Joe Nichols and the "Dark Knight"

Joe Nichols photo courtesy of Universal South.

July 25, 2008 — While the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, has already grossed more than $200 million at the box office, the original comic-book/TV series version of the Caped Crusader left its mark on one of country’s biggest current stars: Joe Nichols.

Joe kept the superhero in his heart as a little boy and — as he told Lorianne Crook while taping GAC’s CMA Celebrity Closeup — kept him close to other parts of his anatomy as well.

"I had Batman underoos when I was a kid," Joe announced, generating cheers from the live audience at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. "And I had admired my big brother’s Superman underoos. It was like, ‘One day I’m gonna have Superman underoos. Right now I’m just Batman, but one day...’"

Did that day ever arrive? If you’re Joe Nichols, you make sure it does.

"When I turned 31, I got some Superman underoos," he confessed. "I showed my mom. She did not laugh!"

That little family event could not have been long ago: Joe turned 31 last November.

Joe’s interview on CMA Celebrity Closeup debuts Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on GAC. Also featured are Sara Evans, Jake Owen and Bucky Covington. Click here to watch a clip from the show!