John Rich debuts 'Shuttin' Detroit Down' video on 'Entertainment Tonight' on April 3

April 3, 4:07 AMCountry Music ExaminerLisa L. Rollins

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John Rich (of Big & Rich), known for speaking up on his views, has released a new solo CD.

On Friday, April 3, Warner Bros. Records artist John Rich will premiere the video for his hit single, “Shuttin Detroit Down,” exclusively on Entertainment Tonight and online at www.foxnews.com.

The song is the first single from Rich's newly released Son of A Preacher Man CD, which debuted at No. 3 on Billboard's Top Country Album Chart. Moreover, already the "Detroit" lead track has scored with country fans and radio, climbing to No. 12 thus far on both the Radio & Records Chart and Country Aircheck Singles Chart.

Mirroring today's economic realities, the video in honor of "Shuttin' Detroit Down" stars Oscar-nominated Mickey Rourke and Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson. In the clip, Rourke and Kristofferson play two struggling blue-collar workers trying to stay afloat. And demonstrating an all too common occurrence, Kristofferson’s character gets laid of from his job where he has worked for 30-plus years. The video unfolds, with viewers watching the repercussions evolve, as he is unable to make ends meet and loses his home--an all too-common reality for many of today's Americans who struggling against the same challenges. 

Referring to the new single, Jon Caramanica, in a March 31, 2009, article in the New York Times, wrote, “There’s no screaming on the first great song of the bailout era. No audible rage. No tears. Instead, on 'Shuttin’ Detroit Down,' the country star John Rich, singing evenly, sounds perfectly levelheaded, as if he’d thought through his position thoroughly and acquired the peace of the righteous.”