The Bobby Bones Show – BONUS EP: CMA Awards Backstage Interviews (Day One)

Date: November 18, 2025
Host: Bobby Bones
Location: Backstage at the CMA Awards

Overview

This bonus episode of The Bobby Bones Show takes listeners backstage at the 2025 CMA Awards, where Bobby, Morgan, and the team chat with a roster of country stars and rising talent. Offering candid moments, offbeat questions, and a recurring theme of “what are you NOT thankful for?” (a twist on holiday gratitude), the show captures the loose, spontaneous energy that fans love about Bobby Bones’ approach. From light-hearted debates about social media trends and Thanksgiving food, to heartfelt talks about career journeys and family life, the episode is a warm and entertaining who’s-who of the country music world.

Featured Guests & Key Discussion Points

1. Dan + Shay: Swifties, Holiday Music, and Ads Overload

Segment Start: [03:28]

• Taylor Swift Covers: Dan + Shay talk about why they covered "Back to December," inspired by Taylor’s album re-release and their love for her music.
  • “We're big Swifties. I mean, who's not?” – Bobby Bones [03:59]
  • Dan mentions playing the song on piano in Boston, which led to them recording it.
  • Favorite Taylor Swift Songs: The duo and Bobby list favorites: "Blank Space," "Should've Said No," "Teardrops on My Guitar,” "Tim McGraw,” "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "I Knew You Were Trouble."
  • “If a Taylor Swift song comes on, you're bopping to it.” – Bobby Bones [04:15]
• Thanksgiving Twist: When asked what they’re NOT thankful for, they call out ads and targeted advertising.
  • "Ads are just in general... I don't want to get targeted." – Bobby [05:29]
• Post-Holiday Blues: Discuss the letdown after the holidays, with Shay sharing his birthday is on Dec 27—a day often forgotten.
  • “People forget about it. Dan's the only one who remembers.” – Shay [06:24]

Notable Quotes:

• “You either love Taylor Swift or you’re lying.” – Bobby [04:11]
• “I'm off ads. I'm not thankful for them at all.” – Bobby [06:00]

2. Bailey Zimmerman: Hypochondria, Cars, and Comfort Food

Segment Start: [07:25]

• AI and Health Anxiety: Bailey jokes about using ChatGPT for diagnosing illness, bemoaning the alarming results from Google.
  • “Google makes me feel like, oh, dude, you better get every test in the book...” – Bobby [08:11]
• Spending Habits: Bailey clarifies he’s “car poor” (not secretly rich), noting, "I just love cars so much." [11:02]
• Last Meal Choices:
  • Mom’s mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, and chopped hot dogs
  • Friend Lisa Smith’s homemade shepherd’s pie: “Unmatched. Like crazy, dude.” [12:52]
• Not Thankful For: Delivery substitutions (e.g., DoorDash/food delivery letting him down), but he flips it back to gratefulness for delivery drivers.

3. Dylan Scott: Concert Signs, Instacart Woes, and Tiny Bananas

Segment Start: [15:42]

• Concert Pet Peeves: On people holding up signs at concerts and how it impedes visibility.
  • “Holding it up the whole concert... it’s going to get a little awkward.” – Dylan [16:27]
• Grocery Delivery Mishaps: Instacart delivered two bananas instead of two bundles; tiny bananas story.
  • “All of them. They're about this big. Mini bananas. She goes, hey, what are we gonna do with this?” [17:10]
• Not Thankful For: Tiny bananas; Instacart’s high fees and frequent mistakes.

4. John Morgan: Social Media Trends and Tools

Segment Start: [21:00]

• Social Trends Quiz: Unfamiliar with viral memes like “6,7” or “bees in the trap" remix.
  • "If you want to put me in the most uncomfortable situation, keep asking these questions because they're all gonna be no.” – John [23:51]
• DIY Enthusiast: Loves building things, currently working on a sauna.
  • “I love watching guys go out in the woods and just, like, build a log cabin from scratch...” [25:10]
• Not Thankful For: Starbucks inconsistency; “How many chances can I give Starbucks?” [27:10]

5. Hudson Westbrook: Buc-ee's Bragging Rights and Thanksgiving Favorites

Segment Start: [28:18]

• Making it Big: Hudson discusses having merch at Buc-ee’s and connecting over Texas college football geography.
• Career Backstory: Shares his journey from college to music.
• Thanksgiving & Hometown: Grape jelly on dressing is his Thanksgiving hack.
  • “If you put grape jelly on it, it's really good. You got to try it.” – Hudson [32:32]
• Not Thankful For: Wasps and their nests; allergic to them and not thrilled to deal with them on returning home.

6. Jon Pardi: Social Media & Going Viral, Dad Life, and Allergies

Segment Start: [34:07]

• Accidental TikTok Star: Acknowledges his fans help drive his social media content.
  • “No, we usually— the fans are doing it. I'm just making good music.” – Jon [34:23]
• Parenting vs. Partying: Describes balancing late nights (the “Batman/Superman” routine) after becoming a dad.
  • “Batman’s at night… Superman’s got to save the day.” [35:18]
• Trending Topics Flop: Has no idea what “6,7” or group seven is—relieved it’s all nonsense.
  • “I watched like a mom try to explain... I don’t get it.” [36:08]
• Not Thankful For: Allergies, especially dry nose and “dry boogers."
  • “I’m not thankful… for allergies. It’s cold and you get the dry boogers.” [37:38]

7. Mitchell Tenpenny: Married Life, TV Cheating, & Ticks

Segment Start: [44:10]

• Work-Life Balance: Talks about making quality time over quantity with his wife Megan Patrick amid busy touring.
  • "It's making sure we still date each other." [45:15]
• TV “Cheating”: Both admit to watching shows solo when they can’t wait for each other.
• Proud Spouse: Gets emotional talking about Megan Patrick’s rising career.
  • “I’m just so glad people are seeing how awesome and talented she is… I love it. I’m so proud.” [49:12]
• Not Thankful For: Ticks (especially on dogs); two artists cited this as a major annoyance.

