Episodes
In the final episode of the first batch of season 2, Kevin sits down with independent artist Royale Lynne. Royale is originally from Canada, and she and Kevin talk about the Visa she has to obtain in order to stay in Nashville! Plus, Royale talks about creating her own genre which she calls 'Punktry', playing as a Hannah Montana cover as a child, opening for Luke Combs this summer, and much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since his new album comes out next week, Bobby takes a look back at the first time he met Bailey Zimmerman. Just a few years ago, Bailey Zimmerman was working at the gas pipeline…fast forward to this year and he just signed his first record deal! Bailey talks to Bobby about how he never sang his entire life until one day at the opportunity at a basketball court then decided he wanted to drop everything to pursue music! He started out in 2020 on TikTok just posting videos of his custom lifted trucks and then got attention from record labels and management after one of his songs went viral. ...
Jessie Jo Dillon (@JessieJoDillon) has penned songs recorded by some of the biggest names in today’s music, including Dan + Shay, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Cole Swindell & many more. She's had 21 cuts since January 2023, and 32 in the last 12 months. She talks to Bobby about how some people were mean to her because her father, Dean Dillon, was a famous songwriter, and how she wasn't taken seriously in the beginning. Jessie Jo Dillon also shares what it was like getting her first major cut recorded by George Strait, and now having some of country's biggest artists record her songs. She'll ...
On this week's episode of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin sits down with a familiar face around the Bobby Bones Show studio - Canaan Cox. Kevin and Canaan talk about the first time he ran into Bobby while working as a waiter, and why he's done with playing on Broadway. Plus, Canaan talks about his fitness journey of losing close to 100 pounds, why his love story sounds like a movie, and how all of that has led him to living his best life as an artist. Twitter & IG: @Canaancox Follow: @KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin ...
Songwriter, producer and lead singer and founding member of Better Than Ezra, Kevin Griffin (@kevinmgriffin) is now adding author to his long list of accomplishments. His first book ‘The Greatest Song: Spark Creativity, Ignite Your Career and Transform Your Life’ is out today (April 25) and he shares with Bobby how the many ups and downs of his career inspired it. Kevin also talks about the many songs he's written like Howie Days "Collide," Train's "I Got You," and Sugarland's "Stuck Like Glue," and explains why radio stations refused to play it. He also shares how he started the band Bett...
On this week's episode of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin has on Australian native Zoee! Kevin and Zoee talk about growing up in the middle of nowhere Australia with no tv, no phones, just radio and records that made her fall in love with music. Plus, Zoee is accompanied by James House - who has written number ones for Martina McBride and Dwight Yoakam - as he unexpectedly hopped on to give his perspective on the growth he has seen in Zoee in just a few short years. Kevin and Zoee also talk about her #1 in Australia, why it's been so hard to get back there, and what else she has in the works....
Alana Springsteen (@alanaspringsteen) is a rising country singer-songwriter whose passionate and relatable songs have made her stand out. Bobby learns more about how she got her start in music, including how she started singing The National Anthem at Chicago Cubs Games at only 9 years old, and getting a publishing deal at 14. Part one of her debut album, TWENTY SOMETHING: Messing It Up, is out now and she shares the inspiration behind the album and why she chose to make it a three-part project. Alana also discusses how Taylor Swift inspired her to be a songwriter and what it was like to wor...
Episode 2 of this season on Unsigned & Independent features a Texas native named Megan Ashley. Kevin and Megan talk about COVID hindering her from moving to Nashville but ultimately making her a better artist. They also dive into her Texas roots, going from a Kinesiology major to playing music, being a life coach part-time which helps her own career and much more! Follow: @KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent artists and bands in Nashville. The purpose of this podcast is ...
Gary Mule Deer's (@Gary_MuleDeer) unique comedy and music career have set him apart for over six decades. His path to starting in music to getting into comedy by accident is one of the most unconventional stories that Bobby has been able to dive into. Gary talks about once being roommates with Steve Martin and how he wrote his first joke. Also how he used to hangout with Johnny Carson and was at David Letterman's very first comedy set. Bobby also explores Gary's musical background and how he once shared the stage with Frank Sinatra and Willie Nelson on the same night, and we find out why Si...
Unsigned & Independent is back with 16 new episodes for season 2. Episode 1 features an artist from St. Louis named Tera Fister. Kevin and Tera talk about her first visit to Nashville and how getting called on stage by a band led to her ultimately moving to music city. Tera has been in Nashville for a decade, and she tells Kevin why trusting her own path during this time has been the backbone to get her through the good and bad days. Plus, Tera talks about some upcoming shows, and much more! Follow: @KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podca...
