It is undeniable that Josh Turner is one of the most recognizable hitmakers in the country music scene. With his signature baritone voice and versatility, the MCA Nashville recording artist already made waves – from his 2003 Platinum-selling debut album “Long Black Train” to the Billboard No. 1 release of 2017 “Deep South” up until his recent release “Country State of Mind.”
He has already sold over 12.5 million units and recorded 1.5 billion in global streaming. Not only did he dominate charts and radio airplay, but he also scored multiple award nominations and received Inspirational awards as well.
So we compiled here everything we know (and you should too) about Josh Turner. Hop on!
1. He was born on November 20, 1977.
Josh Otis Turner was born in Hannah, South Carolina, on November 20, 1977 (currently 43 years old) to Joe and Karen Turner. He has two siblings named Matt and Carrie.
Josh Turner is known as a devout Christian and he grew up in a religious family. He used to sing in the church choir, where he sang the bass and baritone. Aside from that, he also founded a gospel quartet called Thankful Hearts. But the first person to introduce him to country music was his grandmother.
He graduated from Hannah Pamplico High School. After that, he enrolled in Francis Marion University then transferred to Belmont University, a private liberal arts institute, when he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He studied there under the Bachelor of Music program. The school’s famous alumni include Brad Paisley, Pam Tillis, Lee Ann Womack, and Trisha Yearwood.
2. He had a lesion on his vocal cord, which resulted in his signature deep voice.
In 1996, Turner was examined by Vanderbilt voice clinic and diagnosed with a lesion on his right vocal cord, which was attributed mainly to poor vocal habits. Though he didn’t need any surgery, he had to rest his voice for a year and undergo vocal rehab. According to Turner, it was one of the scariest things that happened to him, especially as a young musician, and he had to learn how to sing and talk from scratch.
During the vocal rehab, he learned classical vocal techniques and also how to take care of his voice. The whole process felt humiliating and tough but humbling as well for him. He also mentioned that the voice that emerged after the rehab was better than anything he had before, and that’s the signature deep baritone we all hear today.
3. He is currently married to Jennifer Ford Turner.
Josh Turner and his wife Jennifer Ford first met at Belmont University as they attended school at the same time. Jennifer traveled with him on tour playing keyboards and also doing background vocals. The couple started dating in 2000, and two years later in November, Turner popped the question during an outing at Nashville Percy Priest Lake.
On June 14, 2003, they tied the knot in front of 500 guests. Then they were blessed with four sons, namely Hampton Otis, Colby Lynch, Marion Crawford, and Samuel Hawke. The couple is still going strong and celebrating their 18th year anniversary this 2021.
4. He made his debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.
On December 21, 2001, Josh Turner performed “Long Black Train” on the stage of Grand Ole Opry. This was a song he had written back in 1999 while he was still a college student at Belmont University and was inspired by Hank Williams‘ songs he used to listen to in the library.
He received a standing ovation in the middle of the song and sang it again for the encore. Aside from that, this also earned him a record deal with MCA Nashville. He released the single in 2003 and it peaked at #13 on the charts and was certified Gold by the RIAA. This still remains as one of the biggest Josh Turner songs.
5. “Your Man” earned him his first number one country single hit.
“Your Man” was released in 2005 and in just four weeks achieved a Gold certification then soon reached Platinum. Just recently, the song was officially certified as Triple Platinum. The song was written by Chris Stapleton, Chris Dubois, and Jace Everett and also earned them awards upon the song becoming number one.
His wife, Jennifer Ford, was his leading lady in the music video as he commented that it would be very uncomfortable if someone else played the role.
6. He had 11 song chart appearances from 2003 to 2016.
According to playback.fm, Josh first charted in 2003 with “Long Black Train” and his last appearance was in 2015. During those 13 years, he achieved chart-topping hits and made his mark in the country music scene.
His highest-charting singles are “Your Man,” “Would You Go with Me,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” and “All Over Me,” which all reached number one on the charts. Additionally, “Why Don’t We Just Dance” earned him his highest peak on the Billboard Hot 100 ranking at number 35. Lastly, “Your Man,” “Would You Go with Me,” and “Why Don’t We Just Dance” are all certified platinum hits.
7. In 2018, he released a Gospel album titled “I Serve a Savior.”
As a devout Christian, it was just a matter of time before Turner released a Gospel album and in 2018, it happened. “I Serve a Savior” was a collection of gospel music with a few original tracks, which include the title track and “The River (Of Happiness),” which was written by his wife Jennifer and their oldest Hampton. Their sons also performed the song live at Gaither Studio, playing instruments like the piano and the mandolin.
The album also featured his covers of classic gospel songs like “Amazing Grace” as well as duets with Sonya Isaacs and Bobby Osborne.
8. He is the second youngest person inducted in the Grand Ole Opry.
In 2007, Turner was invited by Hee Haw star Roy Clark to become a member – the second youngest person – of the prestigious country music hall, which was dubbed as the show that made country music famous. He was then inducted by American country music artist Vince Gill on October 27, 2007.
Currently, Kelsea Ballerini holds the place as the youngest person inducted in the Grand Ole Opry, snatching the position from Carrie Underwood.
9. He acted in the 2008 biographical film Billy: The Early Years.
Josh Turner played the role of George Beverly Shea, who was the soloist for the Billy Graham Crusades led by evangelist Billy Graham played by Armie Hammer. The film “Billy: The Early Years” was directed by Robby Benson.
10. As of 2021, his net worth is valued at $20 million.
Josh Turner is one of the most successful country music artists of his generation, and it is not surprising that he is earning a lot from his album and merchandise sales as well as tours. As of 2021, Josh Turner is reported to have a $20 million net worth, but there are no official reports on his salary. That’s a $3 million increase from his 2020 net worth, which was $17 million.
If you haven’t checked out Josh Turner yet, then you are definitely missing out!
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