1 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to episode to forty three, where we will talk 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: to Mark Chestnut. We'll also talk to Dan Rogers, who 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: runs the Grand ol Opry. Got new music coming up 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: in a second, so I'll be good to talk to 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: chess Nut. I guess we already did it. I got 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: to ask if his name was the Nut the Nut. Also, 7 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 1: let me say this before we get into Dan with 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 1: the Grand ol Opry, that you know I work with 9 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: the operation now. I loved the Opery and just I'm 10 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: so proud that not only have I been performing there 11 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: now for I guess three or four years. That was 12 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: a humongous deal. But you know, in the past year 13 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: so I've I've been allowed to come in and work 14 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: and and help produce the show that's happening now. But 15 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: you know, it's just crazy to go into that place 16 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: and you can watch every Saturday night the Grand ol 17 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: Opery continues and nobody in the building. I got a 18 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: camera guy that's like twelve feet away, a producer that's 19 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: in my ear. I stand in the middle of the floor. 20 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: There's not a single person in the seat. There's the 21 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: artist and that's pretty much it. But it keeps running. 22 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: They did such a good job and get anything going 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: and and making something pop when when it was hard 24 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: to make anything pop at all. Um, So every Saturday 25 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: night you can watch it on the Opery or the 26 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: Circle Networks Facebook page, and it's all the bells and whistles. 27 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: It's not like somebody just grabbing their acoustic guitar and 28 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: playing into an Instagram, you know, their phone. It is 29 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: the real deal. And we've had some great shows. Garth 30 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: and Tricia was amazing, Craig Morgan and Luke Combs. I mean, 31 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: I love Ricky Skaggs obviously, Lauren. I don't want to 32 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: not say someone, but it's been such a cool project 33 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: for me to be involved in on on all levels. 34 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: So just we'll talk about the Grand Ol opportunity, how 35 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: people get to be members of the Grand Ol Operation. 36 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: So that's coming up with Dan in just a second. 37 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: So but just I'm very proud to be a part 38 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: of the Grand Ol Operation Circle Network and grateful to 39 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: Dan and Scott and Drew and everybody who allows me 40 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: to be that over there. So, um, why don't we 41 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: do new music first and then we'll hop into Dan 42 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: and then Mark Chestnut. Feel good about that? All right? 43 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: New music out today? The first song we mentioned is 44 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,639 Speaker 1: Tim mcgrawl. He's got a new song called I Called Mama, 45 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: or the Bud and the Trees from My Party, not 46 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: Cam Timmergral's got that way to make those those real 47 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: precious songs that it's just that, the diamond rings and 48 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: barstools and mama and and heart. What's one? Lauren McKenna wrote, humbling, humbling, 49 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: There's just something about like soft mcgrawl. I like he 50 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: can pull those off. Daniel Bradberry shared a new song 51 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: called never Have I Ever? Never Have I Ever. When 52 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: I saw her Instagram this said never have Ever, I 53 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: thought she was starting a new Instagram show called never 54 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: Have I Ever? Watched the play game yeah, I was like, 55 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: oh that's interesting game. But no, it's a song. Jordan 56 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: Davis has almost maybe he used to be almost around. 57 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: We need to talk. I saw where he's putting out 58 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: an EP roll soon. That's not today, right, No, just 59 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 1: a song. I just scripe, swipe Instagram so fast and 60 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: only catch partial stories of things. And I don't even swipe. 61 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: I don't even like stop long enough to light most things. 62 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: That is, I'm trying to take in so much and 63 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: I thought I saw that he said he's putting up 64 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: because I follow Jordan's said he's putting out an EP, 65 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: and I think he said he's it's the proudest he's 66 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: ever been to put something out, or it's the most personal. 67 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: What do you think you have to say about everything? Right? 68 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: Because if I was gonna put out something and I 69 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: wasn't proud of it, it's okay, you know, it's it's 70 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: pretty medio. It's a little slightly about medio. Yeah, but 71 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: I mean, we're gonna put that up. But he didn't 72 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: say that. He said he's the proudest he's ever been, 73 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: and I salute him for that. Here is Valley Road 74 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: from Riley Green. This is an EP of songs. They're 75 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: all acoustic. Here's the acoustic version of there Was This Girl. 76 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: There was This Girl. You know that was the number 77 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: one from maybe a year ago. Y'ere an af ago. 78 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: What I like about that is that it sounds like 79 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: a different recording. Some artists we'll go, hey, we're putting 80 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: out the acoustic version, and all they did was take 81 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: the audio of the studio version and peel everything else back. 82 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: There's only nothing different except you're hearing less of the mix. 83 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 1: I like when they do an acoustic version to actually 84 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: re recorded acoustically. Yeah, that sounds like every recording this. 85 