1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: Episode three eight with Rita Wilson. I'll tell you, Mike, 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: I didn't know what to expect. H I figured it 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: should be nice. I didn't know what to expect with 4 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: this interview. She's awesome. Yeah, like you're just like, dang, 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: don't don't go back to California to stay here and 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: be our friend. She has a new album called Rita 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: Wilson Now and Forever Duets. And you know, also, you 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: never know where people want to go if they're talking 9 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: about specifically we're talking about music, right, and the fact 10 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: that she was like, yeah, my first thing was on 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: The Redy Bunch. She's talked about being on the episode. 12 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: I just really enjoyed the interview. Yeah, And so I 13 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: had met her briefly once before because we have mutual friends. 14 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: And I never want to bother the stars, and so, 15 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: because you know what, the stars aren't like us, regardless 16 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: of what you read, they're not. They're no, they're often busy, 17 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: and they're cooler, and so I don't want to bother her. 18 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: But it turns out they're a lot like us, because 19 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: she's really nice. So, I mean, Rita Wilson has starred 20 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: in so many movies Sleepless in Seattle, Mixed Nuts Now 21 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: and then Runaway Bride. It's complicated. She You know. One 22 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: of the things that I will do is I will, 23 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 1: in the middle of an interview sometimes tell a story 24 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: that I think might somehow resonate with the person I'm interviewing, 25 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: where they relate to it in a way. It would 26 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: be a quick one. And it's not really a technique 27 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: that people recommend because it's me telling a little story 28 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: in the middle of an interview with someone else. But 29 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: I often can tell a story and if someone reacts 30 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: to it, and that's all I'm looking for a reaction, 31 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: and I can see what part they react to, and 32 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 1: I know they got something to say. And so when 33 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: we start talking about her parents, this is for me 34 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: the best part of the whole interview. And sometimes people like, yeah, 35 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 1: parents were good, this is tough for it's easy, or 36 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: mom's gone down, who knows, But this was like a 37 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: real deal. I just wanted to I could have done 38 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: an hour on just that. It's really good. So she 39 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: does it all, you know. Again, she has a new album. 40 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: We'll talk about it, will play some of it. Obviously, 41 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: She's acted in many things. Um, she's I know they 42 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: have kids, right and they have yeah, yeah kids, Mary 43 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: to Tom Hanks. She's got a million Instagram followers and 44 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: she's a really cool person. So I hope you enjoyed 45 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: this with Rita Wilson. You and I met. I was 46 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,239 Speaker 1: trying to think too. It was an event after something. 47 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: It was after the c m A S and it 48 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: was at the Marriott Hotel. In the after party, there 49 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 1: were big donuts on a wall, like, that's what I 50 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: remember about that in order no offense, big donuts, Rita. 51 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: That's about that night. One would say that I've got 52 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: a lot of holes in my head, so maybe that's appropriate. 53 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: Um No, and you had either just one Dancing with 54 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,959 Speaker 1: the Stars or you were in the finals. I can't 55 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: remember exactly, but yeah, I was about to do the finals, yes, 56 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 1: and I was exhausted and I was like, why am 57 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: I doing this? It's funny you remember that. I do 58 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: remember so because I love the show, and I watched 59 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: the show. You watch the show? Oh I do? I do? 60 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: And now it's gone to streaming, so I'm gonna have to, 61 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,679 Speaker 1: you know, set it up on that. But um, could 62 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 1: you do that? Could you dance like that? Can you dance. 63 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: Oh heck no, I someone that has every performance skill. 64 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: You can't dance. You have every performance skill acting and 65 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: comedy and drama. I got we my wife and are 66 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: watching Curb Enthusiasm, and then the other night we just 67 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,399 Speaker 1: go through and watch random episodes and there you are 68 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 1: and you're crushing and I'm like, what does she not do? 69 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: So you're telling me you can't. I don't believe it. Now, 70 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: you can be humble, but I don't believe it. Though 71 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: I have danced. I have danced, but I'm not what 72 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: you would call a dancer. Like any anything that I do, 73 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: I have to rehearse a lot. I can't just show 74 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: up and be like, Okay, look at me. You know 75 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: I'm I'm well. I do that a lot without rehearsing. 76 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: Down it's always yes, No, I love it. I love 77 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: moving and And the thing is, it's like anything like that, 78 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: like dancing, even if you're just dancing at a party 79 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: or something. You can't be in a bad mood when 80 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: you're dancing because the endorphins just kick in and you're 81 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: so happy. I would challenge that, actually, it isn't a 82 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: bad mood. Every time I danced, like I can't do 83 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: what am I doing. I know I'm terrible, and yet 84 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: you one only because the people. That's I mean, really 85 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: that's the people. It's very much our culture. The people 86 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: like you. They celebrate you, and they lift you. And 87 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: then once they lift you, they like to knock you 88 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: down and like to lift your back up like a 89 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 1: yo yo. It's like bad mitten kind of goes up, 90 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: it comes down slow, and it's at least expect that 91 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: we have a mutual friend. I assume you're Christian. Are 92 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: still friends? Christian chan Well hard to Christian Bush. Oh, 93 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: Christian Bush one of the greatest human beings at that time. Yeah. Literally, 94 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,239 Speaker 1: I got to go on tour with him, and he 95 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 1: is and I've written songs with him. One of my 96 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: favorite songs I wrote with him and Liz Rose and um, 97 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,679 Speaker 1: he's just an amaze human being. The best I'm saying 98 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: for me. We've written together when I was doing one 99 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: of my comedy projects and Christian writes like a mad scientist. 100 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: I don't know what how it was with you, but 101 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: I was like, I have this idea for a song. 102 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: He was like an iPad that goes like a four 103 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: stringed instrument with like the tail of a raccoon coming 104 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: out on the top of it, and all of a sudden, 105 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: he's got a click in the clock and he's like, okay, 106 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: I got He's all over the place and I'm like, 107 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: what is that? Beakers? He's pour water into beakers. That 108 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,280 Speaker 1: steam is coming over the things. That's different colors. But 109 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: you know what, he was a poetry major in college 110 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: at Emory, and he thinks like that. He thinks in words. 111 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: One time we were writing a song together called I'm guilty, 112 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: Guilty of loving you. You know, I was like, sorry, 113 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: I'm busted. Yes, I love you. And the writing assignment 114 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: this was when I was first starting a songwriting and 115 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: he said, Okay, this is the idea, and I want 116 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: you to go away and I want you to list 117 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: all of the things that you very specifically love about someone. 118 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: What do you mean, go away like from the room? Yeah, not, 119 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: might just leave for a month, might take a second, 120 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: and yeah, exactly take a moment. And it was so 121 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: much fun because what he was I think teaching me 122 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: was you have to it has to be specific to you, 123 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: it has to be authentic to you. And that was 124 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: a really great lesson. But he is also one of 125 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: the greatest musicians to work with and play within. So 126 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: is his band Brandon, his other Benjie Shanks. Like they're 127 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: just amazing guys. What's what's remarkable about Christian and Brandon 128 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: is that just being around them actually spawns even great 129 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: artists and people. We had a girl who was up 130 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: here a few weeks ago who is really like catching 131 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: on right now. She's probably twenty years old. We were 132 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: talking to her. She was like, Yeah, I was an 133 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: intern in Atlanta for Brandon, a Christian like just and 134 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: like just being around that. You see in the NFL 135 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: two around great head coaches, a ground around great directors, 136 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: Like sometimes you just pick up stuff. You totally pick 137 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: up stuff. Just by being around greatness and seeing work 138 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: ethic and seeing how they do it. Work ethic is 139 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: so huge. At