is not going to happen later. If mistakes weren't there I wouldn't have learned, so I think I would just leave everything the way it was.

CW - Do you have much free time for yourself?

Bucky - No not a lot of that right now, but we'll get it later. I got more important things to take care of right now.

CW - What is the weirdest thing you have been asked to sign?

Bucky - I worked in the body shop painting cars up until the day the show started, till I had to go back to L.A and start the show, that's the top 24. So after that the cars I was painting people would have me sign it. (Laughs) I was signing hoods, and spoilers and bumpers. What ever I painted I had to sign it.

If you want to find out more about Bucky Covington visit Bucky Covington.com and his myspace page. You can also hear "A Different World and American Friday Night there. If you enjoy southern rock/country music I am sure you will like Bucky Covington. Being famous hasn't seemed to have changed Bucky Covington at all. He was a very open and friendly person to speak with; he is enjoying this and loves his fans.