Travis Tritt Could Make USA Network’s “Real Country” Show Real Interesting
When we first got word of a new reality TV singing competition coming down the pike via the USA Network called “Real Country,” and that the judges were going to be none other than pop country pretty boy Jake Owen and the Queen of Crossover Shania Twain, it was worth a chuckle to say the least. Hey, think what you want about Jake and Shania positive or negative, but placing both under the umbrella of “real country” as judges is downright laughable, and appeared to be yet another co-opting of a phrase used to distinguish actual country music from the version of pop it has mostly morphed into today, similar to how Music Row has corporatized the term “Outlaw.”
But recently they announced that a third judge for the show would be none other than outspoken and hard-nosed country music tuffy Travis Tritt. All of a sudden this brings a whole new dimension to what could transpire on “Real Country.” Tritt not only has a propensity to write and sing real country music himself, he’s also willing to call it like he sees it, including being heavily critical of the direction of country music, and some of today’s stars.
Just in the recent past, Travis Tritt has called out some modern country artists for trying to be something they aren’t, he added a new verse to his song “Country Ain’t Country” criticizing CMT, lashed out at Brantley Gilbert for disrespect, and questioned why Beyonce was given a performance slot at the 50th Annual CMA Awards when other country artists were excluded.
Okay, but if the Travis Tritt that shows up for the tapings of “Real Country” has been neutered via contractual obligations and promises to producers to play nice, what will be the ultimate implications? Well according to Travis Tritt heading into the show, he’s planning to be himself, and to be honest.
“I’m in Nashville to start production of ‘Real Country’ with Shania Twain and Jake Owen,” Tritt tweeted out on August 19th. “My main goal is to showcase truly traditional country music artists and bring our kind of music back into the focus of the mainstream. This should be fun!”
If Travis Tritt upholds his vow, this could turn very interesting, if not combative on the set as debate is stirred. By being willing to break bread with country music sinners, Travis Tritt could do a lot of good preaching the real country gospel. He also may add something many of these reality singing shows are woefully missing—a plain spoken, pull-no-punches critic who can help aid the creative process by offering hard but constructive criticism to contestants.
Granted, this is just one of many reality TV singing competitions on a cable station, so we shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves dreaming of the greater implications. But it could become an interesting forum to teach viewers the difference between today’s pop-oriented radio format, and what millions of “real” country music fans believe the genre should represent.
“Real Country” is set to air on the USA Network starting November 13th, and has also announced that celebrity guests will include Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd, Trace Adkins, and Big & Rich. “Real Country” still may not be worth watching, but it is worth keeping an eye on just in case Travis Tritt’s tuffy attitude ignites fireworks, or stimulates constructive debate about what “Real Country” actually is.
August 23, 2018 @ 8:04 am
Shania Twain , Fake Owen and Travis Tritt….?
Wow ….I hope Travis goes off the rails and schools both of his co-judges .
This show sounds like an SNL spoof .
August 23, 2018 @ 8:20 am
I want scorched earth Travis.
August 23, 2018 @ 8:38 am
Always loved Tritt. He sure knows how to “put some drive in your country…”
August 23, 2018 @ 8:41 am
Great voice. Great guitar playing.
August 23, 2018 @ 8:42 am
Not for me, no sir no way.
Only way to make or break the corporate bean counters is to send a message.
And that message is that I won’t be bought, distracted or fooled.
I’m sure the Nielsen Family is well aware that I don’t turn on any of their CMT hokum bullshit and won’t watch their trashy “singing” shows and I’m sure they know that I watch Hee Haw every week.
Tritt has done some good stuff in the past but I’ll stick to reading about this show online because mark my words, the inclusion of Tritt is being monitored for its effect on consumers.
August 23, 2018 @ 11:14 am
That’s legit, Fuzz.
December 11, 2018 @ 7:12 pm
Agreed! Unfortunately, if you are not a part of a Nielsen family and you don’t have a Nielsen Box you don’t count. I have never met one person that belongs to a Nielsen family and I probably never will because I personally think Hollywood decides who they want to give those boxes to because they want the readings that they’re looking for
August 23, 2018 @ 9:11 am
He’ll be like the Simon Cowell of the show.
