Vault: Donnie Wahlberg Called Tracey Out of the Blue

Summary

The Bert Show – “Vault: Donnie Wahlberg Called Tracey Out of the Blue”

Date: May 11, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode centers around an unexpected, exhilarating, and comedic encounter: Producer Tracy receives a surprise phone call from Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block. The episode follows her anxious reaction, the team’s playful banter, and the reason behind Donnie reaching out—inviting The Bert Show to his upcoming Atlanta event.

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Episode Overview

• Main Theme: Tracy’s fandom and nerves collide when Donnie Wahlberg reaches out to her directly, stirring up both excitement and anxiety. The crew shares in the surprise, teases Tracy, and happily drops the news of Donnie’s invitation to his Atlanta party and his in-studio appearance.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tracy Gets the Shock of Her Life

• [00:48] Tracy’s Unexpected Call:
  Tracy recounts the moment: “I was laying on my bed and I was trying to get Ella to go to sleep and all of a sudden my phone rings... There's only one person in my phone that can make my heart race and I get nervous and I didn't know what to do so I just didn't answer. And it was Donnie Wahlberg. What?” ([00:48])

• Her Initial Reaction:
  Instead of answering, Tracy panics and lets it go to voicemail. She’s anxious about being caught off-guard and not wanting to risk her baby crying during the call.

The Voicemail and Team’s Reactions

• [01:25] Co-hosts React:
  The team is incredulous she didn’t answer.

  • Co-host: “So you let it go to voicemail rather than talk to him?”
    Tracy: “Uh huh. I panic. I didn't know what to do. Not only that, but I've got my four month old baby laying next to me.” ([01:25])

• The Voicemail:
  Donnie leaves a simple message: “Tracy, Kitty, call me.” Tracy frets: “But why? What do I say?...I don't know what to do.” ([01:39])

The Awkward Returned Call

• [02:10] Tracy Calls Back:
  After making sure her baby is asleep, Tracy returns Donnie’s call—only to find herself in a tech nightmare:
  Tracy: “I couldn't have seemed dorkier because I had such a bad connection that the entire phone call was like, I can't hear you. Are you there?... Hello? Hello?” ([02:10])

• Donnie’s Response:
  All Tracy manages to hear is Donnie saying: “I'll call you back.” She waits anxiously for hours, unable to relax.

Team Teasing & Family Involvement

• [02:59] Husband Support:
  Tracy shares how her husband Scott supported her: “[He] said that he would take my phone and, you know, if I wanted him to, and he'd wake me up if he called. So he was cool.” ([03:03])

  The team jokes about how it would go if Scott answered:

  • Co-host: “Hey, Donnie. It's Scott. Yeah, her husband. The one who's gonna raise Ella. You're welcome.” ([03:14])

The Second Call & Party Invitation

• [03:21] Donnie Calls Again:
  The next day, Donnie calls while Tracy’s driving. She answers—and it turns out he’s inviting the team to a party in Atlanta on November 20 and offering giveaway tickets.

  • Tracy: “He's having a party here in Atlanta on November 20, and he wanted to personally invite all of us. Plus, he's gonna come in studio that morning.” ([03:21])

• Co-hosts Excited:
  The team is pumped:

  • Show Host: “Oh, get out of here.” ([03:39])
  • Tracy: “Yeah. And he's giving us tickets to give away.” ([03:39])
  • Show Host: “Oh, awesome.” ([03:41])

Antics & Playful Banter

• Show Teases Tracy:
  The co-hosts immediately begin joking about Tracy getting extra glammed-up for Donnie’s visit:

  • Co-host: “So when you see Tracy in about two weeks, totally dressed up...”
  • Show Host: “I know, right?”
  • Tracy jokes, “I've got £20 to lose in two weeks.” ([03:50])

• On Donnie’s New Music:
  Tracy confirms the party is a listening event for Donnie’s new song, possibly with a performance, and reiterates “he’ll be here in studio.” ([03:56])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There's only one person in my phone that can make my heart race and I get nervous and I didn't know what to do so I just didn't answer. And it was Donnie Wahlberg.” – Tracy, [00:48]

• “I need the Bert Show to talk me through this conversation.” – Tracy, [01:19]

• “I couldn't have seemed dorkier because I had such a bad connection that the entire phone call was like, 'I can't hear you. Are you there? ... Hello? Hello?'” – Tracy, [02:10]

• “Hey, Donnie. It's Scott. Yeah, her husband. The one who's gonna raise Ella. You're welcome.” – Co-host (teasing), [03:14]

• “He's having a party here in Atlanta on November 20, and he wanted to personally invite all of us. Plus, he's gonna come in studio that morning.” – Tracy, [03:21]

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:48] – Tracy recounts the surprising call from Donnie Wahlberg
• [01:25] – Tracy admits to letting Donnie’s call go to voicemail due to nerves
• [02:10] – Tracy’s awkward, poor-reception callback
• [03:03] – Husband Scott’s good-natured support
• [03:21] – Donnie’s real reason for calling: the party invitation and studio visit
• [03:50] – The crew playfully teases Tracy about prepping for Donnie’s visit

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Tone & Show’s Vibe

The episode is classic Bert Show: honest, self-deprecating, full of high-energy banter and genuine camaraderie. Tracy’s humility and excitement are met with lighthearted teasing from her colleagues—making the behind-the-scenes peek into her fangirl moment feel authentic and relatable.

