BOBBYCAST - Josh Ross Addresses His Controversial Comments He Made During a Live Show + Chad Kroeger of Nickelback Taught Him How to Party While on Tour + How He Got Akon on a Song

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: Bobbycast #554 — Josh Ross on Controversial Comments, Chad Kroeger, and Making Music

Podcast: The Bobby Bones Show / Bobbycast
Host: Bobby Bones (Premiere Networks)
Guest: Josh Ross (Canadian Country Artist)
Date: November 16, 2025

---

Main Theme

This episode centers on country artist Josh Ross discussing his rapid career ascent, the controversy surrounding his "I love America" comments during a live show, the wild lessons he learned on tour with Chad Kroeger (Nickelback), his collaboration with Akon, reflections on authenticity in the music business (from social media to “live” recordings), and the evolving landscape of Nashville's music scene. Warm, wide-ranging, and candid, the conversation explores both the high and low points of life as a rising star in country music.

---

Key Topics, Insights & Memorable Moments

---

Introduction & Setting

• Episode Setting: The interview takes place at Bobby Bones’ home studio, emphasizing the relaxed, intimate vibe compared to a standard radio studio.
• Josh’s Background: Recent two-time Canadian Country Music Entertainer of the Year, first Canadian male in 30 years to hit #1 with “Single Again.”
• “He didn’t look Canadian. I don’t know what ‘Canadian’ looks like, but he didn’t look Canadian.” — Bobby Bones (03:24)

---

Life on Tour & Chad Kroeger Stories

• First Arena Tour with Nickelback:
  • Touring with Nickelback (after Lee Brice) was Josh’s first major arena experience.
  • He met Chad Kroeger via shared management connections. First impressions were awkward after a drunken first meeting.
  • Despite the initial hiccup, they developed a close friendship, marked by spontaneous FaceTimes and party antics.
• “Chad would be willing to have a night out, or whatever, but he was always the first person up, ready to work. He taught me a lot in regards to how they've had such a long career.” — Josh Ross (09:10)
• Legendary Escapades:
  • Anecdote involving shooting pillows with an assault rifle from Chad’s boat:
    “They were chunking pillows off the boat and had an assault rifle... shooting pillows with assault rifles off Chad Kroeger’s boat.” — Bobby Bones (10:15)
    Josh pleads the fifth, “These things happen.” — Josh Ross (10:49)

---

Internet, Fame, and Catfishing

• Being a Target of Scams & Fake Profiles:
  • Both Josh and Bobby have experienced people impersonating them online, leading to fan scams and strange situations.
  • Josh has fans show up at shows thinking they’re in a romantic relationship with him due to catfishing schemes.
• “It’s pretty cool to have, like, multiple relationships on the internet. So it’s an interesting time.” — Josh Ross (11:29)
• Financial Scams:
  • Bobby relates stories of listeners being scammed for thousands by fake accounts pretending to be him, highlighting the strange and predatory world of online celebrity.

---

Athletic Pasts, Surgeries, and Vulnerability

• Josh’s Surgeries:
  • Reveals a history of sports injuries, including testicle surgery from a weightlifting accident and multiple ankle reconstructions during his football days.
  • “Have you ever talked about your testicle surgery before?”
    “No.”
    “So my surgery is my… I have an ankle surgery, but it’s not near as intense tomorrow...” — Bobby & Josh Ross (15:04)
• Candid talk on vulnerability and pain, sharing common ground with fellow athletes and performers.

---

Canadian Roots, Growing Up, and Crossing Borders

• Canadian Upbringing:
  • Grew up bouncing between Water Down and London, Ontario. Talks about playing football and hockey, and why many Canadian players aim for U.S. colleges or pro leagues.

---

Industry Talk — Nashville’s Changing Scene

• Nashville Evolution:
  • Josh and Bobby reminisce about the authenticity of Nashville haunts (like Red Door and Losers) becoming overrun by tourists and non-musical crowds, driven in part by social media exposure.
  • "I blame social media for ruining that culture." — Bobby Bones (34:34)
  • Josh moved outside the city to avoid burnout and preserve creative focus.

---

Viral Moments, Social Media, and Authenticity

• On Going Viral:
  • Josh credits his fanbase with grassroots support but admits he’s yet to have a true viral hit—remains optimistic that moment is to come.
  • “I have a great following... I think there’s still that one [viral hit] that’s going to happen, which is really exciting.” — Josh Ross (44:15)
• Approach to Content:
  • Takes a collaborative but discerning approach to social posts; avoids anything that feels forced or inauthentic.

---

Addressing the Controversy: “I Love America” (Critical Segment)

• Background:
  • During a U.S. show, Josh expressed appreciation for America. A video clip went viral, leading to accusations of disrespecting Canada, online outrage, and even death threats to his family.
• “Dude, I’m so proud that I was born in Canada, but I’m also beyond proud of how hard I’ve busted my ass to live here and make a living… Internet people only clip certain parts.” — Josh Ross (26:53)
• Aftermath:
  • He discusses the personal risk—the threats and real-life police involvement.
• The Apology:
  • Josh regrets feeling forced to immediately apologize online:
    “My parents got death threats, which is the craziest thing…they were literally calling them out by name, where they live…” — Josh Ross (28:10)
• On Being Bullied by the Internet:
  • “I just am so against being bullied by the Internet.” — Bobby Bones (29:15)
  • Josh comes to terms—there was “no win-win”; apologizing offends some, not apologizing offends others.

---

Musical Influences: Mount Rushmore (Not Country)

• Non-Country Influences:
  • Cinderella, Eagles, U2, Akon, Guns N' Roses
  • “I legitimately know more Akon songs and can sing more Akon songs than any other artist.” — Josh Ross (59:14)
• The Akon Collaboration:
  • The collaboration came from social media buzz and initiative via management. Akon personally wrote the second verse.

---

Candid Talk: Authenticity, AI & “Live” Music

• Authenticity in Recordings:
  • Both joke about how even “live” music releases now involve heavy studio work and overdubs for perfection.
  • “I think we’ve just destroyed, like, imperfect. Like, it’s okay to be imperfect.” — Josh Ross (50:45)
• AI in the Industry:
  • Both discuss the rise of AI—using vocal AI for demos, potential threats to songwriters, and the inevitability of technological change.
  • “I saw there was the first song that was totally AI that made the Billboard Top 100 this week. Crazy.” — Bobby Bones (54:16)
• “For me, it’s eliminating busy work… but my problem is people making money off records they didn’t even sing.” — Josh Ross (54:03 & 54:09)

---

Musical Influences: Mount Rushmore (Country)

• Top Country Influences:
  • Steve Earle (especially “Guitar Town,” “Copperhead Road”), George Strait, Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, FGL, Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean
• Steve Earle:
  • “He’s always, for me, been like the guy… so many songs. He’s got a song called ‘Someday’ that is, like, to me, just made me feel something as, like, super young.” — Josh Ross (65:21)

---

Genuine Friendships in the Business

• Artist Friends:
  • Bailey Zimmerman (closest friend), Ella Langley, Cameron Marlowe, Dylan, Chase Beckham
  • Emphasizes rare, real friendships in an industry full of acquaintances.

---

Memorable Wrap-Up: A Call to Bailey Zimmerman

• On-Screen Call:
  • Bobby FaceTimes Bailey Zimmerman and gets a classic, candid description:
    “After being on the road with him and getting to know him for real, he is the softest, most feelings... guy. He’s a lover. All he wants is love. All he wants is to be loved. And he’s tired of getting his heart broke.” – Bailey Zimmerman (72:15)
• Josh laughs and jokes Bailey is now his “pimp,” promising to Venmo commission for the endorsement.

---

Notable Quotes (with [timestamps])

• On Chad Kroeger:
  “I already knew how to party, but he taught me… Chad would beat me to that, you know, he was always the first person up, ready to work. It just really taught me a lot.” — Josh Ross (09:10)
• On Internet Fame:
  “It’s pretty cool to have, like, multiple relationships on the internet. So it’s an interesting time.” — Josh Ross (11:29)
• On Handling Cancel Culture:
  “I just am so against being bullied by the Internet.” — Bobby Bones (29:15)
• On AI in Music:
  “For me, it’s eliminating busy work… but my problem is people making money off records they didn’t even sing.” — Josh Ross (54:03 & 54:09)
• On Authenticity:
  “I think we’ve just destroyed, like, imperfect. Like, it’s okay to be imperfect.” — Josh Ross (50:45)
• On Industry Friendship:
  “I tend to be more friends with the people that want to do lowkey things that aren’t music.” — Josh Ross (67:23)

---

Key Segment Timestamps

• Chad Kroeger/Nickelback Tour & Friendship: 06:13–10:49
• On Testicle & Ankle Surgeries: 13:23–15:18
• Cross-Border Life & Canadian Roots: 17:56–19:10
• Nashville’s Changing Scene: 32:34–35:41
• The “I Love America” Controversy: 26:20–30:44
• Authenticity, AI & Social Media: 43:38–55:17
• Bailey Zimmerman FaceTime: 71:33–72:51

---

Tone & Vibe

Conversational, irreverent, and often self-deprecating, Josh and Bobby trade stories, jokes, and vulnerable confessions. Josh is candid about his missteps, pain, and pride—while Bobby’s trademark dry wit and empathy keep the discussion probing yet warm.

---

Conclusion

A must-listen for fans of both Josh Ross and country music’s behind-the-scenes reality. This episode offers a raw, often funny, frequently poignant look at fame, mistakes, and the elusive balance of authenticity in the age of online outrage and AI. Listeners leave with unique insight into how one rising star copes with pressure—and keeps finding his way.

---

Transcript

[Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones here. Have you ever tried planning a trip for a group? It can be challenging. One person wants a hotel with a pool, another wants a vacation rental with a giant kitchen, and someone else wants free wi fi. You know on booking.com you can find a stay that works for all of them. Hotels and rentals. Whatever you need. It makes the seemingly impossible group trip totally possible. 5. Find exactly what you are booking for booking.com booking yeah, that's booking.com booking yeah.

[Announcer]

The CMA Awards is live Wednesday at 8, 7 Central. Don't miss a single beat of country music's biggest night with performances by Lainey Wilson, Zach Topp, Riley Greene, Ellie Langley, Kelsey Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion and Megan Maroney. Plus one of a kind collaborations, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, Shabuzzi and Steven Wilson Jr. Big X the PL featuring Luke Combs and more. Lainey Wilson hosts the CMA Awards live Wednesday at 8, 7 Central on ABC and next day on Hulu. Hear that? That's what it sounds like when you plant more trees than you harvest. Work done by thousands of working forest professionals like Adam, a district forest manager who works to protect our forests from fires.

