Kellie Pickler – KNOCK KNOCK LIVE

By starrymag | July 22, 2015

Q) We don’t know a whole lot, since, obviously, it’s live and we haven’t seen it yet, but I was reading that says, actually, they have a chance to win prizes, so, is there, kind of, a gameshow aspect to this?  Can you talk a bit about the format so we can learn a little more?

A) Oh, absolutely.  Well, first of all, anything can happen.  So, there are games.  There are prizes to be won.  And each game will be a little different than the last and, yes, anything can happen.  We could show up and surprise you with your favorite celebrity or if there’s a dream wish of yours that we can fulfill, then that’s what we’re here to do. So, it’s all about making dreams come true and I’m really excited to be a part of something so special and just something positive, I think that television needs that right now.  We need a bright light on television and this show is such a beautiful thing to be a part of and we just get to make people smile.  We get to make their day.  So, I’m looking forward to that.

Q) Can you talk about how you became involved?

A) Well, they actually reached out and it just worked out perfect.  Excuse me.  I was so blessed just to get the invite to be a part of it.  It just kind of happened.  They reached out and how could I say no when they told me what the show was about and what my job would be and that is knocking on doors and surprising people and helping be a part of making dreams come true.  How could you turn that down?  So, it was an easy decision.

Q) I wanted to know how it is working with Ryan as opposed to working alongside of him like you did on Idol?

A) It’s a lot different because I was 19 and green from little Albemarle, North Carolina and never been anywhere and that big American Idol stage can be a little intimidating, you know.  I was chasing dreams, but now we get to be a part of helping make other people’s dreams become a reality and it’s wonderful. Ryan’s amazing to work with and he’s just a smart businessman and I just admire his work ethic and this is really a fun project for all of us involved and it’s an honor to be a part of.  We’re having a good time so far and I’m really, really looking forward to the show tomorrow.

Q) How are you feeling about Idol coming to an end?  It was such a big part of your life and then now it’s ending next season.

A) Oh, Idol was the rocket that really launched my career.  It was what introduced me to the world and introduced the world to me, so both ways.  But yes, it’s so bitter-sweet.  I hope that they will have a big American Idol family reunion and have all of us come back and share the stage together one last time.  I think that would be a special moment.

Q) You mentioned a minute ago that you would be knocking on some doors.  Are you actually going to some of these houses and surprising these people or could you tell us a little bit more about what your specific role is on the show?

A) Well, my job is to, hopefully, knock on the right door and, hopefully, they answer the door.  If they don’t, I might have to go knock on someone else’s door and give their prize to them. This being live is a little scary, but I think it’s what makes it even more exciting. Bottom line is we are trying to help people’s dreams become a reality and I’m excited to be a part of that process, and I just get to show up and knock on people’s doors and deliver good news, so I’m all about that.  I think television needs—it needs some bright lights.  It needs to be—we need some feel-good shows out there and it’s nice to be a part of things that matter, and what better way to just make your day and everyone else’s day by surprising someone with good news.

Q) A lot of what I read about you in recent years, it seems to me that you’re the kind of person that likes to go and help people, give to others, and you have the opportunity to do that with this show, obviously.  Why is that important to you?  Why is it important for you to give back to others?

A) I think there’s right and there’s wrong and we all know the difference, and when you’re given the opportunity to do the right thing, you should do it.  And it feeds your soul.  It’s like food, medicine for the soul.  It feels good to do the right thing.  It feels good to do something for other people.  I don’t know.  It just feels right. I’m really excited, too, to be a part of this show and was excited that I was even being considered for this part.  I’m glad that I get to just knock on people’s doors and deliver good news and make them happy and make their day and be a part of making people’s dreams become a reality.

Q) Do you get back home much?  Could you update us on your family?

A) Oh, I don’t get back a whole lot, but my friends and whatnot that I grew up with, they’ll come out and visit any time they can, and I stay pretty busy traveling a lot, so I kind of have to fly everybody out to wherever I am.  But I try to get home whenever I can, but not as much as I’d like to.

Q) So, you’ve been a contestant on both American Idol and Dancing with the Stars, so I was curious on how does being a co-host on a show differ than being a contestant on one in regards to your pre-show preparation?

