FRI PT 2: Jo Dee Messina In Studio! She Sings With Amy, Shares A Health Update And The Crazy Reason She Was Turned Down For A Record Deal

Summary

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The Bobby Bones Show: Jo Dee Messina In Studio!

Episode Date: March 13, 2026
Main Guests: Jo Dee Messina, Bobby Bones, Amy
Main Theme: Celebrating Jo Dee Messina’s 30th Anniversary in Music, Her New Single & Album, Life, Health, Resilience, and Lessons from the Industry

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Bobby Bones Show welcomes country music star Jo Dee Messina into the studio for a lively, heartfelt, and insightful conversation covering her 30-year music career, her new music after a long hiatus, life’s hurdles, health updates, and the unique path she’s carved out in country music. The hosts and Jo Dee touch on everything from viral TikToks to marathon running, with a focus on authenticity, gratitude, and advice for artists and fans alike.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jo Dee Messina’s Career Milestones and New Music

• 30th Anniversary of Debut Album
  • Jo Dee Messina celebrates 30 years since her first album release. Bobby made a special video for her in honor of this milestone.
    “You're about to have a big anniversary for your first album.” — Bobby (03:38)
  • Jo Dee hasn't seen the video yet, with Bobby teasing its content that “one day you’ll see it.”
• New Music & Album
  • Jo Dee is releasing new music for the first time in over a decade, with her last full label release dating back to 2007 (05:16–05:22).
  • The first single from her upcoming record is “Some Bridges,” which she describes as a “wisdom song” about life, choices, and growth.
    “Sometimes you have to burn bridges. If they lead you back to a place that is harmful to you or where you lose yourself, it's not worthy.” — Jo Dee (06:37)
  • The full album is expected this summer, and she wrote (almost) every song herself for the first time.
• Song Selection Process
  • Jo Dee says she let others pick the single because she loved them all equally and couldn’t choose herself (07:36).

Jo Dee’s Enduring Hits and Musical Resurgence

• Legacy Songs
  • “Heads Carolina” is currently her most recognized due to its resurgence, especially with Cole Swindell’s collaboration.
  • Other top songs: “Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “Lesson in Leavin’,” and “Stand Beside Me.”
    “If you look at what people are playing from my catalog, I think Bye Bye was first, then I’m Alright, then Heads Carolina… isn’t that crazy?” — Jo Dee (08:28)
• Amy’s Song Tribute
  • Amy gives a playful tribute by singing “Lesson in Leavin’” live in-studio (08:50–09:02).

Life, Health, and Wellness

• Health Update & Life Perspective
  • Jo Dee shares about her past battle with cancer, moving to Georgia initially for treatment, and being in good health now.
    “It’s good right now. Now I’m to the point where it’s once a year I go in and get checked.” — Jo Dee (09:33–09:40)
  • She weight-trains daily, partly for energy to keep up with her kids and for bone health (09:48–10:19).
  • She is also a seasoned marathon runner and shares stories from major races, including Boston.
    “I was the second to last, only before my brother, who let me cross the line first because they cut it off at six hours...” — Jo Dee (10:49)
• Parenting & Fitness
  • Jo Dee discusses running with her 14-year-old and the challenges and rewards of maintaining both her physical health and her performing career.

