← The Bobby Bones Show
The Bobby Bones Show
BOBBYCAST: Brooks & Dunn on Whether or Not They Actually Like Each Other + Why Reba Played a Huge Role in Getting them to Get Back Together + The Time They Thought Their Run on Top Had Ended + Bobby & Eddie Discuss Some Unknown Behind the Scenes Stori...
00:55:05
Loading summary
Transcript305 lines
- [00:00]
Bobby Bones
This is an iHeart podcast. Thank you to the presenting sponsor of today's episode, American Express. I'm always traveling for work, which means I'm constantly trying new restaurants in a bunch of different cities. Some good, some bad. And while I love most of the food I try, the rewards I am earning with my Amex Gold card while eating in these different cities is the best part. With Amex Gold you earn four times membership rewards points on purchases at restaurants on up to $50,000 per year. And now you can leave the restaurant and get straight to the action with access to card member entrances at select venues. That's the powerful backing of American Express Card member entrance access not limited to Amex Gold Card terms apply. Learn more@americanexpress.com withamex. Your business deploys AI pilots everywhere. But are they going anywhere or are they stuck in silos, exhausting resources, unable to scale? Maybe you don't need hundreds of AI pilots. You you need a holistic strategy. IBM has 65,000 consultants with gen AI expertise who can help you design, integrate and optimize AI solutions. So you're not just deploying AI, you're scaling it across your business. Learn more@IBM.com consulting IBM, let's create it Is Ryan Seacrest here? There was a recent social media trend which consisted of flying on a plane with no music, no movies, no entertainment. But a better trend would be going to chumbacasino.com it's like having a mini social casino in your pocket. Chumba casino has over 100 online casino style games all absolutely free. It's the most fun you can have online and on a plane. So grab your free welcome bonus now@chumbacasino.com sponsored by Chumba Casino.
- [01:40]
Kix Brooks
No purchase necessary VGW Group Void where prohibited by law 21/ terms and conditions apply.
- [01:52]
Ronnie Dunn
And just reminded us, damn, we got a hillbilly band back there. Let's go bang that again because that really was fun, you know. Let's get over our BS and we.
- [02:01]
Kix Brooks
Tried to blow it.
- [02:04]
Bobby Bones
Welcome to episode 521 with Brooks and Dunn and then also some of the lesser known behind the scenes stories from music industry that I think you might find surprising. So we're gonna spend some time with Brooks and Dunn and then we're gonna talk music after that. But let's get to Brooks and Dunn first. They've got 20 number ones stretching all the way back to 1991. They have two Grammy awards, dozens of ACMs and CMA honors. I went to the Country Music hall of Fame. I took my family through it, and it was when they had the Brooks and Dunn exhibit with all of their ACMs and CMAs, and it looked like you walked into Scrooge McDuck's gold mine. You know, the vault when he just jumps in and there's a go like a swimming. That's what it looked like. It looked like he was in his vault with all that there was. There were so many. In 2019, they were inducted into the Country Music hall of Fame. And in the Modern era artist category, their number one streaming song ever is Neon Moon. Number two, Boot Scooting Boogie, Number three, Red Dirt Road. And here they are, my friends, Brooks and Dunn. It still seems like you guys like each other.
- [03:05]
Ronnie Dunn
In what way?
- [03:06]
Kix Brooks
Getting along.
- [03:07]
Bobby Bones
That I don't know. We're all just sitting here talking and everybody laughs. You've been together a long time. I got friends. I worked for, like 15 years. Sometimes we're like, we've done this long enough at this point. You guys have been doing it for a long time.
- [03:18]
Kix Brooks
We're through that stage, you know, but it wasn't because of that, you know, just because. Anyway, go ahead. About liking one another.
- [03:26]
Bobby Bones
What stick.
- [03:27]
Kix Brooks
We like. We do like one another.
- [03:29]
Bobby Bones
Did you.
- [03:30]
Ronnie Dunn
We're not getting along.
- [03:31]
Bobby Bones
Did you have to learn to. Did you have to learn to like each other?
- [03:34]
Ronnie Dunn
Cause I'm married to you one time.
- [03:36]
Bobby Bones
Love each other, Then how to like.
- [03:38]
Kix Brooks
Each other again Just over time. I mean, we were thrown together, you know, 1990, and just told to go write songs. We didn't know what we were doing. I mean, for what project? And it was in this room, a different form of this room. And we did it over a weekend and took a few of the songs back to A Brand New man and next Broken Heart back to Tim dubois, who was starting Arista Records with Clive Davis at the time.
- [04:08]
Ronnie Dunn
Had some neon moons, some boot Scooting boogie. Lost and found, some of that.
- [04:12]
Bobby Bones
What I hear, though, is like an arranged marriage. It feels like a musically arranged marriage. But you didn't know it.
- [04:18]
Kix Brooks
No, not a clue. Worst case scenario, we were thinking one thing would lead to another and we'd go out and find other jobs or get record deals or whatever. But it took off, like, immediately. I don't know what the answer is.90.
- [04:33]
Ronnie Dunn
I mean, 35 years. Yeah, a lot of ebb and flow, for sure. I went through that period of we've both been doing this a long time without a whole lot to show for it, honestly. And all of a sudden, number one, number One number one. Number one. Like, what in the hell? You know, it's just weird when you beat up bars and you work so hard and you feel like you're every bit as good then as you are now. But what just happened?
- [05:06]
Bobby Bones
Well, what did happen? Because again, you're both doing it individually. Yeah, you get together, but so what's the difference? Like, what was the alchemy? What was the combination that you think.
- [05:15]
Kix Brooks
Worked within the group? We don't know. We still wonder about that. We just put one foot in front of the other and do what we're told or not told. But there was just a lot going on. I mean, there's such a broad reference to different circumstances that are happening at the time. You know, timing has something to do with it, I'm sure. Politics when the record labels and the business. You know, I think the country singer thing to say is, gosh, darn, we're just glad to be here. You know, three quarters of the truth gotta.
- [05:50]
Ronnie Dunn
I think we didn't.
- [05:51]
Kix Brooks
Got a few hits and darn, we're not here now.
- [05:54]
Ronnie Dunn
And I think we had some pretty good songs, but I think we had absolutely nothing in common. We had nothing in common on stage. We came from totally different backgrounds as far as performing went. And I think it was kind of a NASCAR race. It's like, there's a wreck, there's a wreck on the way, you know, so let's watch this for a while and see how hard they hit the wall, you know, and we did plenty of times. But I think. I think there was some nervous, nervous energy between the two of us, kind of always has been.
- [06:22]
Kix Brooks
We didn't know. We didn't know at the time. And you start at that level where you don't even know who's going to be the lead singer. I mean, or if there is going to be a lead singer.
- [06:29]
Bobby Bones
That feels honestly awkward. Like, if I'm just saying it to you guys, and both of you guys are great singers, that feels awkward that you have to have that discussion.
- [06:39]
Kix Brooks
I don't know that we ever had the discussion. That's the thing. I think we just went.
- [06:42]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
- [06:43]
Ronnie Dunn
Ronnie was singing hits right off the bat. Even though we wrote Next Broken Heart and Brand New man, he grabbed on it. I couldn't have sung either one of those songs near that. Well, it's easy for me to look back on it. I think we're both trying so hard with our egos involved, not knowing how it's going to go, you know, but it shook out to me realizing really What a great singer he is. And I don't have any trouble saying that now after 35 years, we've through freaking miles of up and down and mud and running through the freaking daisies out there. You know, it's just, it's. It's crazy to look back on even going through 2010 when we quit and meant it, you know, but it didn't take but a couple of years and. And a couple of gigs showed up and we never really lost that whatever it is that happens on stage. And especially when Reba got involved, you know, we'd done a couple of big tours with her and she drug us into ve Vegas and then we're. We're doing a two and a half hour show, just shooting the bull and singing the songs. We both had a pretty good handful of hits. And like, damn, this is fun. And just reminded us, this is great. And we put this thing together with Reba, but damn, we got a hillbilly band back there. That's our honky Tonk Band's the Truth. And. And let's go bang that again because that really was fun, you know, let's get over our bs.
