Garrett Hedlund, 26 starred alongside Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow in “Country Strong,” as a young folk singer named Beau Hutton who stirs up a romance with a fallen country star (Paltrow) at the inconvenience of her husband/manager (McGraw) and an upcoming country starlet (Leighton Meester). Hedlund talked to OnTheRedCarpet.com about his admiration for McGraw and his grandpa’s unusual advice.
Hedlund formerly portrayed McGraw’s son in the 2004 movie “Friday Night Lights” and has nothing but admiration for the country singer.
“Tim’s been such a support in my life,” Hedlund told OnTheRedCarpet.com in a satelite interview. “It’s so sureal going from the farm in Minnesota and just singing his tunes, you know, all these years later, we show up to work at this audtiorium in Nashville and he’s singing mine so it’s a real honor.”
Tim McGraw recently said that if it wasn’t for his wife, Faith Hill that he would be dead but admit that it was his drunken texts that alerted him to his vice. The tables were turned in “Country Strong” as McGraw had to look after his alcoholic wife.
Hedlund spent 6 months honing his guitar and singing skills as he was determined to do his own performances. But he Minnesota farm boy said that he grew up with country music and credits his family for his vocal skills.
“My grandpa always told me that if you eat burnt toast growing up that you’re going to grow up with a real good voice but I think that was all b.s. now and I think he was just telling me that so I didn’t waste bread. Nah, it wasn’t always this low, I don’t suppose but most of my family members sound like Joe Cocker on acid.”
Hedlund recently starred as Jeff Bridge’s son in “TRON: Legacy” and recently wrapped an on-screen adaptation of “On The Road,” where he will portray Dean Moriarty.