[Josh Ross]

Keeping the forest fire resistant. Synonymous with keeping the forest healthy. And we do that through planting more than we harvest and mitigate those risks through active management. It's a long term commitment.

[Announcer]

Visit workingforestsinitiative.com to learn more. I turned off news altogether.

[Bobby Bones]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Josh Ross]

It's the rage bait.

[Announcer]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Bobby Bones]

We got clear facts. Maybe we could calm down a little.

[Josh Ross]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Life gets messy spills, stains and kid chaos. But with anove, cleaning up is easy. Our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out, so you never have to stress about messes again. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, that means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, our sofas feature changeable fabric covers allowing you to refresh your style anytime. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa effortlessly. Perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus they're earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made the switch. Get early access to Black Friday pricing right now. Sofas started just $699. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Bobby Bones]

All right, well, let's talk about music for a second. You feel good? Go get up at everything.

[Josh Ross]

Dude, this is firing me up. I like it. Let's say some.

[Bobby Bones]

Episode 554 with Josh Ross. What I did not know until I was looking up the intro is that he is the two time Canadian Country Music Entertainer of the Year. I did not know that. I don't know that I would have talked about that. Although we did get into Canada a little bit. I just kind of forgot. He didn't look Canadian. I don't know what Canadian looks like, but he didn't look Canadian. But he is the reigning CCMA Entertainer of the Year for the second consecutive year. Big deal. That is a big deal. Yeah, that's super cool. Josh Ross got some great songs. His most recent single, single Again went number one. He was like the first Canadian male to do that in like 30 years. But again, the Canada thing, not a huge part of his story to me. I think he mentioned something early and I was like, oh, yeah, I forgot you were Canadian. And then we got into what I remembered and we talked about on the Bobby Bones show, which was him on stage being like, I love America. Then he had to go back and apologize. So I don't know. I liked him. We end up calling Bailey Zimmerman at the end of this, which was kind of funny because who knows what Bailey's even up to or if Bailey's even awake or what hour Bailey's awake. But here we go, episode 554. You guys can follow Josh Ross music. Also go to his website, joshrossmusic.com for tickets to his 2026 tour that kicks off February 6th. He's got a song now called Hate how youw look that's hitting the charts. He's kind of killing it right now. We had a super fun time. Here he is, Josh Ross. Josh is here. But did you think you were coming to like a studio studio? Like a radio studio?

[Josh Ross]

It just said, like Bobby's studio, but I'm now knowing it's Bobby's studio.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, yeah, it's. It's literally my house.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And then I think most people that watch or listen know that when I do these interviews, which we use in multiple places. So we do a podcast, we do it for the radio show, we do it for the countdown, I'm able to sit with someone and get more out of Them Right. Than if it's in our studio. Because you're like, we have, like seven people surrounding you. You're like. You're in a fishbowl up in that place.

[Josh Ross]

This is nice.

[Bobby Bones]

So, yeah, makes me think I was reading this story about Cribs. Did you ever watch Cribs? Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

MTV Cribs?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. You may be a little too young, though.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I mean, I remember, like, you could, like, on YouTube and, like, rewatch people that you. I remember, like, Chad from Nickelback did one and we, like, watched it, made fun of on tour.

[Bobby Bones]

And it turns out most of them were. Were fake. A lot of them were. They would, like, rent houses.

[Josh Ross]

Oh, shoot.

[Bobby Bones]

That weren't theirs.

[Josh Ross]

Was this like a scandal down the road? They were like, later on, this was real.

[Bobby Bones]

It kind of became a thing where either they were using cars that weren't theirs. Like, certain people would have cars brought in, or they would just go and rent another house and act like it was their house. And so when you sat down and you were like, hey. I was like, yeah, I rented this place. How funny would it be if I brought people over?

[Josh Ross]

Oh, not really.

[Bobby Bones]

And it's not even my house.

[Josh Ross]

This is not real.

[Bobby Bones]

That would be the greatest. I forgot you're from Canada. So you said Chad. I went. Why did he go Nickelback, first of all, people?

[Josh Ross]

Well, that was my first tour too. So, like, I always, like, everybody always asks, like, moments that I remember. And one on tour was with him.

[Bobby Bones]

But was that your first tour ever on with Nickelback?

[Josh Ross]

I did. Lee Bryce, I think, like, it was beginning of that year, and then it rolled into Nickelback. That was like my first, like, full size arena tour. And, dude, it was crazy. It's good.

[Bobby Bones]

You know the guys from Nickelback pretty well.

[Josh Ross]

I had met Chad, so they were. So I had signed to the core for management, and at the same time, they were starting to manage Nickelback. And I went to a festival in Canada called Boots and Hearts. And Chad was there, like, scouting it out, I guess, trying to figure out if, you know, can Nickelback play at a country music festival? And I had.

[Bobby Bones]

How long ago is this?

[Josh Ross]

This was like 20, 22, 23. Got it the year before the tour. And so I got to meet Chad. It was. It was just an interesting night because, like, I think I kind of rubbed Chad the wrong way that night. I, like, had some drinks and stuff. And I think I was, like, saying some smart stuff to him.

[Bobby Bones]

Like, were you being too friendly for the situation?

[Josh Ross]

I think so.

[Bobby Bones]

When you didn't know him well enough to be that friendly type thing, I think.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. And I may be something to him about, like, something about Nickelback that just wasn't maybe, like, I thought it was funny, but maybe he didn't. And I was like, okay, well, I don't think anything's ever going to happen there. And then I got the call being like, would you consider doing this? And I was like, well, maybe somehow, like, I. You know, he saw something in me or he wanted to help me or whatever it is. And now it's, like, the coolest relationship. Like, I'll be like, at home, and I get a FaceTime. Chad's in the hot tub. I'm like, hey, what are you doing? He's like, I'm just in the hot tub. Just want to call.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm not pandering at all. And it surprised me when you brought him up, but I really liked him. I didn't expect to just. Just because reputationally. And he doesn't even have a reputation for people. I know, right? You'd hear, like, nickelback, there's.

[Josh Ross]

What?

[Bobby Bones]

What? And I was like, dude, Nickelback had a. So many great songs. And then he came in, and he was so nice and generous with his time, and. And I was like, I think everybody's wrong.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. No, I mean, I'll be. You know, now, like, I. I've been in Nashville since 2018, but I really think I'm, like, three years into this, if I really think about it. Like, the last two years has really been hard touring and stuff like that. But I met a lot of people, and I'm not just, like, saying he's one of the nicest people, if not the nicest, that he just gets it. And I think it takes, Like, I'm not the easiest person to understand, and I make mistakes, and he's done that. He's gone through that. And I think he really just looks out for you if you need it. I know, Like, Bailey would probably say the same.

[Bobby Bones]

That's the other guy I know. And I wasn't gonna name check him, but I will now. Cause I love Bailey and have a personal relationship with him. Bailey really likes Chad, but he's also like, get ready. If you go, yeah, it's gonna be nuts.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, he. He's like. He taught me. I already knew how to party, but, like, he. I would party with him, and I was always the guy that was, like, still first up the next day and ready to go. And Chad would beat me to that, you know, like, he would be willing to have A night out or whatever. Whether we were drinking or not, or I was and he wasn't or whatever it was. He was always the first person up, ready to work. And it just really taught me a lot in regards to, like, this is why they have such a long career. Obviously they had the years that went by there. Like, things kind of went weird for them, but, I mean, their first tour back, they were selling out arenas and amphitheaters and stuff.

[Bobby Bones]

So, like, you can go hard and have fun, but. But you have to be responsible first.

[Josh Ross]

And foremost, put the work in. Yeah, he really. He really does. And, yeah, he just cares. He really does care. So it's been cool.

[Bobby Bones]

This is a story not from Bailey. So it's not from. Say it again. It's not from Bailey.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

One of my friends said he went on a boat with Chad.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

And he said they're all on this massive. I don't know if Chad.

[Josh Ross]

Was I there that day?

[Bobby Bones]

I did. I don't. I'm not putting anybody in any situation.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

But he said they were taking these pillows from the boat and they were chunking them off the boat. And they had a gun. They had, like, an assault rifle, and they were shooting pillows with assault rifles off of Chad Kroger's boat.

[Josh Ross]

I'm a no comment.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. On this. Dude, I thought that was so funny. And he said, dude, we did it till all the pillows were gone.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. Knowing Chad, they were, like, probably the nicest pillows, too.

[Bobby Bones]

And he said the assault rifle was huge, and they were just like. Like, just nailing the pillows. And you are not included in this in any way whatsoever. Does that sound something.

[Josh Ross]

These things happen. Yeah. Yeah. Especially with fun on, you know, fun. Fun in a good location does a lot of things. That's funny.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. First time I think we've ever met, right?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. Which is crazy because I feel like I've watched the show and got to know you a little bit, which is. Which is cool. So I guess it's the other way around.

[Bobby Bones]

You know what's weird is I feel a bit that I've gotten to know a little bit of you as well, but. And I'm not going to bring up any again. I'm gonna do a lot of this. I'm gonna dance around things. And if you want to go into it, too.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

But like, I see on Tick Tock, like, certain people will be on. It'll be like, also watch Josh Ross do a video. But it's like, certain people that. Because you're, like, making it now. So you get romantically linked to folks. That's weird.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. It's pretty cool to have, like, multiple relationships on the Internet. So it's an interesting time.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, that's how, you know, you're making it.

[Josh Ross]

No, it's cool. I mean, I feel bad for, like, people, like, believe also that they're meeting me and they, you know, spend money and. Yeah, that's. Buy VIP cards and then show up to shows with. I mean, gosh, I remember being VIP cards.

[Bobby Bones]

That's like that now.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. Like, I want a fan card. And, like, they'll pay, like, five grand to somebody, and they're like, where's my fan card? And we're like, I don't. I don't have fan cards. And I mean, honestly say that now, too. Like, I don't have fan cards. But, like, people will, like, show up to shows and be like, we were talking on whatever app and, like, we're dating. And I'm like, wait, what? It's so. You know, but these things happen.

