Opry Chat (February 2nd, 2001)

opry_host: We're really excited to have The Wilkinsons and Jimmy C. Newman chatting tonight.
opry_host: We live at the Friday night Opry
opry_host: from the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville.
opry_host: The Opry is continuing its celebration of 75 years.
opry_host: The Opry's Ryman run continues through this month.
opry_host: The Wilkinsons hail from Canada.
opry_host: They're nominated for a Grammy.
opry_host: They family trio is up for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Jimmy's Got A Girlfriend."
opry_host: They will chat with us beginning at 9 pm ET.
opry_host: Following The Wilkinsons, Opry veteran Jimmy C. Newman will chat beginning at 9:30 pm ET.
opry_host: "The Alligator Man" is the Opry's resident Cajun.
opry_host: A native of Big Mamou, Louisiana,
opry_host: Jimmy C. joined the Opry in August 1956.
opry_host: Please start sending in your questions now for The Wilkinsons.
opry_host: If you've just joined us, welcome.
opry_host: We're chatting live from the Opry's most famous home The Ryman Auditorium.,
opry_host: Our chat with the Wilkinsons and Jimmy C. Newman will begin shortly.
opry_host: if this is your first chat with us,
opry_host: here are some helpful tips.
opry_host: Please type your question in the "Ask A Question" space at the bottom of your screen.
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opry_host: just click on "preferences" and then check
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opry_host: And remember, no spamming or obscenity.
opry_host: Once again, welcome Opry fans.
opry_host: We're live at the Friday night Opry.
opry_host: The Wilkinsons will join us at 9 pm ET.
opry_host: Opry vet Jimmy C. Newman will follow them at 9:30 pm ET.
opry_host: So send in those questions first for the Wilkinsons.
opry_host: Our guests will be sitting here live at the Opry.
opry_host: This chat is sponsored tonight by
opry_host: the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium.
opry_host: Remember, you can listen to the Opry via the Internet.
opry_host: Simply log on to www.opry.com.
opry_host: You also can check out the online gift shop to get your favorite Opry merchandise.
opry_host: The Opry is celebrating 75 years on the air.
opry_host: Keep those questions coming in for The Wilkinsons and Jimmy C. Newman.
opry_host: The last time the Wilkinsons chatted with us,
opry_host: they were on their way to Grand Cayman to dive with Jean Michel Cousteau.
opry_host: Then they were off to Japan.
opry_host: They're working on a new album.
opry_host: It's due out May 22.
opry_host: The first single is "I Want To Be That Girl."
opry_host: In addition to the group's Grammy nomination,
opry_host: they're also nominated for a Juno award, the Canadian "Grammy."
opry_host: If you've just joined us, welcome to Yahoo! chat.
opry_host: We're here live at the Friday night Opry.
opry_host: The family group The Wilkinsons will join us in less than 10 minutes.
opry_host: The group includes Dad Steve, daughter Amanda and son Tyler.
opry_host: The Giant Recording artists hit it big with the hits "26 Cents," "Fly (The Angel Song)" and "The Yodelin' Blues."
opry_host: Dad Steve writes most of the trio's songs.
opry_host: They've dominated the Canadian Country Music Awards for the past two years.
opry_host: Last September they won four CCMA Awards.
opry_host: That included album, single, vocal group and fans choice awards.
opry_host: They will chat with us at 9 p.m. ET before going on stage to perform.
opry_host: Jimmy C. Newman will follow them at 9:30 p.m. ET.
opry_host: He's been an Opry member for 45 year this August.
opry_host: He's a member of the Cajun Music Hall of Fame in Lafayette, La.
opry_host: The "Alligator Man" was the first Cajun to join the Opry cast.
opry_host: If you've just joined us, welcome.
opry_host: The Wilkinsons will join us momentarily.
opry_host: Remember, you can listen to the Opry live via the Internet.
opry_host: Simply log on to www.opry.com.
opry_host: Our first guests tonight made their Opry debut by surprise.
opry_host: They were visiting backstage with Vince Gill when he invited them to join him on stage.
opry_host: That was before they had a record deal.
opry_host: They signed with Giant Records shortly thereafter and the rest is history.
opry_host: They're first album was Nothing But Love.
opry_host: They followed that with Here and Now.
opry_host: And The Wilkonsons are here now for tonight's chat.