- [08:03]
Kix Brooks
And we tried to blow it real hard.
- [08:07]
Bobby Bones
Who do you credit as to keeping it from being blown?
- [08:13]
Kix Brooks
Our manager, Clarence. Clarence, yeah. Especially with this sudden resurgence of things with the reboot projects and stuff. I can remember being in Cancun, Reba Narvel's place, and we were all like, out facing the ocean in the pool, you know, in this rock star Reba's house, and kicking back and going, you know, I don't care normal if I never sing again. I said, I'm good. I'm good right here, right now. He goes, well, just be still for a minute. Let things pan out well. But it wasn't two weeks probably after that, that he and Clarence came to us and said, y' all want to do Vegas?
- [08:59]
Ronnie Dunn
I thought, well, sure, I don't care.
- [09:01]
Kix Brooks
How much, how much. And it just, you know, it just. Everything snowballed from there again, kind of. That was the catalyst.
- [09:12]
Bobby Bones
So much of art is the product you make, but also the timing when you make it. And you had mentioned politics earlier and I don't know the politics then on solo band duos, was there a lack of duos at the time? Is that. Was that part of the reason they put you guys together?
- [09:34]
Kix Brooks
I think that was part of the formula. Not, not lack of duos, but just part of the formula that Tim was putting the label with. I mean, he had Alan Jackson, so.
- [09:43]
Bobby Bones
Okay, so he needed one for his team.
- [09:44]
Ronnie Dunn
Exactly.
- [09:45]
Kix Brooks
He had a group.
- [09:46]
Ronnie Dunn
He signed a boy singer.
- [09:47]
Bobby Bones
He needed a point guard. He had a center and a forward. So he needed to point guard.
- [09:52]
Ronnie Dunn
Had Pam Tillis. He had one of everything. But he needed a duo. And I think the Judds were breaking up at that point, so for whatever.
- [10:01]
Kix Brooks
Reason, we weren't aware of it.
- [10:03]
Ronnie Dunn
I remember they were kind of the ruling duo.
- [10:06]
Kix Brooks
Yeah. Yeah. On the way back to Oklahoma, I kind of hear the announcement on the road that the judges are breaking up. But that was no. Again, I never remembered thinking, hey, that's. That's. This is going to be the. The catalyst or the, you know, the big diving board into the deep water.
- [10:21]
Ronnie Dunn
This is the truth, though. I remember the first duo of the year that we won at the ACMs. We were leaving, had our families there, and we were excited and whatever, and walking out the door, and one of the concierge came up and said, would you mind coming with me? He said, naomi Judd, we'd like to have a word with you. And I went, okay. I'd met Naomi. We didn't really know each other. So we go down. So when it was at Universal and she was down underneath the stands, the. There was like a, you know, grandstand. You would have, like, a temporary kind of stand set up at Universal. The way it was when in there, she stood under there in her beautiful evening ground gown. It was like this thing out of a movie, and said, hey, hey, Naomi.
- [11:05]
Bobby Bones
She goes.
- [11:05]
Ronnie Dunn
She goes, I just wanted you to come down. I just wanted to let you know that we're passing the torch to you guys tonight. I'm like, okay. I don't know if we're really torch passing or anything, but we just showed you. She was a pretty dramatic personality, you know, that was.
- [11:25]
Bobby Bones
That would be awesome and awkward at the same time.
- [11:27]
Ronnie Dunn
It was. I didn't really have a good response for her other than I appreciate you feeling that way, but, you know, there's a lot of great duos out there.
- [11:34]
Bobby Bones
And does she own the torch? That'd be pretty cool. Like, she gets to pick who. Like, that's awesome. If you get to pass it to me.
- [11:40]
Kix Brooks
Might have been a power. Power plug. I don't know. I remember you coming. Walking up on the bus. We were headed for somebody. I got all awards. You do what you got to do, and you take off and, you know, end up in Fresno tomorrow. But he cuts me because you won't believe just what happened. And he told the story.
- [11:55]
Ronnie Dunn
So I haven't told that story a lot. But it was a very surreal moment.
- [11:59]
Bobby Bones
You know, just under the bleachers and Amy Jed getting the torch Pass.
- [12:02]
Ronnie Dunn
We're only a couple of years in. This isn't like, you know. Yeah, we're. We're really comfortable in our skis here.
- [12:08]
Bobby Bones
That first year I was. My TikTok is honestly, I watch a lot of 70s and 80s country music award shows. They. It's just clips of them. Right. And I watch. And if I'm right, that same year you won best new Duo and best Duo the same year. Does that sound right, that you won them most?
- [12:27]
Ronnie Dunn
I think that may be right.
- [12:28]
Kix Brooks
We had two. Yeah, I think that was it. Yeah.
- [12:30]
Ronnie Dunn
And we were new and wouldn't it.
- [12:32]
Bobby Bones
Kind of be weird if you won Best Duo but didn't win Best new Duo? Like, that's the kind of stuff that pops on my head like. Like there's a lot of room for awkwardness here.
- [12:39]
Kix Brooks
Yeah, yeah.
- [12:39]
Bobby Bones
But you went to that night. Did you feel then like, hey, we got a few years now in us, not. Not a career, but did it feel like we got a few years now?
- [12:50]
Kix Brooks
Not one time has it felt that way.
- [12:51]
Ronnie Dunn
I'll tell you when I felt it, it was the first show we had. After that, that was when I realized the power of an award show. Because our fans, it was. There was an energy that hadn't been there the show before the awards. So they really. They really got it.
- [13:08]
Kix Brooks
You know, it had a shelf life. Which is interesting too, looking back.
- [13:12]
Ronnie Dunn
And it.
- [13:13]
Bobby Bones
It.
- [13:13]
Ronnie Dunn
You saw back then in the CD world, you saw a 15, 20% bump in your sales too, if you want an award. So it really.
- [13:20]
Bobby Bones
From the immediate effects of the award show.
- [13:22]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [13:23]
Bobby Bones
What about doing. Did you guys do any of the late night shows back in the day? Yeah, yeah.
- [13:27]
Ronnie Dunn
Everybody at Leno and Letterman.
- [13:29]
Bobby Bones
And would you see effects from that back then as well?
- [13:32]
Kix Brooks
Yeah, there'd be a. There'd be a bump.
- [13:34]
Ronnie Dunn
Not as.
- [13:35]
Kix Brooks
Not it's not as deep though.
- [13:36]
Bobby Bones
When you go to New York or LA to play these shows and they don't have a lot of country acts on Leno, Letterman, like Letterman's My Hero. So I've seen how many.
- [13:44]
Kix Brooks
You know, Letterman was the big fun one to get you because the hot band, all that stuff, freezing cold bands.
- [13:49]
Bobby Bones
Awesome.
- [13:50]
Kix Brooks
40 degrees.
- [13:51]
Bobby Bones
How did it feel go taking what then became massive because what you guys were a part of and led in in the 90s became pop culture. But how did that feel, taking that to those places at the time didn't have it new York, Louisiana, in those crowds.
- [14:05]
Kix Brooks
Well, I don't. I don't know if that was really on our minds other than just, you know, getting up there, like, would be today and giving a good performance.
- [14:13]
Bobby Bones
Just doing a TV show.
- [14:14]
Kix Brooks
Yeah, yeah.
- [14:15]
Bobby Bones
Didn't have, what, country music?
- [14:18]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [14:19]
Bobby Bones
I mean, honestly, like, you're going to do Letterman, Leno, they don't have a lot of country on there to begin with.
- [14:22]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [14:23]
Bobby Bones
And you're in cities where the movement hadn't quite happened yet when you guys started, because you guys were the catalyst of it. And I wonder what it was like to play New York, la, at a time when country music was kind of foreign to them.
- [14:36]
Kix Brooks
We were flabbergasted in a lot of other ways, I can remember, and flattered to be there. Yeah.
- [14:41]
Ronnie Dunn
Honestly, like Ronnie said, great band. I mean, Paul and them, they light it up and they treat you like you're somebody. You know, they. They weren't acting like. We're just like, okay, how are we going to do this? I like that. Ooh, that's a cool dude. Love that song. You know, it's just those guys to really give you a pat on the back and make you feel like, okay, you. You don't have a hay bale here.
