Joe Nichols Gets Reba McEntire’s Take on Broadway Life

Joe Nichols is getting ready for his Broadway debut with the lead role in 'Pure Country,' the musical based on the 1992 film starring George Strait. So to help him prepare, he sought advice from a fellow country star who also happens to be a seasoned Broadway pro.

"I got a lot of great advice from Reba McEntire, who was very serious when she looked me dead in the eye and said, 'It's the hardest thing I have ever done in my life'," says Joe of the lady who made her Broadway debut in 2001 as Annie Oakley in 'Annie Get Your Gun.' "She told me, 'On your day off you think you're going to go sightseeing, you think you're going to go to the Statue of Liberty, you think you're going to do all this fun stuff. You won't. What you will do is laundry and then you'll sleep."

During the run, Joe's day off will be Monday, but he'll still get in eight shows a week. And he plans to follow Reba's advice, even if he was rattled by it at first."It scared the living crap out of me a little bit," Joe admits.

Joe says he's excited to be in New York City, no matter how long the experience lasts. "I'm looking forward to it. It's probably the only Broadway show I will ever land, but it's really cool to get this one opportunity. It will be my first time actually living in New York City for an extended period of time."

Rehearsals for the show will start at the end of October, but fans of the film will notice a slight change. While George Strait's character in the movie was Dusty, Joe will be called Rusty. "It's just a little bitty change there,' the singer says with a laugh. "I'm getting to see a little bit of the minor changes they have made from the movie script to the Broadway musical script and it's neat getting familiar with the script."

And even though Reba told Joe that he's in for some hard work, she left him with another thought. "She also told me it will be one of the best experiences of my life," he says. "I can't wait to be a part of that wonderful theater community. And I hope to bring a little country to the big city!"

'Pure Country' is scheduled to open on Broadway in 2010.