East Coast Image's contribution to the annual Vanity Fair music issue gave us a sudden jump in photo offers. I liked to think it was the photos I took of Carrie Underwood. In a way, I was right. The photo I took of her outside of Tootsie's at daybreak was published in all of Vanity Fair's editions around the world, became the advertising photo for her tour, and even though it was credited to "East Coast Image", I knew it was my photo all the way. Our work caught the eye of Gretchen Wilson's people and we got an offer to do photos for her upgraded website. Chris had no interest in going back to Nashville, so the job was mine.
The assignment was last minute, so I only brought what I needed for the photos. Gretchen would be part of a free outdoor show on Nashville's main drag along with Kellie Pickler and Julianne Hough, lovely ladies all I had to admit. Now that I think of it, maybe this was the country music world's version of the Triple Threat Tour we'd done. Pretty good lineup, if you asked me!
Downtown Nashville was a mob scene that night. There had to be close to 100,000 people on the streets and in the nearby bars. Once I made my way to the backstage area I met my contact from her agency, Mike Jensen.
"Hey! You made it!" he said when we met
"Yes, a little last minute, but what the hey." I said
"Well, your timing couldn't be better. Gretchen wants to meet with you before she goes on, just logistical stuff."
Mike led me to her tour bus, a very cool shade of black with silver stripes. Inside, she had 2 assistants on cellphones and they were calling out to Gretchen, who was apparently in the back. Her daughter Gracie was on a couch immersed in a book and seemingly oblivious to the excitement around her mom. Gretchen finally emerged in black leather pants with turquoise accents on the legs and a black Harley-Davidson tank top, her black hair looking casually unkempt, and very hot.
"What do you think, baby?" she asked Gracie
Gracie shook her head in response
"The jeans were better, mom."
"You're right."
Gretchen went back to the bedroom and a few minutes later returned wearing faded blue jeans with fashionable tears and what looked like rattlesnake skin boots.
"You're right, this is better. I'll save the leather for next time."
Mike stepped in
"Gretchen, this is Jim from..."
"Oh yes, East Coast Image. I saw your work, you guys are great. Is your crew outside?"
"Uh, no, just me...inside too."
"Perfect, less baggage." She said "OK, what I just need are some cool shots for the website, take any shots you need, just don't get in my way or the band's."
"Done."
"Great, I've gotta have a smoke." She said as she looked around for a pack, and then lit one up letting the smoke drift slowly upwards.
"Oh man, these are gonna kill me, I know it." She said "you smoke?"
"Uh, No, I never took it up. Guess I'm lucky."
"You sure are." She replied
Mike poked his head inside the bus and called
"Time, Gretchen! They're all set."
"Alright! Let's go!" she said as she jumped up from the couch.
Gretchen gave Gracie a quick kiss and said she'd see her at home on Tuesday.
I followed her out of the bus and as we went towards the stage I spotted Julianne Hough. She looked gorgeous in a glittery tank top, tan suede mini skirt and pointed toe cowboy boots. She and Gretchen exchanged greetings and Julianne gave me a quick wave and a wink as she followed her band to a reception area. Man, I should see if Mike can get us a photo deal with her!
Gretchen and her band had a pre-show prayer, then the band went onstage and counted off the opener "Here for the Party". At the top of the stairs, I scoped out where my best shots might be once the band started playing. As I stood there, Gretchen was next to me listening.
"Sound OK?" she asked
"Yeah, I love it!" I replied. Her band sounded like every cool Southern rock band I'd ever heard.
Gretchen turned to me and planted a quick kiss on my lips
"Wish me luck, Jimmy!" she said with a smile as she defiantly strolled out onstage to raucous screams from the crowd.
With her smoky eyes and straight black hair, plus the faded jeans and Harley top she wasn't the picture of a Southern belle, but a Southern rock belle. And I couldn't help but notice how she had such a nice ass too. And her breasts would make any redneck girl proud and redneck guy drool. Not to mention a northern Yankee like myself.
Gretchen was all energy onstage and threw in a cool cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Truck Drivin' Man". For her encore she did an incredible cover of Heart's "Barracuda" and she looked at me when she came to the famous line of "Ooooooo...Barracuda." I smartly got a shot of that. Her smile to me said it all.
I knew I'd gotten some great photos of her as I wisely prowled the back and sides of the stage. As she was finishing her final song, "Redneck Woman" she defiantly thrust her fist into the air as the crowd yelled out its "hell, yeah!" chorus, I snapped the camera several times quickly. I doubted my timing was right but at least I tried.
"See ya next time Nashville!" she yelled to the crowd
Gretchen was sweaty and exhausted from the show but also because it was a rather steamy evening. She was led back to her bus but still gave me a little wave and smile. I knew there was still a great photo op and went back out onstage and snapped off a few more shots from the stage, then looked down and saw her setlist taped to the stage. I carefully removed it, figuring she might autograph it for me.
With the show over, I wondered what I should do next? My flight home wouldn't be leaving for several hours. Luckily I saw Mike.
"Hey, what's next? Anything more you need?" I asked
He looked at his watch
"Well, we're all going over to Rocky Tops, wanna come?"
"Sure, why not?"
As we got into his truck and drove away, I suddenly had to ask
"What's Rocky Tops, anyway?"
Rocky Tops was the perfect bar, it was devoted to everything University of Tennessee-related. There were helmets, uniforms, signed photos, game posters and balls everywhere. I sure was glad I didn't wear my University of Connecticut hat there! Gretchen and her crew had taken over a back table and the beer and hot wings were in plentiful supply. She was now wearing a simple gray t-shirt, loose jeans and holding a longneck Miller beer as the jukebox played.
"Hey! It's our paparazzi!" one of them called out as I entered.
"Great! I wanna see your photos, I could see you prowling around the stage." She said
I got out my gear and quickly showed her how to click through them.
She was excited over each one and showed it to her band mates who were also impressed.
"Oh, this one's so cool!" she said to her manager, he agreed "Wow! I look good there."
I smiled as I sipped my beer, hearing compliments like that never got old.
One photo made her blush slightly, I had revealed a tattoo she had on her lower back of a heart with roses around it.
"You're not supposed to see that." She said with a sly smile.
"I can always delete it..."
"Oh no, leave it." She quickly added "it's sometimes called uh, a tramp stamp."
"Ah, I see..." I said with a nod.
"Do you like it?"
"Um, it's kinda sexy." I said with a blush.
"Thanks, I got it long ago. Little memento of my wilder days."
"I always thought of getting one of those fake ones, just to freak out my Mom."
"Oh, my god, that's sneaky!" she said laughing heartily.
We both were laughing now as another round of beer and wings arrived.
"Any more photos, Jim?" Mike asked
"Oh, yes!" I pulled out my other camera and Gretchen eagerly looked at each one.
I got up to check out the jukebox nearby, it was stocked with classic country songs, definite redneck, that's for sure, and very cool, too. I had just finished off my third (or was it fifth?) beer and was heading to the bar for a refill when I heard Gretchen screech with excitement.
"This is it!" she said "This is the one!"