Multi-platinum selling songwriter and producer Sam Hollander (@SamHollander) stopped by Bobby's house to talk about his new book '21 Hit Wonder,' how his career started in the music industry, the odd side gigs he did and more! Sam Hollander has over 21 hit singles and has written and produced for artists like Panic! At The Disco, One Direction, Katy Perry, Ringo Starr and many more! But the road to making it in the music industry wasn't easy. He talks about getting a record deal as a rap artist to only be dropped two weeks later, and all the side gigs he had to take like making beats on Kid...
Benji (@TheBenjiChord) stopped by Bobby's house to do an interview and shared how commenting on country music posts landed him a job in the industry! He also talks about how he built an online following to create his own brand! Benji gives an inside look of what it means to do A&R and the difference between a music and publishing deal. Plus, how he got into country music as a first generation American. He also shares some behind the scenes about your next favorite song and the advice Dan of Dan + Shay gave him! Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this E...
Sunny Sweeney stopped by Bobby's house to talk about her journey as a singer songwriter coming from Texas and trying to make it in Nashville. She talks about getting discovered on Myspace and signing her first record deal, to only be dropped from it, to three months later being nominated for an ACM Award. Sunny also discusses how she thought about quitting music until she kept receiving signs to keep going, like her most recent one of being featured in the Country Music Hall Of Fame. She also talks about the ups and downs of her personal life and the advice she'd give to people who want to ...
Martina McBride (@MartinaMcBride) recently stopped by Bobby's house to discuss her over 30-year career of being one of country music's most powerful voices, how she got her start, her passion for cooking, the secret to her 35 year marriage and explains the joke Loretta Lynn made inducting her into The Opry. Martina moved to Nashville in1990 to pursue a career in music, and since then has gotten 20 Top Ten hits and 6 number-one songs, won four CMA Female Vocalist of The Year Awards and three ACM Top Female Vocalist honors. But, success didn't always come easy. She shares how she called aroun...
Chase Rice (@ChaseRice) recently released his new album "I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell" and he stopped by Bobby's house to discuss his new music, mindset and answer some personal questions. Chase moved to Nashville in 2010 and almost immediately found success when he co-wrote Florida Georgia Line's hit song "Cruise." But why his early success didn't lead him where he wanted to go in his career. He talks about how for years he wasn't making the music he truly wanted to, until now with his most recent record. Chase shares how he's being more honest with his work, but at the same time, ...
Luke Combs turns 33 today! We want to take a look back at when he stopped by the BobbyCast back in 2020. Luke was fresh off of his SNL debut when we sat down to record this. He talks about finding out he was the musical guest just a week and a half out. Luke tells the story of the guy at a record label who told him he needed to go back and write better songs after meeting him. Luke then turns all the songs he played for him that day into No. 1. He also talks about why he is vegan for the next 3 months, his 7 No. 1 songs and why he was hiding cash around his house. Follow the BobbyCast @T...
Hailey Whitters (@HaileyWhitters) first single at country radio "Everything She Ain't" is climbing the charts and she stopped by Bobby's house before going on her new headlining Raised Tour. Hailey moved from a small town in Iowa to Nashville 15 years ago to pursue a career in country music but kept facing struggles. She talks about all the difficulties she had and ways she tried to make it, the jobs she had to take to survive, and the moment she got her publishing deal and first big song recorded by another artist but was still so broke she had to sleep in the airport one night. Hailey sha...
Chris Shiflett just released a new solo song “Black Top White Lines” which he recorded in Nashville and stopped by Bobby’s house while he was in town to play the Ryman as a solo artist. Chis joined the Foo Fighters as lead guitarist in 1999. He talks about how he first joined the band, the dynamic between the band in the studio and the largest crowd they’ve ever performed in front of. Chris shares how he got started playing guitar, his days playing in punk bands such as No Use for a Name, touring with the Foo Fighters, and how he got started with his solo career and writing and recording mu...
Bobby was just in Oklahoma so wanted to revist his visit with the legend herself, Reba McEntire. They talk about it all! Reba shares stories behind her new project Revived Remixed Revisited including a new version of “Does He Love You” with Dolly Parton. She talks about the time she made her Opry debut and had her set cut short because of Dolly. She addressed all the biggest Urban Legends about her turning down role in Titanic, and if Faith Hill really didn’t get the part as her backup singer. She also talks about where her love of corn dogs came from, how she goes grocery shopping and to S...