[Bobby Bones]

You got to do the blue check mark talk. Like, for me, it's been people acting like, me, I need money. I don't personally need money. I mean, look around. You know, you're here. But I'm saying, like, I don't. But they say online that I need money. And so there will be any money. There will be listeners who. Who. Who have paid the fake version of me two and three and $4,000.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And I will. We've had a couple instances with the, you know, with the FBI will call us and go, hey, this listener has been scammed. But they have told me because I feel bad, and I'm like, I feel terrible. Like, okay, they were scammed out of a thousand bucks. I'm just going to give them a thousand bucks. And they're like, don't do that. Because the new. The new version of that scam is it's somebody saying they've been scammed to get.

[Josh Ross]

To get.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. And they really weren't.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

But to get money from the person originally, it's crazy.

[Josh Ross]

I mean, like, Kenzie's here, one of my managers, and. And she, like, there's, like, fake profiles of her being like, I'm Josh's manager in, like, post. I think one account has more followers and, like. And views on her tik Tok than her actual one, which is crazy. But, yeah, people. People stretching out the truth.

[Bobby Bones]

You had many surgeries?

[Josh Ross]

1, 2, 3, 4.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, a bunch.

[Josh Ross]

4.

[Bobby Bones]

I have surgery tomorrow.

[Josh Ross]

What you got?

[Bobby Bones]

I'm a little nervous.

[Josh Ross]

About it. Do you want to talk about it?

[Bobby Bones]

What. What have you had?

[Josh Ross]

I mean, since we're diving in, might as well be so honest. I had my tonsils out.

[Bobby Bones]

That's. That's not one you can claim super honesty about. That's not one where you go, I've.

[Josh Ross]

Had a. I've had a.

[Bobby Bones]

We're going to get vulnerable here.

[Josh Ross]

I've had a. I've had a lower body area fixed, but when you say.

[Bobby Bones]

That, you make it sound like it's your wiener.

[Josh Ross]

It was my testicle.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you rupture it?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I was, like, lifting weights, and I. I like, get like a her not. It was like a hernia kind of thing in it. Yeah, yeah. So I've had that. And then as an athlete, that one.

[Bobby Bones]

Doesn'T even sound that crazy. That sounds like. Like, I have professional athlete friends that have, oddly, two of them.

[Josh Ross]

They're like, what is that? What is.

[Bobby Bones]

He avenged their testicle. Like, they've either ruptured part or like a hernia type injury.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, you get like a. What's called like a varicoseal vein.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Yeah. Were you, like, doing we deadlifting or.

[Josh Ross]

What at that time? Yeah, I was like, just at football, so I was, like, squatting. Deadlifting, you know, blowing my back out, doing whatever.

[Bobby Bones]

All right, we got a tonsil. We got a testicle. What other body part do we have.

[Josh Ross]

To this ankle twice? So my right ankle.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay.

[Josh Ross]

What'd you do on your ankle first time? Like, snapped. It had like, a reconstructive surgery, like, all the ligaments and stuff, and then did the same thing again, and I had to get fixed again.

[Bobby Bones]

Did the second time happen?

[Josh Ross]

Because it was supposed to be stronger, but I literally heard it. So I did, like, six months rehab, came back second. Second time back on the field and literally came down and just cracked.

[Bobby Bones]

Were you done after that second time?

[Josh Ross]

I, like, did the rehab again, and then I decided I was done.

[Bobby Bones]

Have you ever talked about your testicle surgery before?

[Josh Ross]

No.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay.

[Josh Ross]

No.

[Bobby Bones]

So my surgery is my. I have an ankle surgery, but it's not near as intense tomorrow, I thought. No, no, no, I wasn't. I kind of made you feel that way. But I have an ankle scope, and they got to put some cadaver cartilage in my foot. I'm just a little nervous about it.

[Josh Ross]

Oh, scopes are the greatest, dude. Because it's just so not invasive. Like, you'd be really happy with it. Like, I had. So when I had it done, too, I had, like, scopes on the Back where they, like, clean out all the cartilage and stuff. Yeah, yeah. You're gonna be. You're gonna be great.

[Bobby Bones]

It's been hurting me for, like, two years.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

And I've purposefully, like, expert, like.

[Josh Ross]

Like invert. Like when you invert it out.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, yeah. They. And at first it was a small tear, but I've continued. I'll say. To perform on it.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And the tear has gotten so large, they're like, look, it's gonna hurt worse and worse. So they have to put cadaver cartilage after the scope in.

[Josh Ross]

That's pretty cool. They can do that. Where are you getting it done?

[Bobby Bones]

On my ankle. No, I'm kidding.

[Josh Ross]

You're like, I'm going to Mexico tomorrow morning.

[Bobby Bones]

Guadalajara.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Doing it for cheap. Like, Brentwood Surgical Center. Okay. That's what I'm getting it done.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

Well, this. Are you going to sleep?

[Bobby Bones]

You kind of have to.

[Josh Ross]

You have to for it.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

Does that freak you out?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, a little.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't sleep well anyway, so a little bit of. Of me is looking forward to that part of it.

[Josh Ross]

Dude, it's the best sleep of your life.

[Bobby Bones]

Just getting a nap.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. I'm in the count back. I feel like I'm. I was okay with it, but now as I'm getting older, I'm probably like.

[Bobby Bones]

I wouldn't like it as getting older. You're like, 12 still.

[Josh Ross]

But. But like. But it is pretty cool when they go, like, count back and then. And then you're just gone. And the next thing you know, like, you just wake up, and it's like, none of it happened. And you don't even know how long you were asleep for.

[Bobby Bones]

When I was five, I went in, I fell off a house and ruptured my spleen. And it's one of my first memories. And so I get rushed to the hospital because I'm basically drowning internally in my own blood. I don't know that at the time, but I remember them putting a mask on me at 5 years old and going, okay, count back. And I can vividly remember going, 90 knot. That's it done out.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. It's like the. I don't want to talk too much about it.

[Bobby Bones]

I'll freak you out, but it won't freak me out.

[Josh Ross]

But this is, like, the perfect amount. Like, they have to give you the right amount. Like, a lot of people actually wake up midsurg. Like, they kind of come to.

[Bobby Bones]

I had a friend who was getting a colonoscopy, and they woke up in the middle of it. And they could see on the screen.

[Josh Ross]

Oh, my gosh.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

No.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Anyway, good luck to me.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

What else is up, dude?

[Josh Ross]

Just. Just talking about my testicle and stuff.

[Bobby Bones]

What's crazy is because I work for the NFL as well, and I do a show for the NFL and I talk athletes like that. When you said that, I didn't even. It wasn't even like a stutter because it's such a common thing for athletes.

[Josh Ross]

I feel like people don't probably want to talk about it, but.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, no, no, it's common.

[Josh Ross]

I mean, it was just like such an aching pain.

[Bobby Bones]

Let me. Let me see how it's healed here. No, I'm just kidding. I'm kidding. Moving on.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

How long have you been in town?

[Josh Ross]

It's like a hard. Like, I started coming here in 2018. I would go back and forth, save up enough money, come back. Being Canadian.

[Bobby Bones]

Didn't like, you couldn't stay still.

[Josh Ross]

Couldn't go get a job at Starbucks or whatever.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

So I was like, probably illegally staying, I guess.

[Bobby Bones]

And you're from London, Ontario.

[Josh Ross]

I went to school in London, Ontario. I'm from Water Down, Ontario, which is like an hour west of Toronto.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. So I know London, Ontario because our show is there.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Is that. Which one's near Detroit?

[Josh Ross]

That's London.

[Bobby Bones]

Boom.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Might as well.

[Josh Ross]

You cross over the. What's it called? The Ambassador Bridge.

[Bobby Bones]

Would you guys cross over and. Because back in the day, especially for a lot of my friends in college, they would cross over the border and go to Mexico. Would you guys ever cross over into America and go to the donkey show?

[Josh Ross]

When. When the. When the dollar was good, we like, go because things were cheaper. Now it's like kind of the other.

[Bobby Bones]

Way around when the Canadian dollar was good.

[Josh Ross]

So I remember, like, when I was, I don't know, probably six, seven, the dollar was almost like par. And you would go because things were still marked down like 20%. Because, like, right now, if you go to Canada, a Sweater is probably $75, but here it's 50. So at that time, you could go and it was $50 and you're saving.

[Bobby Bones]

You know, I find it most interesting you chose a sweater as your item to get cold.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. But. Yeah, I don't know.

[Bobby Bones]

You play ball in high school?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. I mean, that's kind of how I got in. Into football. And then I got a scholarship when I went to school.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you have covered practices to have what? Covered practices, meaning practices indoors?

[Josh Ross]

Oh, yeah, we do. We do a Couple like Winter Dome. We do, like, the soccer domes.

[Bobby Bones]

It just seems really cold.

[Josh Ross]

It's cold. I mean, you think about, like, with the, you know, the Bills, that's like my NFL team. And I mean, they're building a new stadium. Like, why did they not close it in? But.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, that I get. Because it's the culture. Like, the Buffalo Bills culture is if you're going to come there, to our advantage. If I were a Buffalo player, to our advantage, we're going to have our fans shovel the freaking snow and it's going to be miserable for you.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I mean, it's definitely a thing. Like, it was cold. I remember some games we played, man, people used to study their cleats. Like, it was, like, illegal to do that. Like, you couldn't do that. But people would actually, like, metal stud their cleats so that, like, when the field would freeze, like, literally ice, they, you know, would grip. But if you got, like, stepped on or whatever, it was terrible.

[Bobby Bones]

If you're a Canadian football player of American football, is the goal to get to the States to play college football at an American university?

[Josh Ross]

Some people would transfer. Like I had. There's a guy named Tyler. What's his name? Tyler Varga. And he. He was a running back for us, and he only stayed one year. And then he went to Yale after that. And then I think he played for the Colts for like, a minute. So, like, there was some people that did that. A lot of the linemen could, like, stay the entire time, then just get drafted over hockey.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you play hockey?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I played for, like, probably 14, 15 years.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, that long?

[Josh Ross]

That long. I mean, I literally was saying today, like, you wear skates before you can run. I was like 3 years old. And you actually do figure skating first to learn how to skate and then you play hockey.

[Bobby Bones]

I saw a story today about jelly roll going into. I think it was a Louis Vuitton. Did you see it, Mike? Yes. Where they said he treated him like a criminal because he looked like a criminal. Wait, what do you open for Jelly? Well, right.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

You know Jelly a little.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, yeah, he's great.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Would you pull up the story? Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

He got what?

[Bobby Bones]

So he got nothing, but he went into a luxury brand store. I feel comfortable talking about this guy. No Jelly. Really well, too.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And he went into a luxury brand store. I think it was in a European country. It was in Sydney, Australia. Okay. Not Europe, but another one of those countries. Whole cold over continent. And he went in and he said they treated him like a criminal because he looked like one. He said he looked like he was going to rob the store. Him and the people he was with.

