Billy Gillman Chat

NICKyapper: Hey there, Blabbers!

NICKyapper: Welcome to nick.com's Blab-a-torium...

NICKyapper: Tonight's guest is the crowned prince of country himself...Billy Gilman!!!!!!

NICKyapper: Billy will be here in exactly one minute.

WMKid: I can't believe this!! Billy's gonna be here!!!!

Jay404: I get to go to one of his concerts, and I am so excited!!!!

NICKyapper: He's leaving rehearsal to chat with us at the Blab-a-torium...

money714: I'm so excited. Are you nickyapper?

WMKid: He doesn't need to rehearse... he's already perfect!!

NICKyapper: HE IS HERE!!!!!

NICKyapper: Hey, Blabbers! Hey, Birdie! Say hi to Billy Gilman!!!

dustyboom: OMG!! OMG!! OMG!!

NICKBird: Billy, welcome and say hello to our guests here in nick.com's Blab-a-torium!!

NICKBird: :::handing Billy a feather::::

Billy Gilman: Hey y'all! I hope I get to answer some of the great questions you have me for me! Let's go and have fun!

Catgirl66: HI!!!!!!!OMG

NICKBird: Billy it's great having you here tonight! Our first question comes from klief who even brought some birdseed!!

klief: Billy, you are so cool! What is your favorite song?

Billy Gilman: My favorite song—that's hard... My favorite song to sing would be the new song "Elisabeth" off the "Dare to Dream" album.

Billy Gilman: Probably my favorite song would be by Tim McGraw "Don't Take the Girls" and I heard it when I was about 8 years old, but it's a good song.

Billy Gilman: It's really sad...

NICKBird: billyggurl is actually screaming out of excitement and has a FOOOOOD question and a favor to ask you :)

billyggurl: BILLY!!!! I wanna know what's your favorite dessert? Can you say hi to me? My friends'll be so jealous!!! <3 U! ~holli~

Billy Gilman: Hi!!!!! How are you? My favorite dessert would probably be Tiramisu.

NICKyapper: {{{For those of you who don't know... Tiramisu is an Italian dessert.}}}}

NICKBird: freddielv is looking up to you right now while asking this question ..

freddielv: Was there anyone you looked up to for inspiration?

Billy Gilman: Well, when I was 3 my idol was Pam Tillis and I finally got to meet her and it was really, really incredible!

NICKBird: lamiebug29 would love to know about your beginnings...

laniebug29: What got you started in singing?

Billy Gilman: Laniebug29, well, I grew up listening to all my grandmother's record collections from all the great artists like Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams. And from then I just loved to sing and I'd sing songs like "Crazy." And when I was 8 I really went to conquer the dream.

NICKBird: gilmanshun is trying to look at your teeth...

gilmanshun: Do you still have your braces? Was it hard to sing with them when you first got them?

Billy Gilman: Well, I just got them back on and I've had them tightened for the first time and it was sore but it didn't affect my singing.

NICKBird: We received a lot of questions for you at nick.com this week in the mailbag from kids who couldn't make it to the chat tonight. Here's the first one :::using my feather letter opener:::

MAILMare: Is the song "Oklahoma" about someone in particular?

Billy Gilman: Actually, no it's not—it was written by a great writer, Don Vincent Williams, and when I first heard the song I definitely had to do it.

NICKyapper: Well it is a wonderful song!

NICKBird: fleurabc has made lots of friends on the message boards here at nick.com and got to thinking...

fleurabc: Do you still see your friends a lot?

Billy Gilman: I do every chance I get. We go 4-wheeling and dirt biking and all that fun regular kid stuff.

NICKyapper: Sounds like fun. Can I come?

NICKBird: ateensboy is our Blab athlete tonight :)

ateensboy: What's your favorite sport?

Billy Gilman: My favorite sport would have to be hockey—I'm a big spectator of hockey, but I love to play baseball.

NICKBird: big fox loved your last one!

big fox: Billy, are you doing another Christmas special?

Billy Gilman: big fox, well, I don't think so, not this year. Last year was a great one with some great artists on it.

Billy Gilman: But you never know...

NICKyapper: He's keeping us guessing!

NICKBird: movies12 wrote this question for you...

Movies12: Hi Billy, do you write your own songs? And if so, is it hard for you?