plcul8tr asks: When is your next CD scheduled to be released?
opry_guest: S-The release date is May 22nd.

tswesson asks: what is your favorite thig about the Opry
opry_guest: S-My favoiriet is that it feels like family. It is like old home week.
opry_guest: You get to see people that you have seen here before.
opry_guest: A- There is no ego here. We are all working towards the same thing.
opry_guest: It is like family
opry_guest: S- Marty Stuart referred to it best "As the mother church of country music and it is a real privilege for us to
opry_guest: perform here at the Ryman.
opry_guest: A-Yes I've just got to kick it in gear. I'm going to Belmont
opry_guest: MTSU also to get some courses done.

wilkinsonvillagemichelle asks: What's the new single like?
opry_guest: S- The new single is uptempo attititude song called. "I wanna be that girl"
opry_guest: No lead for Tyler on this song

lightsabergurl asks: What's the coolest thing a fan has ever said to each of you?
opry_guest: S-The coolest thing ever said to me was when they saw us hanging together that they though
opry_guest: it was a cool thing to hang with your parents.
opry_guest: A-Just the fact that we are younger people and that we are able to have an influence on younger people
opry_guest: T-A blind man came up to us at a show and told us that we all sounded like a train whistle.
opry_guest: I was confused at first but he explained that our notes rise and fall at the same time just
opry_guest: like a train whistle.

lightsabergurl asks: What's the deal with the radio tour? What cities will you be hitting?-
opry_guest: A-a lot There are too many cities to mention but if you check out our website www.wilkinsonsonline.com
opry_guest: S-and if the information is not there it will be there shortly.

jessicaafan asks: Are you going to be touring with anybody?
opry_guest: SNot so far but the year is early - we have a very busy tour schedxule and al lot of performance

tswesson asks: what was your earliest age that you performed
opry_guest: A-I was 3 years old at my grandparents anniversary and
opry_guest: S-and she sang "Grandpa tell me about the good old days' and "honey Why don't you open that door"
opry_guest: T-I was 6 years old and you have seen the tapes. It was at a fair and not that amusing.
opry_guest: I say "Ball and chain" by Paul overstreet.
opry_guest: A-He had Lyle Lovett hair
opry_guest: S-I'm too old I can't remember that far back.
opry_guest: S-I had second billing to a gallon of milk and it was ancient days.

ethaninindy asks: I read the Country Music Today article and noticed the wide array of music you guys listen to. So The Frying Pan Man wants to know what's in your CD player now? (At home, on the bus, wherever)
opry_guest: S-Rascall flatts
opry_guest: T-Claire Lynch
opry_guest: A-Etta James
opry_guest: Radio Head
opry_guest: and we are just about to get the soundtrack to "Oh Brother"
opry_guest: T-we have a wide range of interests

griggsfan73 asks: Hi Amanda, Tyler and Steve! I heard that you are planning to record a cover of Kenny Chesney's Back Where I Come From, is this true? If it is I was wondering how you chose to cover this song? It's one of my favorite songs and I can't wait to hear your version of it!
opry_guest: S-We had planned but along the way in the record process it sort of got left off.

hottie_magnet16 asks: What's your favourite song to perform off each album
opry_guest: A-26 cents
opry_guest: 1999
opry_guest: T-real bad mood
opry_guest: off our new album

wilkinsonvillagemichelle asks: Are Amanda and Tyler going to write any of the stuff for the new album?
opry_guest: S- Amanda and Kiaya and I wrote one of the songs called "Outside Providence"

shawnbug1us asks: is there any difference between Canadian fans and fans in the U.S
opry_guest: S-Yest and there is a difference in the areas of Canada and the US.
opry_guest: There is something that we call regional personality and depending on whree you like
opry_guest: in Canada or US people have that personality
opry_guest: The crowds in the northeast are way different than fans in Nebraska or TN

c_wilk2003 asks: IF THERE WAS ONE SECRET YOU COULD TELL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
opry_guest: T-If it is a secret you cant tell
opry_guest: If I tell you ;I would have to kill you!
opry_guest: laughs

david_n_sara asks: Has the record company contemplated an acoustic album for you? The fans would love it.
opry_guest: S- Yest we have talked about it and we may do an acoustic album of lullabyes or childrens songs
opry_guest: A-There are a couple of songs that Dad would sing to us when we were little.

