Bailey Zimmerman (2:26)

Yeah, no, they had, like, Bailey signs. Like, there's this one girl that had this take me home, Bailey sign. And I was like, that's cool, dude.

Troy Walhoffer (2:32)

I gotta tell you. So Country Thunder, 2022, Wisconsin, 1:00 in the afternoon. I think all these folks are coming in to see Morgan Wallen, and there's masses coming, and we got about 47,000 people in the bowl. And I'm like, it's hot. If you remember the day, it was super hot that day. And I went out to check the barricade and see how everything was. And it's the vibe and everything. And people are going, hey, man, do you know how to get Bailey Zimmerman's autograph? Or meet Bailey Zimmerman? And I'm like, who's Bailey Zimmerman? I look down on my. On my seat, and I'm like, oh, he's up next. And they were all there to see. So when the. So your manager and I. Managers were sitting on the bus and you just finished your set, and that's when I knew, because they all left after your set was done. And the next artist said, like, you know, maybe 10,000 people there, they all went back to there. They were there to see you. Pretty exciting stuff.

Bailey Zimmerman (3:26)

Yeah, that was a really big piece of, like, my story. Really. Country Thunder was, like, one of the first. Well, the first festival that I ever had, like, a crowd at, because all the other festival I'd ever played, like, nobody knew my songs or anything. And then we came to Country Denver, Wisconsin, and I was thinking it was gonna be the same thing. Just go out there, play the show. But then I went out there, and there's, like, a lot of people. And I was like, okay, well, I guess we're gonna, like, do this thing. And they had, like, again, they had, like, the signs and, like, the Bailey signs. And I think that was, like, that's gonna go down in, like, my. My story is, like, a moment where I feel like I kind of broke through a threshold of some sort, you know? Like, I really felt like I'm proud of that one. I guess I'm trying to say proud of it.

Troy Walhoffer (4:09)

I'm so glad we could share that one together. Yeah. So let's go back to the beginning, man. Let's talk about when you started out, what your inspiration was and where. Like, what jobs did you have before you became a professional musician, an artist?

Bailey Zimmerman (4:22)