[Josh Ross]

Does he look like he would rob the store?

[Bobby Bones]

Kind of. That was my point. When I saw it, I thought, yeah.

[Josh Ross]

I think you would not be mad you say that.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, no, I, I think he does look like he would rob the store. So when I saw the story, I thought, yeah, I see that.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I be a lovely guy. I might be throwing security over that way. Like it is what it is. I mean, I don't. I think once you get to know him, you're like, no, not at all.

[Bobby Bones]

But absolutely right. But until you get to know him, you're like, this guy's got tattoos all over his face.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. What's that book thing? Don't read a judge a book by its cover. Yeah, that's jelly roll.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

Let's take a quick pause for a message from our sponsor.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

There's nothing like sinking into luxury. Anabe sofas combine ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. Annabe has designed the only fully machine washable sofa. From top to bottom. The stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Sofas start at just $699 and right now get early access to Black Friday savings up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop [e-mail] Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones here. You ever tried to plan a trip for a large group? Everybody has their own idea of what the vacation should look like. One friend needs a backyard for their new puppy they bring everywhere. Another friend needs blackout curtains because waking up before 10am yeah, that's not gonna happen. Another friend insists on having a king sized bed even though they're happily single. Booking.com totally gets it. And let's be honest, you're probably a bit picky too. Maybe you want a spot with a good view because what's the point if you can't look out the window and feel like you're somewhere new? Booking.com makes juggling those Seemingly impossible requests. Totally possible. They've got hotels, vacation rentals and every kind of stay you can imagine all across the US Whether you're looking for space or style or just something that works for everybody, booking.com helps you get it right. Find exactly what you're booking for booking.com booking. Yeah, that's booking.com, booking Yahoo.

[Announcer]

Country music's biggest night is back. The CMA Awards is live Wednesday at 8, 7 Central with performances by Lainey Wilson, Kenny Chesney, Zach Topp, Riley Greene, Ella Langley, the Red Clay Strays, Kelsey Ballerini, Tucker Wetmore, Old Dominion, Megan Maroney and more. Plus once in a lifetime collaborations to hit the biggest stage in country music. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, Shabuzzi and Steven Wilson Jr. Big X the Plug, featuring Luke Combs and Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson, who will rise as 2025's Entertainer of the Year. Nine time CMA award winner Lainey Wilson returns to host country music's biggest night, the CMA Awards, live Wednesday at 8, 7 Central on ABC and next day on Hulu. Hear that? That's what it sounds like when you plant more trees than you harvest. Work done by thousands of working forest professionals like Adam, a district forest manager who works to protect our forests from fires.

[Josh Ross]

Keeping the forest fire resistant, synonymous with keeping the forest healthy. And we do that through planting more than we harvest and mitigate those risks through active management. It's a long term commitment.

[Announcer]

Visit workingforestsinitiative.com to learn more. I turned off news altogether.

[Bobby Bones]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Josh Ross]

It's the rage bait.

[Announcer]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Bobby Bones]

We got clear facts. Maybe we could calm down a little.

[Josh Ross]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Bobby Bones]

And we're back on the Bobby cast. Okay. I have. I have memories coming back. Oh, I talked about you on my show, about the Canada America thing on stage.

[Josh Ross]

Oh, let's do it.

[Bobby Bones]

I thought it was hilarious.

[Josh Ross]

Thank you.

[Bobby Bones]

I thought there was. I thought you should have said nothing. I thought it was just hilarious. And people get their butt hurt in every way possible. Now I say this as somebody who talks for a living and people get mad at everything I say, but it doesn't matter. So you get on stage. I didn't think you were at all insulting anybody. What's crazy?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I mean, I feel like I'm at a part now where I could like talk about it more. But like, I just. Dude, I'm so proud that I was born in Canada, but I'm also beyond proud of how hard I've busted my ass to live here and make a living and have a career and you know, so for me, that's what it was. Unfortunately, Internet people only clip certain parts. They don't take the beginning. I didn't say anything bad about either places, you know, just it was, it was taken away that it got taken and you know, people obviously start to panic behind the scenes. I got, you know, great people.

[Bobby Bones]

Sure. Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

And it's like, okay, you have to make this right. And it's like, you know what, what's the balance of that versus just being like guys. I'm proud of both. I'm proud when I freaking go to Australia. I just got back from London, uk. Loved it. You know, told them that there are some of the best fans. You know, what is other places going to get mad because I say that it's just, you know, it's just matter of the fact. And yeah, dude, I'm just like proud to be doing what I'm doing.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you wish you wouldn't have made the second video apologizing? Because I was very anti you apologizing because I was very pro. You did nothing wrong.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I feel like, I feel like regardless, I would have spoken up about it at some point. So I mean, it just happened then. I mean, I don't think maybe it needed to happen right then. I was just worried that people were getting offended. Dude, I got like, my parents got death threats, which is the craziest thing. Like we were up and of course this all happened, I don't know, a week before I had to go to Ottawa to do Canada Day and play, you know, and like my like, literally I had to go. Luckily one of my high school buddies and college buddy, he's a cop. And I was like, dude, what do I do here? And he's like, you need to file a report and they need to go check on your parents. Like, literally, like, I don't ever mention my parents names online. I'll maybe post photos of them. And they were literally calling them out by name where they live. They're going to show up at their house. I mean, stuff that was just, you know, sick. Like, tell me they're going to like hang me and stuff like that. I'm like, what? Like what? So much hate. And I think there's so many like keyboard warriors in this world that's like, if you would actually never show up or show face. But it's just disgusting to me, so.

[Bobby Bones]

And also with the weirdos and not to freak you out, like, you tried with me with anesthesia.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Because I have been. I have been jumped outside of the radio station. I have had a gun held to my head outside of an event. I've had these incidents. All it takes is one weirdo.

[Josh Ross]

No. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

So I think you did the right thing there. I just am so against being bullied by the Internet.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. Well, since then, I've just. Dude, I've like it. Here's the thing. I look at, like, the stuff that say happened to Morgan or the things that have happened to other artists, and I'm glad that it happened in a sense that. Well, here's the thing. There's no right or no wrong. Like, I don't know how to say this. Right or wrong.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, be careful. You have to apologize if you say it right. Right. Yeah, yeah.

[Josh Ross]

But my thing is, like, me apologizing could then offend other people for maybe taking back what I said. And then me not apologizing affects the people that I supposedly said things about. So there was no win win for me, really. And that was, like, a really unique situation where, like, throwing a chair off of a roof, you go, that was probably wrong, bad decision. And, you know, you apologize, move on. Like, those things you would take back. Mine is just like.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, because there were cops there, and there was something illegal and. Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah. There was a charge you're not getting charged for.

[Josh Ross]

Right. So it's just different. And then also, like, we're in such a heated time or that was such a heated time with, like, politics and what was going on and.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, I didn't think about that part of that was. So that was kind of when it was getting weird, huh?

[Josh Ross]

Dude, it's just like, I'm just here to make country music and sing songs, sing all types of music, and go travel the world. That's all I want to do. I got nothing bad to say about really any places I've been, but I am freaking proud of where I live, and I'm proud of where I come from.

[Bobby Bones]

I got a lot of bad things to say about some certain people. Well, that's different to me. And you can.

[Josh Ross]

You want to say one?

[Bobby Bones]

Well, yeah, I'd like to say a couple things, actually. First of all, when that was happening with Canada and America, I was very pro Canada.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

On my show, I was like, this is stupid. Well, mostly because I got a lot of affiliates that I don't want to lose.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

And I didn't want them to be like, well, we got to pull this American off because we're trying to acquire Canada as the 51st state.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

The dumbest thing I ever heard, because that ain't happening. You guys are so friendly, it feels like you're gonna rob me when I'm up in Canada.

[Josh Ross]

Right. I don't. I mean, I just. This is not me just saying I don't get involved in politics. To be so honest, until recently, actually kind of till post all that, I really don't pay attention. And I'm not saying that because, like, I don't care or I'm. I'm arrogant or any of that. It's just like, my time consumption is just so dedicated to the craft right now. Where I'm going or traveling or trying to catch up on two hours of sleep, it's like the last thing I'm doing is turning on CNN and being like, you know, what did Trump say today? And who's the new Prime Minister of Canada? And, you know, all that kind of stuff.

[Bobby Bones]

So I'll say a couple other bad things. Your former prime minister, Justin Trudeau. Don't know him, but he is dating a maniac.

[Josh Ross]

Dude. I just found that out last week.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, she was the worst. I worked with her for four years. She was the worst. Wow.

[Josh Ross]

Just like, I don't know her and I don't know him, so.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. This is not you saying bad stuff. It's me for the eighth time, though. I've said it many times. She's a. That's a. That's a. That's a disaster. Oh, waiting to happen.

[Josh Ross]

So anyway, was he married?

[Bobby Bones]

No.

[Josh Ross]

So he wasn't. He doesn't have kids or any of that.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, I think he has kids.

[Josh Ross]

Okay. But he wasn't married before this.

[Bobby Bones]

No. Oh, I don't know if he's married. I thought he meant now. I think everybody's single. I did some, like, hey, buddy. If I could, like, tap him on the shoulder.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And be like, heads up.

[Josh Ross]

Well, maybe he'll watch this.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. All right, well, let's talk about music for a second. You feel good. Feel good about everything.

[Josh Ross]

Dude, this is firing me up. I like it. Let's say some other.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, the problem is you just. You wade into it, then before you. Then you look back, and you realize you're way farther in than you thought.

[Josh Ross]

No, I feel good.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay.

[Josh Ross]

I'm like one of those people. It's like sometimes it's just nice to like actually have a conversation versus just like smiling and being like everything's okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, this town's a lot of smiling and acting like everything's okay.

[Josh Ross]

Town's changed a lot.

[Bobby Bones]

But you've only. How's it changed since you've been here?

[Josh Ross]

I think, I mean I went to Losers two nights ago. First time I've gone to Losers since the BMI awards last year. And not that I need to walk in and like recognize the bartenders or recognize the people in the scene, but I could not believe how packed it was on a Monday full of like, I'm guessing it was Vandy kids and stuff like that, which I think is great. I'm just concerned for like if it was not for Losers and Red Door and those places. When I came to town in 2019 or 18 to 2020 and I would walk in a room and I knew that each person I would meet in that room was a songwriter, was connected to the industry somehow. I feel like now you could go in there and it'd be hard. Like it'd be only, you know, one out of 10 people. If not it's like a tourist or a student or. And I think it's just become such a popular place for like people to just go. And I think that's great, it means great for the businesses. But I mean if you're, if you're, if you're a new artist like myself that especially at that time that didn't have a social media following or TikTok like I didn't have a video popping off and there wasn't even really Tick Tock yet. I mean it was like kind of during COVID just beginning of COVID I don't know how you're gonna get help, you know, and that's kind of like where I like think about the organic way of doing it and yeah, it's just interesting. It's just a different time.