ethaninindy asks: You've got a lot of animals. Do you plan on getting anymore?
opry_guest: S-Our two horses are turning into 3 as one of our mares is pregnant

amandaangel2417 asks: Howdy Amanda, Tyler and Steve! It's Brian from Ohio!!! I love the song, "Jimmy's Got A Girlfriend" and I'd like to know what are the instruments playing in the opening of the song? Nothing like those instruments to make me smile everytime I listen to it!
opry_guest: S-It is called a Bazouki
opry_guest: A- A greek instrument
opry_guest: S-as apposed to a bazooka which is a percussion instrument (laughs)

seersh asks: WHAT'S THE NEATEST VENUE YOU'VE PERFORMED AT?
opry_guest: S- this one right here!!

slickpnkgal2 asks: hi! i first wanna say you guys are the country group i listen to. is it hard to be family an in the music business?
opry_guest: A-All challenges are hard but you have to remember who you are and where you started from
opry_guest: S-And who and what is most important in your life

jessicaafan asks: Amanda, for the new album, will you be doing the artwork again?
opry_guest: A-Not in the works - They may use some of my logos but it is too soon to tell.

david_n_sara asks: When is Tyler going to get that plum PT cruiser? (We want to know which month to stay away from Nashville -- haha).
opry_guest: T-Not any time soon
opry_guest: A-He still has to get his license
opry_guest: T-can'
opry_guest: T- Can't find any time to drive.

shawnbug1us asks: how has your life changed since your first hit
opry_guest: A-We're a lot busier now
opry_guest: S- It got a lot busier real fast.

shawnbug1us asks: Do you have any other family members who sing or play music
opry_guest: A-We do -
opry_guest: S-If its immediate famlly meaning Kiaya plays mandolin
opry_guest: I come from a musical family - my brother plays and mom sang on the radio back in the 40's
opry_guest: and 50's

girl_cheer asks: What are their plans for Valentines Day?
opry_guest: S-We are going to be in Greeneville South Carolina singing to 25 to 35 couples who are
opry_guest: getting married at the same time.
opry_guest: I don't think it will be the song "real bad mood" I think it will be "I want to be that girl"

thebravesfan2001 asks: Tyler, do you ever date your fans?
opry_guest: T-Well I don't have time to date period and I haven't yet.
opry_guest: A- I hope she likes your music and if she is a fan then that would be a good thing! (laughs)

fly479 asks: How is Kaiya doing?
opry_guest: S- She is great
opry_guest: A-Growing like a weed
opry_guest: S- She will probably be the tallest one of the Wilkinsons

somersetfan asks: who are your best friends on the Opry ?
opry_guest: A we have a lot
opry_guest: The Whites probably.
opry_guest: A- Vince is always a buddy
opry_guest: Patty Loveless she just sang on our album.
opry_guest: S-We have been real lucky

angel_1311_2001 asks: Who did you like touring with
opry_guest: A- We don't have a favorite as they all have their own ways
opry_guest: S- we can't pick one as it is like apples and oranges

thebravesfan2001 asks: What was each of your favorite videos you put out.
opry_guest: A-For me probably "boy oh Boy'
opry_guest: T- I don't know. I sort of like doing 1999
opry_guest: even though we shot from six at night to six in the morning
opry_guest: I thought it was cool shooting over night.
opry_guest: S- I like
opry_guest: Boy oh Boy

angel_1311_2001 asks: Has a fan done anything just to meet you guys??
opry_guest: A- A girl tried to stage dive
opry_guest: S- She came up and said hello and did a stage dive. The crowd parted .
opry_guest: Stage diving and country music just don't mix

cactus_pearl asks: having traveled the world where do you vacation
opry_guest: A- Grand Cayman - we all scuba dive and that is our favorite place

girl_cheer asks: If you're really the Wilkinsons, tell me which street Trenton High is on.
opry_guest: S- Dundas West

juljesmom asks: Will you be at Fan Fair this year?
opry_guest: S- Yes we will be - June 14 - 16th
opry_host: The Wilkonsons need to leave.
opry_guest: Opry chats are always our favorite but we have to go and sing now. Thanks to everyone for their questions.