least for me, I really appreciate that. 140 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: I'm always impressed by that, you know, like coming down 141 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: here and writing in Nashville, when you write, you have 142 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: these two sessions, write a morning session in an afternoon session, 143 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: and it when I first came down, it was intimidating 144 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: because people were so excellent at what they did, their craftsmanship, 145 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: their facility, and by facility. I mean that they were 146 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: literally flexible, fascile. It could go in any direction you 147 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: wanted to go. And I learned a lot from that, 148 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: and I really admire that and respect that because I'm 149 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: like that, you know if you if you show up 150 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: late on a set, you are in big trouble. Like 151 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: they don't like that. So I love that everybody showed 152 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: up on time. I'm a very punctual person, So you 153 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: are I might have been here early today, not that 154 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: I'm surprised that you are. But I will say this, 155 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: and I'm not going to say any names, but anytime 156 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: that I'm working on a television project in California, and 157 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: I did many seasons on certain shows there are people 158 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: will be two or three hours late, and it was 159 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: like the bigger star you and this this is off, 160 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: this is off my conversation, and the bigger star you are. 161 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: They felt like the later they could be, and they 162 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: would be two or three sometimes four hours late, and 163 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: but who am I? I'm like, no, that's wrong. I'm 164 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: not top of the call sheets. I'm down a couple 165 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: of spots, and so what am I do? You just 166 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: wait around? And I was like, man, this is not 167 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: the environment that I am comfortable being. I know I 168 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: don't like that at all. I have not experienced that, 169 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: like what you're describing. That would never fly on anything 170 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: I'm working on. And I just thought, well, I guess 171 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 1: this is California l a culture, because in Nashville it's 172 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: it's like the red You show up on time and 173 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: because other people have showed up on time and you 174 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: owe them that respect, that's right. But so you're telling 175 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: me everybody in Los Angeles just sadn't pick when they 176 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: come to work. I've never know. I have never experienced that, 177 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: but I know that if that happens, If that happens, 178 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: it should not fly. So I don't know what we're 179 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: going to talk off, Mike. I gotta get the beats. 180 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: I do want to get to the album in a second. 181 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: And how you landed all these amazing artists or how 182 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: they landed on your album. I mean, both are really 183 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: cool things to even for like Jimmy, like he was 184 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: super pumped to be on the Amazing Jimmy Um because 185 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 1: I had done He had called and asked me to 186 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: do something on Betty James and we did a song 187 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: called when This Is Over with Torn Wells and the 188 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: Oak Ridge Boys, and I was so, uh, you know, 189 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: thrilled that he asked me because I didn't know him 190 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: at that time. He also did dancing when the start did. 191 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: I talked to him a lot through it. Yes, I 192 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: went down to see him because he was so good. 193 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: It was so exhilarating to watch him, met his mom 194 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: and his uncle. Was really very fun. Anyway, So when uh, 195 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: we were going through the process of selecting songs, the 196 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 1: one that I had in my mind for Jimmy was 197 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: the one that he literally came out of his mouth. 198 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: I said, you know, I have a couple of songs 199 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: I want to, you know, run by you and he 200 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: said yes, and I said okay, and he said I'll 201 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: be there and I was like, oh my gosh, Jimmy, 202 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: I love that song so much. Yes, that's the one 203 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: I was thinking of, let's do it. So he's great. 204 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: He's great, the great you guys did that song wonderfully together. 205 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: And we'll walk to the whole project in a second, 206 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: because really some I just a great list of talent 207 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: and you included it is all on this project. I 208 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: do want to go back, though, because I'm curious about 209 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: kind of your roots and even what it was like 210 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: growing up, Like how people turn out the way they 211 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: are right, Like I I love this. You know, I 212 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: grew up a trailer park, and I think a lot 213 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: of that influenced how where I am and at what 214 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: I do now, Like no doubt about it. When I 215 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 1: was five, A lot of that stuff that happened to 216 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:51,679 Speaker 1: me still buried deep down, still exists exactly. So what 217 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: was your house? Like it's seven years old, who's there? 218 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: Where do you live? That is such a great question. Well, 219 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: I'm a first generation American. My mom was Greek and 220 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: my dad was Bulgarian, and they both had to escape 221 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 1: their various countries because during World War Two, my mom's 222 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: village was on the border of Greece and Albania, and 223 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: as things got tough, they knew they had to leave. 224 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: So my mom had cross over these mountains by herself 225 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: in the middle of the night to get into Greece, 226 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: to get to Athens to eventually restore her American passport 227 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: because she was born in America. How old was she 228 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 1: when when she had to do that. She was a 229 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: nineteen when she left by herself, just with this backpack. 230 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 1: I call it a backpack, but it was something on 231 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: her back that carried this sterling silver flatwear that they 232 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: had brought from New York. Did you ever talk to 233 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: her about that, like what was going through her mind? Like, oh, yeah, 234 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: when she made that decision where Because that's a hard decision, 235 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 1: even if you know you have to do it, it's 236 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: a hard decision to go, Okay, now I have to go. Well, 237 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: the harder decision was that her parents, sorry, her mother 238 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: was there because her dad had died when they went 239 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: there on a vacation four years old, just a village 240 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: visit the village and um, so her mother was a 241 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,839 Speaker 1: widow with four kids at a very young age, and 242 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: they were supposed to leave all together, but they got 243 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: word that there was going to be a letter coming. 244 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: And they knew in this small village that if somebody 245 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: came to deliver a letter and no one was there 246 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: to receive it, that's unusual where they go, you know, 247 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: where everybody is. So my mom offered to stay back 248 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: to get the letter so that she could the family 249 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 1: could go ahead of her, and then there would be 250 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: no suspicion arouse, like cover exactly. And then my dad, 251 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: he Um was born in Greece and raised in Bulgaria. 252 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: And oh my god, his story is so I don't 253 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: know how much time we have. Okay, it's it's who 254 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: I am. It's exactly who I am. And we'll lead 255 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: back to Christian Bush in a second. Um, but he 256 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,959 Speaker 1: wanted he it's so sad. But he met a woman, 257 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: he had a baby, and um, they were married, had 258 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: a baby, and on December the baby died, and on December, sorry, 259 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: on a December twenty the baby was born. On December 260 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: the mother died, his wife, and four months later the 261 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: baby died. His name was Emil. I didn't know this 262 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: at all. I did that show Who Do You Think 263 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 1: You Are? And all of this came out. My dad 264 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: never told me that. So he tried to escape Bulgaria. 