Yeah. So When I turned 16, mom bought me a truck and lifted it for me, but I had to pay my own insurance, so I had to go get a job. So then I went to my brother's, one of my brother's really good friends. Quinn owns Salt and Strings in town in Louisville, where I'm from. And he went up there and was like, hey, you think you'd let Bailey, like, cut some deer up or, you know, just skin deer or whatever it is? That's what we did up there. And so that's what I did. When I was 16, I started working up there and, like, just like, being, like, a butcher, I guess. But then I. I was also, like a grocery boy, too, up front in the part, you know? So I did that. And then when I turned 18 and graduated high school, a couple weeks after I graduated, I went to West Virginia and started gas, like, building gas pipelines. And, like, I kind of just like, worked. I was a laborer in the laborers union. So I did that for a couple years. And it was just, like, not fun. It wasn't a lot of fun, man. Like, I was making good money, but I never got to see my mom. My grandma ain't getting any younger, you know, it was just like a lot being away from home so much. So then I tried just something else. Like, I was like, man, I'll try anything. I just don't want to do this anymore, you know? So I started trying to build lifted trucks. So I built me a lifted truck. Me and my brother John built my truck. And I just posted a video of it one day on TikTok, and it, like, got some views. I think it was, like, 70,000 views or something. And I was like, man, tick tock. Okay, like, this is pretty cool, I think. I think I could maybe do this with my truck. So I started getting into, like, the truck scenes and, like, truck tick tock, right where all the lifted trucks are on TikTok. And I started getting, like, a following through that side of TikTok. So I started taking that truck around the US to truck shows, and I would win, like, awards with the trucks. And I'd met so many friends that I'm still best friends with today in the scene. And then at one show, one of my buddies was like, hey, man, I heard you, like, have been trying to sing, you know, and this has been like. It was like a week after I'd first tried to sing. I was sitting in the shop and I was just bored because I was waiting on parts and put my phone up and tried to sing a song. And then I thought, man, that's like. That kind of sounds all right, man. I stayed on tune. It kind of sounds like the guy that singing is Blackstone Cherry. Stay by them. And so then I got together with this guy named Gavin, and he started, like, kind of teaching me how to write songs or just showing me songs he had written, and I was just watching. So then I try. I was trying to, like, learn guitar and stuff and try to maybe learn how to sing. So I went to another truck show. My buddy Damien was like, man, I heard you've been trying to sing. And I'm like, man, I'm not gonna lie. I have been trying to sing. Like, I've been trying to do this thing. I think. I think it's really cool. And my buddy Gavin's been writing songs, and I think that's really cool. So, yeah, I've been doing. He's like, well, buddy over here can play guitar. You want to try to sing a song? And I was like, yeah, I'll sing a stinking song, man. So we got the. It was like, you know, eight or nine people in this house. And Damien had some TikTok followers, too. So he posted it on his TikTok and me singing it, and it kind of, like, went pretty big on his page, and people were like, oh, who is this kid? And so then we got together a couple weeks ago with my buddy Gavin, and he was like. He called me right before we started, was gonna head to the shop to write. We always wrote in my uncle Brent's shop. Cool environment, right? Yeah, right. And he, like, calls me, and he's like, hey, man, we should try to write a real song tonight. And I'm like, all right. I think I've been watching you enough and learning. I think I could, like. I think I could do it. And he was like, all right, let's try. So we got there, and we wrote a really cool song. Like, I was like, man, I'm proud of this. I mean, I've never written a song before, but this seems like I would listen to it, you know? So we just recorded it on iPhone, like, pressed up against the toolbox just to, like, remember what the melodies were and the words were. And when I got home at, like, it was like, two or three in the morning, I called Gavin because I was like, man, hey, do you care if I post this as a TikTok? Because I think this is really cool. And Damian posted that one the other day, and I think maybe this could do something, man. I think the song's really cool. And he was like, yeah, man, we might as well. And if it gets some views, maybe we can figure out how to record it. And I'm. Because we didn't know. I used to think. I thought that you had to have a home studio, you know? So I, like, posted at 3am and went to bed. And then when I woke up, it was 7:00am, 7, 7:30. And I rolled over and checked my phone, and it was, like, blowing up, man. Like, there was just not, like TikTok said. Like, I think it was, like, 800,000 notifications from TikTok. And I was like, what is going on? So I pick up my phone and I'm, like, looking, and the videos got, like, 1.6 million views on TikTok. And crazy amount of comments, like, are you an artist? Are you. Are you gonna be a singer? Like, what are you even doing? I thought you built lifted trucks. And I'm like. So I posted the video the next day, and I'm just like, okay, yeah. Hey, guys, I'm gonna. I'm gonna try to be a country singer. So first thing I did when everything, like, went crazy that morning was I called my job, and I was like, I would just move to the laborers union in Illinois and so I could maybe get closer to home. And I called them, and I was like, hey, this is Bailey Zimmerman, and I want to quit. And they were like, what do you want to quit for, Bailey? Like, you just. You just want to go on vacation for a little bit and then come back? And I'm like, nah, man. Just. I'm not paying my dues no more, and I don't want to. I don't want to work as a laborer no more. And he was like. He's like, you're just gonna, like, quit? And I'm like, yeah, I'm done. And he was like, what are you gonna do? And I'm like, well, I'm gonna be a country singer, man. And he's like, yeah, good luck. And I'm like, yeah, thanks. And I hung up and I called Gavin. I was like, gavin, have you seen Tick Tock? And he goes, no, man, I don't have TikTok. And I'm like, okay. Well, the video blew up. And he was like, what do you mean, blew up? I'm like, dude, like, almost 2 million views and a lot of comments. And I just quit my job. And he was like, you quit your job? And I'm like, dude, I quit my job. I want to do this for real. Like, I'm coming over and we're going to do this. He's like, all right, I'll take the day off. And I was like, all right. So we get to the thing, and we just started looking up studios and trying to figure out, okay, how do you record a song? How much does it cost? What is streaming? How. How does music work? You know? So we went down to Nashville and. And had it recorded, and then I released it under Distro Kid. And me and Gav were just running everything, running my socials and everything. And then I met Chief and Simon and Scott, and they signed me. And then, dude, like, a month later, I had two record deals and a publishing deal, and I was moving to Nashville. I moved to Nashville because I signed deals and stuff, and they were like, you have to be here. I'm like, okay, I'll move. I never thought I'd ever leave my hometown, man. Like, I was living at my mom's at this point. I was living with my mom and didn't have no money. And then I couldn't even afford my truck payment. I, for real couldn't afford my truck payment. I didn't know what I was gonna do. And then just all of a sudden, I started making money from Never Coming Home. It hit, like, a million streams in the first week on Apple and Spotify, and just everything started going crazy, man. There was a. There's a little story about when I came to Nashville to meet Warner, one of my labels. I didn't know what Warner Nashville was. This. This random guy on Instagram, man, it's crazy. This random dude.