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: I like that. Willie Nelson has a new song called 86 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: I'm the Only hell My Mom ever raised, Take me 87 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: back to the good old. Lauren Jenkins has a new 88 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: song called Ain't That Hard? So you ain't as special 89 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: as you? Thank you. It ain't there, It's break. We'll 90 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: give you a couple more here before we are jump 91 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 1: into the rest of this. Nikita Carmen, it's a good 92 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: song called came Close Close. She kissed me till I filty, 93 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 1: held me till the morning with my eyes closed against 94 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: my heart, and I'm sitting because I never felt love 95 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: came Adam Hambrick has between me and the end of 96 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: the world. It feels like scout for this time, not 97 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: bad news. It's to those home and darkness drown Ah, 98 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: God on my side facing the Father devil. Can it's 99 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: him watching you? Swan sween me alright, one more, I'm 100 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: going to do Wheezer Hero. They are delaying their new album, 101 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: but they shared this song and no clips, but a 102 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: couple of things here. Pedals for Armor from Hayley Williams 103 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: from Paramore. It's her debut solo album. And then Hayley 104 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: Steinfeld put out Half Written Story, her second EP that's 105 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: five songs. So there's a bunch of music for you 106 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: right there, right there, right there. Um and Eric pass Lay, 107 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: who we're going to talk to you in the next 108 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: episode a little bit. He has a new song out 109 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: that's really good. You have that at my This is 110 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: uh and it's Sarah Buckston's in this song too. I 111 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:57,799 Speaker 1: believe she is. All right, hit that clip now next 112 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: to you. That is a heartbeat higher for Merrick Passley. 113 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: All right, there's your new music. Give it a run. 114 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: A pretty good music week, pretty good. Yeah, some weeks 115 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: I'm just like a lot. I'm just not moving. Maybe 116 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: it's just the where we are in the world right now. 117 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: There's not a lot catching me right now. I do 118 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: like the Direk Passley song a lot, in the Nikita 119 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: Carmen song a lot too. I did see where and 120 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: breaking music news, not that we're breaking things at the 121 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: podcast and who knows. When you hear this smash mouth 122 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: Steve Harwell slapped with their straining order from ex Fiance. 123 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: I'm not even clicking the link, but there you go, 124 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: all right, let's get going here on right now? Is 125 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: Dan Rodgers. His title is the executive producer of Nashville's 126 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: Grand Old Opry. What does that title mean? Because I 127 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: know you, Dan, I guess I never know to call 128 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: you the executive producer? What does that mean? Um? Basically, 129 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: I would say I'm responsible for everything at the end 130 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: of the day that happens on stage of the world 131 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: famous Grand Ole Opry. You know who you see and 132 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: here on the show every night that the big red 133 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: curtain goes up on, making sure the best possible show 134 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: it can be. And and something that is not listed 135 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: on my job description but that I wake up thinking 136 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: about every day is how I help propelled the year 137 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: old Opery to its birthday such that it's in hopefully 138 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: better shape than it's ever been for our centennial. Oh wow, 139 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: that is coming up. Wow. Okay, So here's the three 140 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: things I want to talk about. One, how someone gets 141 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: to be in the opery to I want to talk 142 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: about how the Opery's pivoted a bit with the pandemic. 143 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: And then three what's happening right now? So it just 144 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: kind of laying out the chapter guide there, So we'll 145 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: start was first. I think you probably get asked us 146 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: the most, but how in the world does someone become 147 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: a member of the Grand Old Operate at this point? So, Um, 148 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 1: you're right, it's the most asked question. Um, I think 149 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: of anyone who works at the opera. And I have 150 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: a great vantage point of my new office at the opera. 151 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: When I keep my office store open, which I try 152 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: to do, I hear on a typical day when there's 153 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: no pandemic. UM, tour after tour come through and people 154 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: from the round the world, from Australia to Japan to 155 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: my hometown of Zania, Illinois, all asked of the same 156 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: question you did. So you're not alone. And basically for 157 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: the opera's entire existence, UM, operate membership has always been 158 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: determined by the management of the opery. So it's a 159 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: pretty select group of people who are always watching the 160 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: relationships with various artists have with the opera, and they 161 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: can be you know, with the operate itself, with the 162 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: fans who come to the opery, and with the their 163 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 1: fellow artists there. So there's no magic formula and there's 164 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: no you know, really right or wrong answer, which is 165 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: one reason you can spend um if you want Bobby 166 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: your entire weekend UM. Looking at blogs with people arguing 167 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: about should and shouldn't be great operate members, well, that 168 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: