Pickler’s reality: She likes to inspire fun

When Kellie Pickler burst on to the national scene at age 19, little did she know the reality TV cameras would become her near-constant companion over the course of her career.

The North Carolina native first captured the country’s attention as a fresh-faced singer on the fifth season of the reality competition “American Idol” in 2006. Now, 10 years later, the country singer is an established star with a reality series of her own.

“I love television; I love the idea of being able to make people smile. I love comedy,” said Pickler on a break from the road at her home in Nashville, Tenn.

Pickler will headline the Stanislaus County Fair on Friday, July 15, to kick off its final weekend.

Since finishing sixth on her season of “American Idol,” the singer-songwriter has gone on to release four albums and a slew of radio hits including “Best Days of Your Life,” “Red High Heels,” “I Wonder” and “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.” She has taken home three CMT Music Awards and been nominated for various Academy of Country Music and Teen Choice awards.

Still it’s Pickler’s time in front of the cameras that may be her most memorable. This past April she returned to the stage that made her famous as part of the final episode of “American Idol.” She said coming full circle with the show was wonderful, but also bittersweet.

“That was the show that changed my life and so many other people’s lives as well. So it was good we were all able to go back and share the stage together one last time,” she said.

In 2013 she returned to prime time as a contestant on the reality competition “Dancing With the Stars.” Paired with professional partner Derek Hough, Pickler took home the mirror ball trophy as winner of the season. Her success on the dance floor surprised even her.

In fact, she said it took producers four seasons to convince her to give the show a twirl.

“Well, ‘Dancing With the Stars’ was so different than anything I’d ever done before. I’d never ballroom danced before. I was terrified; I didn’t want to make an a-- of myself – which wouldn’t be the first time, to be honest,” she said. “I’m so glad that Derek pushed and encouraged me to give it my all. That’s all you can do; as long as you give it your all and your best – win or lose, you gave it your all, and that’s good enough. And you just might surprise yourself and be really great at something.”

One thing Pickler didn’t have to practice at was just being herself on her new reality series “I Love Kellie Pickler.” The CMT show debuted last year and returns for a second season Aug. 25. Billed as a docu-comedy, Pickler’s series follows her daily life with her husband, singer songwriter/producer Kyle Jacobs, and their family and friends.

The series was a hit for CMT. Pickler said she was skeptical at first when “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest approached her about doing the show for his production company. But his pitch was simple and convincing.

“When he said reality show, I said, ‘Mmm-hmm, what kind of reality?’ He said, ‘You. Just who you are, what you do, your life,’ ” she said. “I just want to make sure it is done in a positive way and to make it fun. That’s what people want to see from me.”

Pickler said she likes that the show is light and family-friendly. In the new season she said fans can catch a glimpse of her sister, who has been camera shy before but was lured out by an appearance on “Family Feud.”

“We all have the same goal: to have fun and make a show that everyone can sit and watch and makes you feel good. There are always shows you watch and movies you watch and afterward you have anxiety. You’re like, I am stressed out and didn’t leave the couch,” she said. “We don’t want that kind of show. We wanted something safe, fun, that you could watch with your kids. And it had to have a lot of love and a lot of laughter. We accomplished that in Season 2 as well.”

Now that the second season has finished its four-month shoot, Pickler said she can focus back again on music. The singer’s last album was 2013’s “The Woman I Am.” She said she hopes to get back in the studio in the late fall, early winter.

“I want to get the ball rolling again. I do miss being in the studio. It’s hard to juggle both at the same time when shooting and trying to do a record,” she said. “After the launch and promotion of show, I’m looking forward to writing again, finding songs and making it right. I’m definitely looking forward to doing that again.”

In the interim, Pickler said she is listening to a lot of great female artists – from classic artists such as Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette to contemporary country singers such as fellow “American Idol” alum Carrie Underwood and superstar Miranda Lambert. She even throws in some Adele and Meghan Trainor.

Pickler also continues to tour regularly, and said fans can expect music off all four of her albums at her fair appearance. She will be playing with her five-piece band and promises to bring what she is known for to the show.

“We keep it fun and have a good time,” she said. “We take a party wherever we go.”

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 9:43 AM with the headline "Pickler’s reality: She likes to inspire fun."