Bucky Covington is that most remarkable of entertainers -- a man known and loved as much for his engaging personality as for his formidable talent. The talent has shone through multiple hit singles that helped push his debut album toward gold status, and continues to shine with the release of his sophomore album "Good Guys," released in September 2012, with first week sales' proceeds going to Help The Good Guys and the International Association of Fire Fighters. His undeniable likeability and his ability to wear his stardom as comfortably as his jeans has done the rest. Both come together on stage, where the long-haired North Carolinian with the rocker's charisma and the country boy charm thrills old and new fans alike as he criss-crosses the country.

With his first album, Bucky earned a place in the forefront of a new generation of country singers. He became the best-selling debut artist of the class of 2007, with the best first-week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any male country artist in 15 years. He appeared on "Good Morning America," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and many others, became part of the Country Sings Disney project, and appeared in "Hannah Montana: The Movie." Now, with his second, he leaves behind newcomer status and emerges as one of the true standouts in contemporary country music.

His sophomore project reflects the added depth and maturity Bucky brings to the table. Covington has been working very closely with an organization called Help The Good Guys, which provides immediate financial relief to injured or fallen firefighters and their families. His newest single from "Good Guys," "Drinking Side Of Country," is a duet with Shooter Jennings, which Covington wrote and produced. "Good Guys" also features several of Covington's recent radio singles including 'I Wanna Be The Feeling."

Bucky has been honing his highly identifiable sound since his earliest days growing up with his mother, stepfather and twin brother Rocky in Laurinburg, North Carolina. His tastes in country music ran to George Strait, Travis Tritt and Tim McGraw, and he began testing his own vocal skills with a karaoke machine early on.

Still, he lived a normal teenage life, spending time on his dirt bike and picking up experience in his father's body shop. He got a guitar after an album by Canadian singer/guitarist Jeff Healey knocked him out and convinced him to give music a serious try.

He played with rock groups for three years, then followed his passion into a band playing "Southern rock, beach and country." It was called Southern Country and it made him a honky-tonk hero in the area as he packed clubs every weekend.

Friends encouraged him to try Nashville, but when his sister-in-law told him about tryouts for "American Idol," he took that route. His striking look and smoky vocals got him into the final eight and earned him a spot on the Idol tour.

Managers and producers began calling him, but it was a call from Sawyer Brown front man Mark Miller that impressed him.

"A lot of them call you up and talk about the money," he says. "Mark called me up and talked about music--what kind I wanted to make, what I wanted to do."

The two have been in musical partnership since then, and after an amazing ride with now shuttered Lyric Street Records, Bucky has joined forces with Entertainment One. Surrounded by a great team and moving into this second album, he has been embraced fully by country fans.

"I did come off a big TV show," he says, "and at that point you're huge. You feel like you're on top of the world. Then you come back to reality and you're 'that guy that used to be...' After that it's what you make of it, and after three top 10 hits over the past two-and-a-half years, it's been amazing to be welcomed so big by country radio and the fans."

These days his professional life is a combination of studio art and concert stage adventure, and the latter is something he relishes as he strives to perfect his craft in venues that range from crowded bars to festival grounds and big-city arenas.

Many of his fans have watched him from his first days on Idol, and have seen him mature as an artist and yet maintain the unspoiled outlook that makes him the complete package -- the guy next door with talent and charisma to burn. As he comes into his own both musically and personally, Bucky Covington is more than fulfilling the promise he brought to the table initially, and he continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting and important young performers on the contemporary country scene.

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