Josh Turner

Biography

Joshua Otis Turner (born November 20, 1977) is an American country singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to MCA Nashville Records. That same year, his debut album's title track, "Long Black Train×Long Black Train14 October 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Long Black Train4:112In My Dreams3:353What It Ain't3:274I Had One One Time3:175Jacksonville3:566Backwoods Boy3:417Unburn All Our Bridges3:198You Don't Mess Around With Jim3:189She'll Go on You4:0310Good Woman Bad3:0111The Difference Between a Woman and a Man3:43", was his breakthrough single release. His second album, Your Man×Your Man24 January 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Would You Go With Me3:492Baby’s Gone Home to Mama3:073No Rush4:084Your Man3:335Loretta Lynn’s Lincoln3:576White Noise3:247Angels Fall Sometimes3:008Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy3:089Me and God3:0210Gravity3:4011Way Down South4:53 (2006) accounted for his first two No. 1 hits, "Your Man" and "Would You Go with Me×Would You Go With Me24 April 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Would You Go With Me3:48", while 2007's Everything Is Fine included a No. 2 hit, "Firecracker". Haywire, released in 2010, produced his biggest hit, the four-week No. 1 hit "Why Don't We Just Dance×Why Don't We Just Dance12 August 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Why Don't We Just Dance3:13" and another No. 1 song, "All Over Me". It was followed by Punching Bag (2012), whose lead-off single, "Time Is Love×Time Is Love20 December 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Time Is Love3:21", was the biggest country hit of 2012 according to Billboard Year-End.

Early life

Turner was born in Hannah, South Carolina. Growing up in the church, he founded a gospel quartet called Thankful Hearts, where he sang bass, in addition to singing the bass part in choirs.
In 1996, Turner developed a lesion on his right vocal cord. Turner was examined by the Vanderbilt voice clinic, where doctors advised him to let it heal on its own. Surgery was not needed, but he did have to rest his voice for a year. While Turner rested his voice back at home, he learned classical vocal technique and how to take care of his voice to avoid developing further problems. Turner states that he "learned how to whistle really well during that year". He included that skill in his song "Down In Georgia".
After Hannah-Pamplico High School, he spent some time at Francis Marion University before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to enroll in Belmont University and pursue a career in music. After college, his fledgling career got a boost on December 21, 2001, during his debut on the Grand Ole Opry, when he performed a song he wrote titled "Long Black Train×Long Black Train14 October 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Long Black Train4:112In My Dreams3:353What It Ain't3:274I Had One One Time3:175Jacksonville3:566Backwoods Boy3:417Unburn All Our Bridges3:198You Don't Mess Around With Jim3:189She'll Go on You4:0310Good Woman Bad3:0111The Difference Between a Woman and a Man3:43", which was inspired by Hank Williams. He received a standing ovation in the middle of the song, then sang it again as an encore.

2001–2004: Long Black Train

On December 21, 2001, Turner debuted on the Grand Ole Opry with the song "Long Black Train×Long Black Train14 October 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Long Black Train4:112In My Dreams3:353What It Ain't3:274I Had One One Time3:175Jacksonville3:566Backwoods Boy3:417Unburn All Our Bridges3:198You Don't Mess Around With Jim3:189She'll Go on You4:0310Good Woman Bad3:0111The Difference Between a Woman and a Man3:43".
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 No. 46 on the country charts), "Long Black Train" spent more than forty weeks on the Billboard country charts, reaching a peak of No. 13 and receiving a gold certification. The third single, "What It Ain't", was less successful, reaching No. 31.

