Vanilla Ice Gives Johnny Cash "Thumbs-Up"

8/14/2007 Stephen L. Betts He may be best known as the guy who brought the world “Ice Ice Baby," but these days former rap sensation Vanilla Ice is co-starring in a CMT reality series, Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge. Ice tells Tennessean music reporter Peter Cooper that while he's not planning any country music projects, one of his heroes is Johnny Cash. "I like to get out there and shoot my finger at the industry," he says. "Like that poster of Johnny Cash, you know?" The poster to which he’s referring is of the famous Jim Marshall photograph of Johnny flipping a bird. “Man, I love that Johnny Cash. He was like the first punk guy that ever existed." He also reveals that his other big hero at the moment is Reba’s duet partner, Kelly Clarkson. "She's a great singer,” he reasons, “and she could have somebody else write the hits for her. But at that point it's all karaoke, and you're a novelty instead of a truly respected person."