means that you're relevant, though, Like I like when people 169 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 1: have differing opinions on things that I do. And I 170 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: read a lot of that too about UM what they're 171 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 1: going to Opery does and for example, and I've talked 172 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,599 Speaker 1: to her about this a lot too, So I'm not 173 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 1: speaking out of place here, But like when Kelsey was 174 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: put in Kelsey Ballerini, you know, there was a contingent 175 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: of folks who thought, wow, she's too young, you know, 176 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: is she even country? I'm on the opposite side of that, 177 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 1: where I feel like she's right in the vein that 178 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: that keeps the Opery cool. Absolutely, a small town writer 179 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: from Knoxville that makes any country music shouldn't be panal 180 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: lot and so but I think the fact that there 181 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: is such talk about it means that it's thriving a bit. 182 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: I wonder do you guys feel the same way when 183 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: you see something controversial written about it. You absolutely want 184 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: UM fans to be passionate about the grandle Opery. I mean, 185 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: God forbid we do something and there is no there's 186 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 1: no reaction, you know what I mean. And I just 187 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: i'd say about Kelsey and really all opera members that 188 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: operate membership, UM, if you look at our entire roster, 189 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: it looks a lot like what we want any opery 190 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: show to be, which is to showcase the past, present 191 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: and future of country music. So you know, your operating 192 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: membership isn't going to be just about people who have 193 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: had fifty years of earth of year career and all 194 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: those hits under their belt. It's also going to be about, 195 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 1: you know, a young upstart that the operation feels like 196 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: is going to be committed to the opera and it's 197 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: going to be popular amongst its fans for years, for 198 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: years to come. And that's again that's what makes it 199 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,959 Speaker 1: fun and what makes um those blogs, if you ever 200 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: take a chance to take a moment to read it, 201 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: it's it's what makes them interesting, you know. I will 202 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: say for every Kelsey, then there was a Gene Watson 203 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: who um we inducted in February that I was so 204 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: excited about because the man and has had, um, you know, 205 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: just this incredible traditional country voice for years and it 206 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: just felt to me like he had come and he 207 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: had paid his dues at to operate, and it just 208 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: somehow been overlooked for a while, and it just felt 209 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: really right to me for him to, at this point 210 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 1: in his career get to say he was a Grand 211 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: Ol Opera member. And of course, to the point of 212 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: you can't always win, then, um, the naysayers of the 213 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 1: world had, rather than celebrating, said what took so long, 214 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: that's a whole other time. You can't wait. Listen, I've 215 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: learned too, And you can't win for everybody else. You 216 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: can only win for what you care about. So exactly, 217 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, wants in UM sitting 218 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 1: down in Texas, Um, wherever he is, whatever chair he's 219 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: sitting in, he knows he's a Grand Ol Opera member. 220 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: And that makes my day every day time I think 221 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: about it. Have you ever sat in a room where 222 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 1: and no names are needed, obviously, Have you ever sat 223 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: in a room and you're talking about someone who could 224 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: possibly remember, and you get and they're so close, but 225 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: you're just like one vote away and they didn't make it. 226 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: You know, it's never there's not there's not a vote. 227 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: It's um, just a matter of a conversation about is 228 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: this right for this and you know what, I should 229 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: back at them, say, it's not about it being right, 230 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: it's because no one really knows because there's not that 231 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: magic formula. But does it feel right for the opery 232 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: and for this artist at this given point. You know, So, 233 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: how often do you guys go and meet about Okay, 234 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: who's who are you feeling? Who's who's the criteria? How 235 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: often do you guys have those conversations. Um, it's not, 236 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: it's not a set schedule. It's just you're kind of 237 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: always you know. It's kind of like I guess if 238 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: you're on a if you're the manager of the Yankees, 239 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: you're it's just always in the back of your mind, 240 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: back of your mind a bit. You know. It's like 241 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: you're doing your job week to week. But just like 242 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: fans out there who are interested in it, I think 243 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: if you're really doing your job as one of the 244 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: folks who are looking for the long term success as 245 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: the opery, it's something you're you're always thinking about, you know, 246 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: even when them I mean, I'll say, even when someone 247 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: comes out and just kills isn't a debut? You know, 248 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: sometimes in the back of your mom and you're driving home, 249 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: you think, you know, what does the future hold for 250 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: that artist? And um, can we engage with them so 251 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: much that, you know, oppery membership becomes