Industry Anecdotes: Challenges, Insecurity & Resilience

• Early Career Struggles
  • Four years before getting traction in Nashville; survival was the main focus at first.
  • She did talent nights and contests to pay rent, which led to performing on “Live at Libby’s” radio (16:01–16:35).
• Record Label Rejection Story
  • Jo Dee was once turned down by a label for being "10 pounds too heavy."
    “They said I was too fat. Actually said that. They told my producer—‘if she was 10 pounds lighter, we’d sign her’...” — Jo Dee (13:10–13:23)
  • Her sister reframed the rejection:
    “She’s like, ‘Oh, they say you have to get passed on a thousand times before you get a deal. Now you only have 999 left. Just keep going.’” — Jo Dee (13:23)
  • This resilience informs the pep talk she gives at the end of live shows, segueing into her closer, “Don’t Stop Believin’” (14:27).
• Image and Authenticity
  • Pressure to adhere to industry beauty standards was strong. Jo Dee regrets times when she “sold out who she was” for success.
    “There was a point where I was myself. Then… people would flock and be like, wear this, do that. … I don't know who that is. … I can’t sell that.” — Jo Dee (29:28)
• No “Pretty Woman Moment”
  • Jo Dee shares she never got to “show up” the label that rejected her — she’s still processing those early slights even 30 years later (23:26).

Changing Fame, Social Media & Community

• TikTok & Social Media Presence
  • Jo Dee’s content regularly goes viral on TikTok, connecting her with a new, younger audience (04:31–04:39, 38:20–39:40).
  • She discusses the difference between old and new fame — now it’s “fractured,” with fame in various platforms and demographics (39:05).
• Reaching Younger Fans
  • Kids know her classic songs through social media and live shows, surprising even Jo Dee as they sing along to deep album cuts (39:40).
• Industry Support
  • Jo Dee strives to be a “safe place” and mentor for new artists, especially behind the scenes, offering her number and advice to younger women coming up in the industry (34:56, 35:28).

Songwriting, Vulnerability, and Spirituality

• Writing Her Truth
  • For the first time, nearly the entire new record is written by Jo Dee, resulting in greater vulnerability.
  • She shares a deeply personal song, “If He Knew Jesus,” inspired by single parenting and faith.
    “It just starts off: ‘If he knew Jesus, there’d be no raising these babies alone’…” — Jo Dee (33:22–34:08)
• Faith & Joy
  • Jo Dee is open about her Christian faith and how it fuels her gratitude, energy, and desire to help others in the industry.
  • Her biggest hope for this project:
    “To be relevant enough to share the gospel with people behind the scenes. … My heart … is to be a safe place for people who are spinning around so fast within the industry.” — Jo Dee (34:45–35:51)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Fame & Insecurity:
  “You have to have, like, this wild belief in yourself that even other people may not have. … I believe in myself more than anybody ever, but also hate everything about me.” — Bobby (19:54, 20:12)

• On Gratitude & Joy:
  “Literally every morning, I mean, I’m like, this morning I sat outside and I was like, ‘God, thank you for today. I get today.’” — Jo Dee (06:12) “That’s Jesus. That joy that comes from within is not like, ‘Oh, he makes me so happy because he gave me a new car.’ … It’s joy … and perspective, too. Just grateful.” — Jo Dee (44:38)

• On Advice for Her Younger Self:
  “Don’t sell out who you are just to be successful.” — Jo Dee (29:22)

• On Music Industry Double Standards:
  “I wasn’t allowed to wear my hair this way. I had to wear these clothes.” — Jo Dee (23:18) “On my record, there is … a song that came from telling someone, ‘Don’t let them hide your beautiful.’” — Jo Dee (24:01)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jo Dee celebrates 30 years since debut album — 03:41
• New single, “Some Bridges,” and wisdom behind it — 06:33
• Song selection and catalog favorites — 07:36–08:42
• Amy sings Jo Dee’s song live — 08:50–09:02
• Health update & marathon talk — 09:19–12:04
• How Jo Dee broke into Nashville: talent nights and struggles — 15:25–16:35
• Record label rejection for her appearance — 13:10–13:23, 22:44
• Songwriting and vulnerability on the new album — 32:30–34:08
• Mentoring younger artists, being a 'safe place' — 34:56–35:51
• Jo Dee's energy and gratitude for life — 44:03–44:38
• Faith as the root of her joy — 44:38–45:14
• Social media, TikTok, and younger generations discovering her music — 38:20–40:03

