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CNN Live Event/Special

Interview With Katie Cook

Aired August 26, 2003 - 19:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Time for us to get a little bit of country into the big city here. The annual Country Music Association Award nominations came out, and with us live from Nashville is Katie Cook, she's co-host of Country Music Television's "Most Wanted Live." Katie, good to meet you. I'm glad you're with us on the program.
I could pretend I know something about country music, but I'm simply not going to because I don't think I could pull it off.

KATIE COOK, CMT: Well, Anderson, I'll have to educate you.

COOPER: I do. Educate me about Toby Keith. Why has this been such a good year for him?

COOK: Seven nominations. You can't stop this guy. You know, he's extremely honest, he makes great videos, and he's a perfect example of someone who's had a nice steady build to his career. It's like he can do no wrong.

COOPER: He had a very patriotic song, I understand, this year. People are contrasting him to the Dixie Chicks, who I guess, they got two nominations this year, but people are saying that's kind of like a slap in the face.

COOK: I'm a little surprised they only got two. Personally, I would have loved to have seen them to be nominated for entertainer of the year. They've been out there touring. Their "Top of the World" tour grossed some $60 million. They've played to almost a million fans. Controversy or no controversy, their fans have really stuck by them, but you know what, they got two nominations and that's better than nothing.

COOPER: One performer I actually do know something about, Johnny Cash, who I've been a fan of for years. I want to play a little bit of his video "Hurt," which is an extraordinary video and song. We're going to play some of that and then talk about him. Let's play it.

(MUSIC)

COOPER: He got four CMA Award nominations. I think six, if I got this right, six nominations for MTV Video Music Awards. Just a remarkable year.

COOK: You'll have to tune in Thursday to see if he takes anything home. It's been a very difficult year for him, and he's not someone who needs awards as any kind of confirmation that he's making the right kind of music, but I think it would be a little bit of sunshine in this year.

COOPER: That video alone, I mean, has his wife that's passed away, it's just -- I mean, for a music video it's just so real.

COOK: It's so honest. I think that's why it struck a cord with people. I cried my eyes out the first time I saw it. It's just, for someone at his stage in his career, to still be unafraid to show who he really is and where he is in his life, it's beautiful.

COOPER: And someone else who's been around for a while, Dolly Parton, is up, it's been a great year for her as well, I guess she's up for, what, female vocalist of the year?

COOK: Female vocalist of the year. A lot of people were surprised she's in this category. I'm not surprised. She's had a great year. Lots of TV coverage. "Halos and Horns," you know, that's an album, Anderson, I'm going to send you. She does a cover of "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin.

COOPER: Really?

COOK: It's classic. Yes.

COOPER: She actually a couple of years ago had a song that some deejays in New York were playing, "Piece Train," they did a remix of it.

COOK: Yes.

COOPER: It was actually pretty cool. I mean, she's legendary, she just -- she stays around no matter what. You know, no matter which way the winds are blowing, Dolly Parton you can always rely on. It's going to be fun. When are the awards this year?

COOK: They're November 5 on CBS and I think 8:00 Eastern, I think I have that right.

COOPER: I don't know what CBS is. But we appreciate Katie, it's good to talk to you, love to have you back on the show sometime.

COOK: Thank you so much, Anderson.

COOPER: All right, take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired August 26, 2003 - 19:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Time for us to get a little bit of country into the big city here. The annual Country Music Association Award nominations came out, and with us live from Nashville is Katie Cook, she's co-host of Country Music Television's "Most Wanted Live." Katie, good to meet you. I'm glad you're with us on the program.
I could pretend I know something about country music, but I'm simply not going to because I don't think I could pull it off.

KATIE COOK, CMT: Well, Anderson, I'll have to educate you.

COOPER: I do. Educate me about Toby Keith. Why has this been such a good year for him?

COOK: Seven nominations. You can't stop this guy. You know, he's extremely honest, he makes great videos, and he's a perfect example of someone who's had a nice steady build to his career. It's like he can do no wrong.

COOPER: He had a very patriotic song, I understand, this year. People are contrasting him to the Dixie Chicks, who I guess, they got two nominations this year, but people are saying that's kind of like a slap in the face.

COOK: I'm a little surprised they only got two. Personally, I would have loved to have seen them to be nominated for entertainer of the year. They've been out there touring. Their "Top of the World" tour grossed some $60 million. They've played to almost a million fans. Controversy or no controversy, their fans have really stuck by them, but you know what, they got two nominations and that's better than nothing.

COOPER: One performer I actually do know something about, Johnny Cash, who I've been a fan of for years. I want to play a little bit of his video "Hurt," which is an extraordinary video and song. We're going to play some of that and then talk about him. Let's play it.

(MUSIC)

COOPER: He got four CMA Award nominations. I think six, if I got this right, six nominations for MTV Video Music Awards. Just a remarkable year.

COOK: You'll have to tune in Thursday to see if he takes anything home. It's been a very difficult year for him, and he's not someone who needs awards as any kind of confirmation that he's making the right kind of music, but I think it would be a little bit of sunshine in this year.

COOPER: That video alone, I mean, has his wife that's passed away, it's just -- I mean, for a music video it's just so real.

COOK: It's so honest. I think that's why it struck a cord with people. I cried my eyes out the first time I saw it. It's just, for someone at his stage in his career, to still be unafraid to show who he really is and where he is in his life, it's beautiful.

COOPER: And someone else who's been around for a while, Dolly Parton, is up, it's been a great year for her as well, I guess she's up for, what, female vocalist of the year?

COOK: Female vocalist of the year. A lot of people were surprised she's in this category. I'm not surprised. She's had a great year. Lots of TV coverage. "Halos and Horns," you know, that's an album, Anderson, I'm going to send you. She does a cover of "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin.

COOPER: Really?

COOK: It's classic. Yes.

COOPER: She actually a couple of years ago had a song that some deejays in New York were playing, "Piece Train," they did a remix of it.

COOK: Yes.

COOPER: It was actually pretty cool. I mean, she's legendary, she just -- she stays around no matter what. You know, no matter which way the winds are blowing, Dolly Parton you can always rely on. It's going to be fun. When are the awards this year?

COOK: They're November 5 on CBS and I think 8:00 Eastern, I think I have that right.

COOPER: I don't know what CBS is. But we appreciate Katie, it's good to talk to you, love to have you back on the show sometime.

COOK: Thank you so much, Anderson.

COOPER: All right, take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com