For King and Country (@forkingandcountry) are made up of two Brothers Joel & Luke Smallbone. They stop by Bobby’s house fresh off their trip to the Grammys after earning a nomination with their friend, Hillary Scott of Lady A. Joel shares why he was depressed days after the trip. They share their amazing story of how their family moved from Australia with nothing to the United States and how they got by living in a house without furniture. They got their start touring with their famous sister Rebecca St. James and how they didn’t want anyone to know they were related when they became, For K...
Jon Nite (@jnitewriter)is a Grammy-nominated, CMA and ACM award winning singer/songwriter with 15 No. 1’s and counting. He dealt with many struggles in his life growing up without much in Texas, getting his girlfriend pregnant when he was only 16 and the repercussions it had on his father who worked in the church. Jon talks about what motivated him to move to Nashville to study music and pursue songwriting even when everything in his world felt like chaos. He talks about meeting Gabby Barrett for the first time and writing and recording “I Hope” together. He also reveals the real story of ...
Kameron Marlowe (@kameronmarlowe) moved to Nashville 4 years ago at 21 years old. He started out playing on Broadway in order to make ends meet. After signing his record deal in 2020, his trajectory changed as the world shut down but that allowed him to take time to work on his debut album which came out last year. Kameron talks to Bobby about how his failed proposal led to his song “Giving You Up” then releasing it out of spite, how he found out his grandma smoked weed, and falling off stage opening up for Morgan Wallen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In honor of his new album the mockingbird & THE CROW...Bobby wanted to revist the first time he met HARDY. In this first meeting they talk about Hardy's journey from songwriter to artist. Hardy talks about his success as a songwriter with songs like “God’s Country”, “Simple”, “More Than My Hometown” and his first No. 1! Follow the podcast: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jake Owen (@jakeowenofficial) returns to the BobbyCast to share all of his big life updates with Bobby. He shares how his perspective changed now that he is in his 40’s and what would be the reason he would retire from music. Jake looks back on the day he made the decision to move to Nashville, the conversation he had with his parents on dropping out of college, leaving his twin brother behind and the real reason he goes by Jake instead of his real name. Jake gives a health update after going to the hospital for exhaustion last year and being sober for over a year and a half. He gets emoti...
Dallas Smith (@DallasSmithMusic) has an origin story unlike any you’ve ever heard. His path from alternative to country music fame is one of the most unconventional stories that Bobby has been able to dive into. Dallas talks about growing up a really shy kid in Canada and not performing publicly until he was forming his first band, Default that went on to get a record deal and land hits at rock radio. Bobby and Dallas get into the hardships of the road, bankrupt record labels and what lead him to take a step away from Default to focus on a career in country music. Dallas talks about what fa...
Tom Douglas returns! He has written No.1’s such as “I Run You” by Lady A, “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert, “Raise Em Up” by Keith Urban + Eric Church and many more! Tom shares how he stays active and positive as he approaches his 70th birthday + how he has learned to be intentional with his time. He shares how the idea came about for his new documentary “Love, Tom”, how it started as a one man show and then ended up on Paramount+. Tom also shares stories with Bobby behind his biggest hits, which he has to perform live and how he got his start as a songwriter later in life. Foll...
In this episode, we've compiled stories from past Bobbycast episodes on how various bands got their names. You'll hear how Dan + Shay, Lady A, Rascal Flatts, Old Dominion, Little Big Town, Locash, NSYNC, Creed, Seaforth and LANCO decided on their names, some of the struggles they went through with their name, and what they called themselves before they made it big. Follow the podcast: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mike D takes you along our favorite moments from the BobbyCast this year! In Part 2, you’ll hear stories from Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn, Sherly Crow, Gavin DeGraw, Rita Wilson and Billy Ray Cyrus! Stories of living with Johnny Cash, getting clean and what it’s like to be famous. Check out Movie Mike's Movie Podcast HERE Follow the podcast: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on YoutubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mike D takes you along our favorite moments from the BobbyCast this year! In Part 1, you’ll hear stories from Bailey Zimmerman, Tyler Hubbard, Morgan Wade, Breland and JT Harding! Stories of falling into music by accident, getting to open for superstars, breaking up and more. Check out Mike D on Movie Mike's Movie Podcast! HERE Follow the podcast: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on YoutubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
John Esposito is leaving the position as the Chairman & CEO Warner Music Nashville after 13 years. He has overseen the label and grown it exponentially since he began in 2009 with artists from Dan + Shay to Kenny Chesney. He talks about taking Blake Shelton from a point of almost getting dropped to being a super star. Espo is already credited with jump starting the careers of Hunter Hayes, Brett Eldredge, Cole Swindell and many more. He talks about the behind the scenes of running a record label, the advice he offers artists and what he will do after leaving Warner. He also shares some gre...