265 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: I think just out of sheer unhappiness. And my dad 266 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: really loved the idea of America. So tries to escape, 267 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: gets caught, goes They say him, if you try to 268 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: escape again, we're going to make you an enemy of 269 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: the state. We're gonna put you in jail. He does 270 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: it again. He gets caught and they put him in 271 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: a labor camp. And this labor camp was one of 272 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: the most severe labor camps that that at the time 273 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: communist labor camp. He gets a job. It's a coal 274 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: sort of mining labor camp, and he notices that at 275 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: the night shift there are these trains that come in 276 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: and they pick up amounts of coal and they take 277 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: them away. It's suspenful and I'm nervous watching the movie 278 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: and I know it's not real, but this is a 279 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: story about your dad. Yes, and he um he He 280 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: bribes one of the guards with a carton of cigarettes 281 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: that I guess somebody gave him as a gift on 282 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: visiting day. And uh. He wanted to work the night 283 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: shift because he knew if he worked the night shift 284 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: he had a plan. So he sees the trains come 285 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: in he's working the night shift. He says, hey, can 286 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: we go down and get some more firewood for the 287 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: um fire. They were on a break. It's like two 288 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: in the morning, and the guard says, yeah sure. He says, 289 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: can I take Richard with me, because you know, easier 290 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: to bring more wood back, and goes yeah, sure. So 291 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: they go down there and they slotted themselves between the 292 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: trains where they couldn't be seen, and they started running 293 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: twenty minutes later they figured it out. He could hear 294 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: the dogs barking, and they just ran and ran and 295 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: ran and ran. Eventually got away, made their way to Turkey. 296 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: I'm trying to make it very slow quick. You don't 297 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 1: have to make it quick. Got on a boat. That 298 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: was my dad got a job on a freighter boat 299 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: shoveling coal and made his way to Philadelphia and jumped 300 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: the ship. But what he did was he took Richard 301 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: with him as a stowaway because there was no work 302 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: for Richard, and so he was stowed away in the 303 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: basically the engine room. And Richard and my dad made 304 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: it to America, and Richard went on to New zealand 305 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: became a very very successful um businessman. Yeah, and so 306 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: here's the thing about that is that I felt like, 307 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: when you said, what's it like, it's seven years old, 308 00:15:54,840 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: I was keenly aware of how luck he my parents 309 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: felt that they were, and they always said things like 310 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: my dad was always good, bless America every single day. 311 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: And I felt like, I'm really lucky I live in America, 312 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: you know. I was really proud, and uh, he never 313 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: took that for granted. And Christian and I wrote a 314 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: song because I thought to myself, I wonder if courage 315 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: is handed down, does courage get handed down? Do we 316 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: learn that from somewhere? Do people do people? Can they 317 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: do it? And I thought we wrote a song called 318 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: heart he handed down Christian Bush and I because I 319 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: really thought it was from my children, from my my 320 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: kids like to say this, this guy lives in you. 321 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: You know, he's I'd like to ask a couple of 322 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: questions about your dad, if that's okay, because holy, holy moly, 323 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: the fact that he first tried to escape right just 324 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: to just to try to leave for a better life, 325 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 1: a lot of bravery there. He got caught. I probably like, 326 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm good. I'm good. I don't want 327 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: to I don't want to go jail. I don't want 328 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: to be labeled a terrorists, basically is what they said 329 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: to him. He does it, he and gets caught again. Okay. 330 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: So now though, if they would have caught him a 331 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: third time trying to leave labor camp, oh, he would 332 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: have been shot and killed. I would have killed him, absolutely. 333 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: And when I went back to do that program, they 334 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: took me to the you know, Hall of Records. Let's say, 335 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 1: from the Bulgarian government and he was listed as an 336 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: enemy of the state. He had a number. If they 337 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: ever caught him, he would have been put in jail 338 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: for life. Who knows what else. The other thing I 339 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: wanted to go back to is so his first son, 340 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: Emil was born in December. Well, my sister, her daughter, 341 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: firstborn daughter, was born in December, and my youngest son, Truman, 342 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 1: is born on December. And I thought all those birthdays 343 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: that my dad on December he was celebrating his grandchildren 344 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: and also his son. He was there to see them. Yes, yes, 345 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: he died when he was eighty nine. My mom died 346 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 1: when she was ninety three. That also is they lived 347 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 1: to be a wonderfully old age. Yes, all of that. 348 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 1: And when I asked what you were like at seven, 349 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: and I can move to thirteen now because I see 350 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 1: the picture of your parents and it's it's it's a 351 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: vague picture, but it's a strong picture, right, Like I 352 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: would assume that the values they taught you, even maybe 353 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: not always purposeful, but just because it was instilled in them, 354 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: was like we don't stop like we if it's something 355 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: we're passionate about, that's what we value. That's what we 356 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 1: asked some value were just so big in your house, 357 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,719 Speaker 1: you know, it was huge. Like my dad was a bartender. 358 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: My mom didn't work, and my parents were not educated, 359 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: but they were very intelligent and they had enormous character, 360 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: and uh it was it was really fun because my 361 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: mom also, you know, she did everything she could so cook, 362 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: she made our curtains, are bedspreads, are clothes. Like if 363 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: I went shopping for a pair of jeans, I'd be like, oh, 364 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: these are cute, and she's like, I can make those. 365 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,120 Speaker 1: I'm like, no, Mom, I want a pair of jeans. 366 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: What jeans I can buy in a store? Okay? Um? 367 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: But I I really learned that value of hard work 368 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,439 Speaker 1: because I saw how hard my dad worked, and because 369 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 1: he would get tips, he'd bring the tips home and 370 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,880 Speaker 1: he would bring them home and you know those purple 371 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: felt bags from Crown Royal bottles exactly, he would bring 372 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: his tips home in that the coins. We on Saturday mornings, 373 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 1: we'd take them all out, separate out the nickels, the dimes, 374 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:40,719 Speaker 1: the quarters, the pennies, put him in the little paper 375 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,159 Speaker 1: rolls that you know you take to the bank right 376 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: the account number on and take them that way and 377 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 1: I thought to myself, Oh my god, Like he raised 378 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 1: a family of three in Hollywood, never had debt, and 379 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: I didn't even get a credit card until I was 380 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: seventeen because I was like, Dad, I can't get a 381 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 1: credit card unless you get a at a card, So 382 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: can you please get one so that I can have 383 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: one on your account? And and I think that's amazing 384 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: because you probably can't do that nowadays. You know, that's 385 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: why you're never late. I mean, I mean that's why. 386 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: And we laugh, we honestly we laugh. But that's probably like, 387 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 1: deep down in your guts, that's like, I'm not late 388 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: because I need to respect the other people that are 389 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: showing up on time because my parents taught me. Like, 390 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: that's a really amazing comeback to that part of the 391 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: conversation here where you're like, yeah, I'm not late. You 392 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 1: know why you're not late even though you're a big star, 393 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: because your parents have been still this in you and 394 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: it's still sitting with you today that it's so cool. 395 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: That's that's very very nice to think of that way. Yeah, 396 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: they were just really good people. And I think having 397 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: parents that um were immigrants and had accents and things 398 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: like that, I remember absolutely feeling like people sort of 399 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: treated them differently, and I don't mean that in a 400 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: positive way, because they just assumed that they weren't smart 401 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:08,679 Speaker 1: or or not American in that sense, born in America, 402 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: and um, there was something about that I think that 403 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: allowed it in a way, it teaches you empathy because 404 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: I knew, like, these people are awesome. My parents are 405 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: fantastic people, even though somebody may not be treating them 406 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 1: that way. So you kind of connect to that in 407 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,919 Speaker 1: a way. So seven years old, I was a really 408 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: happy kid and um and very you know, like it 409 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 1: was just a very typical child. Even though it was Hollywood, California, 410 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: it was still very typical. Could have been any town, USA. 411 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: To the final questions about your your parents, when do 412 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: you think that they were the most proud of you? 413 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: I think they were always proud of me. You know. 414 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: My parents offered me an incredible foundation of a home 415 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,959 Speaker 1: base so that I could go off and try different things, 416 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: and they never stopped me from doing that. They never 417 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: said no, that's scary, we don't want you to act, 418 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: or and that's weird. You know. They definitely wanted me 419 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: to go to college, which I did for about two 420 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: years and just kept working and I couldn't stay in school. 