something they really 252 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: to which they really aspire? You know, back you went 253 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: to the opera as an intern, kind of works your 254 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: way all the way up to the you know king 255 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: dangling that you are now, which is pretty cool to 256 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: see that you know, you've been there the whole time. 257 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: My question would be, since you've been there the whole time, 258 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: you obviously love the Grand ol Opery, just for a bit, 259 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: just once, have you ever wanted to walk out and 260 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: do a little performance? Um. I should not admit this 261 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: to you because it is your forte. But somewhere along 262 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: the line, at some point, I'm going to um work 263 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: up five minutes of um comedy and um, somebody is 264 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: not going to make it to the stage, and I'm 265 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: going to go out and really bomb and it's gonna 266 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: be awesome. Unless I really for that story to really succeed, 267 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: I have to bomb, and I'm fairly sure I will. Well, 268 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: you know we can help you with all those parts. Well, 269 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: you do you schedule me? I get sick right the 270 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: last minute on purpose. We've been working on your material together. 271 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: You walk out and you don't nail it. It's perfect, 272 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: We're ready for it. I love it. Well, we'll schedule 273 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: a lunch when we can, when we can all gather again, 274 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: we'll schedule. That's funny. I will tell you there was 275 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 1: a time, probably three years ago now, that our radio 276 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: radio announcer went m I A before we came back 277 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: from intermission, and seriously, there were maybe ten seconds left, 278 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: and our stage manager came and said, we cannot find 279 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: him anywhere. You've got to do this, and so I 280 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: was ready to put on my best. Announcer was headed 281 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: to the podium to say welcome back to the and 282 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 1: then I thought, holy crap, what did they even say? 283 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: And at that moment the announcer came running around the 284 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: corner and my dreams being an opera announcer for ten 285 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: seconds for dash. If you want real controversy, invite yourself 286 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: to be a member. You go out to five minutes 287 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,239 Speaker 1: bomb and then have vents come on and be like, 288 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 1: well ready to have you as a member. Um, I'll 289 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 1: tell you in the hot country nights which I have 290 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 1: wanted them to play, the opera since I even heard 291 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 1: the first rumblings about Hot Country nights. You know, like, man, 292 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: we've got to get them out there, just because it'll 293 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: be so much fun. From the moment those guys walked 294 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: in the building, Um, Dirk's character Douglas was certain that 295 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,919 Speaker 1: every time I approached them, I was going to invite 296 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: them to become opera members. When we were shooting the 297 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: TV show and he was in character, obviously, Dirk's was going, 298 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 1: all these cameras are here. I guess it's ready for 299 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: our big invitation. Huh. And I'm like, no, it's it's 300 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: a TV show. Yeah, yeah, Um, I do want to 301 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: pivot over now and talk about what's happened with you guys. 302 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 1: What's happened with you know, you know most, if not all, 303 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,159 Speaker 1: of America right now, is that you had to make 304 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,479 Speaker 1: some tough decisions and pivot. And yeah, the Grand Ol 305 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: operation is still going, but it's happening right now with 306 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 1: nobody in the audience like kind of walking me through 307 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: what those meetings are like and how that decision was made. Well, UM, 308 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: I'll begin that by saying that genuine thank you too. 309 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: You you are one of the few folks who um 310 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: we actually see every Saturday night and you're out and 311 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 1: about what section seven or so, UM, throwing into the 312 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: crowd and keeping everybody around the world entertained, UM when 313 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: we're going to commercial breaks in and such. So thank you, UM, 314 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: genuinely thank you for your commitment to the opery. I 315 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: will tell you, UM, there was never this isn't a modesty. 316 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: There was never a moment where yeah, we thought, oh, 317 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 1: should should we skip a show this week? Should there 318 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: not be a show this week? In the middle of UM, 319 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: this pandemic Because I told you, I'll tell you the 320 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: operis live audience shows were canceled on a Friday, UM, 321 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: so we you know, we had people in towns who 322 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: were expecting to see I think it's thirty so tickets 323 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: sold for that night where we had to cancel that show. 324 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: So it was the next night that we went on 325 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 1: with our first Saturday night broadcast without an audience. And 326 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 1: it was by the following Saturday that we were on 327 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: Circle Television UM and on the live stream around the 328 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: world with you hosting. Of course, Marty Stewart, UM, Ben 329 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: Skill and Brad Paisley, separated by the social distance we 330 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 1: needed on stage, and we've continued every week since. You know, 331 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: some weeks have been easier than others in terms of 332 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: finding the right mix of artists to be to be 333 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: out on that stage. With Circle Network, that's a that's 334 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 1: a big deal for the Opery and the Opery brand. 