Joe Nichols Rediscovers His Passion For Country Music

Joe Nichols has had a rocky road on his climb to country music stardom. For several years, Nichols fought alcohol addiction—and a music industry that can encourage a hard lifestyle.

Now, Nichols is back with a new album, Old Things New, that hits stores on October 27. The 9513 caught up with Nichols to chat with him about a recent trip to Iraq, the new album, and his upcoming Broadway experience as the lead in the stage adaption of the 1992 feature film Pure Country.

PIERCE GREENBERG: I heard you spent a couple of weeks in Iraq over the summer. Can you describe that experience for me?

JOE NICHOLS: It was hot, but we got a first hand look at what the soldiers do day in and day out and at what they have to go through, just the pressure that’s on them to perform their daily duties. The overall physical demand that Iraq has is pretty amazing. It’s 130 degrees, and the soldiers are carrying about 100 pounds of extra gear. It’s a pretty rigorous schedule and routine for them.

PG: When some people come back from an experience like that, they have one certain moment that sticks out in their memory. What will you remember the most about Iraq?

JN: Wow. You know, I’ll remember one of the Marines—I think it was a Marine, maybe an Army guy. It was actually one of the flight crew from the helicopter.

He was talking about the show we did one night at Camp Awasad. And he actually was part of the transportation the next day to another base. While we were getting off the helicopter, he started talking about the show and he said, “When you played ‘I’ll Wait For You,’ I couldn’t help but think about the last dance I had with my wife back at home. We danced to that song,” he said. “I bawled in front of all my men, and they were watching. It was one of the moments I just couldn’t control.”

It just made me cry. I about teared up right there just hearing this guy’s story.

PG: You seem to have a lot of songs like that: “I’ll Wait For You,” “The Impossible,” and of course, this new single “Believers.” Talk a little bit about that song and the response it got overseas.

JN: Yeah, it got great response. More than anything, I think we invited people to be a part of the “Believers” idea and that was to share a little piece of detail about why you are a believer. You know, give a little bit of an inspirational story to share with us and with everybody else. There were some really incredible stories, especially from the military that were just great–from people getting wounded on the battlefield and making it home, to female soldiers getting to go home and see their kids.

PG: Here in a couple days, you’re going to perform the song at a ceremony for the Dalai Lama in Memphis. Are you looking forward to that?

I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a brand new experience. I think if you would’ve told me I’d ever be playing for the Dalai Lama, I don’t think I would have believed that. But it’s a big honor. It’s a huge honor. I think we’re gonna have fun with it. We’re going to sing some inspirational songs. Natalie Cole is gonna be there as well, and I’m a big fan. It’s gonna be a fun night.

PG: Let’s shift gears a little bit and talk about your new album Old Things New. Do you think that’s an appropriate title based on the sound and feel of this album?

JN: Yeah, it is. It has several meanings, I think. One is that it’s got a more traditional sound to it, so obviously the Old Things New play on words is kind of good for the way I would love it if traditional country became a significant part of what’s out there. Now, if we were just a significant part of the significant part. (Laughing)

I think the passion for doing music, the passion for singing country music, the passion that I have for going out and playing it live to what I sang in the studio—my love for country music is back. I lost it a little bit, I think. But upon the completion of this album, I think that passion’s back.

PG: One of the standouts to me on this album was the fun “Cheaper Than a Shrink.” How did you guys come across that one?

JN: I think Jamey Johnson wrote that with Bill Anderson. It’s one of those songs I heard and thought I can definitely relate to the guy in that song and I know a lot of people that felt the same way. It just felt like a cool party song.

PG: Do you have a particular song that you are partial to on this record? If you had to convince a person with one song to buy this record, what would it be?

JN: There are two, I think. One is the title track “Old Things New.” I think it’s one of the best vocal things I’ve ever done and it just means so much. It’s one of those hardcore traditional country songs that Paul Overstreet and Bill Anderson wrote. It’s just a great moment for me. And Vince Gill sang harmonies on there, so it sounds really good.

The other song would be “Goodbye to an Old Friend of Mine” which is just me and a piano talking about the pain and all that comes with addiction and getting over that. It’s just a very personal moment.

PG: You mentioned earlier that you lost a little bit of passion for the music, and it seems like both those songs might hint at that period of time in your life.

JN: Yeah, I think so. Merle Haggard put it best: “There’s more business than there is show in show business.” There’s not a whole lot of music in it, so just knowing that and kind of experiencing that a little bit, compounded with some personal issues with addiction and all kinds of things like that. So it just kind of became a job more than anything. It became a constant fight to express myself, I think. It became more of a challenge than I was prepared for.

So somewhere along the way, the passion can get lost a little bit. But when you find great songs, and somehow you get a spark in a little way, it can become brand new—that’s what this album’s kinda done for me.

PG: Shifting gears one last time. Earlier next year, you have this thing on Broadway that you’re giving a shot. What do you think the biggest difference is between the Broadway scene and the Nashville country music scene?

JN: I think, on Broadway, there’s very little room for error. I think you kind of have to go all-out at all times and perform to the best of your knowledge, to your wit, to your ability, to everything. I think in country music, and especially in Nashville, you can kind of get away with off days a little more. The help of modern technology kind of allows a lot of people to take some shortcuts in the studio or on the road that Broadways doesn’t allow you to take.

I think for the most part, you have to be on-point in New York, period. There’s very little patience for anything that’s sub-par or boring or average even. In Nashville sometimes, we can find a way to market something average and make it above average. And sometimes in the studio, production-wise, we can find a way to make average things sound exceedingly great.

PG: So–

JN: –Did that just sound amazingly mean?

PG: No. No, I thought that was just you being honest.

JN: I wasn’t meaning to be an ass about that. It was just my take on it.

PG: Are you nervous about going into this Broadway experience?

JN: Not really. I think my expectations are pretty low.On the Broadway thing in particular, we’re taking things one little bitty step at a time. A lot of stuff has to happen just right. So I’m kind of prepared to back it up and make it just right. ight now, I think a lot of ducks have to get in a row before Broadway happens on time.

Most importantly is setting up this album release for October 27 and talking about Old Things New. Broadway is important, but it’s just getting less and less important as we get closer to the album launch. I’m preparing for Broadway if and when it does happen on time. At the same time, I’m just being really cognizant of what’s happening with this album and making sure that’s being taken care of because that’s my home, that’s where I live. And Broadway’s kind of the icing on the cake.