421 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: But um, they were they were just I think they 422 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: were always proud and and they never held me back 423 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: from from pursuing anything. So most proud of I don't know. 424 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,640 Speaker 1: Probably do you think the pride was because you worked hard? 425 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 1: I mean, just to boil it all down, do you 426 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: think the pride wasn't because of some award or job 427 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 1: or accomplishment. It was just because you were consistent and 428 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: worked hard, and it's something that they did. I think so. 429 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: I think in a way yes, because I think you 430 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: can recognize that in your children, you know, and my 431 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,199 Speaker 1: brother and sister also worked hard. But I think they 432 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: they recognized that we would be okay, Like you know, 433 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 1: all parents want their kids to grow up and be okay. 434 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: You know, you're gonna be able to work, have a 435 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: roof over your head, that sort of thing. So I 436 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: think they were proud that we were um, functioning human beings. 437 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna flip it, now, when were you the 438 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: most proud that they were your parents? Oh? Oh my god, 439 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: Oh if I tell this story, I'm going to totally cry. 440 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 1: It's safe space here. You couldn't be in a safer space. Okay, 441 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 1: I'll tell this story. Oh my god, this is this 442 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: is I'm gonna try to tell him without crying. I 443 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: was about twenty three, and I was always incredibly proud 444 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: of my parents. But I was dating somebody who was 445 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:56,120 Speaker 1: like from a wealthier family or something. And we went 446 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: on a double date with his best friend and the 447 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 1: girl that that guy was dating, and I was intimidated. 448 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 1: You know, they were definitely in a different economic strata 449 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: than you know, I was raised in. And the girl 450 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,479 Speaker 1: asked me, well, my dad did for a living, And 451 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: I said, my dad's a bartender, And she said, why 452 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 1: do you say it like that, because I must have 453 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: just like kind of made a face or something like 454 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: and she said, my dad died. I would give anything 455 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:43,879 Speaker 1: to have my dad here. And from that point on 456 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: everything changed because I was proud of my parents, and 457 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: I from that point on, I never ever hesitated or 458 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: wavered in being proud of my parents and being proud 459 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:57,680 Speaker 1: of my dad and what he did for a living, 460 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: because those values and what he gave me so much 461 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 1: more valuable than anything else that the world could have 462 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: given me. The way to go, Bobby, I never ever 463 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: got to meet him your parents, Well, they're here in 464 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: the room right now. They're amazing. I appreciate your generosity 465 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 1: with with sharing that about who you are, because that 466 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:26,439 Speaker 1: is a lot of who you are. Thank you. But 467 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:30,159 Speaker 1: I can't believe you asked that question, because like after that, 468 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:33,919 Speaker 1: I really had never been prouder. I mean it was 469 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: almost like, what did your dad do for a living? 470 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: My dad is a bartender and he has raised a 471 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 1: family of three without any debt, without hurting anybody, without 472 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: doing anything shady. He's just a good guy that how 473 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: can you not be proud of that? I can see 474 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 1: too that you'll go into a songwriting room just from 475 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: this conversation here and be extremely vulnerable. And I think 476 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,159 Speaker 1: that's the first and hardest wall to break down for 477 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: anybody that's trying to get to that level of songwriting 478 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 1: that feels pure and authentic, because a lot of people 479 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: can rhyme words and write a decent melody, and there's 480 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 1: a lot of people in this town, a lot of 481 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: these rooms that can do it even with you. But 482 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: to be able to break down those walls and share 483 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 1: stories like that in a room with two people with 484 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: three people and go this is me, how do we 485 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: make this into something that like you did it here 486 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: with me and we only met once before. It's the 487 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 1: right question. You know that that is a I can 488 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:38,360 Speaker 1: see that as vulnerable as you're being right now, it's 489 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: a place that that you still go with confidence, like 490 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 1: you were proud to tell that story. You knew it 491 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: was gonna make you emotional. Do you ever, because I 492 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: feel like, you know, shame is such a powerful thing 493 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 1: and so many people deal with that, and and what 494 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,159 Speaker 1: I feel shame is in some ways is just a 495 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: barrier to the vulnerability because you're trying to avoid it 496 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: in some ways, and uh, if you can, I felt like, 497 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: you know, if you can eliminate that, then just get 498 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 1: to get to the truth. Ah. I've been very lucky 499 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 1: in that. Um the songwriters that the very first songwriter, 500 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: the person who told me I should be writing a 501 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:25,640 Speaker 1: song as Karada Gordy and Kara asked this one very 502 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 1: simple question. I said, I can't be a songwriter. I 503 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,200 Speaker 1: you know, don't play music and read music or playing instrument. 504 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 1: She goes, neither do I Do you have something you 505 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:38,239 Speaker 1: want to say? And when she said that, I was like, 506 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: wait a minute, is that part of like is that 507 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: part of it. She said, I'm going to write your 508 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: first two songs with you so she could show me 509 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: the process, and she did, and I was I wrote 510 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 1: that song was called Grateful, with Jason Reeves and Karada Gordy, 511 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: and that showed me, Oh, okay, oh I oh, I 512 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:01,159 Speaker 1: see how this can work. And then all of a sudden, 513 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:05,120 Speaker 1: it's like a cascade of ideas and feelings and thoughts, 514 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 1: and you know, it's one of the most satisfying experiences 515 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 1: that I've ever been, you know, lucky enough to to do. 516 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: I never thought it would happen. And in the feelings 517 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: because I've written a couple of books, and the feelings 518 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 1: from writing books are even doing a five hour radio 519 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: show everywhere I'm talking about things happening to me in 520 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: my personal life and different struggles and highlights and the 521 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 1: hard things to talk about. They're never not hard, but 522 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,200 Speaker 1: you understand that almost the harder, more vulnerable you are, 523 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 1: the more people and you can get, even yourself, the 524 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: more you can actually get from it. So you realize 525 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,719 Speaker 1: also after a few times of feeling unsafe and it 526 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: ends up not being death right, You're like, Okay, I 527 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: can go back and feel that way again and not 528 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: have to worry about dying, which I worked. And so 529 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: have you felt that in songwriting where you're you're able 530 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 1: to get vulnerable quicker now because and it's always it 531 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: doesn't feel good, but you understand it's okay. Yes, not 532 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: being taken care of by the people. Yes, And we're 533 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 1: doing something for a reason that's right. And and I 534 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 1: feel again, if people are there writing to write with 535 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: me and I'm there to write with them, we have 536 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: to be in that space. Uh. And and it's just 537 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 1: almost like a requirement. This is a required behavior for 538 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: a long writing session. And you know sometimes sometimes you 539 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: don't get there all the time. But um, it's definitely 540 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,880 Speaker 1: a good starting point. Why Nashville, Why country music? I mean, 541 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: just just a general vague question because I don't know 542 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 1: the answer to it. I know you love it. I 543 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: have friends of mine to love you and say she's 544 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 1: legitimate and that her it's her care and her passion. 545 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 1: But I don't know why. All right, I'll tell you. 546 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 1: When I was growing up, we had just AM radio, Okay, 547 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 1: so all those genres were on there. So you're hearing 548 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: R and B and soul and pop and country, and 549 00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 1: you know, and from forever away because I am radio 550 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: traveled all way across the county exactly. It was everywhere. 