- [15:01]
Kix Brooks
This, in fact, that might have been the Rider Police. No hay bale. We were trying to get away from that.
- [15:08]
Bobby Bones
This is going to be, hopefully, a beautifully odd question. I'd like an answer from both of you, but when you think about the best picture that you guys have together, and I'd like a different answer from both of you, so I want to give you a few seconds, but somewhere in a house or a warehouse, what's the best picture? The picture that you can think of, of a moment of a place, of a show of you two together. What is that picture?
- [15:36]
Kix Brooks
That runs deep, I guess there's two pictures.
- [15:39]
Ronnie Dunn
So I was going to let you pick.
- [15:40]
Kix Brooks
Go ahead.
- [15:41]
Ronnie Dunn
You. You might pick the same one.
- [15:43]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [15:44]
Ronnie Dunn
One of our album covers where I just got my. I got a leg stretched. We're in a. We're in an adobe, you know, doorway, and Ronnie's just standing there, and I just got my booted heel up on. On the doorway, and it's. I think it's waiting on sundown, you know, but it's just a good. You know, it's one of those long days when you just keep. I mean, me and him standing together going, yeah, yeah. You know, we don't really like that, but it was just. I remember it was at the. At the end of A long, tired one. And I just threw my leg up like, good God, please take a picture and please let it be okay, you know?
- [16:22]
Bobby Bones
And.
- [16:23]
Ronnie Dunn
And it was. That was pretty cool. It was a pretty good one.
- [16:26]
Kix Brooks
It's just finding those moments where you like exactly what you're describing, where you just. Your defenses are down. You just stand there and you're like, okay, we're not. We're relaxed. This is it. Another one. Was this another cover? Was the one in LA under some bridge, and they had taken like, Latino graffiti and done the Yo Billy Deluxe. Yeah, yeah, that. That cover. Same thing. It's kind of like long day, you know, stretch your foot out, shoot. You know, we were just comfortable together.
- [16:59]
Ronnie Dunn
The one we used the most shot all night long. Two photographers on stage. Great photographers. Shot a million fricking pictures. Got nothing. We walked, walked. As the elevator door was closing, one of the guys walked up and shot us. We've used that picture for, like eight years.
- [17:18]
Bobby Bones
Wow.
- [17:19]
Ronnie Dunn
Just both of us up against the wall in the elevator. And it was just right. It was like we'd posed and shot it a thousand times. But, yeah, that's the one that worked.
- [17:28]
Kix Brooks
You hear those stories with cash, like with photographers coming in, young guys want to come in. Okay. Because you got. He's in the dressing room. You got a shot and you walk in. You go. You got two minutes. Two minutes.
- [17:42]
Bobby Bones
Let's take a quick pause for a message from our sponsor.
- [17:49]
Kix Brooks
Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM, where I learned how AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan, and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitzel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent.
- [18:17]
Bobby Bones
As a new student, you may not know how do I deal with my health and wellness issue. How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.
- [18:28]
Kix Brooks
Want to do that. Bissell told me you could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus, register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork.
- [18:46]
Bobby Bones
We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive, automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of Repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.
- [19:07]
Kix Brooks
To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com agents.
- [19:17]
Bobby Bones
Hi, Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile. Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us. Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in. You don't need a trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro. Plus we'll help you pay off your old phone. Up to 800 bucks and you still get to keep it. There's always a trade in.
- [19:33]
Kix Brooks
Not right now.
- [19:34]
Bobby Bones
@ T Mobile.
- [19:35]
Ronnie Dunn
I feel like I have to give.
- [19:36]
Kix Brooks
You something in return for karma.
- [19:37]
Bobby Bones
That's okay. I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender. I'm good. Seriously. Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints. Really, I'm fine. Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec.
- [19:51]
Kix Brooks
I've got cupcakes in the car.
- [19:52]
Bobby Bones
It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile. Get a new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple intelligence on us. No trade in needed. We'll even pay off your Phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits. New line, $100 plus a month on experience beyond finance agreement. $999.99 and qualifying. Ported for well qualified plus tax and $10 connection charge. Pay off via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits end and balance due if you pay off early or Cancel. See T mobile.com I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the wealth break. Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone. It's not just about saving. It's about investing. It's about navigating systems that weren't built for you, embracing your hustle, and relying on your community to create something bigger. And that's exactly why we created the Wealthbreak. We made something different, something more human. It's not just another financial podcast. It's a conversation about real life, real struggles and real wins. We're here to talk about the journey. You're hearing from people who've broken barriers, found creative ways to succeed, and learn to build wealth on their terms. Whether it's the first time homeowner, a gig worker, or someone turning a side hustle into a six figure business, we're bringing you their stories. And we're not stopping at success stories. We're breaking down the realities, like what it means to take risk, how to navigate failure, and why resilience matters. Because wealth isn't about money. It's about creating a life where you can thrive and help others to do the same. So if you're ready for a podcast as much as about people as it is about money, you're in the right place. Listen to the Wealth Brave podcast on the iHeartRadio app. And we're back on the Bobbycast. What's the most accidental, random part of all of this success? When you go, holy crap, I can't believe that happened because this happened.
- [21:55]
Ronnie Dunn
I think probably the fact that actually in 2000, there was a real good chance we, we were sick of each other to the point that we were, we were really talking about, we've had enough. You know, we, we were using different producers, whatever, sending files back and forth. We'd kind of.
- [22:13]
Kix Brooks
I don't think it was sick of each. You might. But to me, and I'm. Pardon me for interrupting, I'm glad to.
- [22:18]
Ronnie Dunn
Hear you say that.
- [22:19]
Kix Brooks
No, I thought you were coming. No, it was all about the music. We were trying to find. We were trying to find. It hit a wall. And we were trying to find something that was a little different, had a little, little more, you know, different twist or, you know, that could punch through. At the time, it wasn't the same old, same old. And I think we just, you know, we were hard headed button heads. But nothing. I didn't feel any real tension. No, I mean, other than, you know.
- [22:44]
Ronnie Dunn
We'Ve never raised our voices to each other in 35 years.
- [22:47]
Kix Brooks
It was just a search of the right music.
- [22:49]
Ronnie Dunn
We'll turn our back on each other and come back when we're done pouting. But yeah. And Joe Galani came in at that point and said, guys, I just got back to town, will you make one album for me? And we said okay. And made what we thought was a pretty good record. He had a song, or I guess Ronnie's said he might, might have come to him first, I don't know. But whatever the song called, Nothing about you showed up. And I finished Only in America the night before we were going to record and we cut those two songs. Nothing about you is number one for six weeks after having an album that basically didn't do anything. And only in America was number one. And in the time, it was a real dark time because of the towers coming down and both things.
- [23:35]
Kix Brooks
Nothing about you stay. But I don't remember six, eight weeks, something like that.
- [23:38]
Ronnie Dunn
So it just kind of. Everything changed. We're back on it, back in the saddle. Here we go again.
- [23:44]
Kix Brooks
You know, which takes us back to. It's all about the song. And you're right about timing. You know that. You're a guru. You've been around this. You've been around a bit.
- [23:52]
Bobby Bones
Still waiting on my time. That's what I'm doing. Just waiting on. Trying to catch a break here.
- [23:56]
Kix Brooks
Probably one of the most miraculous things to come out of all this chaos along the way is that here we sit right now.
- [24:02]
Bobby Bones
Why do you say that?
- [24:03]
Ronnie Dunn
Because we get to do Bobby Bones. Are you kidding?
- [24:07]
Kix Brooks
All this time, it's just, hey, here we are.
- [24:10]
Bobby Bones
Your dream as young children was to work with me. I get it.
- [24:13]
Ronnie Dunn
We call it a pinnacle.
- [24:14]
Bobby Bones
It's like my grandma, before she died, she said, my grandma said, be careful on TikTok. And that hasn't been invented yet. Grandma.
- [24:22]
Kix Brooks
My grandmother there will come from the woods of Arkansas a young man.
- [24:28]
Bobby Bones
You will know him by his glasses.