A) Oh, my.  Well, with this show, first of all, this is the first time I’ve, obviously, I’ve ever done anything like this, which is exciting.  You never know what you can do unless you just at least try.  But yes, I’m excited to knock on people’s doors and deliver good news and as long as I knock on the right door and hopefully they’re home to answer the door and get their prize and I don’t have to go knock on somebody else’s door, and give it to somebody else, that wouldn’t be good.  It is a lot different, but I’m excited to try something new and I don’t know if I’ll be good at it or not, but we’re going to find out.

Q) Which of the celebrity guests are you most excited to meet that are going to be part of the show, and why?

A) I don’t know.  They announced everyone that was going to be a part of it.  I’m not sure if they’ve announced everyone that was going to be a part of it.  I’m excited about meeting everyone.  We’re all going to be stationed all over the country, so there might be things that we don’t even get to meet certain people in.

Q) I’m just wondering with this combined with the CMT show that you’re in, what made you decide that this was the right time to get into TV and do these shows?

A) Well, obviously, the Seacrest/CMT show came along, that was something we’d been working on for a long time, for over a year.  It just kind of happened, the timing, with this show, Knock Knock, it worked out perfect, where we were able to weave it in between our shooting for our other show. So, I’m excited just to be a part of something that matters.  I’m excited to be on television and be able to make people’s dreams become a reality.  I get to knock on people’s doors and deliver good news and share in that excitement with them.  How could you not want to do something like that?  How could you not want to be a part of something where you just get to make people’s day? It’s not about me.  I think that’s one thing that I love about it, that it isn’t about me.  It’s about the people that I’m surprising and, like I said, helping make their dreams become a reality.  I think television is starving for good, positive, fun television and clean television.  And this is as good as it gets.  This is going to be a lot of fun.

Q) Since you’ve been in Nashville for about ten years or so, I’m wondering what you think has really changed the most about the industry and what you’ve seen just by being there for a while and being in it?

A) Well, I think the industry has always, it’s always going to change and it’s been changing since the beginning, long before I even came to Nashville, long before I was even born, music was—music grows and it changes and evolves and it’s going to continue to do so.  Nothing stays the same.  You just have to do what you love and do what you feel convicted to do and have your priorities in check and whatnot.  As far as the industry goes, it’s always going to change.  It’s always going to change.

Q) You’ve said many times now how excited you are and what a new adventure this is.  I’d like to talk a little bit about your preparation for being on live TV and thinking quickly on your feet and some of the circumstances that could potentially pop up if we’re to believe this is completely authentic and the people at home don’t know what’s going on, you might walk in to a, I don’t know, wake or a big family fight or something crazy going on in the house.

A) No, no, that would be horrible, wouldn’t it?

Q) How do you prepare for that and how nervous are you?

A) Well, I hadn’t thought about it.  Thanks.  Now I’m worried to death.  Holy heavens.  I don’t know.  I’m just going to hope for the best and, oh man.  Maybe I should do one of those things where I just knock on the door and I run and hide and I wait for them to come out and see if they think everything’s normal and safe and then I’ll come out of the bushes.

Q) Have they worked through coaching with you on what to do in different situations?

A) I’m just keeping it positive, but I’m thinking that if I knock on people’s doors and I’m trying to give them a free whatever, or surprise them with whatever, I’m sure they’re going to be excited, so if they are in a fight, I don’t think they’ll  be fighting about whatever it is that they were fighting about anymore.  They’ll be celebrating.  So, hopefully we’ll just make people’s day.

Q) Has anyone ever knocked on your door and done that?  Just given you something or told you some great news or changed your life in a way?

A) No, they haven’t.  Maybe I’m going to knock on my door.  I guess I can’t do that.  No.

Q) What is your favorite part of the show and what will fans like the most?

A) As far as Knock Knock goes, that just hasn’t even started yet.  We start tomorrow, but I think people are going to love it.  It’s something new.  It’s fresh for television.  It’s happy.  It feels good.  We get to make people’s day.  It’s positive, and I think we need that on TV right now, so we’re going to lift people up and help make their dreams become a reality and just surprise people with good news.  I think there are a lot of people out there that could use a pick-me-up.  So, we’re going to go out there and spread some good stuff, good vibes, good things.

Q) Was there much coaxing done to get your celebrities like David Beckham or Luke Bryan or Florida Georgia Line to be a part of this show?

