A Conversation with Jerry Reed (continued)

PM: Is it really possible that you've not yet been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, or did I just miss that?

JR: Oh, no. They haven't inducted me, and they probably won't. But who cares? That doesn't matter. What does that matter?

PM: It doesn't matter. It's just, to me, a cultural anomaly.

JR: Well, who cares?

PM: [laughs]

JR: You know, I don't care, one way or the other. I know what I'm doing, and I've been blessed and very fortunate. And the Hall of Fame is not going to make it one way or the other for me.

PM: That's right. And every guitar-loving son--

JR: I'm in the Hall of Fame in Georgia, so--

PM: I saw that.

JR: --so I've made my Hall of Fame appearance.

[laughter]

JR: Years ago, it would have made a difference, I guess. But I've got my priorities now, so it doesn't matter to me.

PM: "A Brand New Me," on the new record, is a tune that portrays a man of faith.

JR: Well, that's what I am, son.

PM: I'd love a good conversion story, if there is one. Maybe you'll talk a little about your faith.

JR: Well, I'll guarantee you, the days of my youth, I was raised in church, and I got away from it for many, many years. But you can't stay away from Jesus. Believe me, you just can't do it. Somewhere down the road, you've got to put two and two together, and realize that this existence down here is just like a vapor, you're here and then you're gone.

And where are you going to spend eternity? Well, I'm going to spend it with God. That's where I'm going to spend my days. I hope I run into Chet and Merle and them guys, and can play rhythm for them again.

[laughter]

PM: Well, they're good guys, so I think you would run into them there.

JR: I hope so, because I'm their best rhythm player.

[laughter]

PM: God knows that's right. No pun intended. When did Jesus catch up with you on the road again? How and when did it happen?

JR: Well, I heard Mel Gibson talking about how he had everything he ever wanted in the world, all the money he ever needed, but there was still an empty hole in his heart.

PM: Wow.

JR: And that was the case with me. You're down here and you chase fame, and you chase fortune, and then you get it, and you realize, well, hey, so what? I'm going to leave this world in a hole in the ground, you know?

PM: Right.

JR: This is not really what's important. What's important is getting your heart right. And I went back and asked the Lord to come back into my heart and let me serve him the rest of my days on this planet. And it makes all the awards and the accolades--let me just say, they're distant second--or third or fourth.

PM: Yeah.

JR: [laughs] You know, I'm at peace again, and my life is in order. I wake up every day a new man. It's just fabulous to live this way--freedom at last. [laughs]

PM: Brother, I hear you.   continue

print (pdf)     listen to clips      puremusic home