“Anyone that knows me knows that I was the last person in the world I thought would be standing up there next to Carrie Underwood in the finale of “American Idol.”
The singer performed his “Witness” single on Wednesday’s “American Idol” results show. As he told 35 million viewers, he and his wife are expecting their second son.
Rocketing out of Birmingham, Alabama in Season 4 of American Idol, Bice was the first true “rocker” and created the mold that David Cook in many ways is continuing.
Ready for a second 'little roadie'
When I spoke to Bice two years ago, he referred to his first born as his “little roadie.”
In the time since, Bo has been in the hospital clinging to life and was dropped by his record company. He responded by fighting back to full health and starting his own record label. With the help of his exclusive distribution deal with the nation’s top retailer, Wal-Mart, that future appears secure.
After purchasing his home in Nashville, Tennessee with his “American Idol” success funds, the singer and his family considered moving back to Alabama recently to begin anew.
Then, Bice found out his wife was pregnant. With a budding new album and a self-propelled record label that has the potential to sign other artists in the future, he chose to remain in Music City. “Sweet Home Alabama” will have to wait.
Bice was humbled by his health problems more than his career issues that arose from losing a record deal. He has returned to the music scene with his vision more focused. His “See the Light” CD has the perfect title for an artist who after a rough couple of years is finally seeing where he once was blind.
SheKnows: Hi, Bo, it’s nice to talk to you once again.
Bo Bice: Hi there, we met in San Diego.
SheKnows: That’s right, where am I finding you now?
Bo Bice: Still in Nashville, you know we were about to move back to Birmingham and then we found out we were going to have another baby.
SheKnows: Congratulations!
Bo Bice: Yeah, we just found out. My wife and I decided as much as I’m going to be traveling -- we did the ‘go with Bo on tour thing, have a baby, make an album on the road thing,’ -- that’s not an easy thing to do. We just decided, let’s get through another album cycle and have another baby and if we decided we want to move back home to Alabama, we will. Right now for the music business side of things and also for the easy access to the support, the people that we know in Nashville, we wanted to be around them. But you know, I think I will end up back in Birmingham one day. I was going to say one day when I retire, but I don’t think I’ll ever retire. (laughs) They’re going to have to put me in a pine box with wheels.
SheKnows: You’ve stared your own label, is that not every artist’s dream?
Bo Bice: You bet. I started my own the label the first of last year. It is really a next step for me after I left, after I parted ways…I didn’t so much leave as, well the timing was right. I took some time off after my surgery and needed the down time. After spending a few months in the hospital you realize that you want to make the time to be around the people that you truly care about. So I went home and wrote some stuff for a new CD and as I was writing songs for the CD I wondered what I would do for a label. The Wal-Mart deal fell in my lap and the new album really took off. I decided that I should start my own label and work with Wal-Mart. It’s all just come together.
SheKnows: Do you find it artistically freeing? Not just as a performer, but to have the ability to find other people that get you going musically.
Bo Bice: I think for the most part, right now, we’re not a fully functional label. We still team up with my former manager on “See the Light” and Wal-Mart. They handled the distribution. I handled the production of the album and recording. That was definitely more liberating for me because I was able to play instruments and write on every song on the album. It was a labor of love more than it was a go in here and sing these songs that someone else wrote that are tested to be hits.
Seeing a light
SheKnows: Considering the time you’ve had to think about what you’ve been through these last couple of years, was it hard not to share too much of yourself on the page when you’re writing songs?
Bo Bice: That’s one of the things, the problems that I’ve had with this business, is I’m a very candid person. I don’t mind talking about the mistakes I’ve made and sharing the triumphs and the defeats. Sometimes my lack of inner-dialogue has gotten me in situations, but I think the genuineness, like Simon, the truth shall set you free. It hurts, but people will respect you a lot more when they get the truth from you. Not only in my music does it shine through on “See the Light,” but it also has some great songs that tribute some of the people that really paved the way for me like (Lynyrd) Skynyrd, Allman Brothers and Black Crows.
SheKnows: What is it about the city of Nashville that draws musicians from all genres, not just country? Jack White lives there. Bo Bice: It’s true. There’s a lot of rock n’ roll there. Tom Keifer livers there, it’s a rock n’ roll town. If you like being in the public eye all the time, LA’s your scene. Nashville, you know I’m a country guy. For me, I just need a piece of land and some piece of mind to be a normal, everyday guy when I’m there. Then, I also love jumping on the tour bus for months at a time and I get to play rock stars. Living in Nashville is part of what helps me stay focused on things that matter like my family. After everything I’ve been through I know what makes me happy and that’s God, my family and my fans. Nashville was an easy choice.
SheKnows: What kind of advice will you give the “American Idol” contestants when you perform?
Bo Bice: That show let me spread my wings. It shows and I think the audience can see it. So, I think it is easily translatable when you are doing what you love and working hard at it. Just keep doing it.