[Bobby Bones]

I blame all that though on the Red Doors, the Losers, all that being infiltrated with non musical people on Tick Tock though, because people talk about artists, songwriters being at Red Door, right? And where do people see they are? So then they want to go where people are. So you gotta now you have to create these new places.

[Josh Ross]

Totally.

[Bobby Bones]

But I blame social media for ruining.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

Ruining that, that environ that culture.

[Josh Ross]

I'm. I'm just as bad. I mean I've posted videos, I've done photo shoots of Red Door, you know, and people go, oh, there's Red Door. So, yeah, it's just an interesting. And then obviously, like, development and buildings and the typical stuff. Traffic's worse. You know, I moved out of town. I live in the gulch for four or five years, and then now I'm. I'm in Dixon, which is like 40, 45 minutes west.

[Bobby Bones]

That's dangerous to. I. I live downtown for a few years. Yeah, you got to get that out of your system. But then you want to run from it as fast as you can. It's like you reach a limit and.

[Josh Ross]

You got to go, dude, I was going down to Broadway three or four times a week, you know, and then still going to losers red door and, you know, figuring out personal life and trying different things. And, dude, it was so. I'm so grateful for it. But it. I mean, I definitely, like, burnt myself out of that, which I. I'm glad I did because, like, last thing I want to do is, like, get in a serious relationship, get married, and then be like, you know, I never did that. For me, at least I'm that type of person. Like, I need to go get something out of my system. And I did that.

[Bobby Bones]

So I always wanted to live downtown, and so I moved here. I moved here in 2013 and bought a place in Brentwood. And I'd had some security issues before I got here with the occasional crazy.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

Like death threat type stuff breaking into my house, that kind of stuff.

[Josh Ross]

See, that's wild.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, it's crazy. Well, it's also why we have walls and gates here, even when you come in. That's. Yeah, it's a big part of it.

[Josh Ross]

Fort Knox over here.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Yeah. This house that we rented for this.

[Josh Ross]

Show, dude, it's got great security.

[Bobby Bones]

So when I moved here, they said, hey, we. You need to live somewhere secure based on the insurance that my company had to pay for just my life. Right.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

So I moved to a place called Governor's Club. In Brentwood.

[Josh Ross]

Yep.

[Bobby Bones]

And had walls. And it was all good. I lived there for like a month or so, and a dude murdered his family like, eight houses down.

[Josh Ross]

Oh, my God.

[Bobby Bones]

And he's running around on the streets with a gun, like, hiding in the field. They can't find him. And it was also I was starting to do some stand up and I was touring a little bit. And so I was always having to go to the airport from Brentwood. But I'd always wanted to live downtown because until you've done it, you always wonder what it would be like to be so close and have access to everything. It's yeah. Yeah. And so moved from there and bought a place at, like, 4th and Church, which is, like, two blocks from Broadway.

[Josh Ross]

Yep.

[Bobby Bones]

And, like, the Beaver karaoke place is right. I mean, it was. It was all there. And so. But I went. I remember looking at this place, and it was, like, on top of a building, and it. Mike, what's that road or that bar? The bar area, it was. Right off the balcony was Printer's Alley. Like, literally, I was on Printer's Alley, But I went to look at it on, like, a Tuesday or a Wednesday in the daytime, and I was like, this place is awesome. It's great. And I would be gone touring most weekends. I never thought to check to come to that place on a Friday or Saturday night, because when I would actually be home on a Friday or Saturday night and try to stay in my condo, it sounded like this all the time. But who would ever go check on a Friday night to listen to? And so other than that, it was awesome. But I reached a point to where I was like, I'm. I think I'm out.

[Josh Ross]

Were you big, like, party or, like, do you party?

[Bobby Bones]

I mean, do I. Look at me. I'm wearing a cardigan. Who doesn't wear it? Kind of guy.

[Josh Ross]

But, like, would you go out on Broadway?

[Bobby Bones]

I've never had a drink of alcohol, but.

[Josh Ross]

But you don't have to drink to have fun.

[Bobby Bones]

I. I would, like. I did like to go out some.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Because I was single.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

I was single, and I was starting to make money.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

And I was never attractive to girls until I started to be, well, single and had money. And so, of course, I was like, dude, I got to go downtown. This is crazy. Girls actually like me now.

[Josh Ross]

Crazy how that works.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, exactly. And so, yes, I was. If I was home, we were doing. We were. But then I just. I got tired, and it was no more. And I never want to do it again. I'm actually okay never going back to Broadway, ever.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Like, I'm kind of good with that. But I'm glad I did it like you said, because I think there was a time in my life where I think that was kind of fun.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And. And. And I think I would have wondered what it was like had I never done it. I also bought a place in downtown at the same time in Austin, Texas.

[Josh Ross]

Damn. I love Austin.

[Bobby Bones]

It's the greatest.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

It's my favorite city. I would say it's my favorite city. I'm gonna take Fayetteville, Arkansas, out of it, because that's, like, Arkansas's home for me.

[Josh Ross]

Just be careful what you say right now.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, here's the thing. If I do say something wrong, I will not apologize. I love Fayville, but like, for cities that like that weren't home, because home's different. Yeah, like Austin's my favorite city ever. Austin, Texas is the greatest.

[Josh Ross]

Fayetteville is where you're from.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm from central Arkansas, but Fayetteville is where the University of Arkansas is.

[Josh Ross]

Feel like I've been.

[Bobby Bones]

You probably have.

[Josh Ross]

Is there one North Carolina too?

[Bobby Bones]

There is a Fayetteville, North Carolina.

[Josh Ross]

That's the one I'm thinking of. We had a show. There was a shooting at the show.

[Bobby Bones]

At the show.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, it was like in a park there. We were like, we're just getting off stage, wrapping our stuff up and then like somebody like pulled a gun out in the field and like was shooting.

[Bobby Bones]

It off, but not at somebody. They were just shooting the gun.

[Josh Ross]

I don't know if they were.

[Bobby Bones]

They were celebrating a good Josh Ross show into the air.

[Josh Ross]

It's like 21 Drum street and he's popping in the office.

[Bobby Bones]

The Bobby cast. We'll be right back.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Time for a sofa upgrade. Introducing Annabe sofas where designer style meets budget friendly prices. Every Anabe sofa is modular, allowing you to rearrange your space effortlessly. Perfect for both small and large spaces, Anabe is the only machine washable sofa inside and out. Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy. Liquids simply slide right off. Designed for custom comfort, our high resilience foam lets you choose between a sink in feel or a supportive memory foam blend. Plus our pet friendly stain resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality. For price, visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your living space. Today sofas start at just $699 with no risk returns and a 30 day money back guarantee. Get early access to Black Friday. Now the biggest sale of the year can save you up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns. Shop [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Planning a trip always sounds fun until you actually sit down to do it. Because suddenly everybody's got demands. You've got one friend who wants to be right in the middle of the action. Then another who only cares if place has a gym because vacations are basically just leg day. And someone else who wants total peace and quiet as if they're on a meditation retreat. That's exactly why you should use booking.com because no matter how picky or particular the group gets, booking.com has a stay that works for everybody. Hotels, vacation rentals, big places, small places, close to the beach, close to the mountains, close to nothing at all all across the U.S. booking.com really does make it easy to plan a trip. So instead of stressing, just scroll through until you find your perfect stay that checks everybody's boxes. It's there and booking.com has it. Find exactly what you're booking for booking.com booking yeah, that's booking.com booking yeah.

[Announcer]

Country music's biggest night is back. The CMA Awards is live Wednesday at 8, 7 Central with performances by Lainey Wilson, Kenny Chesney, Zach Topp, Riley Greene, Ella Langley, the Red Clay Strays, Kelsey Ballerini, Tucker Wetmore, Old Dominion, Megan Maroney and more. Plus once in a lifetime collaborations to hit the biggest stage in country music. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, Shabuzzi and Steven Wilson Jr. Big X the Plug featuring Luke Combs and Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson, who will rise as 2025's Entertainer of the Year. Nine time CMA award winner Lainey Wilson returns to host country music's biggest night, the CMA Awards live Wednesday at 8, 7 Central on ABC and next day on Hulu. Hear that? That's what it sounds like when you plant more trees than you harvest. Work done by thousands of working forest professionals like Adam, a district forest manager who works to protect our forests from fires.

[Josh Ross]

Keeping the forest fire resistant, synonymous with keeping a forest healthy. And we do that through planting more than we harvest and mitigate those risks through active management. It's a long term commitment.

[Announcer]

Visit workingforestsinitiative.com to learn more. I turned off news altogether.

[Bobby Bones]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Josh Ross]

It's the rage bait.

[Announcer]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Bobby Bones]

We got clear facts. Maybe we can calm down a little.

[Josh Ross]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Bobby Bones]

This is the Bob Hobbycast. What was your first video to to hit like viral anything?

[Josh Ross]

Dude, it's so interesting for me because like I have a great following and such a, like a strong fan base. I wouldn't say I've necessarily like had a viral video. I mean I've had songs like Trouble that have done well and Single Again that's done well and you know, those, those were always into support of the social media. But I'm also just really proud of like, you know, we've, we've built a great thing just on the road and foundation. So I like to still think. I don't. I think there's still that one that's going to happen, which is really exciting because the foundation's there, so.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, that's a better attitude. I thought you were going to go with I haven't needed it.

[Josh Ross]

Oh, heck no. You need it. Whether you like it or not, you need it. Yeah, I'm lucky that I like it. I sometimes like a little direction and, you know, sometimes I just want a day and not do anything.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you have people that are. And I don't want to confuse a micromanager with a micro manager, meaning a micromanager will be somebody that's too much and it's all over your stuff and it's like we want. But a micromanager manages your micro things like what social media content you're going to do that day. They're going to lead you in a direction. Do you have anybody that helps you on this? Super micro elements.

