Country stars can’t wait to buy albums, just like us


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More country fun from Nancy Wilson. K99online.com

One of the perks of working at a music station is you get to hear new releases before they officially come out. But just like everyone else, when it comes to the actual album, you have to wait. I’ll admit, there have been occasions when I went to my local 24-hour store to buy a new release when it came out at midnight!

In keeping with the tabloid tradition of “Celebrities: they’re just like us,” it’s funny to hear when a famous person really does do something “normal” only to find it makes headlines! Country artists have a long tradition of buying their albums at a regular ol’ store. Sometimes, it causes a mob, other times … not so much.

Eric Paslay headed into a Walmart in his native Texas to purchase his self-titled debut album when it came out in early February.

“I maybe bought some creamer or something with it. Coffee creamer and my album,” Paslay told Country Weekly. “And the girl checks it out, and she looks at the record and she kinda looked at me and looked at the record and put it in the bag. I said, ‘I’ve been probably been waiting over 10 years for that record to come out.’ She goes, ‘Wow, 10 years? How did you know that?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s my record.’ ”

Apparently, the cashier remained skeptical.

“She definitely pulled open the record and called every Walmart assistant over to check it out and ask if it was really me,” Paslay said. “But it was kinda fun.”

Fellow newcomer and winner of The Voice, Cassadee Pope, had the same goal when her Republic Nashville debut album, “Frame by Frame,” came out Oct. 8. She told VH1, “I’m going to Brooklyn — to the Target in Brooklyn. That’s all I know. I’m going to pick it up. It’s going to be great.”

“Great” was an understatement. Pope says the cashier knew it was her and after the purchase she posed for some photos with employees.

“We took pictures and I stood in a Target shopping cart, it was fun,” Pope said. “We caused a scene.”

What else did she buy?

“I picked up a smoothie and some water,” Pope said. And no doubt plenty of new fans.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, veteran Craig Morgan could have a “been there, done that” mentality when it comes to new releases. But when his latest work, “The Journey (Livin’ Hits),” came out last fall, Morgan ventured to buy it and posted the results on Facebook — “Bought my album at Wal-Mart Supercenter last night, I think I took the cashier by surprise…”

Morgan had someone videotape the entire trip, from the singer browsing the music section, selecting his own CD and taking it up to the checkout lane. The cashier was visibly nervous, immediately recognizing Morgan. Judging from her smile and demeanor, she was more than happy to help.

The moral of the story? Contrary to what your parents may have taught you, good things do happen after midnight, just make sure you look good. You never know who you might meet!

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