August 23, 2018 @ 9:18 am
We will see how this plays out. We all hope for the best but expect to be dissappointed. I love Travis Tritt and his music, but I could see where some would say his music is not country because I have always aligned him and his music with Stapleton. He was the Stapleton of the 90’s. We have seen how critics of Stapleton could say the same thing that Tritt leans more blues than country.
August 23, 2018 @ 9:25 am
Is that a wax sculpture?
August 23, 2018 @ 9:43 am
Reality TV karaoke shows are not to be taken seriously.
TV only cares about ratings and ad sales, not music. The producers call the shots, not the “judges”, reality TV is as fake as wrestling.
Glad to see Tritt get a paycheck, but I won’t be watching.
I have a Highwaymen concert taped on the DVR right now, and holy crap, you can’t go from watching those four giants own a stage and then think something like this is going to be worthwhile.
August 23, 2018 @ 9:51 am
I’m still shaking my head ….Shania ?…THIS is the reference for REAL country music on a show that JUDGES people ??? . Surely a law is being broken somehow !!!! Its beyond insulting and surely borders on criminal . I think this is designed as a test to determine how low the IQ of ‘country fans ‘ really is .
It’s like having a REAL cooking show starring Burt from the burger truck at the beach as a judge.
What next …..Taylor Swift telling the Caitlin Smith’s of the biz how to write and sing ??
Lord … I hope to hell someone is just yanking our chains .
All I know is that climate change is for real. Pretty-much everything else is just bullshit .
In fact I’m beginning to question ACTUAL bullshit .
August 23, 2018 @ 10:09 am
Can billy Ray Cyrus also be a guest?
August 23, 2018 @ 10:18 am
I’m not a fan of singing competition shows, or reality shows in general with the exception of “Deadliest Catch”, but this might be worth checking out just to see Tritt’s contribution and Willie’s appearance. But Shania’s participation is a big turn off, even more so than Owen.
August 23, 2018 @ 10:51 am
Travis Tritt is the only reason I’d watch this, but I’m never going to watch this.
August 23, 2018 @ 11:57 am
Wait, people still watch TV?
August 23, 2018 @ 1:30 pm
There’s still some good stuff!
of course most of it is hidden camera shows or reruns of Gunsmoke but lets face it it doesn’t get much better than Gunsmoke
August 23, 2018 @ 12:31 pm
I think Travis tritt is the greatest. I remember him playing live at Eastern states. I’m 54 and all Travis tritt, songs are from his h
August 23, 2018 @ 12:38 pm
Travis tritt is the first country singer, I will never forget. He played at the Eastern States, in westspringfield, mass. I listen to Travis tritts songs, due to his songs make me very emotional, he’s lived through it , I believe. He’s Number 1 in my book, and always will be.
August 23, 2018 @ 12:43 pm
Poor Travis Tritt. He will have to sit down besides Jake Owen who hasn’t released a decent song in ages! Let’s just hope that Jake knows what traditional country music is.
As for Shania, Of course, she is far more a pop country icon than a traditionalist country singer but let me tell you that some of her songs are great line dancing songs (although the no.1 line dancing song is Cadillac Ranch). At least in Calgary Alberta.
August 23, 2018 @ 12:45 pm
Idk man his last studio album sucked, and it would be a stretch to call it country.
August 23, 2018 @ 12:45 pm
I would love to be his right hand man, as security, stage set up, whatever. I remember the Harley Davidson ,at the big E, black with a whole lot of chrome, I watch his music videos, and tear’s run down my face, cause TRAVIS TRITT, is REAL. Love you Travis tritt, Wayne Schwartz
August 23, 2018 @ 1:26 pm
This is going to be a hot mess. I will watch the first episode.
August 23, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
He tweeted talking about how much Jake knows and respects traditional country and shares the same influences, so I don’t see him bringing much to the table here.
https://twitter.com/Travistritt/status/1032507696971427840
August 24, 2018 @ 4:40 am
I think that it might be right.
I wouldn’t be surprise that Jake Owen might know what traditional country music is but his business model however relies on pop country songs and he is chasing trend. That’s why it make little sense to invite this guy. He has nothing to do with real country. Jon Pardi would have been great.