Billy Gilman: Actually, I don't write my own songs, but the next album that we're going to be working on I am going to write a couple songs on the new album.

tab87cat: Hi Billy, how long do you think you'll be in the music business?

Billy Gilman: tab87cat, hopefully forever!!!!

NICKBird: MalMorse has a coooool question!

MalMorse: Billy, What is the coolest thing about being 13?

Billy Gilman: Hi, MalMorse! Well, you get to go to PG-13 movies alone!

Billy Gilman: Alone or with a girlfriend, fun stuff like that!

NICKyapper: That is definitely a bonus!

NICKBird: Here's another question from the mailbag ::::ripping open envelope with Yapper's broken nail:::

Mail Myst: Do you still get nervous before you perform? What helps you relax?

Billy Gilman: I do get nervous and, well, I don't get nervous, I get anxiety. And before I go on I take three big breaths and that gets me going!

NICKBird: njuik is another one trying to make a friend jealous <grin>

mjuik: YO!!! DUDE!!! My friend wants 2 know what your middle name is. (She is SO jealous of me.)

Billy Gilman: Why??? Why is she jealous of you???

Billy Gilman: My middle name—I hate it, I really do and I don't mean to say that in front of my parents, but it's Wendall! It's Wendall and I hate it!!

NICKBird: BBarnwell has a congrats and a question :)

BBarnwell: Congrats on being nominated for the TNN award. How do you plan to celebrate if you win?

Billy Gilman: BBarnwell, hi! I'm just going to take it one step at a time...

Billy Gilman: Celebrate with my management company and never take anything for granted and enjoy it while I can!

NICKBird: akuba has a *bored* question after spending so much time on the boards which we would LOVE to have you visit!

akuba: Do you ever get time to just be bored?

Billy Gilman: akuba, yes I do!! And sometimes I don't like to be bored. It's awful to be bored, y'know like when you're in school!

NICKyapper: Not me! I'm never bored!!!

NICKBird: gemrubie11 has a very serious question. Careful how you answer...

gemrubie11: What is your favorite kind of pet?

NICKyapper: You have a lot of pets, don't you?

Billy Gilman: It's a dog and it's a pug dog! His name is Wizzer.

NICKBird: cat owner is purring this question at ya :)

cat owner: What made you want to sing for a living?

Billy Gilman: cat owner, because I loved it so much! It was a passion.

NICKyapper: By the way, for those who were asking... "Wendell" is spelled with an "E"!

NICKBird: :::drum roll:::: another mailbag question

MAILFrog: Would you ever want to do a "pop" album or do you plan to stick to country?

Billy Gilman: Right now I'm going to stay country, but you never know!!

NICKBird: doris123 has an amusing question!

doris123: What kind of amusement park rides do you like?

Billy Gilman: doris123, fast rollercoasters! Love those—they're awesome!!

NICKBird: cutebilly stopped reading long enough to ask...

cutebilly: Billy, what kind of books do you read ?

Billy Gilman: I read, well, I've been reading a couple books about the diary of Anne Frank and they're really good.

NICKyapper: That is an amazing story...

NICKyapper: And it's TRUE!

NICKBird: nickeldood made no mistakes in typing this question! :)

nickeldood: Have you ever made a mistake on stage?

Billy Gilman: Yes, I have. One time I was in Nashville and I forgot the whole verse of one song.

Billy Gilman: It was NOT good!!!

NICKyapper: I'm sure that made your fans furious!

NICKBird: honeydew came up with a unique question that has a twist :)

honeydew44: What don't you like about being famous?

Billy Gilman: Hi, honeydew44! Probably being away from home a lot. I'm going on a big tour with Jessica Andrews and I'm going to be home a lot less.

NICKBird: LittleJoei promises to be cheerful!

LittleJoei: When you're sad, what cheers you up the most?

Billy Gilman: Watching my dog because he does this snort thing when he smells and I laugh EVERY single time I hear it!

NICKBird: AggieSocr proves to be a true Nickelodeon fan!

AggieSocr: Who's your favorite Rugrat?

Billy Gilman: AggieSocr, Chuckie!!! I love Chuckie—he's so cool!

NICKBird: inklinker is singing this question with background music playing...

inklinker: Hi Billy!!! Do you like singing offstage for family and friends and do you like singing at karaoke clubs?

Billy Gilman: Hi, inklinker! Actually, I've never tried a karaoke club and yeah, it's fun singing with family and friends.

