Michael Dunlap / Assistant Chief
Photographer Country performing artist Tim McGraw is interviewed by the media Friday at the C.W. Earle Cotton Gin in Start as he promotes his NBC special concert, "Sing Me Home," to be filmed today.
"Isn't this great?" McGraw asked, looking over the set that sprawls across the grounds of the C.W. Earle Cotton Gin.
The special is to air on NBC in November. Fans should bring a seat.
The 2001 Country Music Entertainer of the Year said he's wanted to film a special in his hometown, especially at the gin, for a long time.
"This just looks like a movie set to me," McGraw said. "We had to do something here."
Logistics for the show at the gin included shutting down farming operations and finding suitable parking.
"The gin's owner and I are friends, so that was no problem," McGraw said. "Once the filming is done, it will go back to being a gin."
As for providing parking for the anticipated large crowd, McGraw became a commodities broker - kind of.
"We bought the crop off of a couple of fields," McGraw said. "Then we cut the crop down and made parking areas."
Sporting a black Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band T-shirt and western style boots, McGraw talked about coming home to perform.
"I get an infusion of energy when I play before people I know," McGraw said. "I mean, there will be guys I played ball with and old girlfriends out there. It's going to be great."
While McGraw admits he appreciates the adoration of fans, he said he doesn't understand flattering comments from women, especially those older than he, about his looks.
"Of course, there are those who think Mick Jagger looks good," he said. "So you just never know."
While the West Nile virus outbreak has some folks worried, McGraw said he is not going to let mosquitoes put a damper on his show. The maker of Cutter insect repellents has donated insect repellent for concertgoers.
"Nothing is going to stop me from doing my show here in Start, no matter what," McGraw said. "Thanks to Cutter's generosity everyone may feel just a little safer now. It's important to stress to Louisiana residents that West Nile Virus is no reason to fear outdoor activities. They just need to protect themselves by taking the proper precautions."
The repellent will be available at each of the concert's three entrance gates.
The concert will present a traffic flow problem for folks who attend the event or those who wish to use U.S. 80. Richland Parish Sheriff Charles McDonald said plans have been made to reroute traffic.
"Highway 80 will be closed from Louisiana 133 to Owl Road," McDonald said. "We'll route the traffic so that they will come in on the back side of the parking area, across Highway 80 from the gin. With Highway 80 closed, they'll be able to walk across the street with no problem."
McGraw said the trip from Nashville provided him with a nostalgic look at the area where he grew up.
"When the plane circled, I could see my old house, the roads I used to ride, a lot of familiar sights," McGraw said. "We brought our motorcycles, and I've taken some of the crew around to show them where I grew up."
McGraw laughed when asked what his crew's reaction was when they saw how small Start is.
"I told them, 'This place has grown so much since I left. You should have seen it when I was a kid.'"
As a kid growing up in rural northeastern Louisiana, McGraw said he had the same dreams a lot of his friends did.
"Every kid dreams about growing up to be a rock star," he said, smiling. "I guess I'm not exactly a rock star, but it's not too bad. In fact, sometimes it seems almost too good to be true."