- [24:31]
Kix Brooks
And it's Arkansas.
- [24:32]
Ronnie Dunn
No, it's not Buddy.
- [24:33]
Bobby Bones
Ollie.
- [24:34]
Kix Brooks
No.
- [24:34]
Ronnie Dunn
Remember Bobby.
- [24:36]
Bobby Bones
This.
- [24:36]
Ronnie Dunn
It's not Buddy.
- [24:37]
Kix Brooks
It's Bobby.
- [24:38]
Bobby Bones
This room, this space has changed. The walls are a bit different, but there's a recording studio. What happened here with you guys?
- [24:46]
Ronnie Dunn
Brand New Man.
- [24:48]
Kix Brooks
Brand New Man's first song.
- [24:49]
Ronnie Dunn
And a ton of stuff. So much freaking music history from Good God Almighty, from Roger Miller to you could. Merle Haggard, Everybody you can think of that's famous in country music. Harlan Howard and all. Just the greatest guitar players, the greatest songwri. There's certainly, you know, Curly Putman, Green Green Grass at home, all those.
- [25:11]
Kix Brooks
This was the single most impactful, largest, I mean, publishing company in the world.
- [25:16]
Ronnie Dunn
And the studios where everybody demoed that.
- [25:19]
Bobby Bones
Stuff, was there a respect, a creative respect within yourselves when you're working in a place that has all that history? Yeah.
- [25:26]
Kix Brooks
Yeah. June Carter, like, before I even really came to town, was telling me, she said, you're gonna need a writing deal first. Here's how we build it. And she said, I'd already been to every publishing company in town. Donna Hilley at the time with Buddy Killen, which owned Sony at the time, but Donna was running it called, and she was the last publisher that we had gone to, called me in Oklahoma and said, would you take. What was it, $600 a week or something, which is a lot of money, to a retainer to write? And he kicks him in here, and it's like. It just kind of solidified. Oh, man. You know, you come into the biggest.
- [26:13]
Ronnie Dunn
Band A professional songwriter.
- [26:15]
Kix Brooks
Publishing? Yeah.
- [26:16]
Bobby Bones
I think the three of us come from similar backgrounds. Rural areas, small towns. I'm gonna ask questions. Kind of weird to ask, but do you remember when you became a millionaire?
- [26:27]
Kix Brooks
I remember asking Kicks on the bus. We got royalty checks, like the same day.
- [26:32]
Ronnie Dunn
It only came in the mail with two comm on it and a number in front of it, like a paper.
- [26:35]
Bobby Bones
You got a paper check?
- [26:36]
Ronnie Dunn
Yes, absolutely. Nothing more fun than in the mail being broke on your ass your whole life and. And walking. Paper check with two commas on it, you know? Excuse me, I need to go talk to a manager. Yeah, might want to go do that, I guess.
- [26:52]
Kix Brooks
I don't know what I was thinking.
- [26:53]
Ronnie Dunn
Put that in my checking account, though. I got some ideas.
- [26:56]
Kix Brooks
So we get these checks. I opened mine first. I don't know, for whatever, didn't know what it was. And sure enough, I said, oh. I said, hey, Kicks, I just became a millionaire. And he's like, okay, asshole. And he tears his open. He goes, yeah, me too.
- [27:13]
Bobby Bones
So I'm scared. If I'm holding that paper, you gotta sign the back of it. Then get it to a bank.
- [27:18]
Kix Brooks
I did it. I did it in Brentwood. I said, it's the first time and probably last time I walked in a bank to do that. And I said, I just gotta see what they do, you know? If I had the teller, a million dollar check. And I handed it to her and she's looking, looking down, doing something. She looked over, she goes, okay. She said, you need to sign this on the back, sweetie. So I signed it and away it went. And then she hands me a receipt. And I went home and told Janine lived right down the road. I told her, I said, I went in and put a million dollars in the bank. She said, she didn't act like I was even there. What do you got to do?
- [27:55]
Ronnie Dunn
Everybody does it.
- [27:56]
Kix Brooks
I guess Billy Ray Cyrus had just been in there where they keep breaking heart for 12 million or something. I don't know. This looks.
- [28:01]
Bobby Bones
That's fine. I have. This is the. This is the original acm. So is this the one you guys got first? This is a style. Bring back any memories at all?
- [28:19]
Kix Brooks
Yeah. Oh, yeah, A lot of. A lot of memories.
- [28:21]
Ronnie Dunn
The fun thing was you got to take them with you.
- [28:23]
Bobby Bones
No way. Oh, yeah.
- [28:25]
Kix Brooks
No. We had to worry about packing them in your bag, you know, to fly out with them from la.
- [28:30]
Bobby Bones
It takes like eight weeks to get them in the mail now.
- [28:32]
Ronnie Dunn
I remember waking up with a slight hangover after that night. You're Talking about when we won two of them and going, oh, man, are those things. Did I make it home with those things? Sure enough. They were sitting on a bedside table. I know. Thank God, because I didn't really remember a lot of what happened.
- [28:51]
Kix Brooks
A few of them got back. Little slight beans.
- [28:53]
Ronnie Dunn
Yeah. Some of them are kind of banged up pretty much.
- [28:55]
Bobby Bones
Good. Went to the Country Music hall of Fame and saw all them together. I mean, it's like you're walking into a frigging jewelry store. Where were they before you allowed them to hold them? Like, where did you keep them all?
- [29:10]
Kix Brooks
Just. I just sent them home with Janine and half the time we get on the bus or plane and you probably send yours with Barbara.
- [29:18]
Ronnie Dunn
Where are they stored is what you're.
- [29:19]
Bobby Bones
I don't know. There's so many. Do you store them? Do you put some on the toilet? Do you put, like. I had them everywhere.
- [29:25]
Ronnie Dunn
I got a home theater, you know, at home, and it's got. It's kind of set up when I built it. Just kind of had, you know, shelves with lighting and stuff.
- [29:33]
Bobby Bones
And all them are. All them are just there.
- [29:35]
Ronnie Dunn
They're just kind of collecting dust.
- [29:37]
Kix Brooks
Studio. They kind of. They were all over the place, but they're just scattered all over, over, you know, that's. That's the change.
- [29:44]
Bobby Bones
That's the change.
- [29:45]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [29:46]
Bobby Bones
You know what? I. I don't mean to brag, but I have a bunch myself. You know, I just. Whatever. For different reasons. For being good looking. Yes. Thank you. It took me a minute to catch the cowboy hat. Just a minute, though.
- [29:59]
Kix Brooks
That is. That's art.
- [30:01]
Bobby Bones
Did you know that was a cowboy hat?
- [30:02]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [30:02]
Bobby Bones
Okay. Okay. Never make it back then. I thought I, like, discovered something a few years ago and apparently everybody already knew. That was that was that.
- [30:09]
Kix Brooks
Did you see that cowboy hat?
- [30:12]
Bobby Bones
I know. Yeah. I thought it was a seagull. Smart couple. ACM questions as we're getting into it. When you get up and you win your award, do you have prepared who you're going to think and who's going to say who you're going to think? Is that even?
- [30:26]
Kix Brooks
No, it's one of my biggest regrets. I think it's like I'll get up there and stumble around. You always come in with like a good, good line and I. You should just do what I'm gonna do. Get out of your way.
- [30:36]
Ronnie Dunn
Not true.
- [30:37]
Kix Brooks
And yeah, I never think about. I just think it's. It's superstitious bad luck. Don't expect it. You know, you're setting yourself up did.
- [30:48]
Bobby Bones
You feel that way with music though? Superstitious?
- [30:51]
Kix Brooks
In what way?
- [30:52]
Bobby Bones
I don't know. Songs are number three. Do you talk about it being number one?
- [30:55]
Kix Brooks
Oh yeah, yeah, selectively. You radio guys were of course, caused a lot of anxiety.
- [31:02]
Bobby Bones
Don't combine me with that. Don't combine me with any of that. Like, I have nothing to do with that.
- [31:06]
Kix Brooks
No, that's the one thing. Finally I just had to turn that off, you know. Cause buddies jump up on the bus, they were, you know, co writers or something and go, hey man, that song is the top five right now. It's like, I don't know what it's like.