2005–2006: Your Man

In early 2006, Turner released his second album, Your Man×Your Man24 January 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Would You Go With Me3:492Baby’s Gone Home to Mama3:073No Rush4:084Your Man3:335Loretta Lynn’s Lincoln3:576White Noise3:247Angels Fall Sometimes3:008Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy3:089Me and God3:0210Gravity3:4011Way Down South4:53. The album's first single and title track, "Your Man", was written by Jace Everett, Chris DuBois and Chris Stapleton and released in late 2005. "Your Man" also climbed the charts slowly, eventually reaching No. 1 in early 2006. Your Man was certified Gold by the RIAA four weeks after its release, and went Platinum six months later.
"Would You Go with Me×Would You Go With Me24 April 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Would You Go With Me3:48" was the second single released from Your Man. Like charts, holding that position for two weeks; it also reached No. 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 No. 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, a 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 18th and 19th centuries. 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×Live at the Ryman2007 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1[introduction]0:292Way Down South3:543What It Ain't3:444She'll Go on You3:585Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy3:176Silver Wings4:067Backwoods Boy5:158Angels Fall Sometimes3:049Loretta Lynn's Lincoln4:5810I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive2:3011[band intro]4:4212Gravity3:4213He Stopped Loving Her Today3:2014Long Black Train5:57 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 No. 36.

2007–2011: Everything Is Fine and Haywire

On September 29, 2007, while giving an award to Roy Clark on Clark's 20th anniversary on the Grand Ole Opry, Turner was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was inducted by Vince Gill on October 27, 2007. At the time, he and Carrie Underwood were the youngest members of the Opry.
Turner's third studio album for MCA Nashville, titled Everything Is Fine×Everything Is Fine30 October 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Everything Is Fine3:362Firecracker3:303Another Try3:474So Not My Baby3:345Trailerhood3:226Baby, I Go Crazy3:247Nowhere Fast5:318The Longer the Waiting (the Sweeter the Kiss)5:019One Woman Man2:3110Soulmate3:5111The Way He Was Raised4:3212South Carolina Low Country4:49, 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 No. 2. The second single from Everything Is Fine, a duet with Trisha Yearwood entitled "Another Try", was released in late January 2008, peaking at No. 15. The title track was released as the third single and peaked at No. 20. Everything Is Fine has been certified gold.
At the end of June, Turner wrapped up recording his fourth album, Haywire×Haywire9 February 2010 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Why Don't We Just Dance3:142I Wouldn't Be a Man3:333Haywire3:254Your Smile3:375Lovin' You on My Mind3:426As Fast as I Could4:297I'll Be There3:408All Over Me3:209Eye Candy2:5510Friday Paycheck4:0111The Answer4:1612Let's Find a Church3:4113This Kind of Love3:2714Long Black Train (live)5:3415Your Man (live)3:45. The lead-off single, "Why Don't We Just Dance×Why Don't We Just Dance12 August 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Why Don't We Just Dance3:13", which was released on August 12, 2009, debuted at No. 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of September 5, 2009. The song went on to become Turner's third Number One hit, spending four consecutive weeks at the top in February 2010. The album was released on February 9, 2010, along with a deluxe version. "All Over Me" was released in April 2010 as the album's second single; it became Turner's fourth Number One. On September 27, 2010, Turner shot the video for "I Wouldn't Be a Man" in Nashville, which was the third single from Haywire. "Haywire" is now certified gold.