[Josh Ross]

I think there's like direction. Like we, you know, like, I'll take ideas and direction. I'm one of those people that's like, if I don't like something, just, I'm just not going to do it one. It's just going to come across as so not organic for me. Like, I can't fake like my, like it's just. Yeah, but yeah, we like come up with ideas and brainstorm and then I'll take that and run with it and I'll send them stuff and you know, they'll help me post depending. Like when I was in the UK and time was all off because timing matters sometimes and they'll post for me and stuff. So it's great.

[Bobby Bones]

Can I show you a video? You tell me if it's funny or not?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

I showed this to my wife. I don't want to tell you what she said. All right, this is the funniest video and I hate when people do this to me, but this is a science.

[Josh Ross]

Experiment if I'm going to laugh or not. Dude, my humor is so weird. So I hope this is not going to affect you.

[Bobby Bones]

I didn't make it.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

So my wife's pregnant right now. We haven't had any kids yet and this is our first kid and it's crazy that she's pregnant. I mean, I get how you get pregnant. I Understand that. Like, I know what happened.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

So I'm not like crazy. It's like Jesus. Right? It's not. She's not a virgin. And how far along we ain't saying. I can tell you. I have to off my.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Because there are. There are rumors she's already had it. Which she might have.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

And there are also rumors that she's not pregnant at all. Now a little bit of this.

[Josh Ross]

This is crazy.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, yeah. It's all wild, dude. But if you plant.

[Josh Ross]

I might go see the baby after this.

[Bobby Bones]

If you. Exactly. If you plant so many seeds, people don't know which seeds real and. Right.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. So start planting more.

[Bobby Bones]

She is asleep next to me and she. It's hard for her to sleep because again, there's a human growing inside of her.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

And I like my phone. I love my phone. I think we should be on our phones more. I'm the opposite of everybody else on earth. I think my phone brings me great connection to a lot of things.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And as long as I'm not abusing it and I don't like. I don't look at porn or anything. So I'm good. So nothing dirty?

[Josh Ross]

Well, I would hope. I mean, she's pregnant beside you, sleeping in bed.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Like my phone. There's nothing bad on my phone happening. I'm not talking to girls, not looking at stuff. But I love my phone.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And I'm watching this video and I'm laughing so hard that I'm shaking. I'm shaking the bed right now. There's no way this video can live up to what I just told you.

[Josh Ross]

I'm still laughing about porn on my phone.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, yeah, that's why I wanted my. I want you to know my phone is good and wholesome.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I wish I could. Never mind.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't have any. Okay, look.

[Josh Ross]

No, I'm not saying anything.

[Bobby Bones]

So this video is of these two kids and they're in these blowup costumes. Okay. Okay. And the writing on it says, my brother put stinky spray. And my son and nephews blow up costumes. This is the result. Just hit play. And I don't know. Just tell me if you think this is funny.

[Josh Ross]

My brother put stinky spray.

[Bobby Bones]

Don't laugh if it ain't funny.

[Josh Ross]

That's funny that I. That's cuz I do stuff like this.

[Bobby Bones]

Dude, they can't stop for like 60 seconds.

[Josh Ross]

Oh my God, they're dancing.

[Bobby Bones]

They're fighting themselves to get out of these blow up costumes because.

[Josh Ross]

No, this is funny. This is good.

[Bobby Bones]

Right.

[Josh Ross]

This is good. But, like, I do this to people.

[Bobby Bones]

My wife goes, will you ever grow up with your humor? I'm like, I don't think so. I think we're well beyond that.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. I'm the person that, like, calls people and teases them and, like. Like, I'll call Kenzie. I'll be like, the other day, I, like, call her. I'm like, she's like, what are you doing? I was supposed to have a right. And I'm like, oh, I'm at Broad. I'm on Broadway. I'm at the bar. Oh, no. And she's like, well, she's so sweet. She's. What do you. What do you mean?

[Bobby Bones]

Is everything okay?

[Josh Ross]

I'm like, I'm kidding. I'm always trying to joke around.

[Bobby Bones]

When'd you get Your first guitar?

[Josh Ross]

2016. 17.

[Bobby Bones]

What? But how old are you then? That's. That's. That's not 12.

[Josh Ross]

No, I was like. I was like. Actually, no. I was like, 19.

[Bobby Bones]

18.

[Josh Ross]

19.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. When did you sing? At first, in front of people.

[Josh Ross]

20.

[Bobby Bones]

Wow.

[Josh Ross]

Get, like, karaoke or.

[Bobby Bones]

When did you sing in front of people? And people went, hey, man, you can kind of sing.

[Josh Ross]

It would have been in college.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

So.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. Like, I don't know, 2017 time.

[Bobby Bones]

And why would you. Why would you have sung in college?

[Josh Ross]

Well, I would just be, like, the party trick. Like, we go out to, like, karaoke, and then we do that. And then I was one that, like, vouched for country music in the weight room on Thursdays, and we put it on, and I'd be like, singing whatever was there.

[Bobby Bones]

Would you crush karaoke?

[Josh Ross]

I mean, I think, like. Like, I'm not going to, like, brag, but, like, I think I can cover most.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, we know you can sing. It's not bragging, like, no.

[Josh Ross]

But, like, some people can't cover songs. It's like, this doesn't work. Like, I feel like I can cover. Like, so when I would do karaoke, I felt like it went over well.

[Bobby Bones]

What song do you think you've covered the most playing in your history?

[Josh Ross]

Iris Goo Dolls.

[Bobby Bones]

That's a good one.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

At a party, too. That's a killer. Because everybody knows.

[Josh Ross]

Doesn't matter how sad it is, everybody's gonna scream it.

[Bobby Bones]

Have you ever met him? Johnny Resnick?

[Josh Ross]

I've not, but I heard that he appreciated. I actually, like, released a cover of that in, like, 22. And from what I was told is he was appreciative, like, was thankful I did it.

[Bobby Bones]

I didn't know that does that mean make me a bad interviewer?

[Josh Ross]

No.

[Bobby Bones]

I didn't know you at least a cover. Was it live? Was it a live cover?

[Josh Ross]

I think it was off the floor. We did it off the floor. I maybe like retrack. I'm trying to remember now.

[Bobby Bones]

Feels like it was live.

[Josh Ross]

What's live anymore, you know?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, I agree with that.

[Josh Ross]

You want to talk about that?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I did a comedy record once. I've done a couple live comedy music records and do you know how many people came in and were like, hey, you should, you should put in a different crowd. A live record. Like you can put in a different crowd.

[Josh Ross]

Wait. Oh yeah. Like if you mic'd up another place.

[Bobby Bones]

Or find a fake one when they're cheering and. Yeah. And laughing and they're like you could find. So yeah, nothing's live.

[Josh Ross]

Crazy.

[Bobby Bones]

Everything presented.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

As live. And for me I didn't have to go in because I was playing single guitar and had a buddy with me. So we're doing funny songs as part of it. It's two guitars so we don't have to like retrack anything. But I have artist friends who have. Oh, you're going to get me on one here who go in and re record all the instruments. It's crazy for a live record.

[Josh Ross]

Well, I think we've just destroyed like imperfect. Like it's okay to be imperfect. Like we can talk about auto tune, we can talk about all this stuff. I mean it's just like we're so far down a hole now of things having to be on time and you know, just perfection. I mean in the ears are like you can start to now like I can hear it.

[Bobby Bones]

You know, you can hear that it's too perfect.

[Josh Ross]

It's too perfect. Or like I just know that person's singing voice and then I'm just like, you know, you can hear things getting pulled directions or you just know or like now AI. Like I've heard stuff that people are not even cutting their songs anymore.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, look, I've heard stuff. I'm gonna be sensitive about this because same. Yeah. Not even hers. I know, I know.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

There are a couple weird ones. There's first of all there's auto pin, which is not AI, but people that don't sign their own stuff, right. And they just use that pin to replicate their signature and that's their sign memorabilia.

[Josh Ross]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

That would piss me off right, if I bought something like that.

[Josh Ross]

We do, we sold. We signed 2, 000 vinyls and CDs for the record.

[Bobby Bones]

So you're saying with your own hand, you sign those?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, perfect. That's not you.

[Josh Ross]

And they don't all look good because I was just like.

[Bobby Bones]

The other thing is, I know artists who. And I'm not saying this is a bad thing because they're not using AI vocals on the track, but they can have their vocal aied onto the work tape to see what it would sound like if they sang the song.

[Josh Ross]

I do it.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't think that's bad.

[Josh Ross]

Okay. Yeah, I use that feature.

[Bobby Bones]

It's pretty crazy.

[Josh Ross]

But just because, you know, Shay from, you know, has a crazy vocal range and sings a demo, and then we put my voice on it, and he hits a note that we dream of hitting. I'm not going to release a song with him actually hitting the note, but my voice on it. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And I. I didn't know you did that. I have a. I have other friends who do that, and I have no problem with AI used in. Really, in great spaces. I think that's a crazy technology, though, that you can hear you say, there's a technology for people like me. Like, in the morning, I. I will go in, and I do, I don't know, 15 to 20 more than that. Sometimes pages of local liners for, you know, we're on a couple hundred cities or commercials for national commercials. I haven't used it yet, but I'm not too good. As soon as they allow me to, I go in, make a few sounds, and they can make those commercials.

[Josh Ross]

So it's crazy. I mean, with each demo that we do or each. Each piece of my voice that gets out wherever, it's like, these demos get better. So, like. Yeah, I mean, you could write a song today. My vocal goes on it, which is great for me because when I'm gone, I don't have time to track four songs a day. The talking voice thing is, I mean, I do radio liners and all that, and it's something that's like, come across the table where we, you know, it's like, can you get somebody else to read your radio liners and then put the air on it? But from what I understand so far is they can't get, like, the.

[Bobby Bones]

It's not perfect.

[Josh Ross]

Well, you don't, like, hey, guys, it's Josh. Like, it doesn't give you the. It just, hey, guys, it's just, you know, it's not like. It's not perfect. So. Yeah, I don't know. But maybe with. With you, it's different because, like, you do more stuff Talking So maybe it learns your voice better.

[Bobby Bones]

It comes off slightly robotic. Still, the technology is not there. I also, I will use it right whenever it is to me where it feels like it's satisfactory. As to what I would do, I think that's a great thing because I think it's just eliminating busy work.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I, I don't think, I have no problem with that. My problem is like, people that are making money off of records that they didn't even sing.

[Bobby Bones]

I saw there was the first song that was totally AI that made the Billboard top 100 this week.

[Josh Ross]

Crazy.

[Bobby Bones]

Crazy.

[Josh Ross]

What do you think? I mean, like, what do you do about it?