- [31:16]
Ronnie Dunn
There's so many charts. If you look at the right one, it's number one somewhere. If it makes it to two or three, it's number one somewhere.
- [31:23]
Bobby Bones
I want to ask you about Entertainer of the Year because you got it three times now. You don't see any non singular artist win Entertainer of the Year. You guys want it back to back years and then again like a few years later. And mostly I want to talk about the first time and the last time, but let's do the first time they call your name as Entertainer of the Year. What did that feel like?
- [31:49]
Kix Brooks
Big, big boom. Big shock.
- [31:51]
Bobby Bones
Was it a shock?
- [31:52]
Kix Brooks
Yeah, big shock.
- [31:53]
Ronnie Dunn
I mean you're, you know, I don't remember who else, but I know Garth.
- [31:57]
Kix Brooks
Was in there front and center, sitting right there, you know, had just gone out and romped on the world and.
- [32:04]
Ronnie Dunn
Alan was generally in there and.
- [32:10]
Kix Brooks
But I can remember looking directly when I got up there a second, I did. And Garth was talking about it too. He said we made eye contact and I was like, I went up there and went like an oaf, whatever that means. And I went, sorry, man, I'm sorry. We're going to take it anyway.
- [32:28]
Bobby Bones
Let's talk about the third time that you won because there was a few gap years in between. You go bang bang, back to back years. Me, my brain, I would go, well, I didn't win the last few. I'm kind of over. That's what I would be thinking when it came to that. I wonder with you guys. You won, did you think your minute at that, that part was over?
- [32:49]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [32:50]
Ronnie Dunn
And I think it, that it's sort of like the one where you won recently. It, it's. You feel like you kind of deserved it maybe. You know, we never have. I mean, we've always been scared and we've always, I feel like we're, we're really both pretty damn humble at heart. Though, you've got to have some. Gotta have some confidence about what you're doing. But entertainer, you know, it's like when you win it, it's like, okay, was that. Was that a pat on the back or what? Or what? You know. But then the third time, after a couple of years, it's like, maybe. Maybe that's the one. They're going, okay, you're for real. Da, da. Get out of here.
- [33:36]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [33:37]
Bobby Bones
That's just one song.
- [33:38]
Ronnie Dunn
Yeah.
- [33:38]
Bobby Bones
Play them out, boys.
- [33:41]
Kix Brooks
That's it. You'll entertain now. We're taking care of you.
- [33:45]
Bobby Bones
Let's talk about Reba. How did that relationship become so strong?
- [33:50]
Kix Brooks
There were. When we. When we first started, went out early 90s, 91, 92, whatever. There were only, I think, five major tours out there, so it would be straight Garth Events open for her. Was it be Allen and Reba? Yeah, but we're all up in Alabama. Alabama, yeah. And we got. We got picked up by. To open. It'll be the first act of three by Rebus Camp. And you get what I think maybe.
- [34:26]
Bobby Bones
20 minutes and a small part of the stage.
- [34:28]
Kix Brooks
That's it. She even talked about it. She came back and said, you know, when I first started, I was opening for Charlie Daniels, and he said I wore high heels and there was just grates right there. I had to walk through on my toes the whole time. But so, yeah, I mean, she just kind of. She and Narval, that bunch kind of, you know, drag us, drug us along for a while.
- [34:50]
Ronnie Dunn
I'll tell you what was cool, though, when we started hitting a lick, you know, our first couple of songs took off and whatever, and we were out there and we were. Had a fairly extended deal with them. And Narbel Re became the dressing room one night and said, guys, y' all are going to be around for a while, and we don't want you to hate us. And anyway, they doubled what they were paying us at the time. I won't say what that was, but it was like, what, a million? That record company gave us that one. But anyway, it was pretty cool that they said, you know, we're just, you know, you guys are legit.
- [35:28]
Bobby Bones
And.
- [35:30]
Ronnie Dunn
We definitely got a good deal on it. Too good of a deal. So, you know, here's a little kiss.
- [35:36]
Kix Brooks
That's a class move.
- [35:37]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. What's the human Reba like?
- [35:40]
Kix Brooks
She's. She's. She's a lot like what you see.
- [35:43]
Ronnie Dunn
She is. There's.
- [35:44]
Kix Brooks
That's pretty much Reba. I mean, she's cowgirl. She never sits still, her mother calls her that. She says she's bouncing her. She just doesn't stop. She's relentless at what she does, you.
- [35:59]
Ronnie Dunn
Know, she's funny, too, and loves to play board games. I mean, literally, we're in Vegas, you know, on top of the stage, waving at the crowd, goodbye on their feet, whatever. As soon as that curtain comes together, she goes, y' all want to play Ruby Cube tonight? Okay, so. Because she knows she plays it every night. So you can half ass play Ruby Cube unless you're. Something's wrong with you.
- [36:22]
Kix Brooks
It's like Trivial Pursuit when you play it 50,000 times and you owe all the answers. It's like a long day for the other side of the table.
- [36:28]
Bobby Bones
I want to ask you about two legacies, and I'm going to wrap this up. The Brooks and Dunn legacy. What's it gonna be? What did you want it to be?
- [36:40]
Kix Brooks
A series of good songs, lasting songs that are classics that you can listen to. You know, we all used to say that, use the word longevity, you know, but just that kind of the music. Let the music define you. You know, there's. There's. I mean, we work on image and stuff like that just as crazy as anybody. You know, we took everything west of Mississippi, went to the desert, you know, chased all that, that look. But at the. At the end of the day, it's the songs flat out is the thing.
- [37:11]
Ronnie Dunn
That'S craziest to me at this point with sort of this. Here we go again. You know, And I've said it, for lack of a better description, when people go, what do you think's happening with you guys right now? You know, you're selling everything out. And I go, it really feels like. Because I didn't find Willie Nelson till I was in college when he'd already had a really cool career in Nashville and written a lot of classic songs that are still there. I didn't know. I hadn't heard, really heard of Willie Nelson. I like Merle Haggard and George Jones and. But I was real close to the Willie picnics when him and Waylon came, went and kicked the door down. I'm like, that was. We're taking road trips down to Austin and getting in the middle of it with another 40,000 drunks going, this is the funnest stuff in the world. And that guy is so freaking cool. Not to compare us or our music to Willie and Waylon in any way other than. I think a young group of music listeners found them and thought that was cool and started sharing that, you know, And I think it's just. It's really. It feels great that I look out in the audience and every night go, how many of y' all are at your first Brooks and Dunn show? Watching those hands go up.
- [38:29]
Kix Brooks
Night before last? Was it night before last? Mm, yeah. We're at The Houston Rodeo. 71,136 people. I know, because we're all always competing to who has the biggest crowd on the rodeo. And so you ask him in the middle of the show, he goes, how many of you, Is this your first Brooks and Dunn show, and this is Houston Rodeo? We've been there, like, in the hall of fame there. And I swear, the whole place erupted. It was like, what? I mean, what?
- [39:01]
Bobby Bones
And that's the legacy that you wanted. The legacy. And you get to live it now, which is so rare.
- [39:05]
Kix Brooks
Yeah, that's it.
- [39:07]
Ronnie Dunn
I think the legacy is what Ronnie was saying, because every year, we did the craziest stuff we could think of on stage, you know, inspired by ZZ Top and a lot of rock bands that we're doing. You know, Garth picked up on that, too, but, man, a lot of things that we stole from rock bands that had done this, from the Stones to ZZ Top, stuff I'd seen coming up going, oh, we ought to do something like. And I won't even get into all that, but just. We tore up stuff and just spent all this money just to see how freaking crazy we could be on stage in terms of sets and things we could do. Ronnie was always somewhat reserved, thank God, or, you know, we'd have lost. Completely lost our minds. But I really enjoyed that part of it. And at the same time, with all the stupid clothes I was wearing and coming up with and all that, the fact that now I don't hear anybody talking about it, it's like we had these giant inflatable women that took four crew guys behind, shaking them on stage. Because I'd seen the Stones do that. Coolest thing I ever saw. Us, probably not so much, but we did it.
