After more than a decade in the spotlight, country star Clay Walker believes the best is yet to come.
It was in 1993 that Walker released his first single
from his self-titled debut album, "What's It to You," that flew up the
charts and landed at No. 1. His second album, "If I Could Make a Living,"
was released in September 1994 and the title track went quickly to No. 1. Audiences
flocked to his concerts, reveling in his evocative voice and energetic stage presence.
Walker's most recent album, "Fall," his eighth but his first with Curb
Records, was released in April.
Athletic all his life, the
long-time Houston resident recently placed seventh in the cutting horse competition
at the Houston Livestock Rodeo, the largest in the United States. And his team
won at the Dennis Quaid Celebrity Golf Tournament in Austin this year. Quite an
impressive accomplishment when one realizes Walker was diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis 10 years ago, a disease which he now says is manageable. It was at a
basketball game with friends in his hometown when Walker noticed something terribly
wrong. "I fell down about five times," he says. "I saw two of the
basketball rims." And to make matters worse, Walker could no longer hold
a guitar pick.
Still, Walker considers himself a lucky man
and is able to put a positive spin on life. He is set to marry his fiancee, model
Jessica Craig, later this year and enjoys time with his two girls, MaClay, 10,
and Skylor, 7, from his previous marriage. Not only is he successful in combating
the disease, but Clay is ultrasuccessful when it comes to selling albums and making
that cash register sing. To date, he has racked up four platinum-selling albums,
which translate into sales of a million units. He also has two gold albums to
his name and 31 titles on Billboard's single chart. Walker recently formed Band
Against MS, a Web site that educates, enlightens and supports people living with
MS.
Bankrate: I understand that
since your diagnosis, you've been eating as many natural and organic foods as
possible?
Clay Walker: Absolutely.
I live on a ranch and have my own garden. I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, zucchini,
eggplant and peppers. And I use all natural fertilizer. We have our own goats,
cows, chickens and horses; all the plants are fertilized with natural elements.
Every time I go to the store, I try and shop in the organic section. |