A) I think everyone that has signed on to be a part of Knock Knock, we’ve all signed up for the same reasons and the right reasons, and that is we get to be a part of helping other people’s dreams become a reality.  Everyone involved in this show, we’ve all chased dreams and we’ve been so blessed to have our dreams become a reality, and so it’s great to be able to give back and help other people achieve their goals and their dreams and ambitions.  So, I think the motives of everyone’s heart’s in the right place and everyone’s excited just to be a part of something that matters and just come together and deliver good news and joy and just be a positive light in the world.

Q) I was wondering, have you done a test run yet?  Have they had you go to a few houses just for practice?

A) No, I haven’t knocked on real doors.  I can just knock on the doors in my neighborhood and say, “Hi, I need to practice.”

Q) Are you going to do yours in Nashville or are you going to do it in LA?

A) We’re going to be stationed all over the country and we really have no idea where we’re going to be until we get there and get in front of the house we’re knocking on.

Q) You have a single, “Feeling Tonight,” which I hear all the time on SiriusXM Highway, but for some reason I just recently checked, and it doesn’t seem like anybody else is playing it.  What’s going on with that?

A) That’s a great question.  We actually gave the Highway the exclusive for six weeks. So, our buddy, Storme Warren, is playing it and spinning it like crazy and we’re gearing up to ship it out.  We haven’t sent it to all of the other stations yet, so we’re getting ready.  In the midst of doing two television shows and all that good stuff, we’re getting ready to launch that and send it out to all of the other stations and, hopefully, be able to squeeze in a little radio tour between all of the television shows.  So, we’re getting it out there.  Right now we just have, the Highway has the exclusive, but not for long. It will be everywhere soon.  Hopefully.  Fingers crossed.

Q) You’re no stranger to performing live in front of audiences, whether it’s in arenas, stadiums.  Is it another thing to perform live on television?  Do they go hand in hand or is it a different kind of muscle?

A) This is a little different, I think, because there’s really no way to prepare for this show.  I just knock on people’s doors, hope they are home, and hope that they don’t get freaked out that there’s a camera crew and that I’m standing on their doorstep, and slam the door in my face.  You never know.  There’s really no way to prepare, you just have to knock and hope they’re home and hope they’re happy you’re there and we’re, of course, going to be there to deliver good news and try to make people’s day, but we’ll just see what happens. We just kind of have to wing it.  It’s a live television show, so I knock on someone’s door and it doesn’t go as expected, then, you know, there’s really nothing I can do except, I guess, bat my lashes and say sorry.

Q) When you’re bringing a celebrity to their door, you’re a celebrity yourself, you know what it’s like for fans to see you.  Do you remember what it was like before, for you, what it was like to meet somebody?  You can really feel what these people are going to feel when you present—whether it’s you at the door or whoever you’re presenting.

A) Yes. I don’t know how people are going to react.  I know what it’s like to meet people.  I remember meeting Dolly Parton for the first time, and I just—I grew up listening to her music and, of course, was a huge fan of her work and her work ethic and the empire that she created with her brand.  She was so kind and so sweet and so generous with her time.  She’s a busy woman, but it meant so much that she made time to just have a conversation and talk with me. I’m excited, like I said, to deliver good news and just be a part of helping make people’s dreams become a reality.  I know what it’s like to chase dreams and I’ve been so blessed to have so many of my dreams come true and now I get to be a part of making other people’s dreams come true.  So, it’s special.

Q) I was wondering, are you really, really scared about someone actually just slamming the door in your face?

A) You never know.  Let me tell you this.  To be honest, my sister, she would be terrified of the cameras. She does not want to be on camera.  If I went to my sister’s house and knocked on her door, and there was a camera crew behind me, she would slam the door in my face.  My own sister would, in a funny way.  But seriously, she would be, like, calling me, and telling me and going, “Tell the cameras to leave and you can come in.”  Some people don’t want to be on camera, but I think with the news that we’re delivering and the things that we’re giving away, it would be really foolish to slam the door.

Q) I know you keep saying that people might not open the door, and I know that you can nominate people and just assuming that they weren’t necessarily told they were nominated, so they’re surprised, but are any of the people that you go to their house, just kind of random, or are they all people that have been nominated in one way or another?

A) As far as I know, I believe that most of the doors that we are knocking on, like you said, they either have nominated themselves or nominated other people.  But we are also knocking on doors with fun surprises and with fun game prizes, where there are games involved.  So, we very well could knock on someone’s door that may not have entered and we give them the opportunity to play a game and win money or a trip or anything.  It’s just anything could happen.  I don’t know whose doors we’re knocking on right now. And I won’t really know until we get going, because it’s live.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*