Joe Diffie

A Country Career Ain't What It Used To Be

2008-10-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hitmaking singer Joe Diffie talks golf, style vs. substance and the legends of country music
By John Staton, Staff Writer StarNewsOnLine.com

In the 1990s, there wasn't a name in country music bigger than Joe Diffie's. With songs like Pickup Man, Third Rock from the Sun and John Deere Green, the blue-eyed Oklahoma native had a run of hits spurred by his comfortably familiar country vocals and his ability to turn a memorable phrase. From heart-tugging ballads to honky-tonk stomps drenched in good ol' boy humor, Diffie did it all.

His flair for writing cropped up again a couple of years ago when Jo Dee Messina hit No. 1 with My Give a Damn's Busted, a tune Diffie wrote.

His star cooled a bit this decade, and he no longer records for a major label, but Diffie continues to write and tour. He headlines the N.C. Country Music Festival on Saturday in Kure Beach. I talked to him on the phone.

I have to ask you first, I know you're a golfer and a golf fan - did you catch any of the U.S. Open last weekend?
Yeah, I was really frustrated though. To make a long story short, I cannot get NBC on my bus for some reason, which of course is where the tournament was being played. So I had my computer and I would just watch the leader board. But I watched the final yesterday, and you just kind of hated for either (Tiger Woods or Rocco Mediate) to lose.

The music industry has changed so much in the past few years. How has your career been affected by it?
Well, you know, I don't know exactly. Mine is probably just a victim of progression, of age and whatnot. It just happens. You can't stay at the top forever (laughs). All those young artists who are hot right now, five or 10 years from now they'll be having to make other plans.

Are you still writing new songs?
Occasionally I do. I don't write as often as I should. But I tell you when I'm home, man, I got a little 4-year-old girl and she occupies like almost all of my time.

There have been a lot of changes in country music as well. Do you feel like county music has changed for the better or the worse?
I think it's for the worse, to tell you the truth. I feel like today, it seems like we try to sell sizzle more than substance. Everyone I ever talk to agrees with me when I tell them something like that.

Along those same lines, there are all of these elder statesmen of country music - Willie Nelson, George Jones, Merle Haggard. When these guys are gone, who is going to replace them?
(Laughs ruefully) I know what you mean. I know exactly what you mean. I hate to even name names, but do you think 10 years from now anybody will remember some of the songs that are hits right now? There's very few songs like He Stopped Loving Her Today.

That goes back to what you were saying, with people going for style over substance or the quick hit over something that might be more enduring.
Yeah, and you know, I hate to even admit this, but maybe I was involved in that a little bit just in my own little world. Because what ends up happening is, you want to play the game, if I could use that term. You get really focused on what is a radio hit. Well, what is the criteria to increase your chances? Make it up-tempo, make it light-hearted or kind of a lovey song, and make it less than three minutes long and you got a better shot at getting it played that you do a sad, slow tear-jerker. Maybe this is because I'm older, but I just really wish that you could've had more songs that actually meant something.

Well, you're not that old, are you?
I'm 49. I'm still hip, baby!

John Staton: 343-2343
john.staton@starnewsonline.com

Joe Diffie Interview by Andy Taylor on KTTS

2008-10-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

Joe Diffie Interview by Andy Taylor on KTTS radio out of Springfield MO

October 15, 2008

October 16, 2008

Look out Branson, here we come: A weekend on the town

2008-09-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

(Howell County News - Willow Springs,MO,USA)

The envelope was small and it looked like it contained a card.

I assumed it was asking me to buy something, sell something, get a credit card or some of the other “quality” mail we get at the office.

I opened it, and the invitation told me that I was invited, along with a guest, to a VIP night for the Joe Diffie show, opening in September at Yakov Smirnoff’s theater in Branson.

I thought it was a joke, at first, and laughed.

“Hey Dave,” I called. “Wanna go to Branson? We’ve got free show tickets.”

I know my husband, and if anyone is more cheap than me, it’s him. Free was the key word.

We weren’t quite sure how being a newspaper family from the sticks qualified us as VIPs, but checked with the grandparents to see if they were interested in keeping our 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters, who likely wouldn’t be able to sit still for two hours.

Soon enough, our plans were hatched, our reservations made and it was the day of the show.

We were on our way when Dave broke the news.

“I forgot my dress shoes. Should we go back?”

By that time, it was 11:30 a.m., and we had planned to leave at 10.

I assured him that the theater would be dark and no one would notice his tennis shoes. Besides, I said, we’ll never see any of those people again any way.

Allow me to explain something.

Though my husband and I were a few years apart in school, we both wound up graduating from college and leaving the great Show Me State for the military.

After his 10-plus years in the Navy, he returned to Willow Springs. I spent a few years in the Army, then working for different newspapers before winding my way back to the Ozarks.

During the years that we were gone, a certain phenomenon happened – Branson.

When I graduated from college, there still wasn’t much of anything in Springfield south of Battlefield Mall and Cox South was a new hospital sitting in a field by itself. And Branson, that seemed to be the home of Silver Dollar City and a show or two.

During the past few years, with jobs and various adventures – like having two children in our four years of marriage – my husband and I haven’t really made the time to explore Branson. We went last year to see the Christmas lights and went to see the Dixie Stampede, which our children absolutely loved.

Aside from a grand total of three trips to Silver Dollar City, that’s the extent of our Branson experience since the mid-1980s.

So, finally, we were at the theater.

“See,” I told my husband. “I told you there would be other people wearing tennis shoes. No big deal.”

He was still obviously uncomfortable, and that wasn’t going to get any better.