[Bobby Bones]

I mean, I don't think you do anything. I think it, it's, you know, I've seen this a few times. I'm a bit older than you, so the first time you see something you go, wow, that's crazy. The second time you go, oh, wow, it happened twice. The third time you're like, oh, this is actually a trend. And, and even though it's different, it's the same. And I think we saw with things like back in the early days when CDs went to digital, digital went to streaming, like everybody fought everything all right along the way. And the people who really thrived were the ones that embraced it the quickest because eventually it's going to run you over.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

So you can get, you can get on the car early or you can get run over by it later and there really aren't other options.

[Josh Ross]

Well, that's just good. Like, I like, I wonder about, like, even my buddies, they got like publishing deals and stuff. I mean, I have one also too, which is. I'm great, you know, but that's not. My main income is writing songs. But the amount of stuff now, like the Suno demos and I'm just like, are these, Is there going to be like a jobs for people to write songs in five years?

[Bobby Bones]

Well, you don't even need Rhyme Zone anymore. You just go to chat. GBT.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Rhymezone.com. hey. Yeah, not even a thing. Yeah, that's my, that was my favorite thing too. Rhymezone.com. like, what's the rhyme?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, yeah, that was like a hack when you had that.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. You're stuck.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Pull up Rhyme Zone.

[Josh Ross]

Rhyme with cat.

[Bobby Bones]

Does ant rhyme with cat? No, but can we make it rhyme with cat? I don't know what's been the coolest thing? Like, coolest is a weird word to use but like, what have you played that's been. That's been super Cool. Where you're like, okay, I'm at the next level now. It could be a festival spot. It could be a TV show. It could be anything where you're just like, man, this is cool. Like, I might be making it a little. A little more this time.

[Josh Ross]

I mean, doing, like, the live TV stuff, like the Mark Kelly thing we did a couple weeks ago is cool. Like, that was my first, like, on. I've done some stuff in Canada, but that was, like, my first national thing. Certain venues, like Royal Albert hall in London, that was super special.

[Bobby Bones]

That sounds cool.

[Josh Ross]

Just. I mean, for me, it's like a sound thing. It just sounded incredible. It's like, almost like being at the Ryman robbery. It just sounds. It's got, like, a certain sound, but just staple. Like, I think, like, some of the festivals is what surprised me even. Remember, like, Faster Horses last year, Certain ones where, you know, you don't have a great time slot, but then you have, like, a crowd that's there, and sometimes they, like, walk away before the next act goes on. You're like, okay, they were there for. For that.

[Bobby Bones]

What'd you think of the TV taping?

[Josh Ross]

It's cool to actually do something live. And the fact that they wanted us to, again, play the instruments live, sing it live. Doesn't always happen. It's like award shows, you know, it's just like. Usually it's just the vocal that's live.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you ever see the Alan Jackson video of.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. The drumsticks.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, no drumsticks. We're currently producing. We've been. We spent a few months on it, producing this podcast about every year of the 90s. So it's like the top 10 moments in country music from 1990 all the way to 1999. And it's 10 episodes, and it's taken us literally months to do. And one of them is Alan Jackson being irritated that they didn't want him to play fully live.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

And so he had his drummer play with no drumsticks.

[Josh Ross]

No drumsticks. He's just sitting there. So cool. I think it's great.

[Bobby Bones]

Like, that, to me, is what. When people talk about outlaw country, there are two things. One, I think it's speaking out against the system, and I think that's part of speaking out against the system.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't think it's how you look, how many earrings you got, how many people you fist fight. I think the original Outlaws were outlaws to the. To what the system was.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, totally.

[Bobby Bones]

And I think Alan Jackson, he doesn't get credit for that. But that's his outlaw of a country thing as you could possibly do.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I think for me, like, yeah, he's somebody just idolized for sure for that. I mean, I also. I was a huge Steve Earl fan growing up. And, like, that was. That was a guy for me that felt like he was doing different than the industry was doing at that time, which I think is cool. I think you gotta be a little different. And obviously now it's like, people like to be sensitive, so you gotta be careful of that.

[Bobby Bones]

People like to be sensitive. No.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. As we talked about.

[Bobby Bones]

All right, I got a couple other things for you do. No, no country music is able to be shared here. This. This part of the segment. Give me your Mount Rushmore. Favorite musicians of all time, artists of all time, but you cannot do anybody country.

[Josh Ross]

Cinderella.

[Bobby Bones]

What? Really?

[Josh Ross]

Eagles.

[Bobby Bones]

Is that your dad, your mom?

[Josh Ross]

My dad, yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Wow. You go hair like 80s.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Classic glam rock type stuff.

[Josh Ross]

My mom was a huge YouTube. There's something about the guitar tones. And you two, I've always appreciated, like, a lot.

[Bobby Bones]

So you got Cinderella. I didn't mean to interrupt you. The Eagles.

[Josh Ross]

Eagles. With just that. Just, like, Easy Back road just feels.

[Bobby Bones]

Favorite Eagle song. Do you have one?

[Josh Ross]

I mean, it's so typical. Probably Take it easy. I mean, I know it's trying to think who else. I liked this country. I can't do that.

[Bobby Bones]

We'll do country on the other side. I just don't want you to feel like you have to do all country people.

[Josh Ross]

Are we talking, like, it could be anybody? We're talking, like, old, older, like, still today.

[Bobby Bones]

If you pick four artists right now that were your favorites of all time, that weren't country.

[Josh Ross]

Akon.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, but you're doing it. You did the song.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

That feels like you're pandering a little.

[Josh Ross]

Bit, but I'm not. I'm not. I'm not even reaching for you to say that. I. I legitimately know more Acon songs and can sing more Akon songs than any other artist.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you think it's fair for me to respond and go, okay, but you might be pandering.

[Josh Ross]

Sure.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay.

[Josh Ross]

I think it's fair. So you. Freedom of speech.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, well, see, that's a whole different thing. Give me one more.

[Josh Ross]

Who else? Probably now I get. Now I'm like tongue, you know, I get tied in. Probably Guns N' Roses. Yeah. Patience. Guns N' Roses would be like, one of my favorite songs of all time.

[Bobby Bones]

How did you and Akon come together.

[Josh Ross]

For the song I just wrote it. I was hungover, was gonna do it on my own, try to, you know, tease it on tick tock. Everybody's like let's find whose managers try to send it, see what he says. And he said yes.

[Bobby Bones]

And really was that easy.

[Josh Ross]

It took a minute like it full time circle. From the day I wrote it, it was probably a year. But didn't know what he wanted to be on. It meant like if he was just going to ad lib or whatever. He wrote it like that second verse he wrote himself which was cool.

[Bobby Bones]

That's pretty cool, right?

[Josh Ross]

Full circle for me. I mean to do the music video, see him. I mean I was like the four year old kid like partying in the living room with an acon.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, that's pretty cool.

[Josh Ross]

Let's take a quick pause for a.

[Bobby Bones]

Message from our sponsor.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Life gets messy spills, stains and kid chaos. But with anibe, cleaning up is easy. Our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out, so you never have to stress about messes again. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, that means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, our sofas feature changeable fabric covers allowing you to refresh your style anytime. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa effortlessly. Perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus, they're earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made the switch. Get early access to Black Friday pricing right now. Sofas start at just $699. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones here. You ever tried to plan a trip for a large group? Everybody has their own idea of what the vacation should look like. One friend needs a backyard for their new puppy they bring everywhere. Another friend needs blackout curtains because waking up before 10am yeah, that's not gonna happen. Another friend insists on having a king sized bed even though they're happily single. Booking.com totally gets it. And let's be honest, you're probably a bit picky too. Maybe you want a spot with a good view, because what's the point if you can't look out the window and feel like you're somewhere new? Booking.com makes juggling those seemingly impossible requests totally possible. They've got hotels, vacation rentals, and every kind of stay you can imagine all across the US Whether you're looking for space or style or just something that works for everybody. Booking.com helps you get it right. Find exactly what you're booking for booking.com booking. Yeah, that's booking.com booking. Yah.

[Announcer]

Country music's biggest night is back. The CMA Awards is live Wednesday at 8, 7 Central with performances by Lainey Wilson, Kenny Chesney, Zach Topp, Riley Greene, Ella Langley, the Red Clay Strays, Kelsey Ball, Tucker Wetmore, Old Dominion, Megan Maroney and more. Plus once in a lifetime collaborations to hit the biggest stage in country music. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, Shabuzzi and Steven Wilson Jr. Big X the Plug featuring Luke Combs and Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson, who will rise as 2025's Entertainer of the Year. Nine time CMA award winner Lainey Wilson returns to host country music's biggest night, the CMA Awards, live Wednesday at 8, 7 Central on ABC and next day on Hulu. Hear that? That's what it sounds like when you plant more trees than you harvest. Work done by thousands of working forest professionals like Adam, a district forest manager who works to protect our forests from fires.

[Josh Ross]

Keeping the forest fire resistant, synonymous with keeping the forest healthy. And we do that through planting more than we harvest and mitigate those risks through active management. It's a long term commitment.

[Announcer]

Visit workingforestsinitiatiatiative.com to learn more. I turned off news altogether.

[Bobby Bones]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Josh Ross]

It's the rage bait.

[Announcer]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Bobby Bones]

We got clear facts. Maybe we can could calm down a little.

[Josh Ross]

NBC news brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

[Bobby Bones]

And we're back on the Bobby cast. Okay. Do country artists of all time.

[Josh Ross]

Gosh, Steve Earl, man, he's my number one. I'm still somebody I haven't met.

[Bobby Bones]

He was just inducted into the Opry pretty recently.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Which is super cool.

[Josh Ross]

Like that was two nights before I played there.

[Bobby Bones]

Really?

[Josh Ross]

And they're all like, oh, we should have done something together. I was like, oh, well, have you met him?

[Bobby Bones]

I've met him at. I've. At the Opry. So everything at the opera is brief.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

So I think I played the same night that he played and we. And it was one of those. Hey man, big fan. But so many people were big fanning him.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

He probably would not remember meeting me.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

So not officially. Yes, but. But not really. Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

It's weird. It's like, certain artists, like, I don't. The whole, like, don't meet people thing. I don't believe that sensitivity.

[Bobby Bones]

But he wasn't a jerk to me at all. No, no, I don't want that.

[Josh Ross]

I don't think so either. It's just like, he's always, for me, been, like, the guy. Yeah. Like, why, Like, Guitar Town, Copperhead Road. Like, I mean, gosh, so many songs. He's got a song called Someday that is, like, to me, just made me feel something as, like, super young.

