VALDOSTA – Cole Tucker and his friends have a new show.

“Cole Tucker and Friends Go to Nashville” is the latest production for the Hahira-based ventriloquist and his small army of puppets, which will be familiar to area fans of the 17-year-old Lowndes High School junior.

Tucker said he will introduce a new puppet during the show. He describes the new puppet only as “a bird.” He wants the new character’s name and personality to be a surprise to the audience.

The new character will join Tucker and a cast of eight puppets.

Like past Tucker shows, which includes the 2017 production “Cole Tucker and Friends,” “Nashville” will have jokes, lots of puppets, plenty of songs and a storyline.

Tucker said the storylines make his shows unique in ventriloquism. 

“The shows are more than a comedian telling jokes,” Tucker said. “The shows really touch people. We want to create these stories that touch people’s lives.” 

He works with Kevin Sport, scriptwriter and Tucker’s manager, to develop the shows. 

Tucker has been developing his ventriloquism for most of his life.

The son of Mickey and Amy Tucker, Cole Tucker became interested in ventriloquism and puppetry as a 7-year-old. By the age of 10, he won a $2,000 nationwide scholarship sponsored by Las Vegas ventriloquist and “America’s Got Talent” winner Terry Fator.

Fator’s successful run on “America’s Got Talent” inspired the youngster to try ventriloquism.

And he’s been practicing and performing as a ventriloquist ever since.

Developing the characters and investing in the puppets takes time.

For example, Sherman, the jazz man, was his first puppet. Sherman’s undergone a “makeover” twice. Tucker does not like to use the word “replace” because he said it spoils the magic of the characters. He’s had to makeover a couple other of his earliest characters, too.

Developing each character is a unique experience, he said.

“Sometimes I see a puppet and know the character by just looking at it,” he said. “I know what the character will be and what the voice will sound like.”

Other times, he doesn’t know what it will be until he has the puppet.

“Once I put it on my hand, the voice comes,” Tucker said. 

Other times, it’s a slower process. The voice might change, or he may have to work weeks to fine tune the voice and character.

But it is a process he’s ready to continue, one where he’s willing to look at the past for his future.

“Sometimes,” he said, “I do go back and watch when I was 8 or 9 years old and think, ‘My goodness, the first puppet was bigger than me.”

“Cole Tucker and Friends Go to Nashville” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, Mathis City Auditorium, 2300 N. Ashley St. Admission: $20, adult; $10, 12 and younger. Tickets available at door and at www.coletuckerventriloquist.com. A portion of proceeds will benefit ACTO, Alzheimer’s Caregiver Time Out.