- [40:13]
Kix Brooks
Well, that was a result. All this crazy stuff was a result of, like you said earlier, country. Country. Like, it got to that rock status level. You know, we would play Friday night. Errol Smith would play, you know, Chicago. We. We'd play right behind them next night. So you're coming in, you know, you gotta go. We need a few more trucks with stuff.
- [40:36]
Bobby Bones
One more legacy question. What's Reba's legacy?
- [40:40]
Ronnie Dunn
Oh, gosh. You know, she has done everything, I think, just. Just, to me, just an amazing entertainer and I think what you see is what you get is probably why our TV shows are still back to back to back to back on some cable network somewhere. You know, I think it's just.
- [41:02]
Kix Brooks
Reva's smart as a tire. She is smart.
- [41:04]
Ronnie Dunn
She is. You know, but it's small time ranch.
- [41:07]
Kix Brooks
Girl who knows no fear. No fear on Broadway.
- [41:12]
Ronnie Dunn
Great singer, tons of records, tons of number ones. I mean, and television icon from now the voice to shows she's made herself.
- [41:23]
Bobby Bones
You know, to end this, I want to indulge myself, but just talking for a second and giving my favorite version of each of you, and you're not gonna remember this, but at the Grand Ole Opry, the doors stay open. Unless you're like, you're in your underwear, the doors stay open. And it was my first time performing, doing stand up at the Opry, and I was a fan of you guys, but I had never met you guys. And kicks walked in the room and was like, hey. And, like, gave me a pep talk. I didn't even know. You probably didn't know who I was. You probably thought I was cleaning up the place. Like, hey, you do better. But. But. But literally, like, you. You were like, this is such a special place. Congratulations. You're going to do great. And, like, it makes me emotional even thinking about that you would take 30 seconds to do that at that time at that place. And, like, that'll be something that when I'm 100, I remember, like, vividly. So, like, I appreciate that. And. And I tell that story underneath the microphone and camera so people can hear that you're not just a couple funny guys that are acting nice on camera, that you do treat people the way that it seems like you treat people, and that's rare in this industry. With Ronnie, you sang at my wedding, and we didn't even know you were coming. You didn't get invited, and you just still showed up and sang, and that was awesome.
- [42:40]
Kix Brooks
You wore me out, but you did.
- [42:42]
Bobby Bones
But I'm being serious. You did sing, and I will forever be grateful.
- [42:48]
Kix Brooks
And it was awesome.
- [42:49]
Bobby Bones
Love both of you guys, together and separately. And to conclude my favorite, favorite, favorite moment, it's me, my wife and Ronnie and his wife. We're having dinner and someone comes up and wants a picture. Of course. I mean, it's freaking.
- [43:04]
Kix Brooks
Oh, oh, let me tell that.
- [43:06]
Bobby Bones
Oh, you want to tell my story?
- [43:07]
Kix Brooks
Go ahead.
- [43:08]
Bobby Bones
Well, then you can tell. But I'll tell it together.
- [43:10]
Ronnie Dunn
What happened? Of course I want to hear.
- [43:12]
Bobby Bones
Of course.
- [43:13]
Kix Brooks
Still bruised?
- [43:14]
Bobby Bones
No, it's a superstar. Someone comes up and wants a picture. And I'm like, I get it. I would want a picture, too. And so they're like, they hand me.
- [43:21]
Kix Brooks
The camera, take his picture.
- [43:25]
Ronnie Dunn
Don't you hate it when they do that?
- [43:26]
Bobby Bones
It's the greatest moment of my life. I had some good ones. I went, what? It was one of the top three greatest moments. And they. Ronnie took the picture of me and.
- [43:33]
Ronnie Dunn
The fan more than once, and somebody's good, can we get a picture? I'm like, yeah, sure. And they hand me the camera and they put their arm around each other. That's happened to me several times at showbiz.
- [43:44]
Bobby Bones
I love you guys. Thank you for doing this. Congratulations on all your success. But I think the success that I hear from you is how your music has affected many people for many years. That was the goal. That was the dream. And you guys are living it still. 70,000 people still coming to shows. It's awesome to see. Congratulations and thank you for the time, guys.
- [44:07]
Kix Brooks
Cool. Thanks, Bobby Lockbones. Bobby, thanks you, man.
- [44:10]
Bobby Bones
The Bobbycast.
- [44:11]
Kix Brooks
We'll be right back. Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM, where I learned how AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan, and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitzel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent. As a new student, you may not.
- [44:45]
Bobby Bones
Know how do I deal with my health and wellness issue. How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't want to do that.
- [44:56]
Kix Brooks
Bissell told me you could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus, register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork.
- [45:13]
Bobby Bones
We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive. Automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.
- [45:34]
Kix Brooks
To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com agents.
- [45:44]
Bobby Bones
Hi, Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile. Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us. Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in. You don't need a trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro plus we'll help you pay off your old Phone up to 800 bucks and you still get to keep it. There's always a trade end.
- [46:00]
Kix Brooks
Not right now.
- [46:01]
Bobby Bones
At T Mobile.
- [46:02]
Ronnie Dunn
I feel like I have to give.
- [46:03]
Kix Brooks
You something in return for karma.
- [46:04]
Bobby Bones
That's okay. I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender. I'm good. Seriously. Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints. Really, I'm fine. Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car. It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile, get a new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple intelligence on us. No trade in needed. We'll even pay off your phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits. New line 100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement 999.99 and qualifying ported for well qualified plus tax and ten dollar connection charge. Pay off via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits end and balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel CT mobile.com I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the Wealth Break. Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone. It's not just about saving. It's about investing. It's about navigating systems that weren't built for you, embracing your hustle and relying on your community to create something bigger. And that's exactly why we created the Wealth Break. We made something different, something more human. It's not just another financial podcast. It's a conversation about real life, real struggles and real wins. We're here to talk about the journey. You're hearing from people who've broken barriers, found creative ways to succeed, and learn to build wealth on their terms. Whether it's the first time homeowner, a gig worker, or someone turning a side hustle into a six figure business, we're bringing you their stories. And we're not stopping at success stories. We're breaking down the realities, like what it means to take risk, how to navigate failure, and why resilience matters. Because wealth isn't about money. It's about creating a life where you can thrive and help others to do the same. So if you're ready for a podcast, as much as about people as it is about money, you're in the right place. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartRadio. Applause this is the Bobbycast. So here are some possibly lesser known but wild behind the scenes stories from the music industry that you may find surprising. And I haven't gone over these with you, Eddie, but I'll read you these. Tell me how much you know. Okay. Fleetwood Max Rumors was basically a musical soap opera because of everything happening in the band at the time it came out. Oh, no, I had no idea. I think you will a little bit, but like, gosh, what's. What's the guy's name? Mick. Mick Fleetwood. And then Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. A lot of drama there. Yeah, that's. That's three of them. Okay. You know, the other one died. No clue. The band members were breaking up with each other while they were recording the album. Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham were ending their relationship because they were together. John and Christina McVie, she was the keyboard player, I guess. Yeah. They were divorcing. Oh, I didn't know they were together. And Mick Fleetwood was going through a divorce of his own, then later had an affair with Stevie Nicks.
- [49:09]
Ronnie Dunn
Drama.