NICKyapper: When you're not touring, of course

NICKBird: This question from the mailbag at nick.com is so appropriate now!

Mail Myst: What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?

Billy Gilman: Lay by the pool and get lots of sun!

NICKyapper: Sounds good to me!

NICKBird: OneVoice has one question...

OneVoice89: Do you ever have time to play video games? If so, which ones are your favorite?

Billy Gilman: Yes, I do love video games and my favorite is on PlayStation and it's the Tony Hawk sports game—it's really fun.

NICKyapper: Tony Hawk—he's a Kids' Choice winner!

NICKyapper: We love him on Nick!!!

NICKBird: money714 has never been on tour and would love to know about it!

money714: Do you travel on a tour bus??

Billy Gilman: money, Hi! Yes, I do. I love it—it's really fun.

Billy Gilman: It's got couches and beds and all that stuff.

NICKyapper: Do you have one of those super suped-up buses?

Billy Gilman: Yes.

NICKyapper: Yes, I guess you do!

NICKBird: pizazz89 is acting the part of the genie :::pooof:::

pizazz89: If you could go on tour with anybody, who would it be and why?

Billy Gilman: That's a good question. I would love to go on tour with Garth Brooks, that would be fun.

NICKyapper: Too bad he's retired!

Billy Gilman: I know it.

NICKBird: bobctwin1 loves all kinds of music :)

bobctwin1: What other kinds of music do you like, Billy?

Billy Gilman: bobctwin1, everything from Asleep at the Wheel to Britney Spears.

NICKyapper: That's quite a range.

NICKBird: ltv is wondering...

ltv: What was it like to meet Shania Twain?

Billy Gilman: It was really fun and she's SO, SO nice!

NICKBird: CowgurlQT has a great name and would love some inside scoop...

CowgurlQT: Who do you have a crush on? Any celebrity?

Billy Gilman: Cowgurl1QT, Hi! Actually, I don't have a crush on anybody, but when I was younger I had a crush on LeAnn Rimes.

NICKyapper: Getting personal!

NICKBird: lovekyds13 knows you love Chuckie and is wondering out of all the Nick shows...

lovekyds13: What's your favorite Nick show?

Billy Gilman: Rugrats!

NICKyapper: You and almost everyone else out there!

NICKBird: goalygal is driving this home...

goalygal: What kind of car do you want to drive when you're old enough?

Billy Gilman: A Dodge Viper! Those are really cool.

NICKyapper: What color?

Billy Gilman: Probably either red or black.

NICKBird: CAGurl34 disguised this question...

CAGurl34: Do you have to wear a disguise every time you go out?

Billy Gilman: CAGurl134, hi! Yeah, but y'know I always get noticed. But that's ok, because I'm a people person and I like to talk to people.

NICKBird: I love TwEeTz's name!

TwEeTz: Billy, did you ever want to be in a movie?

NICKyapper: S/he is just trying to get on your good side, Birdie!

Billy Gilman: Well, actually, we're thinking about that for next, but like I said we're taking it one step at a time.

NICKBird: We have an international audience here for you tonight, Billy! Here is vomer :)

vomer: Hi Billy, I am from Venezuela. Can you tell me, which is for you the main difference between "One Voice" and "Dare to Dream"??

Billy Gilman: vomer, hi! "One Voice" is basically about the real world and guns and school and has a positive ending and "Dare to Dream' isn't really a song it's just the title of the album.

Billy Gilman: "Dare to Dream" means just that.

Billy Gilman: It's a much more hopeful, uplifting album.

NICKBird: BGFreak hopes to see more of your involvement with Nick! Is that SLIME in that bucket?? Uh oh, careful Billy!

BGFreak: Are you planning on doing more things with Nickelodeon in the future?

Billy Gilman: BGFreak, hopefully, because Nickelodeon is the best!!

NICKyapper: Did you like getting slimed on Slimetime Live?

Billy Gilman: I loved it—it was so much fun, it was really cool. And what a better way to do it than on my birthday!

NICKyapper: Happy belated!!!

NICKBird: :::croaking out another mailbag question::::

MAILFrog: Is anyone else in your family in show business?

Billy Gilman: Actually, nope, none...nope!

NICKBird: billyfan14 wonders

billyfan14: Hi Billy, do any of your friends brag about you now that you're a singer??

