By: Andrew Vaughan

Tanya Tucker is running late. The media representatives patiently waiting their audience with one of country’s most colorful characters seem unsurprised by Tanya’s tardiness. Tanya likes to talk.  She has so many stories to tell after all, and we are all more than happy to wait for our turn with a country music legend.

Only 13 when the sexy “Delta Dawn” hit the top of the charts , Tucker has enjoyed one of the most successful careers in country music. Never one to follow the rules, Tanya has had a few issues with authority over the years, but she also holds a Grammy award, two Country Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, and three CMT Awards. Twenty-three of her albums have landed in the Country Top 40 chart since her 1972 debut, and she has amassed ten #1 country singles, 33 that have reached the Top 5, and 41 in the Top 10.

Tanya is in Nashville to talk about her new album, My Turn, in which she and producer Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam) dig back into Tucker’s musical past and re-work a hat full of country classics from “You Don’t Know Me” by Eddy Arnold to George Jones’ “Walk Through This World With Me” to an amazing version of the Conway Twitty/Loretta Lynn duet “After The Fire Is Gone” with the Grascals.

“I picked the songs my daddy always wanted me to sing,” explains Tucker. “This is really a tribute to him, because he was with me throughout my entire career. He’s now with God above, but I know he’s watching over me still and loving these songs and this record.”

Given her reputation for following her own path, I wonder if Tanya chose a covers album not just as a tribute, but also as a statement that she’s reached a point in her career where can she bypass considerations of radio play. Getting on the CMT playlist and choosing the right song for another number one hit, she just makes the music she wants.

“Well no, not really. The thing is, I was approached by Time Life to do this project.  I already had about six songs cut for a contemporary album, but Time Life do such a good job that I decided I should work with them. I guess I was nervous that people wouldn’t want to hear old songs, but it seems like from the reaction we’ve had so far that people love the material. And I know that Time Life will do an amazing job of promotion and distribution - something I haven’t always had in the past.”

Tanya's hungry, so an assistant hurriedly pops a sandwich to go box in the microwave. Polite as ever, Ms. Tucker asks my permission to eat and talk at the same time. With all the fuss surrounding Michael Jackson and childhood celebrity, I want Tanya’s take on the King of Pop. “He was a great guy. Truly innocent and loving man. I was taking my kids to see his shows in London - had the tickets and everything. My kids want to get into acting, and I figured if anyone could open some doors for them in Hollywood, Michael could. And I wanted them to see him in concert. One of a kind. I have a fond memory of him at an American Music Awards show.  He used my dressing room ‘cause it was nicer than his. Lovely man. Terrible what people say about him.  No way did he do any of those things. No way. And I understand a little bit about what he went through - about losing your childhood. I was singing in bars when I was a little kid.  It's great but you do lose something.”

‘Tuckertime’ will be the name of her new reality series. “We have about six episodes in the can. This time I am producing it myself -- that means paying for it -- and then we’ll find a network. We have some great stuff -- the kids and me traveling across the States in an RV, moving to California. Now there’s some good footage there, I can promise you.”

What about new projects? “I had this incredible trip to the Joshua Tree, you know, where Gram Parsons is buried. It was a crazy and spiritual trip. The place isn’t on the map, but we finally found it. It’s eerie, really still and quiet. And now I’ve been studying his music - incredible. I’d love to do something with Gram’s songs.  Don't know what yet.  Maybe get hold of Emmylou."

Does she still get a kick out of meeting musical heroes after all these years in the business? “Hell, yeah I do. I’m not jaded.  I love it. I just went to see Eric Clapton, hung out with him and introduced him to my daughter Layla, which he thought was real cool, naming my kid after his song. Stuff like that is priceless, makes the bad parts disappear."

Andrew Vaughan is a well-known and respected Nashville based writer. As a music critic his work has appeared in Billboard, Music Week, Mojo, "Q", the London Times, the Guardian, and Folk Roots. He was the founding director of Country Music International magazine and a regular guest on BBC Radio, BBC TV, and VH1.