Another example: Keith Urban is a fan of Sturgill Simpson as we all know. He might be a fan but he has no desire to make a career based on real country music. He prefers catchy pop country songs.
August 23, 2018 @ 4:06 pm
We’ve been lied to by Trashville so much over the last 30 years or so, I don’t know what to believe. As far as Travis Tritt bring real country to TV, just pretend that I’m from Missouri.
August 23, 2018 @ 5:25 pm
If you get Willie and Wynonna, who are true legends of the highest magnitude, as judges, and they are able to help the contestants, then you very well might have something.
But Big & Rich? Why those two?! They arguably invented “Bro Country” before it had that name, only back then, in 2004-08, it was the “Muzik Mafia”. What could those two possibly bring to the table, other than sadistic entertainment value?
And in any case, I don’t think these voice competition shows have a whole lot of merit, either for hoping to showcase up-and-coming talent, OR, in this case, to show who’s “more Country” than the next. As Linda Ronstadt once said, “Competition is for race horses, not artists”.
August 24, 2018 @ 6:51 pm
Travis You are 100% right and I gotcha back
August 24, 2018 @ 7:13 pm
Sorry but with his Botox face, fake teeth and beauty parlor styled hair, whatever authenticity Travis might have had at one point has been washed away. Just another washed up former country music superstar trying to stay relevant.
August 25, 2018 @ 5:45 am
Does it matter what kind of music Jake Owen makes? We know at one point he was capable of releasing solid country music. We know he covers classics regularly and has a wealth of knowledge regarding country music history, and we know that he’s been supporting Tyler Childers publicly for a while now, helping introduce him to new fans.
Jakes makes shitty music, but I don’t think he doesn’t know that. He’s getting paid.
Shania on the other hand… well maybe I’m too young to know, has she ever done anything remotely country?
August 25, 2018 @ 3:44 pm
Justin C
Billy Ray is legit .
August 25, 2018 @ 11:58 pm
Vince Gill, Martina McBride, and Chris Young would be a much better panel.
August 27, 2018 @ 6:18 pm
What is Travis Tritt’s problem? It’s like he requires a United Nations resolution in order to issue a CD/album.
Jeezus Christopher–Gene Watson, Loretta Lynn and Bill Anderson have all put out more new material in this millennium than Travis Tritt. You can add Clint Black to the list of ’90s “superstars” who can’t seem to figure out how to put out a disc anymore.
August 28, 2018 @ 4:26 pm
I’m not a fan of the vocal reality shows (and I don’t even get this channel) but if there is any new one I think it’s best that it’s based on one genre like this.
So good to see Travis Tritt added. I admit to knowing him thru a “Hits” CD but I like his sound. The song on there called “It’s a Great Day to be Alive” quickly became one of my favorites. I read it’s a re-make from I think two other Artists but I heard of it from Travis. I dare anyone to stay in a down mood after listening to that song ! 🙂
I think years ago he had some trouble with his Record Label, could be why no new music for so long. He has gotten into acting these recent years. I’m glad to see him do something like this in music that puts him in the forefront, to reconnect with fans and gain new ones, and hopefully new music can come soon.
September 7, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
Wait till you see it.. I’ll be saying I told you so.
October 12, 2018 @ 2:32 pm
What about ALAN ND GEORGE STRAIT. NOW THATS REAL COUNTRY MUSIC Also. VINCE GILL. RICKY SKAGGS. GENE WATSON and. MOE PITNEY HE IS MORE COUNTRY THAN A LOT OF THE OLD TIMERS. GET REAL. Keep it. COUNTRY
October 21, 2018 @ 4:15 pm
Nope. Once he said “gooder and gooder”, they lost me. This just perpetuates the notion that country music fans are stupid and ignorant.
November 19, 2018 @ 9:21 pm
Was a joke I’ll sing any day against anyone you pick
November 22, 2018 @ 10:28 pm
I’m 59 years old been a country music fan since childhood If my option makes any difference I think anything the greatest artist in my opinion Travis Tritt is involved in will be successful who better to judge new artist than a man who made it from his own hard work yes that’s right it is work to be where Travis is don’t let anyone tell you it is not you can’t buy your place st the top Travis Tritt in my book is a country music hero who is not afraid to rock