Tim McGraw Reveals Lyric He Can’t ‘Bear’ to Sing

Tim McGraw loves football. So much, in fact, that it was actually tough for him to salute University of Alabama's Crimson Tide and their late, legendary coach Bear Bryant in the lyrics of his current hit, 'Southern Voice.' Why? Because Alabama isn't his home team, of course!

"I hate that part of the song," Louisiana-born-and-bred Tim tells Nashville reporters (via CMT) of the lyric "Bear Bryant won it/Billy Graham saved it" with a groan. "God! You know how many times I've tried to make 'LSU Tigers' blend in with that [lyric]? But I couldn't do it."

Tim adds he almost didn't do his movie role opposite Sandra Bullock in the box office hit, 'The Blind Side,' because he'd already done a movie about football -- 'Friday Night Lights' -- and before that, a family film called, 'Flicka.' "I was really looking for something heavier and darker," he says.

For his latest role in 'Love Don't Let Me Down,' Tim will at least be able to show a little darker side of his face. He's been growing a beard ["It's driving me crazy!," he confesses] for the role opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays the part of a fallen country star. Tim, who was seeking a non-singing role in his next film, got what he was looking for and will be playing the part of Gwyneth's manager/husband.

One future role Tim still envisions himself taking on could very well be in politics, although he doesn't have any immediate plans. "I don't have time [for politics]. I grew up in Louisiana, and it's like a sport there ... I've always been fascinated by it. I feel you are obligated to a certain extent to help [people] and do what you can, whether it's in politics or not. Politics is something to me that I would never go into just to say I've done it. But somewhere down the line, if I feel like there's something I can step into and make a difference and do some good, then I think it's just a matter if the time lines up with the cause and the reason in my life. Then it would be something that I'm interested in. But it's not something I'm going to go and pursue."

Tim's current single, 'Southern Voice' (Bear Bryant lyric and all) has been moving steadily up the charts, and is currently in the Top 5. Production on 'Love Don't Let Me Down' has begun in Nashville.