Troy Walhoffer (11:48)

Innocence of, like, this deal, like, I mean, to become a massive superstar in country music in the format and the path that we were taking is unbelievable. Keep going, dude.

Bailey Zimmerman (11:57)

It's crazy to talk about it because I don't talk about it too much. And talking with about, it's, like, crazy. Yeah. So random guy on Instagram messaged me, and at. At this moment, at this time, I was like, really? Watching Instagram. Dms. Yeah. Yeah. So his name's Rohan, and he's A and R at Warner. He's actually my A R Warner, but he just hit me on dm and he was like, hey, I think you got a cool voice. Would you give me a call? And I was like, yeah, I'll give you a call. So I to hit him up. And he was like, hey, man, this is. This is. Rohan was born in Nashville, and da, da, da. We'd like to have a meeting with you. We really like your voice, and we like your song Never Coming Home. And I'm like, dude, oh, my gosh. Like, thank you so much. Yeah, like, I'd Love to take a meeting with you guys. And he was like, all right. So I had not signed with Chief and Simon management yet. I was totally alone at this point. So I was like, all right, yeah, let's do it. And so he was like, okay, I'll get you the details. And I hung up the phone, and I just, like. I was just like, what the heck is Warner Nashville? Like, what is Warner Nashville? So I was just going on a whim and I went down to Nashville for this meeting, and my mentor, the guy that's been there from basically the beginning, is Drew Baldrige, and he's an artist from Patoka, Illinois. And he was like. He just called me one day and was like, man, if you need some help, need some advice, just give me a call. So I called him all the time because I had no idea what was going on. Still don't to this day, but. And he called me and he's like, what are you going to? I said, I'm going to Nashville. He goes, what are you going to Nashville for? I said, man, I don't really know. I'm meeting with this company that. It's called, like, Warner Warner Nashville or something. I don't know what it is, but they asked for a meeting. He goes, what do you mean, Warner Nashville? And I'm like, yeah, dude. He just said, hey, this is Rohan from Warner Nashville, and we want a meeting. And I was like. And he goes, you mean like the record label? And I'm like, I have no idea, man. Like, I just said, I have no clue what I'm doing. I'm just going to this address. I'm just going to this address right now. And he was like, dude, you're going to meet with a record label. Like, they want. They're going to want to sign you. And I'm like, dude, I just have a song out. And he was like, no, dude, they're going to sign you. And I'm like, nah, nah. So I got there and we ate burgers in front of the place, and I thought the dude's name was Khalil. For the longest time, I didn't know it was Rohan and Simon, Chief and Simon, man. And then I guess the rest is history. We started just releasing songs and met my producer, and me and Gavin moved to Nashville and started just writing every song we could, you know, just like every single day, just writing songs. And as we released them, I just tried TikTok more and more and more and doing different things. And then all of a sudden, like, like a Blink of an eye, man. I'm just sitting in your bus, having a talk.

Troy Walhoffer (14:35)

There's a lot of work behind it, man, and you've done it. You've done all the heavy lifting, and that's. That's on you. And congratulations on that. I. So I did not see your performance in Twin Lakes because I was with Chief and Simon, and they kind of crowled me over, but I did at a club in the fall, and I was like, absolutely blown away. And I had blown smoke up your ass. I was like, holy shit. This is. This kid's on fire. And I love the way you come out there and own it. And your. Your stage presence is amazing. So, you know, that's what our fans at home and our listeners. I mean, that's what you have to look forward to when you come to see Bailey Zimmerman. He's gonna go out there and kick some serious ass, and I can tell you that. And. And I appreciate that so much. And that's. That's not a learned thing. That's a thing that. Either you got that or you don't have it, you know, and you've got it. So.