8. Priscilla Block: Tour Bus Realities, Running Goals, & Gratitude Resilience

Segment Start: [52:05]

• Tour Life Challenges: Shares about 11 people on one bus (“like a college apartment”), the grind of travel, and missing home comforts.
  • “It's not as glamorous as everybody thinks… it's a grind.” [53:46]
• Staying Healthy: Has taken up running and weights; proud of completing her first 5K.
• Not Thankful For: Initially stumped as she strives for daily gratitude, ultimately lands on “mean people” as her answer.
  • “I take gratitude really seriously. You know what I mean? So I'm trying to think about what I'm not grateful for." [57:10]

9. Shane Profitt: From Median-Mowing to Country Radio, Puppies, and More Ticks

Segment Start: [58:55]

• Backstory: Formerly mowed highway medians before his big break. Signed, dropped, then signed again and now has a charting single.
• Puppy Trouble: Newly adopted golden retriever “Leonard,” and Bobby shares his own dog’s naming saga.
• Thanksgiving Food Talk: Debates leftover turkey recipes.
• Not Thankful For: Nashville traffic, ticks, and the general hassle involved.

10. The Band Perry: Season Two, Parenting, and Bangs Woes

Segment Start: [69:08]

• Reinvention: Lead singer discusses returning from a “mental, spiritual, creative” break to relaunch the band.
  • “Lots of changes since you’ve seen us last. We're calling this season two of the Band Perry.” [69:14]
• Family Tour Life: Parenting a toddler on the road, teamwork, and supportive village.
  • “He loves to be the center of attention at all times. Shocker.” [71:34]
• Not Thankful For: Styling her bangs (“quite a headache these days”); for him, all the holiday sweets about to be consumed.

11. Tenille Arts: Apology Flowers & Thrifting

Segment Start: [75:52]

• Apology Flowers: Shares the inspiration for her upcoming song "Don't Ruin Flowers," stressing dislike for flowers-as-apology after a partner brings them following infidelity.
  • “It means so much more if you're like, I was just thinking about you, versus getting flowers for something they did wrong.” – Tenille [76:24]
• Apology Alternatives: Laughter about whether gifts or experiences could ever make up for real apologies.
• Thrifting: Tenille is a dedicated thrifter and shares tips (shop in every section).
• Not Thankful For: People who make others’ lives harder — “bad people.”
  • "I'm not grateful for people that just make somebody else's life harder for no reason." [81:19]

Notable Quotes & Funny Bits

• Bobby, on Taylor Swift fans: "You either love Taylor Swift or you’re lying." [04:11]
• Bailey Zimmerman, on food delivery: “I hate when you, like, go to Doordash and they only send a few things because they were out. Then I wouldn't have taken it off the menu!” [14:35]
• Dylan Scott, on concert signs: “If I'm around the person that holds a sign, I am pissed.” [16:17]
• Jon Pardi, on Dad Life: “I call going from Batman to Superman... Batman's at night, party guy, Superman’s got to save the day.” [35:18]
• Mitchell Tenpenny, on married life: "I get emotional talking about [Megan’s success]... I love it. I'm so proud of her." [49:12]
• Shane Profitt, on ticks: “They're like sand. They get in every crack and crevice. Yes. And then someone has to go get it out.” [67:15]
• Tenille Arts, on apology flowers: “We want an actual apology, not apology flowers.” [77:23]

Recurring Themes

• “Not Thankful For…” Each guest is asked what they’re NOT grateful for, with answers ranging from ads, allergies, ticks, Nashville traffic, Starbucks, to mean people.
• Social Media Trends: Viral memes ("6,7," "bees in the trap," “group seven”) leave many stars bewildered.
• Life on the Road: Many guests candidly describe the downside of touring (crowded buses, sleep deprivation, fast food, missed showers).
• Holiday Traditions: Food debates (mashed potatoes, grape jelly on dressing, leftover recipes), and the emotional hangover after the holiday season.

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [03:28] Dan + Shay – Swifties & Holiday Pet Peeves
• [07:25] Bailey Zimmerman – Health Anxiety & Comfort Food
• [15:42] Dylan Scott – Concert Signs & Grocery Mishaps
• [21:00] John Morgan – Building, Social Trends, Starbucks
• [28:18] Hudson Westbrook – Buc-ee’s, Texas Roots, Wasps
• [34:07] Jon Pardi – TikTok Fame, Parenting, Allergies
• [44:10] Mitchell Tenpenny – Married Life, TV Cheating, Ticks
• [52:05] Priscilla Block – Tour Life, Running, Gratitude
• [58:55] Shane Profitt – Career Journey, Puppies, Ticks Again
• [69:08] The Band Perry – Comeback, Parenting, Bangs
• [75:52] Tenille Arts – Apology Flowers, Thrift Shopping

Final Thoughts

The Bobby Bones Show’s CMA Awards backstage episode is a lively patchwork of country stars being their authentic, unscripted selves. The mood is playful but honest, with Bobby and Morgan pulling candid answers and plenty of laughs from their guests. The holiday “anti-gratitude” theme brings out some unexpected and relatable frustrations, and listeners get insider glimpses into the lives and personalities of their favorite artists.

Recommended For: Fans who love spontaneous artist interviews, behind-the-scenes banter, country music culture, and a comedic twist on holiday traditions.