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Summary:
If you missed the episode, you’ll be up to speed on Tracy’s endearing (and hilarious) nervousness in the face of a surprise Donnie Wahlberg call, the supportive and teasing dynamic of The Bert Show crew, and the exciting upcoming party (plus Donnie’s in-studio appearance) for Atlanta fans.

Transcript

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[Show Host]

The Birch Show Producer Tracy got quite a surprise last week.

[Tracy (Producer)]

Yeah, I did. There's only I was laying on my bed and I was trying to get Ella to go to sleep and all of a sudden my phone rings and I think nothing of it because I figured it was probably my mom or Scott was at the store. So I fig he was calling and there's only one person in my phone that can make my heart race and I get nervous and I didn't know what to do so I just didn't answer. And it was Donnie Wahlberg. What?

[Show Host]

What? From New Kids on the Block?

[Tracy (Producer)]

Uh huh. I look down and it says Donnie Wahlberg. And I'm like, what do I do? What do I do? I'm like, I need the bird show to talk me through this conversation.

[Co-host]

She's not kidding. She literally called me and said Danny Wahlberg just called. What do I do?

[Show Host]

I'm like, so you let it go to voicemail rather than talk to him?

[Tracy (Producer)]

Uh huh. I panic. I didn't know what to do. Not only that, but I've got my four month old baby laying next to me. I'm like, if she starts crying, I didn't know what to do so I let it go to Woods.

[Co-host]

You could say, do you want to talk to your daughter?

[Tracy (Producer)]

Oh, Jeffrey John Doller. No. So yeah, he left me a message, just said Tracy, Kitty, call me. And I was like, okay, but why? What do I say? And if I get you, I don't know what to do.

[Show Host]

And that came out of nowhere.

[Tracy (Producer)]

I mean nowhere. I was completely shocked. I had no idea why he was calling me. I mean I haven't seen him since he was in here in studio back. What was that? May I guess it was when I was eight months pregnant.

[Co-host]

Well, and then the time you saw him before that was. How old's Eleanor, Jeff?

[Tracy (Producer)]

I was already seven weeks pregnant when I was at the New Kids concert. I'm sure you were. Anyway, so I waited about 15 minutes until I was certain that the baby was asleep. And then I called him back. And it couldn't have been. I couldn't have seemed dorkier because I had such a bad connection that the entire phone call was like, I can't hear you. Are you there? I can't hear you. Huh? Are you there? Hello? Hello?

[Show Host]

That sucks.

[Tracy (Producer)]

It was awful. So finally, all I heard him say was, I'll call you back. And then I waited. Like, I laid there in bed and waited for two hours waiting for him to call back, wondering why was he calling me? And he never called. So finally I'm like, I'm not gonna get any sleep unless I just completely turn my phone off. So I know that even if. Like, I wouldn't know. You know what I mean? Like, you know, that way I could sleep. And then the next day.

[Co-host]

Did you tell Scott why you were all nervous and anxious and stuff, or did you just.

[Tracy (Producer)]

Yeah, he knew. He was totally cool with it. He said that he would take my phone and, you know, if I wanted him to, and he'd wake me up if he called. So he was cool.

[Co-host]

Sure he would. Hey, Donnie. It's Scott.

[Tracy (Producer)]

Yeah, exactly.

[Co-host]

Yeah, her husband. The one who's gonna raise Ella. You're welcome.

[Show Host]

So that wasn't an option for you?

[Tracy (Producer)]

No. So then I just turned the phone completely off. And the next day, I was driving home from work. Phone rings, and it's him again. So I picked up, and what he was actually calling for is he's having a party here in Atlanta on November 20, and he wanted to personally invite all of us. Plus, he's gonna come in studio that morning.

[Show Host]

Oh, get out of here.

[Tracy (Producer)]

Yeah. And he's giving us tickets to give away.

[Show Host]

Oh, awesome.

[Tracy (Producer)]

So that's why he was calling.

[Co-host]

He wanted to let us know. So when you see Tracy in about two weeks, totally dressed up.

[Show Host]

I know, right?

[Co-host]

Low cut top.

[Tracy (Producer)]

I've got £20 to lose in two weeks.

[Show Host]

And he's got a new song out. Right.

[Tracy (Producer)]

That's why he's having the party. It's like a listening party. I think he's probably gonna be performing, and we'll have tickets, and he'll be here in studio.

[Co-host]

Tracy's not gonna nurse Ella for three days prior just so their boobs are like, pow. The Burt Show.