[Bobby Bones]

The fact that you said Guitar Town before Copperhead Road proves that you're an actual fan, though.

[Josh Ross]

I mean, dude, he's got songs that are.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, because if somebody goes, I'm the biggest John Mayer fan. Your Body is a Wonderland is the jam. That's my favorite. I'm like, you're not a real John.

[Josh Ross]

Maybe saying Eagles, they take it easy. Sorry, guys. But. And then I just, like, I loved. You know, I liked. He was really it. Like, I had his records, I had his CDs. That's all I could listen to. But then I, like, explored as I got older. It was like George Strait and Sam Allen Jackson. My grandma liked Johnny Cash, you know, and then I was in that era of, like, all right, this is FGL and Thomas Rhett. And, you know, my first song I learned on guitar was It Goes like this by Thomas Rhett. And then I learned the Truth by Jason Aldean. And that's kind of how it started for me.

[Bobby Bones]

All right, last question in this little frame. What about your closest 4 Country Music Artist friends right now?

[Josh Ross]

That's tough. It's like, friends. Are we acquaintances? I always find it's interesting. Everybody's friends.

[Bobby Bones]

Friends.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you have any other artists, like, I would say friend, like, real friends.

[Josh Ross]

That I can call? Yeah, I would say, for sure. Like, Bailey's one of the people. For sure. You're saying in country music, Ella's somebody. I just called her last week, asking her for guidance, trying to think who else I would call. Those are really my.

[Bobby Bones]

They can love you, too. That's fine.

[Josh Ross]

Probably Dylan or Cameron Marlowe. Either two of those would be people that you know I like a lot. Chase Beckham is a dude that I. I don't know if you know Chase at all.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, I know Chase was on American Idol when I was on American Idol. Okay. I, like, mentored him.

[Josh Ross]

No way.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Josh Ross]

So I. I mean, but in the.

[Bobby Bones]

Way of show, he didn't need my help.

[Josh Ross]

Right.

[Bobby Bones]

But he was on the show when I was on, I was on there for four years and he was like one of the contestants I spent the most time with.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, I tend to be more friends with the people that like, want to do Loki things that aren't music and. And he's one of those guys where like, he. Well, I just went to Broadway and went to Losers two nights ago and I had not gone in that long and I went to Broadway to watch him play at Sky Deck, because I just think he's a great dude and I've, like, owed him. We need to catch up, so.

[Bobby Bones]

And he's like a guy who's really been through it.

[Josh Ross]

Yeah. I mean, I. Again, like, we will hang out and we don't talk about music, which is like, why, like, Bailey's like somebody I would call for, like, guidance or what's going on or, you know, depending on the guidance, you know. And then you got. Well, it's just, you know, it's like I did my, like one of my first tour with Bailey and like his rocket was like just going, yeah. And I've learned a lot just from like, what. How that, you know, operates and he's such a great dude and how to look after people and, you know, whether he wants to met or not, there's probably been a lot of struggles along the way. And I got to kind of be a part of that and see that and really appreciate that. So he's somebody like, if something like crazy is going on, I would talk to. But yeah, I mean, I called Ella about some like, mental health stuff. Just like, you know, people like that.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, I love Bailey and I. When Bailey first started pop, Bailey grew up like, I grew up very poor and I said, hey, dude, you're getting money a lot faster than I did. Like, mine was gradual. And my success came this because he. And he has admitted this now. He didn't know what a manager was or record label, and he's down here like interviewing them, but he didn't know what they were. Like, it hit that hard and that fast. And I said, dude, you're going to want to go hard. And I get it. The only advice that I would give you because I think you have to live it out and learn it more so than just somebody telling you is don't get anybody pregnant. Yeah, that's the one.

[Josh Ross]

I think he's done a good job of that.

[Bobby Bones]

I hope. I think that was the one piece of advice I was like, whatever, dude. You can do whatever you want. Yeah, don't get anybody pregnant.

[Josh Ross]

I mean, I think that's the rule for all of us.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, but everybody don't listen. I don't care about everybody else. Yeah, let's see if I'll answer. I'll see if I'll answer real quick. Unless you guys have, like, a secret feud. No, I don't know about.

[Josh Ross]

No.

[Bobby Bones]

If he answers.

[Josh Ross]

They're trying to FaceTime me last night. I think they're at a basketball game in la.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. And then we'll wrap. How's your experience been? If you got a poll after this, it was like, hey, if you get a call, please give you a review.

[Josh Ross]

How would you review this comfort level? Out of ten? Probably. Probably eight or nine. Good, good, good interview. Ten out of ten. Good, good, good.

[Bobby Bones]

Here we go.

[Josh Ross]

Security. Four out of ten.

[Bobby Bones]

I know. You should feel secure. Let's see if he answers.

[Josh Ross]

Knowing Bailey's probably going to be, like, clothes off, running around his box on.

[Bobby Bones]

A motorcycle in his boxers, and he's got a pull now.

[Josh Ross]

What times are there? 1, 12, 11, 10. He might not be up yet.

[Bobby Bones]

I'll leave him a message. Video message.

[Josh Ross]

Today's photo shoot.

[Bobby Bones]

I think every day's a Bailey photo shoot. Yeah. Okay, let's leave a message. I'll leave him one.

[Josh Ross]

Wait, you can. I've never done this.

[Bobby Bones]

Never left a video message? Nope. No. Hey, buddy, it's Bobby and Josh.

[Josh Ross]

What's up?

[Bobby Bones]

We were just trying to call to see if you would answer, and if you did answer, we were going to give a charity of your choice a hundred thousand dollars, but because you didn't, we have to kill a puppy. Anyway, hope you have a good day, man. See you later.

[Josh Ross]

Crazy.

[Bobby Bones]

All right.

[Josh Ross]

So wild. Not the puppy.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, exactly. That's on him. That's on him. The puppy just died. All right. Hey, yeah. Good to see you, man. Dude, again, we haven't spent any time together. We're both probably running and. But I'm a big fan of. Of what you've been doing musically. It's super cool.

[Josh Ross]

Thank you.

[Bobby Bones]

It's hard for guys, too, to cut through and be different now, but I think you definitely have, musically, an element that is very original that I respect.

[Josh Ross]

Thank you. Yeah, it doesn't always work, but at least I'm trying to, you know?

[Bobby Bones]

Who cares if it always works?

[Josh Ross]

Yeah, each one's not gonna work.

[Bobby Bones]

Dude, keep the line in the water. Yeah, that's it.

[Josh Ross]

I love it, dude.

[Bobby Bones]

All right, there he is. Josh.

[Josh Ross]

Oh, you pee.

[Bobby Bones]

Who you peas into? Oh, there's Bailey right there.

[Josh Ross]

Oh, look, Bailey. Oh, yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Yo, yo, we were just talking. Talking about. You see the message we left you? Oh, no, I. I honestly saw your missed FaceTime. I was like immediately called you back. Are you in California? Yeah. What are you doing out there? Oh, dude, just writing songs, trying to get another album. Dude. Josh was talking about how we were. I just asked him, like, who are his legitimate friends? Like legitimate friends. And he mentioned to you as somebody like a real life human that he would call. Can you give me. I don't know, just. Can you tell me what kind of guy Josh is? Because we're recording right now. So just tell like a real story. Give me 30 seconds about like what Josh is like. I was on the road with Josh. He was on my religiously, the tour with me. And after being on the road with him and getting to know him for real, he is the softest, most feelings.

[Josh Ross]

Guy there it is.

[Bobby Bones]

He's a lover. All he wants is love. All he wants is to be loved. And he's tired of getting his heart broke.

[Josh Ross]

Okay, there you go.

[Bobby Bones]

All right. All right, buddy. Well, I'll let you get back to it. And to anybody and to any girl out there, he is his shirt. If you feel it right now. Husband material. Are you his pimp?

[Josh Ross]

This is. Yeah, I gotta pay him. I'm paying him a commission. Bailey. I'll send you the commission, dude.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, yeah. Make sure you venmo me. All right, buddy. Good to see you, man. Bye, Bailey.

[Josh Ross]

See it? Love it.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah, I love that dude, man. All right, there he is. Josh Ross, everybody.

[Josh Ross]

Thank you. Thanks for listening to a Bobby Cast production.

[Bobby Bones]

Foreign. Hey, it's Bobby Bones here. Have you ever tried planning a trip for a group? It can be challenging. One person wants a hotel with a pool. Another wants a vacation rental with a giant kitchen. And someone else wants free wi fi. You know, on booking.com you can find a stay that works for all of them. Hotels and rentals. Whatever you need. It makes the seemingly impossible group trip totally possible. Find exactly what you are booking for. Booking.com booking. Yeah, that's booking.com booking. Yeah. What a matchup we got, y'.

[Josh Ross]

All.

[Bobby Bones]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat everybody. Showing that school pride. A game like this. Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere. And in ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo, no matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going. The day begins at the Chase Sapphire lounge by the club. At Boston Logan Airport, you get the clam chowder. In San Diego, it's Tostadas New York Espresso Martini. It's 10:00am why not?

[Josh Ross]

It's the quiet before your next flight, the shower that resets your day, the menu that lets you know where you are.

[Bobby Bones]

This is access to over 1300 airport lounges and every Sapphire lounge by the the club. And one card that gets you in Chase Sapphire Reserve, the most rewarding card.

[Josh Ross]

Learn [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by.

[Bobby Bones]

JP Morgan, Chase bank and a member.

[Josh Ross]

FDIC subject to credit approval.

[Bobby Bones]

You know what a girl's best friend is? Not diamonds.

[Josh Ross]

Her lawyers.

[Bobby Bones]

From executive producer Ryan Murphy comes a fiery new legal drama.

[Announcer]

It's our own boutique women representing women.

[Josh Ross]

You can't afford to miss.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Make it rape.

[Josh Ross]

Showtime, ladies.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Stand up straight, then breeze into that room like a storm no one saw coming.

[Bobby Bones]

Hulu Original Series All's Fair, now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers.

[Josh Ross]

Terms apply.

[Bobby Bones]

No, it's not too soon to start holiday shopping.

[Announcer]

Ulta Beauty's early Black Friday event is happening now through November 22nd. Shop $10 beauty minis from brands like Mac and Too Faced. Take 30% off Lancome and Touchland fragrances and Body Mist. With new offers dropping every week, our associates can help you find the perfect gifts.

[Sponsor/Commercial Voice]

Head into Ulta Beauty today to shop our early Black Friday event. Ulta Beauty gifting happens here.

[Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.