Episodes
Kix Brooks (@KixBrooks) of Brooks & Dunn hangs out with Bobby to talk about his extremely impressive career. Brooks & Dunn is the best-selling country duo of all time, and even though they got their start in the '80s, Kix shares how they are currently playing their biggest shows right now! He'll also share inside details on why they broke up and what Merle Haggard told them that caused him to have an issue with them. Kix has also been hosting the 'American Country Countdown' since 2006, and he'll share how he had to go to interview school to get better at radio. Kix also recalls getting dis...
Lily Rose (@LilyRoseMusicOfficial) joins Bobby Bones to share how she got her start in music and how she doesn't want to be defined by one genre. She shared how when she was working at the mall she would listen to BobbyCast episodes to learn more about being an artist. Lily looked back on the day she made the decision to move to Nashville, and how no one would give her the time of day until her song went viral on TikTok. She also shares how she and her wife met and why she does not want to be known as the 'gay' or 'TikTok' artist. Lily also talks about how she met Diplo, and they started wo...
Michael Ray (@michaelraymusic) sits down with Bobby Bones to give a candid look on his public divorce and how he's grown personally and professionally from it. He'll share what he learned from it and what he wishes he had done differently. He gets vulnerable talking about the steps he took in therapy and how while he was going through that process he had the number one song on country radio. Michael will also share how he was diagnosed with depression and the healthy steps he's taking in his every day life to get better. He'll also talk about his new music, what it's like being on tour and ...
On the finale of Season 2, Kickoff Kevin sits down with Spencer Crandall. Spencer and Kevin talk about their days of playing college football but being forced to retire early due to injuries, and how it led to new careers. Plus, Spencer dives into the advantages social media can give an independent artist, now that he has over 2.5 million TikTok followers. Spencer and Kevin also talk about him being on the road with Morgan Wallen in 2016 and much more! IG: @SpencerCrandall TikTok: @SpencerCrandall Follow: @KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode s...
Warren Zeiders (@warrenzeiders) never intended to become a singer, until a sports injury changed his plans. He sits down with Bobby Bones to talk about his life before music, how he had a lacrosse scholarship in college, and how he got seven concussions while playing. He shares how the pandemic derailed his plans, so he posted a video of himself singing on TikTok that went viral. Warren also recalls the time he posted a video of himself singing on YouTube that he was bullied for, to then having industry people message him. He also reveals why he hired his mom to be his business manager, wha...
On season 2, episode 9 of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin sits down with Fort Smith, Arkansas native - JD Clayton. JD talks about losing his job during COVID and having to work for a landscaping company to make ends meet, but this ultimately led to him writing his first album while on the job. Kevin and JD also talk about his upbringing and not growing up on traditional country music like the rest of his fans, and much more! Socials: IG: JDClaytonOfficial Twitter: JDClaytonofcl Follow: @KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by...
Amanda Shires (@amandapearlshires) talks to Bobby about her project, Loving You, a covers album with the late Bobbie Nelson. She explains how Bobbie was her hero and what it was like working with her and how she will keep her legacy alive with their joint album. Amanda also shares how she got her start in music, how she expresses herself through playing the fiddle, and details the time she wrote a letter to Tyrese Gibson. She also tells us how Billy Joe Shaver convinced her to move to Nashville after she found success with her music in Texas. Amanda will also share how she met her husband, ...
Bobby saw Jelly Roll earlier this week at the Opry and wanted to revisit his original interview. He came by in May 2022 to share his life. Jelly Roll has a very inspiring story that he loves to share in hopes of connecting with people. He comes from a middle lower class community where he was the youngest child of 4. His dad was a meat salesman for his own family company called DeFord Wholesale Meats, and his mom struggled with addiction and mental health. He spent about 12 years in and out of the jail system until he had an awakening moment sitting in his jail cell. A guard knocked on his ...
On this episode of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin sits down with married duo The Dryes. Katelyn and Derek have been married for 11 years and began dating before deciding to become a duo and chase their dreams together. They talked about some of the challenges that being a married duo and traveling the country can bring, and how their friends were the ones who set them up 15 years ago. Plus, the couple talks about being the modern day Johnny and June, the big year they've had so far after playing at the CMA Fest and being on tour with Jo Dee Messina. Socials: IG: TheDryes Twitter: TheDryes...
From credit cards to credit scores and everything in between, “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult” digs into the good, bad, and prudent ways to build and use credit. We talk to Sara Rathner, a senior writer, travel, and credit card expert at NerdWallet, about why making purchases with a credit card (instead of a debit card) is safer, how we can build our credit back up from a less-than-perfect past, and how to effectively use your credit card to build up a personal rewards savings account! Cited Sources: Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve Sustem - Economic Well Bing of U.S. Households in...
Richard Marx talks to Bobby Bones about his incredible career and how he feels like he has two versions: one has a singer-songwriter, and one writing hit songs for artists like NSYNC, Keith Urban and more! He talks about how he got his start in music, moving to LA right after high school to chase his dreams, and the adversity has he faced. He also shares the time he became a backup singer for Kenny Rogers and went up to him in the studio and pitched him a song he wrote. Richard also reveals the song he was told would never work but ended up becoming a huge hit and more! See omnystudio.com/l...