335 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 1: And you know, it was a long time ago that 336 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 1: we first met about the network before the show is 337 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: what it was, and it is what it is now. 338 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: But you know, to me, I'm such an advocate and 339 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 1: fan of the Grand ol Operate that even before there 340 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: was the show. You know, we sat in a sat 341 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 1: in a room and I said, I'd like to be involved, 342 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:25,719 Speaker 1: and you guys said, I'd like me to be involved. 343 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: And you know that's kind of how the first steps 344 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 1: to Operate happened, which is the show that we're kind 345 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: of doing now. We're I guess we're doing it like 346 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: a version of it with no crowd. But um, talk 347 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: about the Circle Network and how you know how long 348 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: ago that happened and you know where it is now? Sure, Um, 349 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: you know it's something that has been discussed, um really 350 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: for years basically my entire tenure at the Opery. But 351 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: you know it's you know as well as anyone it's 352 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: not an easy task at all to create a television network, 353 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 1: but we've managed to UM do it. And I think 354 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,119 Speaker 1: of the Circle Network as you know, the it's not 355 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: just the home of the opery, but I really think 356 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: of it as the opera's network, just because it's so 357 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: much of what you would see on Circle really fits UM. 358 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: For a fan of the opera, if you like what 359 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: the opera stands for, you're gonna like UM all of 360 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 1: that programming. And I'll say you know this, UM. In 361 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 1: terms of looking for a silver lining, I think that 362 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 1: the UM one of the silver linings here is that 363 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:50,360 Speaker 1: we've we were able to have UM the Circle Network 364 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: launch on January one of this year, and who knew 365 00:21:54,720 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: how important it would be to delivering people across the 366 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: country their daily or their weekly dose of grandal Obpry. 367 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: You know, when we were talking in January, I'm sure 368 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: our goals were to, you know, have a wide array 369 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: of programming and keep people interested UM in the country 370 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: lifestyle programming all week. But we never dreamt that we 371 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: would be among a few people standing on the stage 372 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: anywhere in America UM performing live music for hungry audiences 373 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: week after week. And you know, we'd be able to 374 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 1: deliver everything from great blue grass like you saw Alrecky 375 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 1: Skaggs doing about a month ago now, to Luke Combs 376 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: playing something he had just written um six ft apart 377 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 1: about the pandemic. To Ashley McBride, who had obviously a 378 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: completely different plan for launching her album um and you 379 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 1: know she couldn't do any of those pieces she had 380 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 1: planned and instead was standing on that Oprey stage the 381 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: day after her album was released planning just a great 382 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:13,439 Speaker 1: music from the project. I think I get a lot 383 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 1: of people asking me the most, you know, how do 384 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 1: they find Circle Network? And you know, because of with 385 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: Corona hitting, I think it's delayed the launch of the 386 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,679 Speaker 1: digital part of the network because there's some great content. 387 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 1: Craig Morgan show is so good, you got that, the 388 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 1: show about artists wives, obviously Opery, which is the show 389 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: at the Grand Ol Operation. There's just a lot of 390 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 1: fantastic content um and again a silver lining is the 391 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: Grand Ol Operations now also being shown on tons of 392 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 1: affiliates like not Circle Network, but they're taking that show 393 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: and they're putting it on you know, uh, their ABC, NBCCBS, Fox, whatever. 394 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 1: The affility is all over the country but do you 395 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 1: know as of right now when they're thinking of launching 396 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: the network so people can watch it on their phones 397 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: or Apple TVs yet UM we that's moved around because 398 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 1: of the pandemic as well. So for the near future, 399 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: UM I would always suggest folks just to go to 400 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: the website UM determine how you can get Circle in 401 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 1: your area, and then of course always UM for the 402 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: near future will also be UM sharing that broadcast via 403 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 1: live stream as well, So even if you can't yet 404 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 1: find Circle in your UM area, you can find its 405 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:30,680 Speaker 1: programming via the opery and that live stream every Saturday night. 406 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: And of course, as we move through UM and continue 407 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: forging our path forward, there'll be a lot of other 408 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: great new programming and you will want to make sure 409 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 1: that you can find UM Circle on your device, on 410 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: your computer, on your smart TV, etcetera. Three minutes, I'm 411 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: gonna ask you some pretty quick questions here, Dan, okay, 412 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: all right, who was cool to you back at the 413 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: Grand ol Operate when you were like an intern? You 414 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,359 Speaker 1: were you were young, that went on that there was 415 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 1: a massive star like you're an intern, But who was 416 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 1: so nice to you back then? UM I will always 417 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: be amazed back when um he had his debut hit, Um, 418 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: how Brad Paisley seemed to remember everybody's name from one 419 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:25,439 Speaker 1: Opery visit to the next. Good answer, I like that. 420 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: I like that. Okay, how about this in just a 421 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 1: few words. What makes a good opera member? Uh, great 422 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: opera member is someone who um is a great family member. 