Billy Gilman: Hi, billyfan14. None whatsoever, and when I'm with them it's Billy the kid, not Billy the singer.

NICKyapper: That means you have some real friends!

Billy Gilman: Yeah, I do.

NICKBird: pondog is excited to ask you a question!

pomdog: When you first heard yourself on the radio, where you excited?

Billy Gilman: I was! I mean, never in a million years did I imagine myself on the radio.

CAGurl34: Billy! You have so many fans here in TEXAS! WE LOVE YOU!

Billy Gilman: CAGurl134, yay!!!

NICKBird: crazy012 is a movie-goer...

Crazy012: What is your fave movie?

Billy Gilman: My favorite movie is "Twister."

Billy Gilman: I loved the effects and the actors in it and it was really cool.

dunkin11: Billy, I love that movie.

mikelle: Hi Billy, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

NICKBird: bbdlta *found* this question to ask you...

bbdlta: How were you discovered?

Billy Gilman: Well, I was 8 my grandmother and mother took me to this vocal trainer in Westerly in Rhode Island, and she introduced me to some people. And last December I was a recording artist and it was amazing and I love every minute of it and I'm very privileged.

Treviotto: If you had one wish, what would it be?

NICKyapper: More wishes!!!????

Billy Gilman: Treviotto, hi. To build my own recording studio to help other artists conquer their dreams.

NICKyapper: Or that!

NICKBird: From fooffoof lol...

fooffoof: Hi, Billy! Does all your music revolve around some type of moral value? And do you help other singers that are undiscovered?

Billy Gilman: Hi, fooffoof! No, I don't help any other artists that haven't been discovered and I have this privilege of doing all different types of songs for all different ages of fans that I've combined over the last years.

NICKBird: One last one from the mailbag :::wow that bag was HEAVY:::

MAILMare: What was it like to sing with Charlotte Church in "Dream A Dream"?

Billy Gilman: It was COOL. I mean, she has an amazing voice, so to be able to sing with her is amazing!

NICKyapper: She really is something!

NICKBird: bgilman has an original name :)

bgilman: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Billy Gilman: I love to rollerskate, I love to play baseball and I just love to do all the normal, kid stuff.

NICKyapper: Not to mention watch Nickelodeon!!!

NICKBird: mjpp6dlhse was almost too busy to ask this!

mjpp6dlhse: With your busy schedule, do you have time to go to school?

Billy Gilman: Oh yeah! I'm privately tutored and I go for about 3 to 4 hours each day—including Saturday and Sunday!

Clynda: So many people get inspired by your music and you help so many people without knowing it, how does it make you feel when people tell you about the impact you made on their lives?

NICKyapper: What a great question!!!

Billy Gilman: Hi, Clynda! It's incredible and I want to first of all thank all the fans for letting me do what I love to do.

Billy Gilman: And I'm privileged at this age to do what I love to do.

NICKBird: Billy, this is the last question for the night and also will give you an opportunity to tell us about your upcoming plans :)

WMKid: Tell us about your upcoming concert, Billy... Are you opening for Jessica, or are you each sharing equal stage time?

Billy Gilman: WMKid, we're each sharing equal stage time.

Billy Gilman: It's going to be real fun—it's a co-headlining type of thing.

farlyodd: You are so young, you are really talented!

Addie2001: I LOVE YOU BILLY, IT WAS FUN CHATTING!

NICKBird: What other plans do you have Billy?

Billy Gilman: Well, I'm doing this major tour with Jessica and hopefully next year I'll be doing a movie or just having fun!

RyoOhki101: That's awesome

Billy Gilman: My album just came out May 8, so go buy it!! And just have fun! That's what I'm here for, for people to have fun with my music!

NICKyapper: And don't forget to look out for his new album "Dare to Dream"!!!

bugkid: I know you won't get this but I love u!!!!

gilmanfan1: SOUTH DAKOTA LOVES YOU!!!!!!!

annmariemc: YOU ARE GREAT!

zeena: I LOVE YOU BILLY!

Arian255: Great work Billy! Have a great summer!

bugkid: It will be great I know it!!!

OneVoice89: GREAT ALBUM! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

BBarnwell: Tennessee fans love you too!

nogginclw: New Jersey loves you!

WebStar: Ya it ROCKED!