On this episode of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin brings on a Tennessee native in Emily Ann Roberts. Emily Ann was once a finalist on The Voice at just age 15, but quickly learned that was only the beginning of her journey. Kevin and Emily dive into her playing at the Opry 16 times, how her worst tour day became her best, her YouTube channel that she has with her husband, and so much more! Socials: IG & Twitter: Emilyann_Music Follow: @KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent ...
Morgan Evans (@MorganEvansMusic) talks to Bobby Bones about the sudden success of his song "Over For You" and the impact it's made on his career and in his fans' lives. He also explains how after the first time he played it, it felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders, but it was a weird time in his life when it went viral. Morgan also talks about his love for jeeps, surfing and being outdoors, and shares the time he beat Dierks Bentley in pickleball. We'll also hear how he got his start as a pop artist in Australia, the transition to country music in America, and more about his new ...
Another batch of Unsigned & Independent season 2 with Kevin O'Connell is back! This time with an artist who has made the transition from pop to country. Originally from Tennessee, Shaylen was once in a pop group as a teenager, even signed to Young Money Cash Money Records and moved to LA! Shaylen talks about making the transition from pop to country and how moving to Nashville last year has allowed her to fall in love with making music again and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
John Sykes, the chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Co-Founder of MTV and VH1 and the current President of iHeartMedia Entertainment Enterprises, joined Bobby Bones to talk about his incredible career that has made a lasting impact on music on television. He explains the process of who gets voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the note he wrote Dolly Parton to convince her to accept her nomination. John also shares how he got his start as one of the founding people at MTV and how he later created VH1 and 'Behind The Music,' and Pop-Up videos! We treat this episode as if it ...
Legendary songwriter and lead singer of McBride and The Ride, Terry McBride (@TerryMcBrideMusic), talked to Bobby Bones about how he formed McBride and The Ride and shares the origin story of their name. Plus, he talks about how Brooks & Dunn have recorded over 25 songs he's written, and what it's like to be a songwriter in Nashville. Terry also recalls how his dad didn't want him to pursue music and shares the story about why his grandparents once called the cops on him. He also shares stories from when he toured with John Fogerty and Huey Lewis in the 80s and how trying to get George Stra...
The lead singer of Counting Crows, Adam Duritz (@CountingCrows) talked to Bobby about how he discovered he was a good singer and started a band at 13 but didn't write his first song until he was a freshman in college. He shared how songwriting took over his life so much that it affected his schoolwork and when he was one credit away from graduating college and didn't care to get his degree. He also talked about the years he spent struggling to make it in music that led him to go to Europe and quit for a little while. Adam also recalled what inspired their song "Mr. Jones" and how after they...
At the 58th ACM Awards, people were introduced to the married duo, The War and Treaty, when they performed their song "Blank Page." Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter talk to Bobby about their unusual start in the music industry, their resilience as a couple working together and the turning point that changed everything for them. Michael, who served in the army, shared how he learned to play piano while in the military and how it inspired him to start writing songs for the fallen. The War and Treaty also reveals what their duo name stands for and gives an inside look to their incredible ...
Fresh off the heels of his first number one song, "Wild As Her," rising country star, Corey Kent (@CoreyKent), talks to Bobby about his winding road to success in the music industry. When the pandemic started and live music stopped, Corey started working at a pavement company to make money and support his wife and kids. During that time, he got sent a demo of a song Morgan Wallen wrote, which he recorded while still working at the paving company until it went viral. He shares his journey from moving to Nashville at 17, getting dropped from his publishing deal, moving back home in Texas to l...
Patrick Hicks (@PatrickHicks82) has become a TikTok star for his music storytelling videos where he shares stories on musicians' background, how they got their start, and fun facts about their life. He joins Bobby for a conversation about why he started making videos, how he knows a bunch of music info and how he gained a massive social media following. He also discusses the challenges of working a normal 9-5 job and doing social media full time on the side. Patrick will also share his thoughts on the legalities of AI music creation and how he thinks it will affect music in the future. And...
Shannon Ella and Kevin O'Connell give their initial reaction following Thursday night's 58th ACM Awards. From their initial thoughts, to running through every award and giving their biggest surprise, Shannon and Kevin cover it all immediately following the show! You can follow Shannon @ShannonElla_ & Kevin @kickoffkevinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Meghan Patrick (@MeghanPatrickMusic) is unapologetically herself in this conversation with Bobby. Meghan is a Canadian country music superstar, and the back-to-back winner of the Canadian Country Music Associations Female Artist of The Year. But finding her way in the American country music scene hasn't been easy. She talks about how she turned to music after she got into a serious snowboarding accident, and focused on it so much that she dropped out of college to pursue it as a career, which her parents weren't too pleased with. Meghan also shares how she and Mitchell Tenpenny met and what...
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 ...