551 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: So all these genres are coming at you every single day, 552 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: and for me, it really was storytelling and I would 553 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: imagine things. I would imagine the scenarios. And the first 554 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: song that I absolutely thought I want to sing this song, 555 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 1: like stand up and sing this song was owed to 556 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 1: Billy Joe by Bobby Gentry. It was just it was 557 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: just this girl had something to say here. You know, 558 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: there was a story. So I knew Johnny Cash because 559 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: of a boy called Sue. I knew Dolly Parton, I 560 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 1: knew um Loretta Lynn, May she rest in peace? Tell 561 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: me why Net All those people were coming through the radio. 562 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 1: So g D. C Riley, Harper Valley p t a 563 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 1: huge and things crossed over back then. So when I 564 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 1: started writing with Kara, we wrote we were writing in 565 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: l a Um. She suggested Nashville, and Kristin Chenowith suggested Nashville. 566 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: She said, you at the time she was living no 567 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 1: she was living in l a at the time, and 568 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 1: she said, you were going to love it down there, 569 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: Go down there. And I had a manager at the 570 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: time that was based in Nashville. So I started coming 571 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 1: down and they started setting up rights, and I realized 572 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:30,880 Speaker 1: this is exactly like, this is the storytelling capital of 573 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 1: the world. And when you come to a place where 574 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 1: songwriting is revered and music is revered, it's called music 575 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 1: city for a reason. You understand the that it's valued here, 576 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: and that I think is why, you know, I came 577 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: down here and started it. But also people were very 578 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 1: open and very receptive, which I I am so thankful for. 579 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:00,959 Speaker 1: Why would they have accepted me as oh yeah, okay, 580 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: you know, some chick from Hollywood wants to come down 581 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: here and write music. But it was for me, it 582 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: was beyond that. It was sort of like what I 583 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 1: always really wanted to do. Like when you think of 584 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 1: something you love to do when you when you were 585 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,880 Speaker 1: a kid, by the way, did you have anything like 586 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 1: that that you love to do when you were a kids? 587 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 1: Be on a stage, you know, find there you go. Yeah, 588 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:27,640 Speaker 1: it was you're probably entertaining your friends. Yeah, mine was singing. 589 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 1: It was like, I want to get up and sing. 590 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: Were you a good singer as a kid? I have 591 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 1: no idea, no idea as a kid in front of 592 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 1: more than five people like you ever. No, no, no, 593 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 1: never like that. Never. I'm just kidding. No. I would 594 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 1: do school plays and things like that, singing. Oh my god, 595 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 1: you're reminding me. Duh. I sang in a church singing 596 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 1: groom called the Way Home, and we sang songs like uh, 597 00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 1: Bridge over Troubled Water, Yes, and we sing it. You know, 598 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: it was a quiet We were like maybe we were 599 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 1: a singing group. Those boys and girls. We're thirteen, fourteen 600 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 1: years old. We were patchwork skirts and white blasses. I 601 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 1: have not thought of this in a while. Clearly, I'm like, oh, yeah, 602 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,640 Speaker 1: I was singing in front of more than twenty five people, 603 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 1: that is right. Um, did you get a solo? No, 604 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: we nobody had solos. It was just sort of like 605 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: the church leader played guitar and we were like, you know, 606 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 1: a wholesome patchwork. What did the boys were. I think 607 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: they were like brown chords? And did you find fulfillment 608 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 1: as a kid in this group where you like, this 609 00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 1: is what I'm supposed to be doing. But like there 610 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: was the early stages of that. I totally loved it. 611 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,480 Speaker 1: I was obsessed with it. And then that was in 612 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 1: junior high and which we now call middle school, but 613 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: then when I went to high school, it there wasn't 614 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 1: anything like that that continued on, like the church group, 615 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,719 Speaker 1: singing group didn't continue on. And um, by then, you know, 616 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 1: I had found cheerleading just yelling, not singing. I thought 617 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 1: high school exactly you when you graduated high school, good student? 618 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 1: You said you have college for a couple of years. 619 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 1: What kind of student were you? Um? Not very present 620 00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:21,399 Speaker 1: because I was always working doing what acting? So by then, 621 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:23,800 Speaker 1: at sixteen, you know I did the Brady Bunch. I 622 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:26,399 Speaker 1: didn't know that, yes, I got my screen actor's car. 623 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:30,120 Speaker 1: I did not know that, yes, Bobby, would you like 624 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:33,319 Speaker 1: me to do the cheer for you? Because? Okay, so 625 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:39,920 Speaker 1: what role cher Pat Conway with? Who? With Greg and Marcia? Okay, 626 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:43,400 Speaker 1: so this was the episode Greg had a girlfriend. She 627 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 1: was running for a cheerleader. Marsha was also running for 628 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:49,880 Speaker 1: a cheerleader. But the girlfriend was kind of using Greg 629 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:54,239 Speaker 1: because he was a judge of the cheerleading competition. And 630 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:58,280 Speaker 1: so when the time came, it was a tie vote 631 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 1: and he was supposed to be the tie brea and 632 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:03,160 Speaker 1: it was going to get him into deep hot water 633 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:06,840 Speaker 1: with his girlfriend. So instead he chose me The cheerleader 634 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: who really was a cheerleader in real life. I've seen 635 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:14,360 Speaker 1: every episode pretty much and and I can vaguely remember 636 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 1: that I did not know that was that was Yeah, 637 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:20,279 Speaker 1: That's how I got my Screen Actors Guild card. Was 638 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 1: that show big? Though? When you went by everyone like 639 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 1: Marie McCormick drove a chocolate brown Mercedes onto the Paramount 640 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 1: Studios a lot, you know, like, oh my god. You 641 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:34,319 Speaker 1: know she's driving a brand new and she was only 642 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: fifteen and a half. She had her permit, but she 643 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 1: could drive, you know, with an adult in the car. 644 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:41,279 Speaker 1: So she had a Mercedes, which was like, oh, this 645 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 1: is crazy, fifteen year old of the Mercedes, and um, 646 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: the producers were the same ones that produced Gilligan's Island 647 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:53,640 Speaker 1: and all the shows that I loved. And during the filming, UM, 648 00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:56,960 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Montgomery, who played Samantha on Bewitched, came to the 649 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 1: setence at high so she was also one of my heroes. 650 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 1: I told ye exactly, So you're sixteen and you're working, 651 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 1: are you like, Okay, this is what I'm supposed to do. 652 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 1: I know I have school, but this is what I 653 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 1: really want to focus on. Or was it just there 654 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:13,799 Speaker 1: was so much fun, Like, well, what is it for 655 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: a sixteen year old? It was so much fun. And 656 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:19,799 Speaker 1: also it was consistent. At that point. I also had 657 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 1: an agent now, so I got my screen actor skilled, 658 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 1: I get an agent. I'm now doing a ton of commercials. 659 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:29,200 Speaker 1: And I just kept working and working, and I never stopped. 660 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:31,520 Speaker 1: And there was a point where I realized, Oh, my goodness, 661 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:34,319 Speaker 1: I think this is my job. I was going to 662 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 1: college to become a communications major, like graduate high school 663 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:41,480 Speaker 1: though honestly like if oh no, because I I worked. 664 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:44,960 Speaker 1: Oh well, we had a program at high school called 665 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:47,480 Speaker 1: four four, so you could go to school for four 666 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:50,440 Speaker 1: hours and then work part time for four hours. And 667 00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:54,480 Speaker 1: so I got them to agree that modeling after school 668 00:36:54,560 --> 00:36:59,200 Speaker 1: for four hours and doing auditions for commercials was a job. 669 00:36:59,239 --> 00:37:01,960 Speaker 1: And it was because I was constantly going on auditions. 670 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:04,720 Speaker 1: I guess there are so many kids there that act 671 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:08,719 Speaker 1: or in the arts where those programs are probably at 672 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:10,160 Speaker 1: a lot of the different schools because they have to 673 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 1: be yes here, and that would you know that would 674 00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:13,880 Speaker 1: happen because there's not a lot of kids doing that. 675 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:15,359 Speaker 1: But that makes a lot of sense. But it's much 676 00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:17,800 Speaker 1: more prevalent when you go to universities now too, and 677 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 1: they all have theater departments, film departments, because it's just, 678 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:26,200 Speaker 1: you know, there's a need from more contact, condum content 679 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:28,640 Speaker 1: and people who make the content. So I think that's 680 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 1: not going anywhere. Was there ever a place in your 681 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 1: career early on where you thought, you know, I want 682 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:35,400 Speaker 1: to sing, Oh yeah, but but to do that, I 683 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 1: might actually two steps back, Like did that ever cross 684 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:41,320 Speaker 1: your mind? I really wanted to, And I remember having 685 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:48,400 Speaker 1: a very specific moment that, you know, I had a 686 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 1: job as a ticket taker at this concert venue called 687 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 1: the Universal Amphitheater, and it was an outdoor venue and 688 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 1: everybody came through there in the seventies, so it was 689 00:37:56,719 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: you know, Joni Mitchell, Carol King, James Taylor, Jackson Brown, 690 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,960 Speaker 1: Alton John, the Eagles, you know, you name it. They 691 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:07,279 Speaker 1: came through. And I remember sitting on the steps. I 692 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:10,239 Speaker 1: would take the tickets, then they would allow us to 693 00:38:10,239 --> 00:38:12,319 Speaker 1: watch the show. And I remember sitting down on the 694 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:18,240 Speaker 1: steps and having this pit in my stomach, like, how 695 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:20,720 Speaker 1: how do you get up there and be a singer? 