Tiny bit of video (and news) from Knoxville

Deana Carter, Bucky Covington, Julie Roberts and Steve Azar on stage during the GAC Christmas concert in Murray, KY; photo by Dixiegirl7. Thank you! (Click image to see more of her Murray concert photos.)

The Knox News just posted a short bit of video taken backstage at the Tennessee Theatre Wednesday; Bucky (wearing a Blue County T-shirt, I believe) gives a few tips on trying out for American Idol. We wish they'd asked him more about his upcoming album, but anyway... (I spoke too soon. See below...) Long, annoying registration required.

Edited to add: Ahh, the benefits of insomnia. There is indeed an article that goes with that video--a good article (with a truly different photo--go check it out, I'll wait here) about Bucky Covington, the rising country singer:

All 2006 "American Idol" finalist Bucky Covington wants for Christmas is longevity. "This Christmas is definitely the first Christmas I don't want anything material," said the rising country singer, who was part of a Christmas cable TV special shot at the Tennessee Theatre on Wednesday night. "I want a long career. I'm so close at it now. I just want a really good and successful year," Covington said.

But he knows that's something Santa can't stuff into a bag. The 29-year-old Covington, a North Carolina native who was among the top 10 finalists on the hit singing competition earlier this year, will have to do that all on his own.

The special is a beginning. It will be built around a Christmas concert tour that country music cable channel GAC is sponsoring. The Knoxville concert will be the only stop on the tour taped for the special, airing 9 p.m. Dec. 16.

Also on the bill were singer Deana Carter and comedian Henry Cho, both former Knoxville residents, as well as newer musical acts Blue County, Steve Azar and Julie Roberts.

Be sure to check out the whole article; it is well worth your time. The past couple of days' worth of new stories--first the GAC bio, and now this article--seem to present Bucky in a less Idol-flavored, more honest light. As the memories of the blue neon fade away, and another Idol season approaches, Bucky's emerging as a hardworking, talented, well-grounded country-rock singer with his eye on longevity and a willingness to do what it takes to make that happen. (Even if involves two days' notice, blizzards and a broken-down bus...)

In other news, last night's Knoxville conference call brought some word from Bucky and his management about the latest plans for Bucky's official online presence. We'll link to the page on the conference call thread where the news was first posted, but in case that thread vanishes in the night, here's the gist of it:

Bucky's managers were with him as we had him on the cell-cert; they are here tonight. Scratching [MySpace]. BuckyCovingtonMusic.com will be the new site.
...........................
Hildi telling us what Bucky is saying. Made decision to go with the website. Cover page should be up the next week. Full blown within a month or two. Honeygirl will be putting up a video tomorrow of Bucky making that announcement.

It's good to know that Bucky's newfound fans (and he is attracting quite a lot on this tour) will have an official site to visit soon, with all the info they need to know. As we've seen, any and all plans are subject to change, so be flexible and stay tuned...

The show is dark today, but the GAC Christmas tour continues Friday at the Wharton Center (MSU Auditorium) in East Lansing, Michigan on Friday, 12/8; click here for tickets.

More later today!