In November, Faith Hill became the second artist in history to have an album debut at No. 1 on both the pop and country charts.
The first was Hill's husband, Tim McGraw.
It's significant, this particular genre split, because Hill's fourth album Breathe is being roundly criticized for being too much pop, too little country—and since the Mississippi native is ostensibly a country singer, music scribes are calling Breathe an all–too–obvious bid for big–time crossover acceptance. The CD booklet is full of glamor shots of the (admittedly quite photogenic) artist. Can you say Shania Twain?
Her 1997 single, the big–pop "This Kiss," tore it up on both charts and went platinum; she followed it up with an appearance on a VH1 Divas Live show with Cher and Tina Turner.
Hill, 32, says she's simply doing "the music that I do. I don't think there's any real jump from what I did last time."
Breathe is as much a rhythm 'n' blues country record as a pop country record, anyway—so it all depends on where you draw your lines.
After a marathon 50–city tour to promote her last album, Hill's taking a six–month break from the road to be with McGraw and their two young daughters. "But I'll be doing all kinds of stuff," she says, meaning TV appearances, videos and magazine layouts. "I'll be workin'."
Goldmine: Critics are saying you're reinventing yourself as a pop diva. How do you respond that that kind of comment?
Faith Hill: Everyone's got an opinion. I can't say anything about someone's opinion. I'm not trying to do anything other than … I'm not trying to be Shania, I'm not trying to be Whitney Houston, I'm not trying to be anybody. I am just doing what I do and it's very real. I've read those reviews, and I don't think I do anything like Shania. Our music is not at all the same.
Another big change is the photographs in the package: This is pretty sexy stuff.
I don't understand why they would cause such a stir. I'm a mother of two children, I'm a wife, but I'm also a sexy woman! (laughing) I feel great about who I am, and I'm very confortable in my skin. And everything that you see there is not something that's made up. All of those photos, all of those outfits are my choice. I knew exactly what I wanted in this package. It's who I am, I'm very comfortable, and I'm not trying to be, or put on, or pretend or nothing. I don't undertand what the big deal is.
It's kind of funny, because I guess no one ever really saw me this way. But for me, it's very natural.
Does it annoy you when the image is what people talk about?
Oh, heavens, no. Like I said, everyone has an opinion. And I know this is different for a lot of people to see. You know what? The packaging cost more, the photography was more, everything was just upgraded. It's a different level. I wanted to go there. That is me; I'm not trying to be anybody else. I don't mean to sound defensive, and I don't get pissed off when people … to me, it just means that they'e just recognizing the pictures, whether they like them or not.
And I hope that once they get past it, they will eventually get to the core of what the album is.
I thought it might have been a libertation after those first years of parenthood. You're a woman again.
Exactly. If you have a wife or whatever, then you know. I mean, I've been pregnant for two years. I've been able to throw away all my maternity clothes, and the next time around, when Tim and I are expecting the next time, I'll just go buy new ones.
But you know I've been in that state for two years. And I feel really great about myself. I was able to do some things that I haven't been able to do for a while. Times have changed since I've been able to put on those clothes.
Were you surprised when 'This Kiss' was such a crossover success?
Yeah, I was taken back a bit when it happened. I knew the song was special—it was written very intelligently, and it felt good. It made me feel good when I heard it, so I knew it ww\ould have some kind of impact on my fans. But I never could have predicted what it was gonna do.
Where did your love of R&B come from?
It's who I've always been. The first time that I ever exposed to an audience, besides my church that I grew up in, I was singing with a gospel group that traveled around and sang in black churches, and in pentecostal churches. It's in my blood; I don't know where it comes from, but it's just a passion. It's part of who I am. It's always been in my music, and with each album I've made it has revealed itself stronger and stronger. And it's always been in my live show.
I'm not a writer, so I have to rely on the songwriters and the publishers to send me material that I can really take a bite out out of.
To your mind, what are the most successful songs on the record?
Well, they all have their uniqueness. "I Got My Baby" is like breathing for me. I fall right into that very comfortably. "There Will Come a Day" is another one, "If I Should Fall Behind."
That last one is a Bruce Springsteen song. What attracted you to it?
It moved me so much. It was pitched to me as a potential record, and I thought it was like reading a book of poetry. I thought it was a beautiful, beautiful story, and melodically it was just incredible. How could I not record that song?
What happens to you when you become uber–famous? Do you have no spare time any more?
You have to really juggle your time more creatively than what you did before, when you had more of it. Tim and I, we work very hard to keep our family together, and so I think that brings about a whole 'nother element that plays a big part of my scheduling. And at this moment, things are very busy.
Would you like this record to open up a whole new audience for you, or are you pretty comfortable where you are?
I'm always looking forward, in everything. I want as many people to hear my music as can. I'm very happy where I am. But I think it'd be wrong of me to say I didn't want anyone else to hear my music. Because I'm growing as an artist. I'm inspired every day, I'm influenced every day, and I love it. I really enjoy it. And I want as many people to hear it as possibly can.
Do you think the whole "pop crossover" issue is going to hinder people hearing this record?
I hope not, I really hope not. Hopefully they'll hear something that they really love on the radio or on a show or something. I think the music is goining to speak for itself, and hopefully it will rise above everything that I'm being crucifed for at the moment.
But you know, that's OK, I can take it. Because I know in my heart that I made the record that I wanted to make, and it's very real. Nothing is made up; there's no pretention anywhere. And I think anybody that gets the record and really listens to it will get that.
It might not be for everybody, and that's OK too. But there's some really good songs on there.