423 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: You know. It's like the person at the people always 424 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: think of the opera as a family. And I really 425 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 1: do believe that the great analogy, it's the person at 426 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 1: the family reunion that you know is going to be there, 427 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: that you can count on in good times and in bad. 428 00:25:55,200 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: And UM is the person who love us to interact 429 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: with like the people his his or her own age, 430 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,920 Speaker 1: but also goes and plays with kids and uh talks 431 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: to the older people. You know, the kind of the 432 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: person that's the hub. But of course any family, it 433 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: takes all kinds kinds. You know, we need our blue 434 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 1: grass pickers. We need the folks who have are number 435 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 1: one on the charts, like um Blake Shelton is this 436 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: week when he's playing the Opery, and we need you know, 437 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:32,880 Speaker 1: the singer songwriters like and Oprey show is at its 438 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: best when it showcases all the great stuff on the 439 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 1: makeup a Oprey performance. All right, do you ever see 440 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 1: or hear anything weird when you're there late at night? 441 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:45,120 Speaker 1: Like the ghost of an old country star there? Um? 442 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,640 Speaker 1: You know, I'll tell you. My office used to be 443 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: in a home that was where Roy Acuff had lived. 444 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: And one night I was there really late at night. 445 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: This is going to be a let down. Just let 446 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: you know. I was there late at night and I 447 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 1: had was working on an obituary for an offer, remember 448 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 1: who had passed away that day, And it's probably like 449 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: twelve thirty am one am, and I had finished that, 450 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: and I've actually read a file about Roy aka kind 451 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,879 Speaker 1: of for inspiration on what to write. And I was 452 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 1: walking through Roy's old home with all the lights off, 453 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: and I thought, come on, like, if there's ever a moment, 454 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: this is, this is my moment. Haunt me. Come on 455 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: nothing nothing. Oh, you're right, we were disappointed. I was 456 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 1: ready for the big, big ghost reveal. Well, listen, I 457 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: appreciate the time, obviously. It's you know, a great pleasure 458 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 1: to to to work with you professionally and and too 459 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,120 Speaker 1: you know, also uh no yet on a personal level too, 460 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: So thank you. I know you get a million interview 461 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,679 Speaker 1: requests today, and I appreciate you you spreading some of 462 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: that knowledge and and forward look with us here. Thank you, Dan, 463 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:57,200 Speaker 1: I thank everybody for tuning into circles, for tuning into 464 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: the operative. Thanks for what you do, and I look 465 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: forward to working on my failed comedy. Alright, d see 466 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:13,719 Speaker 1: you later. See you? Hey, Mark Chestnut? Hey, what's up? 467 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: How you been? Hey? Bro, You're good. I've been doing 468 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: pretty good, you know, all things considered. Yeah, it's kind 469 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: of what everybody has to say now, Like, you know, 470 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 1: I'm doing good, but the world's not doing it's best, 471 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: so we gotta put that in perspective, you know. Yeah, Yeah, 472 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 1: it's it's uh, it's really it's really weird because this 473 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 1: is usually you know, we're using getting real busy right now. Yeah. 474 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: I was reading to think about that when you're touring 475 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: and said, you worked twelve twelve months a year for 476 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 1: almost thirty years and never took any time off. So 477 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 1: this has been an oddly nice break for you. Well, yeah, 478 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: you know, I've enjoyed being home and the most of 479 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 1: all the best thing about it is I haven't had 480 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: to travel after all those years on the road. You know, 481 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: I'm going on thirty years now, and um it will 482 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: be it will be thirty years coming up in June, 483 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: I think are But um, anyway, I'm not people wrong 484 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: about that. But no, I haven't taken much time to 485 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: speak of off and all that time and I've traveled 486 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: every week and I live in Beaumont, Texas, and you know, 487 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 1: my my band and my bus and everything is all 488 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: up in Nashville. So every week I'm having to drive. 