696 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:23,399 Speaker 1: How do you get to do that? You know, how's 697 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:26,400 Speaker 1: Linda Ronstad up there? How do you find a band? 698 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:29,200 Speaker 1: Do I have to play instrument like it was. It 699 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 1: was like a palpable pit in your stomach, like alonging 700 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:37,600 Speaker 1: and aching a yearning and not knowing how to make 701 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:41,880 Speaker 1: that happen. And back then, if by the time I 702 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:46,680 Speaker 1: started really being becoming established, if you were an actor, 703 00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:49,080 Speaker 1: you stayed in the acting lane, If you were a singer, 704 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:51,839 Speaker 1: you stayed in the singing lane. And there really wasn't 705 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,360 Speaker 1: crossover or any overlapping that happened. Back then, it was 706 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:58,560 Speaker 1: just that's your that's what you do. And if you 707 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,239 Speaker 1: were on Broadway, that was friends. But Broadway people didn't 708 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:04,640 Speaker 1: do film. It's so weird. Now everybody can do everything. 709 00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 1: The mid nineties was kind of the first yes, the 710 00:39:07,719 --> 00:39:09,600 Speaker 1: first layer of even then it was kind of weird, 711 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:11,960 Speaker 1: like when Jennifer Lopez would do it. Yeah, but now 712 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,359 Speaker 1: everybody does everything exactly. I think that's good. I don't 713 00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:18,040 Speaker 1: think that we should be limited. Everybody's creative. Creative people 714 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:19,880 Speaker 1: do more than one thing. Did your friends know you 715 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:22,600 Speaker 1: could sing like where you let's say you're back in 716 00:39:22,640 --> 00:39:26,600 Speaker 1: the trailer? Did did they know you as read it? 717 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:29,400 Speaker 1: Who could sing really well? But it's also a great actress. 718 00:39:29,640 --> 00:39:32,360 Speaker 1: I'm just trying. I'm just finding where Probably no, But 719 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 1: I went to drama school I had. I had done 720 00:39:35,680 --> 00:39:38,920 Speaker 1: this small play called Vanity's and the director of that 721 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:41,799 Speaker 1: play said, you seem to be like to be on 722 00:39:41,840 --> 00:39:43,960 Speaker 1: the stage. Have you ever had any formal training? And 723 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:46,880 Speaker 1: I'm like, not formal training. No. He said, well, you 724 00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:50,720 Speaker 1: should probably go to get some like Shakespeare stage training. 725 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:54,000 Speaker 1: I was like, where do you do that? Like stage? 726 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:55,920 Speaker 1: You mean like a sound stage and paramount, Like I 727 00:39:56,080 --> 00:39:59,440 Speaker 1: literally I don't think I've ever even seen a play. 728 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:01,840 Speaker 1: And he said, oh, there's these schools that you can 729 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,000 Speaker 1: go to, and he put me in touch with a 730 00:40:04,040 --> 00:40:07,520 Speaker 1: woman that had come from this program in London at 731 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:10,800 Speaker 1: the London Academy Music and Dramatic Art. So I applied 732 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:13,759 Speaker 1: and I got in. While I was there, they would 733 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,640 Speaker 1: have us do different things to kind of get us 734 00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:19,719 Speaker 1: out of our comfort zone, and one of them was 735 00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 1: they assigned me to sing this opera thing English English. 736 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:28,319 Speaker 1: It was actually a Rossini opera, but um I had 737 00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:30,560 Speaker 1: to sing it as a duet with another woman, and 738 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:35,239 Speaker 1: this woman was an amazing singer, and I thought, I'm 739 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:38,120 Speaker 1: not never gonna be pulling this off. But anyways, I 740 00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:40,719 Speaker 1: did it, and I remember one of my teachers came 741 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:42,720 Speaker 1: up to me and said, I didn't know you could sing. 742 00:40:42,800 --> 00:40:46,400 Speaker 1: I was like, am I not? Like I am? I 743 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:49,560 Speaker 1: was you call that singing? I don't know, but it 744 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:53,720 Speaker 1: was nice to hear that, you know, In a way, 745 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:01,799 Speaker 1: I'm always curious about people that have done in one 746 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:06,239 Speaker 1: part of their career, one part of their professional life, 747 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:10,359 Speaker 1: massive things, but then they go somewhere else and they 748 00:41:10,360 --> 00:41:13,760 Speaker 1: still get really nervous even when things aren't as massive. 749 00:41:14,040 --> 00:41:15,400 Speaker 1: And this has happened to me a few times. And 750 00:41:15,680 --> 00:41:17,080 Speaker 1: you know, if I'm doing ready or TV and I 751 00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:20,399 Speaker 1: switch over and have to do something in an art 752 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:22,319 Speaker 1: that's not the same, and I want to take it 753 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:25,200 Speaker 1: to the opera in you because I would imagine you're 754 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:27,359 Speaker 1: a little nervous when you're singing at the Grand ol Opera. 755 00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:29,920 Speaker 1: Even though we could go down every single thing you've 756 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 1: ever done. It would be like, why would you be 757 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:35,200 Speaker 1: nervous at the Grand ol Opery. But my intuition is 758 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,480 Speaker 1: that that means enough to you that you would be 759 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:40,520 Speaker 1: really nervous going out there for the first time. You 760 00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: have no idea. First of all, when you do it 761 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:48,560 Speaker 1: for the first time, they put you in the very 762 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:51,920 Speaker 1: first where every single person, and all the quotes are 763 00:41:52,040 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 1: up and exactly all the quotes are on the wall, 764 00:41:55,239 --> 00:41:58,080 Speaker 1: all the photographs are on the wall. Everybody leaves their 765 00:41:58,160 --> 00:42:04,200 Speaker 1: door open, people come by and welcome you. I know 766 00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:09,640 Speaker 1: you've heard the expression of rubber legs. I had never 767 00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:15,399 Speaker 1: experienced that until doing the Opery. You come off the 768 00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:19,279 Speaker 1: stage and it it feels as if your legs are 769 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:23,480 Speaker 1: like noodles, which I think it will be hard for 770 00:42:23,480 --> 00:42:26,319 Speaker 1: people to believe. This was my point because again, you've 771 00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:29,960 Speaker 1: done some really massive things in our eyes right when 772 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:34,680 Speaker 1: it comes to movies, television, and now you're at the opera, 773 00:42:34,760 --> 00:42:36,600 Speaker 1: which is the big deal. Does but you're like, We're like, 774 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:42,200 Speaker 1: it is nervous. The opery is. Everybody knows. Everybody knows 775 00:42:42,239 --> 00:42:45,480 Speaker 1: what the opery is. Everybody knows. You stand in that 776 00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:48,400 Speaker 1: circle and there is weight and there is power in 777 00:42:48,520 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 1: that because of all the people who have stood in 778 00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:53,719 Speaker 1: that circle for not is it a hundred years, now 779 00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:59,959 Speaker 1: hundred years and uh there's history that that comes along 780 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:02,960 Speaker 1: on with that. And we'll talk about this later, but 781 00:43:03,640 --> 00:43:07,920 Speaker 1: even in this album of duets, when we were recording it, 782 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:14,080 Speaker 1: I felt that the history of those songs, not just 783 00:43:14,239 --> 00:43:18,319 Speaker 1: the moment that the songwriters wrote them, but everything that 784 00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:21,239 Speaker 1: came after that, the original singer, all the people who 785 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:24,239 Speaker 1: have covered those songs, the people who have singed the 786 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 1: have sung those songs in their lives, have used them 787 00:43:27,239 --> 00:43:31,799 Speaker 1: for different occasions. There's a power to the history of 788 00:43:32,719 --> 00:43:36,000 Speaker 1: things like that, even though they may be ephemeral. And 789 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:39,960 Speaker 1: that's what you're experiencing. The first time that I played 790 00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:43,319 Speaker 1: the opery, I remember not being able to anybody's face 791 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 1: because the lights. The second time I played the operate, 792 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:48,640 Speaker 1: it wasn't the same because I had experienced and I 793 00:43:48,680 --> 00:43:50,560 Speaker 1: wasn't as as nervous, right, But I remember being so 794 00:43:50,640 --> 00:43:52,719 Speaker 1: nervous that the lights seemed way too bright and I 795 00:43:52,719 --> 00:43:55,080 Speaker 1: can see nobody's face, and I wouldn't even look all 796 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:56,879 Speaker 1: the way into the crowd, and I just was like, 797 00:43:57,880 --> 00:44:00,439 Speaker 1: I don't know how this is going, and there are people, 798 00:44:00,440 --> 00:44:02,960 Speaker 1: everybody's there. For your first time, I'm getting chills because 799 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:05,719 Speaker 1: you're saying this it's scary already and this and I 800 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:07,799 Speaker 1: at the first time is more of an experience. But 801 00:44:07,840 --> 00:44:10,400 Speaker 1: I actually found the second time more enjoyable because I 802 00:44:10,440 --> 00:44:14,320 Speaker 1: got to appreciate, yes, the moment and go, Okay, this 803 00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:16,080 Speaker 1: is awesome. The first time, it's like, oh my god, 804 00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:19,640 Speaker 1: like what is It's like you're questioning why you even 805 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:21,480 Speaker 1: deserve to be here the first time. But then you 806 00:44:21,520 --> 00:44:24,360 Speaker 1: have people like Jeanie Seely who comes up and says, 807 00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:26,799 Speaker 1: you know, God, we're so happy to have you, thank 808 00:44:26,880 --> 00:44:29,640 Speaker 1: you so much for being here. Everybody is so great. Well, 809 00:44:29,800 --> 00:44:32,600 Speaker 1: one of the guys, Larry Paxton, played on my first album. 