- [49:10]
Bobby Bones
Despite all the chaos, they made it into one of the most successful albums of all time. Wow. Crazy. That is crazy. There was that much inner turmoil or just drama, and they were still able to make such good music. What I hear is a great producer keeping them all together. Like somebody that's not in the band who was producing that album was having to put bumpers, like, in bowling on the gun on the freaking band. Yeah. And like, control them to focus on music. Because everybody was going through crap and a lot of them were going through crap together. Oh, that's the perfect recipe for a band to be like, we're done. We're not doing this. You know, it's the perfect recipe to write a bunch of great songs if it's not about with people in the band. Yeah. You're going through divorces and breakups and all music. Great music comes from all that pain. But when it's with people in the band, it's weird they can make that good a music. Do you know offhand what's on that record? Like, what songs? Yeah, I mean, most of their massive songs. Really? Like. Yeah. I think if I were guessing, based on just the rumors. Lore. That's the album with him standing up and her sitting on a chair. It's kind of in black and white, you know. I know exactly what you're talking about. Dreams is on it. Okay, Jamie. Their biggest song, right? And I say their biggest because I think it got Refamous again on Tick Tock. Massive back in the 70s, but recall again to 20 and 30 year olds. Like 10 years ago. It had kind of a queen, Bohemian Rhapsody renaissance. What do you. Wait, Is that the one? Yeah. What's on it? Go. Go your own way. You can go your own way. Yep. Never going back again. Oh, the chain's awesome. What's never going back again? I don't know. The chain is. It's so hard to do multiple. What else? We do this every time. Don't stop, songbird. You make love and fun. Oh, daddy Goldust woman. Oh, okay. All right. There you go. You want to hear what I listen to when I do research? Yeah. My. What is that? Lo fi hip hop beats on YouTube and there's like some Asian girl that's doing her homework. It's like a cartoon. I watch that same one. Yes.
- [51:13]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [51:13]
Bobby Bones
Where do you guys find this? It was suggested in like a Live Alive when I was on YouTube. And so when I. When I prepare notes in the morning, that's what I listen to. That's awesome. I mean, that's very. Well, I was wondering why, Mike, is it this one specifically with Anime Girl?
- [51:26]
Kix Brooks
Yep. Cardigan. Yep, that's it.
- [51:28]
Bobby Bones
What is happening, Mike? Do you do that while you're working too? Yes. You guys are the same person. The only reason this comes up is because I had it on before I came in and did this and I guess I forgot to X out of it. And I was like, what's playing? Because I was gonna go track Fleetwood Mac. So who's producing that music? Do you know? Or is it just kind of. It's somebody. Yeah. And then just the. The screen is just an animation of a girl and it's all lo fi hip hop just always on and some.
- [51:53]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [51:53]
Bobby Bones
And sometimes I'll just freestyle with it like terribly just to kind of get my mind going. Yeah, that's pretty funny. All right. Number one. That's number one, by the way. I have, I think eight of these. Number two. Rick James kidnapped someone. Oh, no. What are you talking about? In 1991, funk legend Rick James and his girlfriend were arrested for kidnapping and assaulting a woman during a week long drug binge. Whoa. He was eventually convicted and served two years in prison. Whoa. Wildly. This did not kill his career. He even had a later resurgence on Chappelle's show. That's a bigger Whoa. That you can do that and you still keep going. I don't know enough about this. As in I didn't live it because it was before us, 1981. But there's no social media. You got four channels. If you didn't catch it when it was on the news, you didn't catch it unless you saw in the newspaper. Then it was here and then gone. So there's like a brief period of time where all the bad crap that happened, people got away with all kinds of stuff. Yeah. It was wild. Yeah. And now no one can do anything. Right. If you do something mild, it stays up there forever. You lick a donut, everyone knows. Exactly. Exactly. For those that don't get the reference. Ariana Grande. That's right. That's Eddie's favorite reference. The past, like, six months, Prince recorded a song every day for years. I feel like I've heard that Prince's legendary vault is not just a myth. Engineers who worked with him report he would often write, record, and produce a full song every single day, many of which no one has still ever heard, because he would do it all by himself. He even had the whole albums created. He then would shelve them purely because he changed his mind, not because he was doing it to put in a vault, to have this library after he died. But he would finish it and go, Prince does not like that. Prince will put this away. Prince will put this away so nobody gets to hear it. David Bowie and his Thin White Duke era was fueled by milk, Peppers and cocaine. Whoa. He had different eras. And I was never a big Bowie guy because I was born after Bowie and I never really got into Bowie. Same. I did have a Queen phase because they were such a freaking good band. Oh. And of course, Wayne's World brought him back the resurgence we mentioned earlier. Sure. For all of us to understand how good Queen was. I think as I get older, I can appreciate David Bowie for what he was doing and for what he was attempting to do. And they can be seen together or separate, but he had these different eras. Like, I can think of Ziggy Stardust.
- [54:18]
Kix Brooks
Sure.
- [54:18]
Bobby Bones
With a makeup. That was a specific era. Yeah. I can think of, like, his 80s with Mick Jagger. Flamboyant, tight. It just had different versions of him. Yeah. As an artist. And Thin White Duke was a version. In the 70s, he was in such a deep cocaine spiral that he reportedly lived on milk, red peppers and cigarettes. Only he was also so obsessed with the occult and feared witches were stealing his semen. But who doesn't is. That's one of those. We all kind of relate to, Right.
- [54:48]
Kix Brooks
Yeah. All the time.
- [54:49]
Bobby Bones
Are these girls that he'd hook up with and be like That's a witch. She stole my semen. He was on so many drugs. Possibly. He later claimed he barely remembered recording station to station the very famous album because he was so messed up.
- [55:04]
Kix Brooks
Wow.
- [55:05]
Bobby Bones
Yeah. That's crazy. Van Halen's brown M M's clause was not diva behavior. Now, you've heard the M M's? Sure. This is for the writer, Their backstage writer. Yeah. What do you know about the story? Nothing. I mean, I don't know anything. I've heard that they requested brown M M's removed. Oh. Out of every. So they would get a bunch of M M's and remove the brown M M's. They demanded they be removed in their rider and the writer is in the contract. The list of things you need to have to do the show backstage. Okay. Some people do couches, some people do food. You know, for us, I mostly requested you to have the local ipa. Correct. And me to have limes. Lemons and limes. Yeah. Just to suck on. No. Cocaine and peppers for us early tour. That was a long time ago, man. We don't do that anymore. The band infamously demanded a bowl of M M's with all the brown ones removed. People thought it was just them being over the top rockstar Xs. But the real reason was to check to see if promoters read their contracts carefully. Wow. Because if they read it, saw it, and then did it, they knew that the other technical agreements would be done right as well. I'll be honest with you. I didn't think Van Halen would be a business savvy, kind of check on the contract kind of people. I don't know that Van Halen that they were. But you are, if the people you hire are. Yeah, yeah. And I'm sure they had great management. And I know. I mean, I know their management now. Who was their management then? Because they're here in town. Yeah. Really? Yeah. So they were their management, like, at the height of Van Halen. Wow. Yeah. That's crazy. It's pretty cool. So, for example, people will give Taylor Swift a hard time because she does all these really nice things and send all these notes and sends all these gifts. And people are like, well, that's her management. Your management is part of you. That's like if you were to pick up a piece of garbage, you're like, no, no, no. That's your arm that did that, not your brain. No. Your arm is an extension of all of you. And so Van Halen, they may not have been someone who demanded all those things be all the Technical things be looked at, all the safety. Yeah, but somebody on their team was. What happens more? You telling the artist telling the management what to do, or management telling the artist what they should do. And I'm sure there's. There's, you know, give and take. Right. But like what happens more. More likely. So artists can fire managers at any time. That doesn't mean they don't have to pay them because you have what's called a sunset clause. So let's say my management company, which is Red Light Management, I have Morgan number one, who is my day to day manager, and I have Tom Lord who oversees me and some other artists. If I were to go to them and say, hey, I want out. There are certain deals that we've already agreed to and are doing. They've already put their time in that I have to pay that out. However, anything beyond that, I don't. But I can fire them at any time. In the end, the artist holds really all the power. But if you use that power and you're kind of a dumb, dumb, you will lose any power to do anything. So the artist has to hire the right team and listen to the right team and has to kind of have and give them autonomy to make decisions. Because you really don't see super successful artists without great managers. Slash agents. Yeah. And some agents will do the manager role a bit as well. And they are two different roles, but like even bad. Even I say bad ones. Even ones that seemed evil. Look at Elvis and Colonel Parker. Colonel? Yeah, he got a bad rap. Well, he also was like kind of shady. But he was a good manager and probably made him a lot of money. Probably made Elvis the star that he ended up being making those strategic decisions. Right. So the power is with the artist. However, the artist, if you're a good artist, you allow autonomy within your team. And a lot of that decision making comes from management or agents. Def Leppard's drummer lost his arm and came back stronger. Heard of that? Yeah, I think everyone's heard of that one. Rick Allen lost his arm in a car accident in 1984. Instead of quitting, he had a custom electronic drum kit built. And then he relearned how to play it using his feet and one arm. Amazing. The band did not replace him. Also shout out to the band for not. Yep. I'm sure they thought immediately. Guess he's gonna suck. We're gonna have to replace him. Well, they also had to wait for him for him to get better. Yeah, yeah. Because they're missing time touring. Sure. That's money. This was early, though. That's still money. That's still. I get it. But it was still momentum. More than. More than money. It's momentum. Yeah. You're a young band trying to make it, and you have to pull off the road when all you had was the road. Because there was no social media. It wasn't like they're getting to do Fallon or Kimmel. Those guys weren't even born yet. Maybe they were born, but. Yeah, it's going to sound twisted, but, I mean. And the marketing tool now after the fact, like, wait, what? The drummer has one arm? I need to see this. You know? And like, really, I think. I don't know that that was a thing.