Bailey Zimmerman (15:25)

Thanks, dude.

Troy Walhoffer (15:26)

Yeah, keep kicking ass.

Bailey Zimmerman (15:27)

Thanks, dude. Yeah, dude. When I was younger, my mom always told me I could sing, and so I kind of had it in my head. I couldn't. I. I didn't think I could sing or anything, right? I didn't never think that I would be. Do this, but I always thought when I was watching movies or listening to songs, I. I would think, like, man, if. If I was on stage doing this song, I would do this right here. And I would like. I would just, like, build a show in not even thinking about it, man. And now today, like, what I do on stage and how we do it, it just. It's just the weirdest thing because I still remember being like 12, 13, 14, building shows and stuff in my head. Just like, not like building them, but just going like, man, I would. I would, like, get on one knee like this and sing like this, or I would play guitar like this, you know? So it's kind of like always been there. I just didn't know it. It's really weird. But I've, like, found confidence because of people like you, man. You just. People have really lifted me up and made me feel like, dude, you're a badass. You can do anything in this world. So when I go out there, it's really easy to, like, kind of act like a hard ass because everybody around me is just like, the best people. And they just, like, lift me up every single day and make me feel like a rock star, dude. And it really helps, you know?

Troy Walhoffer (16:40)

So. So. So when you and I had dinner a couple months ago at my house, you told me I was in on this secret, and I. It blew my mind. Tesla.

Bailey Zimmerman (16:51)

Oh, yeah, dude.

Troy Walhoffer (16:52)

Huh?

Bailey Zimmerman (16:52)

Oh, I love Tesla, man.

Troy Walhoffer (16:54)

So I called the guy who managed Tesla back in the heyday, Tony DiCacho at QPRIME. I go, hey, my buddy Bailey Zimmerman loves Tesla. And he goes. And the phone kind of goes silent for a second and it's like, you're kidding me. No, man, no. He goes, how old is he? I think he's probably 23, 24. And he's like, oh, my God, this is amazing. So those guys are aware of that now, I believe.

Bailey Zimmerman (17:17)

Oh, dude. Me and Jeff Keith are. We're like. I posted a video on TikTok of Jeff singing Rock and a Hard Place. He just sent it to me randomly one day through text, and I was like, holy crap. It ended up getting like 1 1/2 million views or 2 million views. It was really cool. But a story about Tesla. So when.

Troy Walhoffer (17:34)

How'd they inspire you? Because, I mean, it's one of your favorite bands. So how's that go down, Mom?

Bailey Zimmerman (17:39)

So when mom. Mom and dad were really happy for a little bit, and then all of a sudden they started fighting a lot, right? So when mom would get really pissed at dad, we would get in her blue. My grandpa built her single short bed, blue SS Chevy. It was really badass. It was like real fast and stuff. My mom is badass. And so when she would get mad, we would just take dad's credit card and we would, like, go to Walmart, but. And just spend a bunch of money, right? Like, just buy the TVs and all the stuff we didn't need because she was so mad at him, you know? And I was probably like six at this time, five or six years old. And we would get in the truck and on the way to Walmart, we would listen. It was either a picture by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow or Great Song, Love Song by Tesla or Modern Day Cowboy or Signs, or, you know. You really think that it's over? Oh, man. Dude, you could get me going on.

Troy Walhoffer (18:35)

But you blew my mind when you. When you said that to me. And I was like, oh, my God. And everyone in the room just kind of stopped. Went, okay, this is one of the coolest kids we've ever met. And. And, man, kudos.

Bailey Zimmerman (18:45)

Thanks.

Troy Walhoffer (18:45)

Your mom. Congratulations on her getting Married.

Bailey Zimmerman (18:48)

Thanks, dude. Yeah, that was pretty lit, man. That was. That was. That wedding was.

Troy Walhoffer (18:52)

Tell me about the wedding, man.