BillyFan01: You are so awesome. Keep up the good work!!!

inklinker: It will be great, a new CD and everything! I am a number 1 fan!

gilmansgrl: Great job Billy!

ravenboys: Don't forget Canada!!!!!!!!!!

wannaflyhi: Bye, Billy! Keep up the good work!

mandy12: ILLINOIS LOVE'S YOU !!!!!

billysgirl: Florida totally loves you!!!!!

gilmanshun: Bye, Billy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

klehde1: Now, I really like country!!!

WiteDove: You are cute cute cute cute cute cute cute and Penn. loves you the best!

NICKBird: Be sure to click back to nick.com's Blab-a-torium on Sunday, July 15 @ 9 PM (ET) when we'll be chatting LIVE with Nick Cannon immediately following his TEENick Concert!

NICKyapper: Thanks for Blabbing with us everyone!

NICKyapper: This was a great chat and we loved getting all your great questions!!!

NICKyapper: Oh—and this just in...

NICKBird: ::::quickly getting the bucket before Yapper can grab it::: I owe you this Yapper!!

NICKyapper: Ack!!

NICKyapper: :::Hiding under an umbrella as I type::::

NICKyapper: Lil' Romeo will be here chatting with us on Monday, July 9 @ 7 PM (ET)!

NICKBird: :) ::giggling uncontrollably::::

NICKBird: Ok, Blabbers, who wants to have Yapper slimed EVERY CHAT??? lol

FlyDeer: Me

Num1FLBillyFan: Mmmmeeeeeeeeee

sweetman80: NO

peachkiwi: ME ME!!!

johnpaul2: MMMEEEEEEEEEEEE

devinfinch: Who is NICKBird?

Cyberwolf7: ME ME ME, I DO I DO I DO!

ravenboys: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

reginatorr: I!!!!!!!!!!!

gemrubie11: Nickyapper, when will we chat with Destiny's Child?

BillysBaby: SLIME HIM! SLIME HIM! SLIME HIM!

mbpkrfan: MEEEEEEEEEE

TimeAngeL: Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

OneVoice89: Meeeeeeeeeeee!!! Slime her!! Slime her good!

NICKBird: YAY!! LOL OneVoice

NICKyapper: That is it!!

Rabitt11: MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

ZimGirl 11: Slime Yapper

mandy12: I LOVE YOU NICK YAPPER !!!1

NICKBird: Awwww mandy that is nice :)

MAILMare: Getting messy in here!

akuba: NickBird should get her feathers slimed!

queen123ee: U GO

CAGurl34: NICK YAPPER YOU ROCK!!!

gilmanfan1: WHO WANTS TO SLIME NICKYAPPER AND NICKBIRD???

cheercat08: Slime me

Mandy1fan: I LOVE YOU NICKBIRD

Berryo: I LOVE YOU NICK YAPPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dirty pop: I love YOU nick bird!

flower08: Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

NICKBird: Ok everyone, GROUP HUG

NICKyapper: I will slime all of you!!!

NICKyapper: But now it's time to go!!

jwesty14: NickYapper rules, she lets us talk to stars, especially Billy!

ikeypooh: I WANNA GET SLIMED!!!!

cutepug: SLIME THEM BOTH SLIME THEM BOTH

ilovemyguy: Who's NickBird?!

farlyodd: NICKBIRD Da' BOMB

lilswetie: I LOVE U NICKBIRD AND NICKYAPPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NICKBird: And we love you ALL!!

peachkiwi: ::hugging NickBIRD and NickYAPPER::

NICKBird: :::pointing to my Moderator button on my birdie feathers::::

inklinker: NickYAPPER IS DA' BOMB FOR SURE!

gemrubie11: Bye NickYapper and NickBird

mandy12: I love you both !!

sotho: NickYapper I wanna marry you!

NICKBird: Wow Yapper!! A proposal! lol

cutepug: YOU GUYS ARE COOL!

BillysBaby: I LOVE NICK YAPPER!!!!

NICKBird: Ok everyone...you know the drill ???

NICKBird: Fly back to the Celebrity Chats board and tell everyone one about this chat in case they couldnt make it here!

akuba: I still think you should slime her!

lilswetie: BYE NICKBIRD AND NICKYAPPER!!!!!!!!!See you guys at the next chat!!!!!!!!!!!!

gemrubie11: Dont forget to check out blab boards!

cutepug: YOU GUYS ARE GREAT HOSTS!

MAS087: YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!