489 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 1: You know, I drive an hour and a half or 490 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: more depending on the traffic. And you can jump on 491 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: plane and fly to Nashville and hop on my bus. 492 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: Sometimes I'm lucky if we're planning here in Texas somewhere, 493 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,239 Speaker 1: the bus comes from my house and picks me up 494 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: and bringing me home. Wow, you have to fly to 495 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 1: Nashville basically every weekend that you're touring. Oh yeah, yeah, 496 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: just about just about. It's uh, that's what I'm tired 497 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 1: of because it's about like said hour and a half 498 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: depending on traffic, and and and then you gotta miss 499 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,400 Speaker 1: with the airports and all that stuff. I've done that 500 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 1: for so long. Um, this kind of nice break too, 501 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: to not have to go anywhere. But I'll tell you 502 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 1: what I sure miss. I missed being on stage. I 503 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 1: missed my band, I missed my I missed my my crowd, 504 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: of my audience most of all. Well, I was listening 505 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: to your new song. I found another you and she 506 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 1: hates me too. And I tell you I listened to it, 507 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: and I said, I gotta get chestnut on the show. 508 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: And I gotta get chestnut on the countdown. And so 509 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: tell me about this song and and and why you 510 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:48,320 Speaker 1: picked it. Yeah, there's a cool little story about this. 511 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: It's Uh. I was working on a album project a 512 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: few years ago, and we um, we cut to try 513 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 1: X and we we we laid down two songs. I 514 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: did all the vocals on them. Since I don't get 515 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 1: to Nashville very often, I was I was right in 516 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 1: the middle summer tour, so we were liked to basic 517 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: tracks and and um out after that, right after that. 518 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: The next day, I did all the vocals, and so 519 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 1: we had all that, and you can and we've been 520 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 1: needing to put something new out here. So I didn't 521 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 1: had nothing new since UH Tradition Lives album came out, 522 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 1: you know, and so so let's let's put it out 523 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 1: on our own on our own little label or whatever. 524 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 1: I like multi column labels anymore. But so, uh, we 525 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: finished it up. They mixed it, mastered it, and um, 526 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 1: I always thought it was such a great song. I 527 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 1: hate that I was. I was hating that it was 528 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 1: just sitting there. I wanted to put it on Tradition Lives, 529 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 1: but for some reason it didn't happen. But the two 530 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 1: songs I recorded are really cool. They're they're up tempo 531 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 1: and um, you know, kind of kind of funny in 532 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: their country, you know, if that's what I like about there. 533 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: And I'm so glad people are finally gonna get to 534 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 1: hear all this stuff. Yeah, me too. I was looking 535 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 1: at some stuff. This is by the numbers. I'm gonna 536 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: read you some of these numbers. You have fourteen number one, 537 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:25,120 Speaker 1: twenty three top ten singles, over twelve million albums sold. 538 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: You were one of the most played country artists of 539 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: the nineties. What song do you think define Not not 540 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 1: your song, because I would go abubba, but I would say, 541 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 1: what song for you to find the nineties outside of 542 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: your music, outside of yeah, oh you know, I would 543 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: have That has to be Garth Brooks. Um. You know, 544 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 1: everything he did in the nine. It was an inspiration 545 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 1: to everybody else. And you know, I think my favorite 546 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:02,840 Speaker 1: is um with under Rolls, because I don't know, it's 547 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 1: hard to it's hard. It's hard to say it's under 548 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: Rolls or or or if Tomorrow never comes. That's my 549 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:17,560 Speaker 1: favorite one, if Tomorrow never comes. And I was lucky 550 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,400 Speaker 1: that I had the opportunity in the early nineties when 551 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 1: I was just starting out and he was just catching 552 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 1: fire and I was I got to tour with him 553 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 1: quite a bit, and that's when he was playing you know, 554 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 1: smaller venues and uh so we got to hang out 555 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,840 Speaker 1: quite a bit. And he's a great guy. Do you 556 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,120 Speaker 1: remember a specific moment when you realized that you were 557 00:33:46,160 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: famous where you're like, whoop, life has just changed. I 558 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: was famous. It got kind of crazy. They're at the 559 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,320 Speaker 1: very beginning. I didn't think it would happen that fast 560 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 1: because uh, you know, you you you read all these 561 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: stories and hear all these stories about how people take 562 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:08,400 Speaker 1: so long to catch on. I got lucky, man, I 563 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 1: tell you, I was very very lucky. I was blessed, well, 564 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: was what I was, because I had that the song 565 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 1: Too Cold at Home just took off. I didn't even 566 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: have to do a radio tour. That just they released 567 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:24,480 Speaker 1: it and radio jumped all over it. Next thing I know, 568 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:28,919 Speaker 1: I'm out on the road almost two hundred days a year. 569 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 1: It was crazy, man, I was. I was. It scared me, 570 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 1: really overwhelmed me because I was always playing in them 571 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:40,920 Speaker 1: and Donkey talks around here in Momont, and I always 572 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:43,040 Speaker 1: had always packed me in. We always had a big 573 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:48,360 Speaker 1: crowd every night. But I was not prepared for for 574 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 1: a walk was coming. I came with that song, you know, 575 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:54,400 Speaker 1: back in the day when you covered I Don't want 576 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:56,399 Speaker 1: to miss a thing. Did Errol Smith ever reach out 577 00:34:56,440 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: to you after you covered it? Yeah, well, really reach 578 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 1: out to me. But I was. I had all access 579 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 1: passes for Aerosmith because