810 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:35,560 Speaker 1: He's in the Opery Band. The Opery Band is so 811 00:44:35,640 --> 00:44:40,360 Speaker 1: amazing that you know, literally they got your back. So 812 00:44:40,520 --> 00:44:44,200 Speaker 1: there's all of those elements that conspire to make you 813 00:44:44,200 --> 00:44:46,759 Speaker 1: feel more comfortable, but no one will ever be able 814 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:48,960 Speaker 1: to not have the rubber legs coming off that stage. 815 00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:51,759 Speaker 1: One more question before we get into the album. It 816 00:44:51,800 --> 00:44:54,320 Speaker 1: is that you do come to town a decent amount 817 00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:56,040 Speaker 1: to write because people say, hey, we wrote with Rated 818 00:44:56,080 --> 00:44:57,799 Speaker 1: today or she was in town. But I think you're 819 00:44:57,800 --> 00:44:59,800 Speaker 1: only in town of one day now, right, is it 820 00:44:59,880 --> 00:45:03,120 Speaker 1: just yes, so and day. I'm kind of like traveling around. 821 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:06,120 Speaker 1: You know what, when you talk about work ethic, like 822 00:45:06,239 --> 00:45:08,680 Speaker 1: you come to town, you work, and you get to 823 00:45:08,680 --> 00:45:10,880 Speaker 1: work done, and then you go back and you do 824 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:13,839 Speaker 1: other work. But it's like you're dedicated to this, yes 825 00:45:14,120 --> 00:45:16,279 Speaker 1: and this is not an easy trip for someone who 826 00:45:16,360 --> 00:45:21,399 Speaker 1: has to go to either way. It's true. It's true. 827 00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:24,080 Speaker 1: Why because there's love there, and you know what we 828 00:45:24,120 --> 00:45:27,840 Speaker 1: do for love, We bend over backwards. We want to 829 00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:31,520 Speaker 1: make things happen. I I have a really wonderful community 830 00:45:31,560 --> 00:45:35,520 Speaker 1: of friends here, songwriters, artists, people that live here. That 831 00:45:35,960 --> 00:45:38,120 Speaker 1: the only regret that I have is that, you know, 832 00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:40,799 Speaker 1: we didn't get an apartment here like ten years ago 833 00:45:41,440 --> 00:45:43,919 Speaker 1: when I first started coming down. Because now I come 834 00:45:44,280 --> 00:45:47,240 Speaker 1: and I look downtown and I'm counting cranes like whoa. 835 00:45:47,360 --> 00:45:49,080 Speaker 1: I think the last time I was here, I counted 836 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:53,879 Speaker 1: like twelve or something in the downtown area. It's like 837 00:45:53,960 --> 00:45:55,719 Speaker 1: we have a barn back there. If you gets want 838 00:45:55,719 --> 00:46:00,680 Speaker 1: to stay there, thank you. But I want to play 839 00:46:00,719 --> 00:46:03,040 Speaker 1: so now, because of legal rules, we can only play 840 00:46:03,080 --> 00:46:04,800 Speaker 1: up to a certain amount of time of these songs. 841 00:46:04,840 --> 00:46:06,200 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna roll through all of the books. I 842 00:46:06,239 --> 00:46:08,600 Speaker 1: think this whole is so good. It's such a great 843 00:46:08,600 --> 00:46:19,200 Speaker 1: project with Keith Urban Crazy Love here you go. First 844 00:46:19,239 --> 00:46:22,719 Speaker 1: of all, obviously a song that makes me think of 845 00:46:22,800 --> 00:46:24,520 Speaker 1: different times in my life, of all the different times 846 00:46:24,520 --> 00:46:26,680 Speaker 1: I heard the song by different people rights That is 847 00:46:26,719 --> 00:46:30,440 Speaker 1: such a wonderful song Why Keith Urban for that song? Specifically, 848 00:46:31,480 --> 00:46:34,080 Speaker 1: Keith has one of the greatest voices ever. You know, 849 00:46:34,520 --> 00:46:40,799 Speaker 1: there's something about Keith can reinterpret things. And I know 850 00:46:40,880 --> 00:46:44,080 Speaker 1: you've seen him in concert. He's an amazing live performer. 851 00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:50,040 Speaker 1: But his voice and on on what do we call 852 00:46:50,120 --> 00:46:54,400 Speaker 1: it tape? His voice on tape registers and his tone 853 00:46:54,600 --> 00:46:58,200 Speaker 1: is so beautiful. I just, I just, I don't know. 854 00:46:58,280 --> 00:47:00,760 Speaker 1: I thought of him for that song and never quite 855 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:03,200 Speaker 1: left my mind. You know, it kind of had to 856 00:47:03,239 --> 00:47:11,719 Speaker 1: be him with Smokey Robinson Where's the Love? Where I 857 00:47:11,719 --> 00:47:15,760 Speaker 1: mean Smokey Robinson. That's just seeing that name. Oh my goodness. 858 00:47:15,800 --> 00:47:18,839 Speaker 1: Did you know Smokey Robins? No? No, I hadn't met him, 859 00:47:18,840 --> 00:47:22,800 Speaker 1: you know, in passing, didn't really know him. Okay. He 860 00:47:22,920 --> 00:47:26,040 Speaker 1: is one of the greatest songwriters and performers of all time. 861 00:47:26,080 --> 00:47:28,360 Speaker 1: When you just think of the songs that he has, 862 00:47:28,440 --> 00:47:33,720 Speaker 1: tracks of My Tears, Cruising, Uh, Tears of the Clown. 863 00:47:34,160 --> 00:47:35,800 Speaker 1: You know, he goes on and on it. He's written 864 00:47:35,800 --> 00:47:39,080 Speaker 1: for himself, he's written for others. The other day, Um, 865 00:47:39,120 --> 00:47:42,959 Speaker 1: we did Good Morning America together and we sang where 866 00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:45,560 Speaker 1: is the Love? Okay? You know you you know when 867 00:47:45,600 --> 00:47:47,160 Speaker 1: you do a show like that, you're up at four 868 00:47:47,160 --> 00:47:51,320 Speaker 1: in the morning. Guess who's read on time. Smokey Robinson's 869 00:47:51,360 --> 00:47:55,600 Speaker 1: a little early. He's there, We do the rehearsal. He's amazing. 870 00:47:56,320 --> 00:47:59,640 Speaker 1: It's surreal. That's another moment where you're like, you're looking 871 00:47:59,640 --> 00:48:02,840 Speaker 1: at this person who's got these clear green eyes that 872 00:48:02,960 --> 00:48:06,400 Speaker 1: you feel you know because of your history with the 873 00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:10,640 Speaker 1: music and knowing who he is, looking across from him 874 00:48:10,680 --> 00:48:14,440 Speaker 1: and singing to each other. That's like ridiculous. He and 875 00:48:14,520 --> 00:48:17,719 Speaker 1: he loved the song. That's the that's the most fun part. 876 00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:20,080 Speaker 1: He loved the song because if the artist didn't love 877 00:48:20,120 --> 00:48:22,480 Speaker 1: the song, we would go to another choice and say, Okay, 878 00:48:22,640 --> 00:48:25,800 Speaker 1: what else here, here's another one that's so cool. Smokey 879 00:48:25,880 --> 00:48:29,080 Speaker 1: Robinson is so cool. That's so cool. Willie Nelson slept 880 00:48:29,080 --> 00:48:37,760 Speaker 1: sliding away. I mean, Willie, What can I say about Willie? 881 00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:40,120 Speaker 1: Listen to everything? Yeah, I mean, I don't know where 882 00:48:40,120 --> 00:48:43,600 Speaker 1: to start because I have all these different decades of 883 00:48:43,640 --> 00:48:46,600 Speaker 1: my Willie experience, being with with my grandma, with my mom, 884 00:48:46,960 --> 00:48:49,320 Speaker 1: having him on my show, being a fan like Blue 885 00:48:49,320 --> 00:48:50,560 Speaker 1: Eyes Part of the Right is one of my favorite 886 00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:54,600 Speaker 1: top three songs of all time and so again it's 887 00:48:54,600 --> 00:48:56,080 Speaker 1: almost like I'm in all of all these people and 888 00:48:56,080 --> 00:48:57,560 Speaker 1: I just want to go like, what was it like? 889 00:48:57,719 --> 00:48:59,480 Speaker 1: So it's almost like, what was it like to be 890 00:48:59,560 --> 00:49:02,120 Speaker 1: able to do was song with Willie Alison? Well? What 891 00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:07,200 Speaker 1: I love it? First of all? Surreal? Okay, My amazing 892 00:49:07,280 --> 00:49:13,000 Speaker 1: co producer, Matt Rawlings, was he was living in Nashville, UM. 893 00:49:13,040 --> 00:49:17,040 Speaker 1: He produced and won Grammys for Willie's Sinatra album My 894 00:49:17,160 --> 00:49:22,480 Speaker 1: Way and also the Gershwin album, and he was the 895 00:49:22,480 --> 00:49:24,920 Speaker 1: one who knew Willie, so he made the ask to Willie. 896 00:49:25,040 --> 00:49:30,280 Speaker 1: But in this album of duets of seventies cover songs, 897 00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:32,920 Speaker 1: what we were trying to do or like, what I 898 00:49:32,920 --> 00:49:36,359 Speaker 1: thought would be a cool idea, was all right, how 899 00:49:36,360 --> 00:49:39,680 Speaker 1: do you make it different? Well, it's duets, but these 900 00:49:39,680 --> 00:49:43,280 Speaker 1: songs typically haven't been done as duets. I knew Willie 901 00:49:43,320 --> 00:49:47,160 Speaker 1: liked Paul Simon, and I thought, wow, this would be 902 00:49:47,760 --> 00:49:50,719 Speaker 1: perhaps a cool song. So we presented Slip Slide in 903 00:49:50,760 --> 00:49:54,600 Speaker 1: a way a great song. And now it felt to 904 00:49:54,680 --> 00:49:59,360 Speaker 1: me like some interpretation of a woman saying this about 905 00:49:59,400 --> 00:50:03,000 Speaker 1: this man, a man saying this about this woman, and 906 00:50:03,160 --> 00:50:06,319 Speaker 1: to hear there's so much poignancy in Willie's voice and 907 00:50:06,320 --> 00:50:08,840 Speaker 1: when he says something like the nearer your destination, the 908 00:50:08,880 --> 00:50:12,440 Speaker 1: more you're slip sliding away, it gives you chills. But 909 00:50:12,520 --> 00:50:14,520 Speaker 1: at the same time, I'm like, yeah, well, you're not 910 00:50:14,560 --> 00:50:17,560 Speaker 1: going anywhere for a really long time. I love you, 911 00:50:17,840 --> 00:50:21,479 Speaker 1: and you're you're here to stay with Jackson Brown. Here 912 00:50:21,600 --> 00:50:28,600 Speaker 1: is let it be me. I mean, all these songs 913 00:50:28,600 --> 00:50:30,440 Speaker 1: are so good too. It's like it's reminding me of 914 00:50:30,440 --> 00:50:32,520 Speaker 1: all the times even slip slide in a way like 915 00:50:32,880 --> 00:50:35,960 Speaker 1: I have like even three cover versions of the originals, 916 00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:39,759 Speaker 1: like even like an Akung cover version, even like and 917 00:50:39,800 --> 00:50:42,040 Speaker 1: all of it's like, I just I love these songs 918 00:50:42,080 --> 00:50:45,839 Speaker 1: so much and in many different places. But Jackson Brown 919 00:50:45,880 --> 00:50:48,360 Speaker 1: one of the coolest, the coolest, and you know, in 920 00:50:48,400 --> 00:50:52,239 Speaker 1: the seventies he was considered like the songwriter's songwriter in 921 00:50:52,280 --> 00:50:55,520 Speaker 1: the Eagles documentary, like Don Henley and Glenn Fry are 922 00:50:55,560 --> 00:50:58,319 Speaker 1: looking over there like Jackson lived below us, and you 923 00:50:58,360 --> 00:51:00,880 Speaker 1: know we'd be like upstairs party and Jackson would be 924 00:51:00,920 --> 00:51:03,560 Speaker 1: down there writing and writing and we'd be hearing in 925 00:51:03,640 --> 00:51:06,399 Speaker 1: the song would be getting better and better. And he 926 00:51:06,560 --> 00:51:09,839 Speaker 1: is like that. And you know, there's a cool book 927 00:51:09,840 --> 00:51:11,720 Speaker 1: called rock Me on the Water, which is about nineteen 928 00:51:11,800 --> 00:51:16,080 Speaker 1: seventy four, this year of music and politics and TV 929 00:51:16,360 --> 00:51:19,800 Speaker 1: and film. And there's a quote in there by Jackson 930 00:51:20,080 --> 00:51:22,760 Speaker 1: that he talked about never hanging out at the Troubadoor. 931 00:51:23,080 --> 00:51:25,640 Speaker 1: Troubador was our great local club, because he said, I 932 00:51:25,680 --> 00:51:27,520 Speaker 1: knew that if I was at the Troubadoor, I wasn't 933 00:51:27,520 --> 00:51:31,040 Speaker 1: at home writing music. That's how dedicated he was as 934 00:51:31,040 --> 00:51:46,480 Speaker 1: a songwriter. He's an incredible person. With Leslie Odom Jr. Massachusetts, 935 00:51:47,840 --> 00:51:51,359 Speaker 1: what are you saying? He's like butter his voice it's 936 00:51:51,440 --> 00:51:56,920 Speaker 1: just so like it literally melts you. Um an incredible talent. 937 00:51:57,080 --> 00:52:01,239 Speaker 1: I had met him only once when I had seen 938 00:52:01,280 --> 00:52:04,320 Speaker 1: Hamilton's on day three of previews. You know, that's before 939 00:52:04,360 --> 00:52:07,600 Speaker 1: the show is even open. They're still kind of tweaking it. 940 00:52:08,320 --> 00:52:11,080 Speaker 1: And he opened his mouth to sing as Aaron Burr 941 00:52:11,360 --> 00:52:14,759 Speaker 1: in that musical, and I couldn't take my eyes off 942 00:52:14,800 --> 00:52:16,719 Speaker 1: of him. And I couldn't take my ears off of him. 943 00:52:16,840 --> 00:52:20,880 Speaker 1: He was just incredible. You know, he's he's a wonderful actor, 944 00:52:20,920 --> 00:52:24,759 Speaker 1: a wonderful singer, songwriter. Did you get a point where 945 00:52:24,760 --> 00:52:27,000 Speaker 1: you're like, I can't believe everybody's saying yes, I can't 946 00:52:27,000 --> 00:52:28,880 Speaker 1: believe all these people are saying yes, because it's like 947 00:52:28,920 --> 00:52:31,120 Speaker 1: the coolest group of people I've ever seen all together. 948 00:52:31,200 --> 00:52:33,080 Speaker 1: And I'm not even I'm just basically halfway through it 949 00:52:33,160 --> 00:52:36,640 Speaker 1: right now. I felt like there was something that was 950 00:52:37,800 --> 00:52:40,400 Speaker 1: fortuitous for us, and that was that we were in 951 00:52:40,480 --> 00:52:43,239 Speaker 1: year two of the pandemic, and I think people still 952 00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:47,800 Speaker 1: were not touring and people were home, and when the project, 953 00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:50,560 Speaker 1: you know, the idea was pitched to them, I think 954 00:52:50,600 --> 00:52:53,920 Speaker 1: they could respond because it was songs that they knew, 955 00:52:54,600 --> 00:52:57,839 Speaker 1: songs they could just relate to and connect to. And 956 00:52:57,840 --> 00:53:00,120 Speaker 1: I think we got lucky in that way. To you, 957 00:53:00,320 --> 00:53:01,680 Speaker 1: one of the ones I was really struck by the 958 00:53:01,680 --> 00:53:03,520 Speaker 1: first time I heard it because I love Elvis Costello. 959 00:53:04,160 --> 00:53:07,359 Speaker 1: I love I love it. He's so good, He's so good. 960 00:53:07,680 --> 00:53:15,839 Speaker 1: Here's Fire. And maybe it's I love Els Costello. Maybe 961 00:53:15,880 --> 00:53:18,920 Speaker 1: it's the tone of the guitar, you know. Yeah, I 962 00:53:18,920 --> 00:53:22,520 Speaker 1: think that Elvis played on played guitar and some of that, 963 00:53:22,600 --> 00:53:25,120 Speaker 1: and I think that is either Dave Levita or Dean 964 00:53:25,200 --> 00:53:28,880 Speaker 1: Parks on that solo, which is, you know, two incredible guitarists. 