The Bobby Bones Show – BONUS EP: CMA Awards Backstage Interviews

Date: November 19, 2025
Podcast Host: The Bobby Bones Show Team (Premiere Networks)
Theme: Exclusive, candid backstage interviews with country stars and breakout acts at the 59th Annual CMA Awards.

Episode Overview

This bonus episode goes behind the scenes at the 59th Annual CMA Awards with a lively series of unscripted interviews. Bobby Bones and the team chat with Old Dominion, Gavin Adcock, Lauren Alaina, Stephen Wilson Jr., Vincent Mason, Russell Dickerson, Dustin Lynch, Gretchen Wilson, Parmalee, and more. Conversations center around big career moments, adapting to newfound fame or parenthood, CMA memories, life’s changes, and playful musings about what the artists are “not thankful for” this Thanksgiving.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Lauren Alaina: Motherhood, Balance, and Breast Pumps

[03:13 – 11:06]

• Lauren Alaina reflects on a year of major life changes: marriage and the birth of her daughter.
• On childbirth:
  “It's the most incredible thing of my life. Yes. I cannot believe I did that.” – Lauren Alaina [03:39]
• Delivers a frank, funny rundown of her unexpected labor, needing an epidural after being induced twelve days late.
• Shares with the host (who is also a parent) the “real talk” about labor, the surprise of not knowing the baby’s gender until delivery, and how her daughter now tours with her.
• Discusses balancing career and parenthood:
  “My number one priority in my life now is her... But she goes on the road with me. She sleeps like a champ on the bus.” [07:50]
• Reveals that her own mom is now back to touring “bus life” – but this time as Grandma.
• Laughs about pumping breast milk on the go:
  “If you see me in public, there's a 50% chance I'm pumping.” – Lauren Alaina [10:45]
• Thanksgiving twist: Lauren is “not thankful” for breast pumps and bad drivers.

2. Russell Dickerson: Peak Dad Mode, Sleep Deprivation, and Tour Life

[11:13 – 16:18]

• Russell jokes about entering his “best Russell era”—embracing dad life, changing diapers at album release parties, and needing naps.
• On work/life/family juggle:
  “It's like different gas gauges... your family needs a little fill up.” [12:32]
• Gives blunt parenting advice:
  “No. Sleep. It's so... it just never stops...” [12:51]
• Shares excitement for major tour dates, loves connecting with fans live, and is active on social media.
• Memorable moment: Playful banter about not understanding trendy social media “group 7” and “6 7” memes.
• Thanksgiving twist: Russell confesses he’s “not thankful” for his in-laws’ macaroni and cheese:
  “I'm not thankful for the macaroni and cheese that my in-laws make.” [15:46]

3. Dustin Lynch: Thanksgiving Traditions & Family

[16:41 – 20:37]

• Dustin looks forward to Thanksgiving at his farm, where he hosts family including his “camera-shy” mom and dad.
• Reveals he’s a dessert guy, especially for his mom’s pecan pie.
• On ham vs. turkey:
  “Oh, ham... give me the honey baked ham all day.” – Dustin Lynch [20:16]
• Jokes that he’s “not thankful” for missing the big buck during his recent hunting trip.

4. Stephen Wilson Jr.: From Boxing Ring to CMA Nominee

[20:45 – 25:04]

• Has lived many lives: boxer, scientist, then songwriter/artist.
• Fascination with songwriting:
  “That's the real wizardry... affecting somebody's heart so much that they see themselves in the song.” [23:06]
• Quit his R&D job at Mars to write songs and chase his dreams in Nashville.
• On unexpected success:
  “My dreams kind of out dreamt me on that one. I'm just trying to keep up with them now.” [24:51]

5. Vincent Mason: Debut Album, Unlikely Careers & Quirky Talents

[25:13 – 29:39]

• Talks about putting out Parmalee's first album and overcoming teacher skepticism.
• Paid homage to a high school teacher who doubted him:
  “How you like me now? So I didn't graduate either.” [26:34]
• Shares his unusual superpower:
  “I've got a real finger on the pulse of where a bathroom would be in a public place... it's an internal pride thing.” [28:20]
• Thanksgiving twist: He’s “not thankful” for Southwest Airlines, especially the open seating.