We made our way to our seats, checking out the theater all the way.

When we sat down, Dave decided to strike up a conversation with the couple seated next to us. While Dave is friendly enough he could have a good conversation with a stump, I prefer to be a little more low key.

As Dave was asking the couple where they were from and what they did for a living, I kept thinking he should be quiet and leave them alone.

When I heard the man say, “I have a music show here in Branson,” I knew we were in trouble.

As I was sliding down into my seat, Dave continued to ask questions – like the name of the show, the size of the theater in comparison to Yakov’s theater, and so forth.

We soon learned that we were sitting next to John Tweed, who sings at the Clay Cooper Theatre. Unfortunately, we had to admit we had never heard of him and hadn’t ever seen his show.

We weren’t exactly making new friends.

Thankfully, the lights went down and the show started. Led off by Yakov himself, the evening was packed full of Joe Diffie’s hits as well as great laughs by comedian Bob Nelson – someone we had heard of before the evening started.

The show featured some of Diffie’s hits including Third Rock From The Sun, Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox, Pickup Man, John Deere Green, Tougher Than Nails and more. Judging by the number of folks in the crowd – including us – who were able to sing along with the entire show, it’s certain the show will be another Branson success story.

But soon enough, it was time for Diffie to recognize some of the guests in the audience. Among the other guests were country music legends Larry Gatlin and Moe Bandy. Next, the spotlight shined on our new “friend” John Tweed – and my husband’s white tennis shoes.

We were beginning to think that our VIP invitation stood for “very insignificant peon” in comparison to the other folks in the audience, but somehow, we found it hysterically funny at the same time.

We also found ourselves seated three rows back from Joe Diffie’s parents, and were as thrilled as everyone when Joe’s dad took the stage to sing an impromptu arrangement of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” followed by his daughter Cara’s rendition of “How Great Thou Art” and his sister’s version of “Wayfaring Stranger.”

As Diffie’s show wrapped up and he launched into an encore, we decided to duck out. Yet on our way out, the theater usher insisted that we choose from the selections on a beautiful table of desserts and snacks.

I wasn’t hungry, but was thinking maybe being a VIP wasn’t so bad after all.

We were still lingering in the lobby when we heard Diffie announce from the stage that there were refreshments in the lobby and that he’d meet everyone there in a few moments.

Dave looked down at his shoes. “I think it’s time to go.”

I agreed. We could make new friends another day.

- For more information about Yakov’s theater, check out www.yakov.com. For information about Diffie’s show, check out joediffie.yakov.com or www.joediffie.com.

Long Goner Loner Reaching #1 in Europe

2008-08-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

Nashville, TN Published by: Petr Mecir, 08-03-2008, http://www.countryzone.net/

The powerful duet by the reigning European Artist of the Year, Peter & The Rowers, and country music superstar Joe Diffie has reached #1 at the ECMA Top 100 this week. This becomes the third #1 hit within 18 months for the successful Slovak band, whose hit records "I'm Leavin'" and Blind Horses" topped European country charts in 2007. The collaboration with Peter & The Rowers also turned into an impressive comeback for Joe Diffie, who has already had incredible 12 #1 hits under his belt buckle in the USA. In addition to the success of "Long Gone Loner", European radio stations started playing Diffie's earlier hits and "Third Rock From The Sun" even reached Top 10 in several countries.

Peter Dula, who is the lead singer of Peter & The Rowers, made his debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry, when he joined Joe Diffie on stage during the CMA Music Festival on June 5th, 2008.

The hit single "Long Goner Loner" will be featured on Peter & The Rowers' upcoming album "Honky Tonk Dream". The song may be heard on both Joe Diffie's and Peter & The Rowers' official myspace page.

Peter Dula & The Rowers Latest Single 'Long Gone Loner,' Featuring Joe Diffie Is Taking The No 1 Slot

2008-07-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Joe Diffie Official Website) - The Slovakian country band, Peter Dula & The Rowers, along with America's honky-tonk hero, Joe Diffie, are celebrating as their latest single "Lone Gone Loner," which features Diffie, has reached the No 1 slot on the Germany country Chart. Click here for the rest of the story.

49 charts, 23279 songs and 9677 artists in 405784 chart entries, 41420 news articles and 12738 lyrics

Joe Diffie Taps the Vaults

2008-06-04T15:02:00.001-07:00

The Elements - Los Angeles,CA,USA
If Garth Brooks can do it, fellow Oklahoman Joe Diffie can pull music out of the vaults, too. In a move akin to Garth's release of the album The Lost ...(Click Here to read the rest of the story)

Track of the Day: 'Third Rock from the Sun' by Joe Diffie

2008-06-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

Northern Star Online - DeKalb,IL,USA
However, for those who need a little honky-tonk in their lives without allusions to broken pickup trucks, there is Joe Diffie’s completely bizarre “Third ...(Click Here to read the rest of the story)

Joe Diffie's Daughter Takes Beauty Title

2008-06-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

(Country Hound - Nashville,TN,USA) Country Music artist Joe Diffie’s face undoubtedly had a smile "bigger than the Beatles" when his daughter won a trophy for America’s Most Photogenic Babies ...

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Peter Dula & The Rowers Latest Single 'Long Gone Loner,' Featuring Joe Diffie Hits No 3 On The HotDisc Chart

2008-06-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

Top40-Charts.com - New York,NY,USA
(Top40 Charts/ Joe Diffie Official Website) - Country music star Joe Diffie received news from his good friends Peter Dula & The Rowers that their latest ...(Click Here to read the rest of the story)