Bailey Zimmerman (18:53)

Dude. So Chief and Simon rolled in on their own bus. That was like Chris Stapleton's or something. It was like a real badass bus. And we had my bus there, and all the lifted trucks were all the way around the wedding and stuff. And all of our best friends came. And my stepdad Dale came out to, like. I think it was. I think it was highway to Hell by AC dc. For real? For real. I've got a video. I've got a video. I'll try to get it to you so you can put it in there. It is the coolest video, man. And then my mom. I'll get it to you. Yeah, we've got it all filmed. So then my mom walked out to Pink. So what? I'm still a rock star. And it was just badass, man, because me and my mom have been through a lot of stuff, dude. My whole life with her is, like, been like, a little tough, and then it's great, and then it's a little tough, and we've just, you know, been at, like, bottom of the bottom at some points, and it's really cool to see her happy, you know? So she was just, like, dancing and, like, having a. Walking down the aisle. And then we just got drunk, dude. Afterwards, me and Chief Simon, mom, we were taking shots and stuff, and we just. We, like, lived like we were rock stars for one night. And it was like the coolest thing ever because I haven't seen my mom that happy and did a long time. It is. It was cool.

Troy Walhoffer (20:09)

Well, that's. That's fantastic. And, you know, you say you live like you are. You are a rock star, so you're living the dream right now. So how was that jet today?

Bailey Zimmerman (20:19)

Oh, dude. You know, that is. That is one thing that is just. Still blows my mind, man. Like, it just feels so, like, normal. Like, it's just like the coolest thing, man.

Troy Walhoffer (20:30)

Like, it's the worst thing because you get used to it. You never want to get on a commercial flight again.

Bailey Zimmerman (20:36)

Commercial flights are sometimes fun, though, because you get to meet really cool people because a lot of them don't know me. So it's the coolest thing to, like, sit in a random seat and just talk to a random person that has no idea who I am or like, what I do and just talk to them about nothing for, like, two hours. So sometimes it's fun. But jets. Jets are great.

Troy Walhoffer (20:57)

Very convenient. Very convenient.

Bailey Zimmerman (20:59)

Dude, they're sick. Yeah.

Troy Walhoffer (21:00)

I think that was a G4 something you were on.

Bailey Zimmerman (21:03)

I have no idea. But it, that's probably one of the nicest I've been on. I've been on Chad's from, from Nickelback.

Troy Walhoffer (21:07)

That's a big jet.

Bailey Zimmerman (21:08)

Yeah.

Troy Walhoffer (21:09)

Yeah. So you have a few trips on that because Bailey Zimmerman's been playing a lot of Country Thunders this summer and with the Morgan Wallen schedule we got to get to, we got Bailey to the gig on Sunday coming out of Morgan World. So, man, I'm so excited about your performance tonight and welcome, welcome.

Bailey Zimmerman (21:27)

Thanks for having me, buddy.

Troy Walhoffer (21:28)

I can't wait to see you play and wish you the best always, of course. And we'll talk again soon. And thanks a lot for your time, Bailey, because I mean, every day you're doing some, you got to go do the radio thing now or whatever you got to do. It's a busy day to take time out to, you know, have this conversation for Country Thunder on the Bus. So thank you very much, man.

Bailey Zimmerman (21:47)

One thing as you the reason I'm here is because of you, man. And like, very grateful for that. So anytime.

Troy Walhoffer (21:54)

Thanks, brother. I appreciate it, man. Awesome. That was awesome. Thank you very much. Thank you to our guests on this episode. Don't forget to, like subscribe and leave a review whenever you listen. Until next time, I'm Troy Volhoffer and you're on the bus of Country Thunder.

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Bailey Zimmerman (23:20)

Odyssey celebrates pride by amplifying the voices.

Troy Walhoffer (23:23)

Music and conversations of the LGBTQ community.

Bailey Zimmerman (23:26)

Download the free Odyssey app and listen.

Troy Walhoffer (23:28)

To podcasts celebrating and having conversations about the issues facing LGBTQ Americans.

Bailey Zimmerman (23:34)

Like it's okay to say Gay Queer.

Troy Walhoffer (23:35)

Intentions and the Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamo. To hear music by and for the LGBTQ community, plus podcasts and more, go.

Bailey Zimmerman (23:44)

To odysee.com pride or download the free Odyssey app.

Troy Walhoffer (23:48)

That's a U D A C Y Audy.