6. Gavin Adcock: Rowdy Shows, Authenticity, and a Viral Zach Bryan Beef

[33:49 – 41:38]

• Insists on wild, high-energy shows:
  “I wanted my fans to have energy and sing along to every song.” [34:07]
• Recalls the most nervous gig: playing three acoustic songs for 40 women at a football event!
• Details a public confrontation with Zach Bryan at a festival, defending his own fans and approach:
  “He probably still can't stand me, but I really don't care what he thinks.” [39:11]
• Cites his “headstrong” family and Uncle Bubba (who had no teeth) as major influences on his authenticity.
• Thanksgiving twist: His conspiracy theory is that “they send out people to make fake traffic in Nashville.”

7. Gretchen Wilson: Fried Turkey, Loud Families, and Reconnection

[41:46 – 47:33]

• Offers practical advice for deep-frying a turkey: “Do not fill the oil up to the top... peanut oil is the best.” [42:05]
• Shares that her family sometimes does Italian food for Thanksgiving to break the monotony.
• On her big 15-foot artificial Christmas tree: “It's never coming down. I'm just gonna have to have a different season's tree.” [45:21]
• Touches on personal gratitude:
  “My reconnection to Christ. I was just getting in my own way...” [46:25]
• Not thankful: Group chats.

8. Old Dominion: Walk of Fame, Longevity & Not About the Awards

[47:33 – 55:36]

• Jokes about “buying” their place on the Nashville Walk of Fame before getting reflective on their journey.
• Discuss their longevity—20 years as a band—and their record-breaking seven consecutive wins as CMA Vocal Group of the Year.
• On what sustains them:
  “It's not about all that stuff... if that ever goes away, we'll find something else to do.” [51:22]
• Deal with industry naysayers:
  “We've dealt with people saying, you know, we are not country or we're not this or we're not that... You can't please everyone.” [54:20]
• Thanksgiving twist: Not thankful for lack of sleep and “general fatigue.”

9. Parmalee: Underdogs, Family Jams, and 35+ Years of Thanksgiving Music

[55:37 – 60:44]

• See themselves as underdogs, focusing on their hit single “Cowgirl.”
• Describe family dynamics—Thanksgiving always involves a Parmalee jam session, a tradition started when they were “this tall.”
• On keeping the band together:
  “We all made a pact we were going to do it together. We all invested in it.” [57:39]
• Not thankful: No CMA nomination, and (hilariously) for a bandmate’s wayward pinky toe, dubbed “the rider.”
• Engage in lighthearted inside jokes about social media “group 7” trends and band-member quirks.

Notable Quotes

• Lauren Alaina:
  “If you see me in public, there's a 50% chance I'm pumping.” [10:45]

• Russell Dickerson:
  “If you could tell me that I could do something amazing, super fun... Or sleep? Sleep.” [13:07]

• Stephen Wilson Jr.:
  “That's the real wizardry... affecting somebody's heart so much that they see themselves in the song.” [23:06]

• Gretchen Wilson:
  “My reconnection to Christ... it finally hit me not too long ago that it's not up to me.” [46:46]

• Old Dominion:
  “We've dealt with people saying... we are not country or we're not this or we're not that... You can't please everyone.” [54:20]

• Parmalee (on Thanksgiving jams):
  “Oh, that started 35 years ago when we were this tall.” [58:26]

Timestamps by Artist

| Timestamp | Artist/Segment | Topic | |-----------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | 03:13 | Lauren Alaina | Motherhood, Labor, Breast Pump Stories | | 11:13 | Russell Dickerson | Parenting, Peak Dad Mode, Sleep, Touring | | 16:41 | Dustin Lynch | Thanksgiving, Family, Pecan Pie, Traditions | | 20:45 | Stephen Wilson Jr. | Boxing, Science Career, Songwriting | | 25:13 | Vincent Mason | Debut Album, Teachers, College Dropout Life | | 33:49 | Gavin Adcock | Rowdy Shows, Zach Bryan Incident, Authenticity| | 41:46 | Gretchen Wilson | Fried Turkey, Christmas Tree, Faith | | 47:33 | Old Dominion | Walk of Fame, Industry Insights, Longevity | | 55:37 | Parmalee | Band Dynamics, Family Jams, “Rider” Toe |

Overall Tone & Takeaway

The episode is candid, playful, and personal, showcasing the personalities behind the country stars as much as their music. Expect a blend of heartwarming vulnerability, honest industry “real talk,” and plenty of humor—from breast pumps on-tour to quirky talents and inside family jokes. The recurring “not thankful for” question pulls out both laughs and relatable gripes, delivering an endearing snapshot of the country music community’s off-stage lives.

A must-listen for fans wanting a genuine look at their favorite artists, their Thanksgiving quirks, and what happens when Nashville lets its hair down backstage at the CMAs.