2012–2017: Punching Bag and Deep South

Turner's fifth studio album, Punching Bag×Punching Bag12 June 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Introduction (by Michael Buffer)0:372Punching Bag3:393Time Is Love3:214Deeper Than My Love3:185Good Problem3:096Cold Shoulder4:007Find Me A Baby3:398Whatcha Reckon3:259Pallbearer4:3410For The Love of God4:0811I Was There3:5512Left Hand Man3:18, was released via MCA Nashville on June 12, 2012, and preceded by the single "Time Is Love×Time Is Love20 December 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Time Is Love3:21". The song, written by Tom Shapiro, Tony Martin, and Mark Nesler, was released digitally on December 20, 2011, and went for radio adds on January 9. The song reached No. 2 but finished the year as the No. 1 country song of 2012 according to Billboard. The album's second single "Find Me a Baby", was released to country radio on October 15, 2012, but it failed to make top 40 on the country charts.
Also in 2012, Turner released Live Across America with twelve of his songs recorded in concert in different cities. This album was distributed through Cracker Barrel. "Those are the most magical performances of each song," Turner said.
The lead single from Turner's upcoming sixth studio album, "Lay Low×Lay Low16 September 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Lay Low4:21", was released to country radio on September 1, 2014. It reached a peak of No. 25 on Country Airplay, at which it remained stalled for several weeks. The single did not perform as expected on the charts, so Turner's label decided to delay the release of the album and its next single. The second single, "Hometown Girl×Hometown Girl13 May 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hometown Girl3:36", was released to radio on May 31, 2016.
At Turner's show in Reading, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 2016, he announced that his new album would be released sometime in March 2017.
The album, Deep South×Deep South10 March 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Deep South3:572All About You3:313Hometown Girl3:364Beach Bums3:535Southern Drawl3:456Where the Girls Are3:137Never Had a Reason4:048Wonder4:309One Like Mine3:1810Lay Low4:2211Hawaiian Girl3:38, was released on March 10, 2017, preceded by two sneak preview songs, "Deep South" and "Where the Girls Are" released on February 23, 2017. Deep South scored Turner his third No. 1 album on the US Top Country Album's Chart upon its release. Turner's second single, "Hometown Girl", from Deep South peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Country Airplay Chart and at No. 1 on the Mediabase chart, which made it Turner's fifth No. 1 single. Turner's third single, "All About You", written by Craig Wiseman and Justin Weaver, was released on May 15, 2017.

2018–2023: I Serve a Savior, Country State of Mind, and King Size Manger

After the release of Deep South, Turner began work on a project of gospel music. Titled I Serve a Savior, his seventh studio album was released on October 26, 2018. It consists of a collection of mostly gospel standards with a few original songs, including the title track that Turner co-wrote. The album also features appearances by Sonya Isaacs, Bobby Osborne, and Turner's own family (who sing and play instruments on a track penned by his wife and oldest son) and new live renditions of both "Long Black Train×Long Black Train14 October 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Long Black Train4:112In My Dreams3:353What It Ain't3:274I Had One One Time3:175Jacksonville3:566Backwoods Boy3:417Unburn All Our Bridges3:198You Don't Mess Around With Jim3:189She'll Go on You4:0310Good Woman Bad3:0111The Difference Between a Woman and a Man3:43" and "Me and God".
Turner followed this release with two further passion projects: Country State of Mind (2020) and King Size Manger (2021), his eighth and ninth studio albums. Country State of Mind consisted of a collection of cover songs, while King Size Manger served as Turner's first album of Christmas music.

2024–present: New music

In April 2024, it was announced that Turner had extended his record deal with MCA Nashville, his longtime label home of over two decades, and that "Heatin' Things Up×Heatin' Things Up26 April 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Heatin' Things Up" would be released as his new single. Turner's tenth studio album, This Country Music Thing×This Country Music Thing16 August 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Down in Georgia3:212If You Ain’t With Me2:373I Just Wanna Kiss You3:104Heatin’ Things Up2:585This Country Music Thing4:556My Side3:167Two Steppin’ on the Moon3:168Somewhere With Her3:029Whirlwind3:1910Pretty Please3:1411Unsung Hero4:54, was released on August 16, 2024.

Acting

Turner played George Beverly Shea in the 2008 film Billy: The Early Years, about the evangelist Billy Graham. Shea was the soloist for the Billy Graham Crusades.

Personal life

Turner married Jennifer Ford, in 2003. They met as students of Belmont University. Jennifer travels with Josh when he is on tour, playing keyboards and singing background vocals. They have four sons.
Turner is a devout Christian. "I don't believe God wants me to be a gospel singer," Turner said regarding his religion. "He just wants me to be a Christian singer. That's who I am, a Christian."