I'm a big Aerosmiths fan. I 580 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: love him. But I was. I got the tickets and 581 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:19,799 Speaker 1: all access passes and offer for the their show there 582 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,759 Speaker 1: in Nashville. I guess I can't remember what year it was, 583 00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 1: but I was. I was backstage. They let us come 584 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: back there, and and uh they were real nice to 585 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:32,440 Speaker 1: us and said, hey, not not the band, but I 586 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:36,040 Speaker 1: mean the managers and stuff. And they said, uh, well, 587 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 1: y'all can part back at parking for us, and uh, 588 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:43,879 Speaker 1: a friend and I went and so we we went 589 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 1: in there and he said, the guys are doing me 590 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 1: doing interviews and all right now he said, y'all come 591 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:55,239 Speaker 1: in here and catering, get you something to eat. And 592 00:35:55,320 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 1: we walked backstage the catering and sit down and and uh, 593 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,279 Speaker 1: of course I go looking for beer. Of course you 594 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 1: can't drink backstage because signs they are absolutely no alcohol 595 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:13,399 Speaker 1: past stage. It's so uh. We were just sitting there 596 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 1: talking and all of a sudden, I hear this. I 597 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:19,879 Speaker 1: heard this, um loud voice and I know exactly who 598 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:23,920 Speaker 1: it is singing, and I don't want to close my eye, 599 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:27,359 Speaker 1: just at the top of his lungs. And I turned 600 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:33,720 Speaker 1: around and it's Steven Tyler walking towards me. And he's 601 00:36:33,960 --> 00:36:38,319 Speaker 1: who's um. He's got his arms spread out like you 602 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 1: know for a hug, and he comes he comes up 603 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:44,160 Speaker 1: to me. I got my hands stuck out to two, uh, 604 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,480 Speaker 1: shake his hand and he and he just bear hugs 605 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:51,480 Speaker 1: me and he's singing at the top of his lungs 606 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:57,080 Speaker 1: right in my ear. Can you imagine that? And so 607 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 1: we stood there and talked and for about thirty minutes 608 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:07,960 Speaker 1: and I don't remember that thing he said, or I said, 609 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:11,000 Speaker 1: big blur to me, I'll re memory that we're saying. 610 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:16,239 Speaker 1: He said, uh. He said something about what are they 611 00:37:16,239 --> 00:37:18,560 Speaker 1: gonna do with us old guys? He said, Man, I'm 612 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 1: doing better now. You know. He just had throat surgery. 613 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,359 Speaker 1: He said, I got a new girlfriend. You know. He 614 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:27,560 Speaker 1: was just talking, talking, talking, talking. I probably didn't say 615 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:33,880 Speaker 1: two three. That was so cool for him to to 616 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 1: do that. And that was the very first time I 617 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:39,480 Speaker 1: met him, and he acted like we were old friends. 618 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:43,319 Speaker 1: He was talking to me about stuff like we've been 619 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:45,840 Speaker 1: knowing each other for a long time. I got a 620 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:47,400 Speaker 1: couple more things talk to you about. I want to 621 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,400 Speaker 1: mention this first. The new EP six songs will be 622 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:51,759 Speaker 1: out in August, but you may get it out in July. 623 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:55,600 Speaker 1: Is that true. I don't know. The last I heard 624 00:37:56,239 --> 00:38:01,600 Speaker 1: it was set for August, but it maybe if we 625 00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:04,279 Speaker 1: can get it. I've got one more thing I want 626 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:08,440 Speaker 1: to do for this album, one more special thing that 627 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:10,400 Speaker 1: I want to do. I don't know if I'll have 628 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:14,200 Speaker 1: time to get it done, but I'd like to get 629 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:17,239 Speaker 1: it out as soon as possible. Your son, Casey is 630 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,239 Speaker 1: getting out of the Marines this month. Is that right? 631 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:23,520 Speaker 1: That's right? Is he gonna move back to Beaumont. He's 632 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 1: gonna move back here, and he's going he's got to 633 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:32,520 Speaker 1: go to the police academy and then go to work 634 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 1: for the Beaumont Police Department. Man, tell him we said 635 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:41,240 Speaker 1: we appreciate him. Oh, I will, I will. It's great. 636 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:44,360 Speaker 1: I'm so proud of you. Man. It's having us a 637 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:47,600 Speaker 1: son that's a in any branch of the military is 638 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:51,480 Speaker 1: just a it's a great feeling. Well, I'm gonna ask 639 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:54,719 Speaker 1: you one final question. Does anyone just call you the 640 00:38:54,840 --> 00:38:59,319 Speaker 1: nut or Mr? Nutt? What? Does anyone ever call you 641 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 1: just the nut or Mr Nutt? I don't believe anybody 642 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:09,240 Speaker 1: had ever called me Mr Nutt. A lot of people 643 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:12,400 Speaker 1: call me nut hey, nuts, okay, just no, but not 644 00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:15,080 Speaker 1: Mr Nutt? Okay, okay, just asking you never know what 645 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,319 Speaker 1: nicknames are gonna happen there. Well, listen, Mark, good to 646 00:39:18,360 --> 00:39:20,480 Speaker 1: talk to you. I you know, I've always been a fan. 647 00:39:20,560 --> 00:39:22,160 Speaker 1: We've we've been able to see each other a couple 648 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:24,800 Speaker 1: of times in real life, and I wanted to to 649 00:39:25,200 --> 00:39:27,799 Speaker 1: highlight this new song to my listeners on you know, 650 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:29,759 Speaker 1: both my radio show and on the Countdown Show. That 651 00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:32,399 Speaker 1: runs all weekend all over the country. So um yeah, 652 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:35,040 Speaker 1: I appreciate that, and good luck, and you know, let 653 00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:37,920 Speaker 1: me know whenever this record gets ready, well you'll you'll know. 654 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:40,360 Speaker 1: I guarantee it, and I sure appreciate you playing it. 655 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:42,480 Speaker 1: Man it it really means the world to me. I'm 656 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:45,359 Speaker 1: so I'm so excited about it. All Right, Mr Nutt, 657 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:50,160 Speaker 1: all right, see soon.