965 00:53:28,880 --> 00:53:31,360 Speaker 1: And the sounds great too. I mean, Forever you Fire, 966 00:53:31,880 --> 00:53:34,840 Speaker 1: I mean it's that's there's just one thing that Elvis 967 00:53:34,880 --> 00:53:37,160 Speaker 1: does which I think is so amazing. And that song 968 00:53:37,239 --> 00:53:41,000 Speaker 1: was written by Bruce Springsteen, and the Pointer Sisters made 969 00:53:41,000 --> 00:53:44,680 Speaker 1: it famous. But Bruce had actually written it for Elvis 970 00:53:45,680 --> 00:53:49,960 Speaker 1: Presley and he sent it. He doesn't know if Elvis 971 00:53:49,960 --> 00:53:53,400 Speaker 1: ever heard the song, because Elvis died and then a 972 00:53:53,480 --> 00:53:56,879 Speaker 1: guy called Robert Gordon cut it. I don't know if 973 00:53:56,880 --> 00:54:00,160 Speaker 1: the Pointer Sisters heard that version or if they heard 974 00:54:00,160 --> 00:54:02,319 Speaker 1: a demo, but whatever, they were the ones that made 975 00:54:02,360 --> 00:54:05,080 Speaker 1: it famous. But there is a a part in this 976 00:54:05,640 --> 00:54:08,480 Speaker 1: song that Elvis Costello sings. When he sings and when 977 00:54:08,520 --> 00:54:14,120 Speaker 1: we Kiss Fire, he draws out kiss as if there 978 00:54:14,200 --> 00:54:17,600 Speaker 1: is so much frustration and angst, like if he doesn't 979 00:54:17,600 --> 00:54:20,880 Speaker 1: get to kiss this woman, he's gonna go bananas. And 980 00:54:20,920 --> 00:54:24,040 Speaker 1: then the fire is like this big exclamation point. You know. 981 00:54:24,320 --> 00:54:27,240 Speaker 1: I just loved his take on that. Here's our buddy 982 00:54:27,239 --> 00:54:38,920 Speaker 1: Tim McGraw on if Much Stop Yeah, oh yeah. By 983 00:54:38,960 --> 00:54:43,600 Speaker 1: the way, you know, Tim is like an encyclopedic jukebox. 984 00:54:43,680 --> 00:54:47,160 Speaker 1: He's his own, you know, I pod of music. When 985 00:54:47,200 --> 00:54:50,319 Speaker 1: it comes to the seventies, he knows so much and 986 00:54:50,360 --> 00:54:53,520 Speaker 1: he often does seventies songs as sort of like a 987 00:54:53,560 --> 00:54:56,719 Speaker 1: pre stage sort of, you know, let's get together in 988 00:54:56,719 --> 00:54:59,680 Speaker 1: the sing before we go on. And I had never 989 00:55:00,080 --> 00:55:02,479 Speaker 1: heard him sing like this, but he was a bread fan, 990 00:55:03,320 --> 00:55:05,719 Speaker 1: so I love that he picked this song. We mentioned 991 00:55:05,800 --> 00:55:12,120 Speaker 1: Jimmy earlier and here is I'll be there. I mean 992 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:16,560 Speaker 1: the Michael Jackson Jackson five just look up on my shoulder. 993 00:55:17,239 --> 00:55:18,960 Speaker 1: Jimmy is able to do that as a mature man. 994 00:55:19,840 --> 00:55:23,680 Speaker 1: Or it doesn't sound creepy, it doesn't sound like it's 995 00:55:23,719 --> 00:55:26,520 Speaker 1: like purely derivative of Michael, but it's still like you go, 996 00:55:26,880 --> 00:55:29,279 Speaker 1: oh yeah, you can't even hear Michael doing it. Just 997 00:55:29,320 --> 00:55:32,040 Speaker 1: wear my show exactly. And I was like, I was 998 00:55:32,120 --> 00:55:35,040 Speaker 1: glad that he kept that in because I don't know, 999 00:55:35,120 --> 00:55:37,239 Speaker 1: you know, you don't know if that's an improv when 1000 00:55:37,239 --> 00:55:40,799 Speaker 1: the Jackson's did it, or if it was if it 1001 00:55:40,920 --> 00:55:44,239 Speaker 1: was something that was written. But I love that he 1002 00:55:44,640 --> 00:55:48,360 Speaker 1: left that in there. You know, he's an amazing singer. 1003 00:55:48,560 --> 00:55:51,920 Speaker 1: And he told me once said he came to Nashville, 1004 00:55:52,200 --> 00:55:53,880 Speaker 1: he was in When he was in l A, they 1005 00:55:53,920 --> 00:55:56,800 Speaker 1: said you're two country, and then when he came to Nashville, 1006 00:55:57,120 --> 00:55:59,480 Speaker 1: he was starting to hear a year two pop. He 1007 00:55:59,640 --> 00:56:04,240 Speaker 1: is the perfect combination. I think he's defined his sounds 1008 00:56:04,320 --> 00:56:07,520 Speaker 1: so beautifully and he does it so well, and I'm 1009 00:56:07,600 --> 00:56:09,759 Speaker 1: so thrilled with all the success that he has had 1010 00:56:10,080 --> 00:56:13,440 Speaker 1: because he's so deserves that. He's an amazing human. Even 1011 00:56:13,440 --> 00:56:16,800 Speaker 1: in that it doesn't even feel forced, No, because again, 1012 00:56:16,840 --> 00:56:19,600 Speaker 1: like you said, was that just them in private? And 1013 00:56:19,680 --> 00:56:21,680 Speaker 1: I just just add living all the way, you know, 1014 00:56:21,719 --> 00:56:24,680 Speaker 1: through the song and just and he does that, but 1015 00:56:24,719 --> 00:56:26,160 Speaker 1: it doesn't sound like he's trying to force it just 1016 00:56:26,280 --> 00:56:28,440 Speaker 1: for the sake of it. And that really struck me 1017 00:56:28,440 --> 00:56:37,839 Speaker 1: the first time. Exact Vince Gill without you, I mean, 1018 00:56:37,920 --> 00:56:40,439 Speaker 1: Vince Gil the hardest person to cover in the whole world, 1019 00:56:40,440 --> 00:56:45,520 Speaker 1: because he sings like an angel and and at a 1020 00:56:45,520 --> 00:56:47,960 Speaker 1: at a high, very high. He takes you to have 1021 00:56:48,080 --> 00:56:49,759 Speaker 1: him for a little visit when you sing with him. 1022 00:56:50,320 --> 00:56:53,560 Speaker 1: Haven't Josh Groban too? I mean one thing about Vince 1023 00:56:53,600 --> 00:56:55,560 Speaker 1: that I love and we were like, okay, here here 1024 00:56:55,600 --> 00:56:57,920 Speaker 1: are the songs he had been on my first album. 1025 00:56:57,960 --> 00:57:02,840 Speaker 1: He's saying harmonies on Faithless Love. And that album was 1026 00:57:02,840 --> 00:57:07,359 Speaker 1: called MFM Cover Songs also, and I didn't know him. 1027 00:57:07,520 --> 00:57:11,080 Speaker 1: When you know, um Fred Mullins my producer that first 1028 00:57:11,080 --> 00:57:15,839 Speaker 1: Albu I'm asked um Vince to do the song when 1029 00:57:16,000 --> 00:57:20,600 Speaker 1: I asked him about this album and I said, look Um, 1030 00:57:20,760 --> 00:57:22,760 Speaker 1: is there a song that you love? I have some 1031 00:57:22,840 --> 00:57:26,720 Speaker 1: ideas and he said, without you and I love the 1032 00:57:26,920 --> 00:57:30,840 Speaker 1: song that was his was his suggestions because he said 1033 00:57:31,400 --> 00:57:35,760 Speaker 1: he would sing that song with his family girls, And yeah, Amy, 1034 00:57:35,800 --> 00:57:38,840 Speaker 1: it was very cool. The last track speaking of People 1035 00:57:38,880 --> 00:57:47,160 Speaker 1: to Take You to Heaven Josh Grobe and here songbirds 1036 00:57:49,760 --> 00:57:52,640 Speaker 1: and vocally Vince and Josh they don't sing anywhere near 1037 00:57:52,680 --> 00:57:55,120 Speaker 1: each other, but all that just kind of works together. 1038 00:57:55,160 --> 00:57:57,480 Speaker 1: Those two tracks. I listen to them together. I was like, 1039 00:57:57,840 --> 00:57:59,400 Speaker 1: and I don't know why you put them in nine 1040 00:57:59,440 --> 00:58:01,400 Speaker 1: and ten. Maybe it was songs maybe, but I really 1041 00:58:01,440 --> 00:58:04,440 Speaker 1: liked I don't want to say juxtaposition, but yeah, it 1042 00:58:04,600 --> 00:58:07,800 Speaker 1: still felt like that, like the perfect combination of songs 1043 00:58:07,840 --> 00:58:10,880 Speaker 1: beside each other with you and those two I love that, 1044 00:58:10,960 --> 00:58:13,160 Speaker 1: you know, I think it's important to how youse sequence 1045 00:58:13,200 --> 00:58:15,560 Speaker 1: an album. I still listen to albums when my friends 1046 00:58:15,680 --> 00:58:18,040 Speaker 1: or any any album comes out that I'm interested in. 1047 00:58:18,120 --> 00:58:20,480 Speaker 1: I listened to it from start to finish, and when 1048 00:58:20,560 --> 00:58:23,360 Speaker 1: sitting I feel like that's what the artists made the 1049 00:58:23,360 --> 00:58:26,840 Speaker 1: record for, and you know, they're telling a story and 1050 00:58:26,880 --> 00:58:30,800 Speaker 1: so this was really about these conversations of love and 1051 00:58:31,120 --> 00:58:36,000 Speaker 1: uh uh. Songbird to me felt like a good ending 1052 00:58:36,120 --> 00:58:39,040 Speaker 1: because it feels like vows people might be saying to 1053 00:58:39,080 --> 00:58:41,360 Speaker 1: each other, if you really love someone, you know, I'll 1054 00:58:41,400 --> 00:58:43,840 Speaker 1: do this for you. You know, I got your back 1055 00:58:43,920 --> 00:58:47,640 Speaker 1: sort of thing. The album Rita Wilson Now and forever, duets. 1056 00:58:48,240 --> 00:58:51,800 Speaker 1: Go stream it, go download it, go buy it. People 1057 00:58:51,800 --> 00:58:54,240 Speaker 1: still buy CDs sometimes, do you know. I'll tell you. 1058 00:58:54,280 --> 00:58:56,160 Speaker 1: I was with a couple of my nieces last night 1059 00:58:56,760 --> 00:59:00,160 Speaker 1: and even yesterday. They're from Los Angeles and they him 1060 00:59:00,160 --> 00:59:01,880 Speaker 1: and they love country music. So I took him to 1061 00:59:01,880 --> 00:59:03,880 Speaker 1: the Operay and took them all backstage. And I can 1062 00:59:03,920 --> 00:59:06,680 Speaker 1: do the tour myself now because I just I'm there 1063 00:59:06,720 --> 00:59:08,680 Speaker 1: so often. I take them all around. And I said, hey, 1064 00:59:08,720 --> 00:59:11,960 Speaker 1: we have some CDs are like c d s, and 1065 00:59:11,960 --> 00:59:14,920 Speaker 1: I was like, you know what, never mind, We're gonna 1066 00:59:14,920 --> 00:59:18,840 Speaker 1: move on. So but it's up. The album is wonderful, 1067 00:59:18,840 --> 00:59:21,880 Speaker 1: It really is. One of Rita will also be making 1068 00:59:21,880 --> 00:59:24,280 Speaker 1: a return to New York City's Cafe Carlisle for a 1069 00:59:24,320 --> 00:59:28,120 Speaker 1: special two week residency October twenty November five. For a ticket, 1070 00:59:28,400 --> 00:59:31,360 Speaker 1: go to at Rita Wilson which is your your Instagram 1071 00:59:31,480 --> 00:59:34,280 Speaker 1: social it's all up there. It's it's really great. It 1072 00:59:34,320 --> 00:59:37,200 Speaker 1: really is really great. I enjoyed sometimes, and I'll be 1073 00:59:37,200 --> 00:59:38,960 Speaker 1: honest with you, I don't enjoy having to listen to 1074 00:59:39,040 --> 00:59:42,360 Speaker 1: things if I don't enjoy them before I meet with somebody. Luckily, 1075 00:59:42,360 --> 00:59:43,960 Speaker 1: I'd already listened to some of yours because I have 1076 00:59:44,000 --> 00:59:47,320 Speaker 1: friends that were kind of bragging about it. But it's wonderful. 1077 00:59:48,080 --> 00:59:50,600 Speaker 1: It's wonderful. Um. The final question I have for you 1078 00:59:50,680 --> 00:59:52,880 Speaker 1: is one of the people on my show they were 1079 00:59:52,920 --> 00:59:54,320 Speaker 1: at the at c m A Fest and you were 1080 00:59:54,320 --> 00:59:56,280 Speaker 1: at c m A Fest and they were just sitting 1081 00:59:56,320 --> 00:59:58,360 Speaker 1: at a random place and they ranted you and your 1082 00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:00,680 Speaker 1: husband sitting in the random normal people see eats. And 1083 01:00:00,720 --> 01:00:02,280 Speaker 1: they were like, why would they be sitting in the 1084 01:00:02,360 --> 01:00:06,760 Speaker 1: random normal people's seats? Where would we be otherwise when 1085 01:00:06,760 --> 01:00:09,480 Speaker 1: we were at Keith's show. Maybe, yeah, we were at 1086 01:00:09,560 --> 01:00:13,080 Speaker 1: Keith's show att yeah, But but my point is, what 1087 01:00:13,080 --> 01:00:14,200 Speaker 1: do you mean where you would you be? You would 1088 01:00:14,240 --> 01:00:17,040 Speaker 1: be in the fancy where people can't bother you, like 1089 01:00:17,160 --> 01:00:20,280 Speaker 1: with the wine and the champagne and fruit. Fruit. That's 1090 01:00:20,280 --> 01:00:24,240 Speaker 1: not really getting the experiences it though. Like, by the way, 1091 01:00:24,400 --> 01:00:26,960 Speaker 1: we've done that and it's great. But if you really 1092 01:00:26,960 --> 01:00:29,680 Speaker 1: want to get an experience of being like at the show, 1093 01:00:29,760 --> 01:00:32,040 Speaker 1: you got to be at the show. She was shocked. 1094 01:00:32,040 --> 01:00:33,760 Speaker 1: She was like, she just came across you guys sitting 1095 01:00:33,840 --> 01:00:36,640 Speaker 1: with the people, and she was like, nobody was bothering 1096 01:00:36,680 --> 01:00:39,560 Speaker 1: them because nobody thought that was really them sitting with 1097 01:00:39,600 --> 01:00:42,600 Speaker 1: the people. It was like seeing Jerry Seinfeld at a 1098 01:00:42,680 --> 01:00:45,600 Speaker 1: gas station in Mississippi. You're like, there's no way that's 1099 01:00:45,600 --> 01:00:47,240 Speaker 1: really him. So I ain't even gonna try to talk 1100 01:00:47,280 --> 01:00:49,320 Speaker 1: to that person. Did that happen to you know? But 1101 01:00:49,440 --> 01:00:52,680 Speaker 1: that's like my analogy of like you just go super 1102 01:00:52,760 --> 01:00:56,120 Speaker 1: unletted by the way, Well, I do believe that, So 1103 01:00:57,000 --> 01:00:59,800 Speaker 1: you guys do that, you will go listen. Don't forget 1104 01:00:59,840 --> 01:01:01,800 Speaker 1: I was a ticket taker at a concert me. I 1105 01:01:01,920 --> 01:01:04,200 Speaker 1: used to sit on the steps and watch the concerts. 1106 01:01:04,280 --> 01:01:07,600 Speaker 1: That's how you get the show. Well, this has been 1107 01:01:07,600 --> 01:01:09,160 Speaker 1: a real treat for me. We've done over an hour. 1108 01:01:09,360 --> 01:01:11,920 Speaker 1: Oh my god, this has been a real treat for me. 1109 01:01:12,040 --> 01:01:14,640 Speaker 1: I had no idea you were going to get me 1110 01:01:14,720 --> 01:01:18,280 Speaker 1: to cry, like a little bit of timing. Baby. Uh, 1111 01:01:18,480 --> 01:01:21,479 Speaker 1: you're very generous with this interview, So thank you. Very much. 1112 01:01:22,320 --> 01:01:25,640 Speaker 1: I appreciate your passion and all aspects. I appreciate your parents. 1113 01:01:25,880 --> 01:01:27,960 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you so do I I mean, I 1114 01:01:27,960 --> 01:01:31,400 Speaker 1: think of all of this. I mean that to resonate 1115 01:01:31,520 --> 01:01:33,600 Speaker 1: so hard with me about your parents and how much 1116 01:01:33,640 --> 01:01:36,240 Speaker 1: they loved you, and how much they loved it here, 1117 01:01:36,480 --> 01:01:38,080 Speaker 1: and how hard they fought to get here they did. 1118 01:01:38,320 --> 01:01:42,439 Speaker 1: God bless the meta, God bless Dad's You guys, follow 1119 01:01:42,480 --> 01:01:44,880 Speaker 1: read to get tickets, strained the album at Rida Wilson, 1120 01:01:45,280 --> 01:01:47,560 Speaker 1: and read a real pleasure. Thank you, Thank you, Bobby,