- [59:47]
Ronnie Dunn
Not.
- [59:47]
Bobby Bones
Not that they made it a thing, but I think a lot of people were like, have you heard of the Def Leppard drummer? I think it got a lot of attention to the band just because he had one arm. I know. I felt like that as a kid. I'm going to say, I don't think so, really. Okay. Because there really wasn't avenues for those secondary type stories to exist. Unless you were a massive fan and you were on the Def Leppard newsletter. Like, it was a passing story. David. Rick James kidnapped somebody and they made the news for like a minute. Yeah. Never heard of that. Maybe it was MTV time. I don't know. Well, later in Bloodhound Gang had the drummer from Def Leppard's only got one arm. That too. So I do think it was something, and I do think it went behind the music. Came out is when I learned about it in, like, the 90s. Really? That's when you learned you didn't know before then that he had one arm? No. Wow. Okay. But I think also your brother was probably a Def Leppard fan. Nailed it. So he's an 80s 80s rock fan. Yeah. Says it happened in 84 and he came back within three months of the accident. Wow. Three months. That's quick. Axl Rose delayed a concert because he was watching Ninja Turtles. I think we're learning that. That. That dude is. Is a mess. That era is a mess. We're also learning Guns N Roses show started hours late. In the early 90s. Axl Rose refused to go on stage until he finished watching Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles 2 the Secret of the Ooze. Hey, that's a good movie. Was Vanilla Ice in that one?
- [61:03]
Kix Brooks
Yeah.
- [61:03]
Bobby Bones
Was that ninja rap? That was ninja rap. Yeah, that was good. Go, ninja.
- [61:07]
Kix Brooks
Go, ninja.
- [61:07]
Bobby Bones
Go.
- [61:08]
Kix Brooks
Go.
- [61:08]
Bobby Bones
That was a good one. Bob Dylan almost wrote An Elvis song. Elvis Presley's team once asked Bob Dylan to write a song for Elvis, and Bob Dylan wrote one, and then he never sent it. He said later he was too intimidated by Elvis to follow through. Intimidated? Wow. That's crazy. You wouldn't think Bob Dylan would be intimidated of anyone. Yeah. But talking about Elvis, and you may remember Dolly telling us this, that, oh, Colonel. Colonel Tom Parker was like, hey, Dolly, Elvis is going to record your song, I will always love you. But he's going to take 50% ownership and he's going to be 50% of the way. He wants to be a writer on it. Yeah. And Dolly's like, I don't think so. Right. Where most people would be like, Elvis, take it. Yeah. It could have been a situation like that, too. And Bob Dylan just being nice. And, you know, Elvis, he wanted me to write him a song, and I wrote it and I was intimidated. But the real version is, you know, Elvis wanted 80 of it after I wrote him that. And I wasn't gonna give him that. So those are some fun little stories. That's cool. Thank you, guys. If you don't mind, go subscribe to the Bobby Cash channel. We appreciate you listening. You know, for the most part, we do music. I did an episode of two episodes back, one episode back where I just answered a bunch of questions that I get asked all the time about music or about some of our old school career stuff, too. You know, one of those stories involved me trying to convince Eddie to move to Nashville. One of those stories, which I haven't told in forever, was about me secretly going on the air in Little Rock while I also worked in Hot Springs under a fake name so my boss wouldn't know that I was auditioning for the Little Rock job. Oh, man, I forgot. I remember that in forever. I don't think I'd heard that. I told that story. Yeah. It was the one time my name was Robert Johnson. Okay. I think Robert Johnson. Yeah. Blues player. No, because it was Bobby Bones. And I was going to do Robert Jones. And then I thought, well, that's too on the nose. And I ended up, I'm pretty sure, not being Robert. Robert Johnson. Robert Jones. Yeah. It was something. And it was a go. Listen to the story. I was such an idiot. I never. I never heard that one. I thought you were going to tell the one where you broke into the other studio or you. I wrote that in a book. Yeah, I wrote that in my first book, Bare Bones. Check it out. I get it on Amazon for, like, $1. I've heard of that book. This other one was I had to audition, which looking back, I'm kind of irritated that they would put me in that situation for a job in Little Rock that I ended up getting. But I was so close to Little Rock being in Hot Springs an hour away. You could hear both stations. Oh, wow. And they wanted me to audition. I'm like, I can't because I'll lose my other job if they hear me on your station. Whole different company. Yeah. And so I secretly, in the middle of the night when audition under the name Robert Johnson. That's great. And you got it. I don't want to tell you. Okay, I'll go. I'll go listen to the Bobby guest. Or when the mics go off, I can tell you how to do it. Okay. Check out the Bobby cast. Thank you, guys. Coming up, we have some big episodes. We have Dolly coming up. We have Mark Cuban coming up. We have Trisha Yearwood coming up, the Pope. And we have a Trump and Obama panel where they're both sitting here and we're only talking about things that we agree on. And that one, that one gets heated up. It does. But it's all agreeances. All right, thank you guys. We'll see you next time. Thanks for listening to a Bobby Kast production. Hi, I'm Danielle Fishel from Pod Meets World. So for my two boys, I got Samsung Galaxy watch for kids. And I'm not saying I'm kind of jealous of my kids tech. I'm saying I am definitely jealous of my child's tech. This thing lets them call, text and explore all from their wrist. No smartphone required. And don't worry, you're still the boss. You control who they can talk to. And yes, you can totally stalk their location in real time. Get Galaxy Watch 7 on T mobile now. Kid ready with a new paired line. Visit t mobile.com to order yours today. Parent and child must have a Samsung account and Google account with family link requires initial pairing with a compatible Samsung smartphone and qualifying wireless plan with LTE service activated. Please check with your carrier for more information. Trusted contact applies to compatible apps. It does not restrict communication through third party or other communication apps. Emergency services and contacts remain accessible. Location sharing is dependent on network connectivity and device being recently active. T Mobile terms via 24 monthly bill credits when you add a qualifying paired watch line. See additional offer terms on t mobile.com new out of nowhere obstacles. New all or nothing moments. New less than likely triumphs. Season two of the Unshakeables podcast has it all. Hi, I'm Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and host of the show. We're excited to bring you more inspiring stories from small business owners who share the what are we gonna do? Moments that ended up changing everything. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. J.P. morgan Chase bank and a member FDIC Copyright 2025 J.P. morgan Chase & Co. I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the Wealth Break. Let's be honest. Building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone. It's not just about saving. It's about investing. It's about navigating systems that weren't built for you, embracing your hustle and relying on your community to create something bigger. And that's exactly why we created the Wealth Break. We made something different, something more human. It's not just another financial podcast. It's a conversation about real life, real struggles and real wins. We're here to talk about the journey. You're hearing from people who've broken barriers, found creative ways to succeed, and learn to build wealth on their terms. Whether it's the first time homeowner, a gig worker, or someone turning a side hustle into a six figure business, we're bringing you their stories. And we're not stopping at success stories. We're breaking down the realities, like what it means to take risk, how to navigate failure, and why resilience matters. Because wealth isn't about money. It's about creating a life where you can thrive and help others to do the same. So if you're ready for a podcast as much as about people as it is about money, you're in the right place. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartradio app. This is an iHeart podcast.