‘American Idol’ Alums Bucky Covington, Kellie Pickler Reunite for ‘Dukes of Hazzard’-Themed Video

It was an American Idol season five reunion on the set of Bucky Covington’s latest video, as the singer teamed up with Kellie Pickler for a Dukes of Hazzard-themed shoot. The sassy Pickler donned a pair of short-shorts to play the iconic Daisy.

“Drinking Side of Country,” a duet between Covington and Shooter Jennings (son of country legend and original Dukes of Hazzard narrator Waylon Jennings), will be included on the North Carolina singer’s forthcoming album, Good Guys, due for release on Sept. 11, 2012.

Covington said it didn’t take much coaxing to get his old friend to portray the role. He called her directly and she was up for the challenge.

“The director did not have to tell Kellie how to be sexy,” Covington, 34, told Idol Worship. “If anybody could give Jessica Simpson a run for her money, it’s Kellie.”

Covington said he had an “absolute blast” filming the video in Greensburg, Kentucky. The clip, directed by Blake Judd, features cameos by five-time WWE Champion and current TNA Impact Knockout wrestler Mickie James, as well as professional freestyle motor crosser Cowboy Kenny Bartram.

Filmed on a day that topped “115 degrees,” Covington said fans can get a glimpse of classic muscle cars, including a ’72 El Camino and his own personal ’68 Camaro.

“I was worried about starting the cars [in the heat], but they ran fine, so thank you Chevy for making a good product,” he said.

Covington said that the rowdy group began shooting at 5:30 a.m., and that Jennings arrived ready to party.

“Shooter handed me a beer,” laughed Covington, who said throughout the course of the day he got to sample Ale, Lager – and even moonshine, which “didn’t taste that bad.”

Covington said the early morning libations helped in another area, as well: method acting.

“I had to make out with a girl, and my fiancée was there,” he said. “So that little bit of beer helped the situation.”

All kidding aside, Covington said he is pleased with the new record and proud of the duet with Jennings for a special reason. “Drinking Side of Country,” which Covington wrote with his twin brother Rocky and Ducky Medlock (“that is not a made up name,” he quipped), is the singer’s first outing as a producer.

“Shooter usually does his own stuff, so to get him to go outside and cut a record together is something I’m proud of,” he said. “He’s a great guy, and now I can say I produced a song by Shooter Jennings.”

Covington was previously signed to Lyric Street Records in 2006, but found himself without a home when the label folded in 2010. He said when Pickler arrived for the video shoot on July 2, he had no idea she had recently lost her own label deal, but said he believes she will be just fine.

“[The best thing to do is] get your face out there and get busy,” he said, adding that he hopes his video helps her out. “Kellie is a great artist. She is a beautiful girl, so she won’t have any problems.”

He credits his new label, Entertainment One, with allowing him “110 percent control creatively,” and said he structured the CD thematically to reflect the flow of one of his live concerts. He said in addition to the current single, “I Wanna Be That Feeling,” fans will finally have access to songs like “I Want My Life Back,” which had been on the radio but unavailable on record. He also revealed that he recorded a cover of The Commodores “Sail On” for the new album.

“I was listening to it on iTunes, and it never got old,” he said. “I just fell in love with it.”

In other news, Covington is donating his time as a spokesman for HelptheGoodGuys.com. The organization raises money for fireman law enforcement officers and their families who are experiencing difficulties due to injury, illness, or death in the line of duty injured in the line of duty, and Covington is hoping to arrange a special concert in New York City coinciding with the album’s release date. Additionally, Covington will race a U.S. Legends Car on Aug. 9 on behalf of the International Association of Firefighters at the Nashville Fairgrounds Dirt Track.