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Notable Quotes

• “Sometimes you have to burn bridges. If they lead you back to a place that is harmful to you or where you lose yourself, it's not worthy.” — Jo Dee (06:37)
• “Don’t sell out who you are just to be successful.” — Jo Dee (29:22)
• “I know the road that they're walking. … And so just someone that understands what they're walking through and can give them a safe place to just decompress and be themselves.” — Jo Dee (35:57)
• “That joy that comes from within is not like, ‘Oh, he makes me so happy because he gave me a new car.’ … It’s joy … and perspective, too. Just grateful.” — Jo Dee (44:38)

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, honesty, and joy. Jo Dee Messina’s journey is reflected in her wisdom for listeners and budding artists: embrace authenticity, be grateful for every season, and don’t let rejection define you. Her new music promises raw vulnerability and personal connection, continuing her legacy with powerful new chapters.

Website for Tour Dates & Updates: jodymessina.com
Find Jo Dee on Socials for new dances, music, and behind-the-scenes: @jodymessina

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Transcript

[Jodi Messina]

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[Bobby Bones]

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[Bobby Bones]

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[Bobby Bones]

the Bobby Bones show now.

[Jodi Messina]

Jody Messina.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Did you say that, too? I thought you said it.

[Jodi Messina]

No, I didn't.

[Amy]

It did sound like an echo or something.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I'm so happy you're here.

[Jodi Messina]

I'm happy to be here.

[Bobby Bones]

We have a lot of stuff to talk about. I would first. Have you seen the video that I made you?

[Jodi Messina]

What?

[Bobby Bones]

Never mind. Never mind.

[Jodi Messina]

I want to see this one.

[Bobby Bones]

No, no, no, no. If you haven't seen it yet, then maybe you're not supposed to know about it.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, I'm not supposed to know about it?

[Bobby Bones]

Uh. Oh, no. It's about the anniversary of your record. Nevermind. I'm not saying I'm not gonna say anything about it. I just shouldn't have said anything. I was just gonna make a point about something. How you doing, Jody?

[Redfin Announcer]

Now she wants to know about this.

[Jodi Messina]

I'm like, wait a minute, what's going on?

[Bobby Bones]

You're about to have a big anniversary for your first album.

[Jodi Messina]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. How many years?

[Jodi Messina]

30.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Which is pretty great. So if you haven't seen it yet, I will tell you. I did a whole video talking about it and what it meant to me and all of that. But if you haven't seen it yet, one day you'll see it. Mm.

[Jodi Messina]

Mm. I haven't seen it.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, then I'll just leave it there. It was only me.

[Jodi Messina]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. I have a lot of questions for you.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, go, go. I'm ready. I'm ready. First of all, you know I love you.

[Bobby Bones]

I could not hold a mirror up and say it back to you a hundred times over, so. You're so awesome. Same to you.

[Jodi Messina]

And I follow you and I just support you, and you know that.

[Bobby Bones]

Thank you.

[Jodi Messina]

You've gotten messages from me.

[Bobby Bones]

Thank you.

[Jodi Messina]

But I do. I just. You're just such a jewel.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, thank you. This is not about me. I want to make it about you.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, let's make it about you.

[Bobby Bones]

What is it? Is it cool to be, like, TikTok famous? Cause you are.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I highly doubt that you are.

[Bobby Bones]

Your stuff goes viral all the time. People love you on TikTok. It's like a whole new age of people that get to, like, experience what we got to experience.

[Jodi Messina]

The crazy dances, just all of it. Yeah, well, we have a fun thing we. And we haven't put it up yet, but last weekend we played in California, and the guy that choreographed all the snow, back when I always, like, had dancers and everything lived out there, and he choreographed a new dance to one of the hits. And so we recorded that while we were out doing a festival this weekend.

[Bobby Bones]

Your stuff, pops.

[LifeLock Announcer]

Well, thanks.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Like, do you keep track of what your videos do? Like, Sam?

[Jodi Messina]

Sometimes, but it's. We're moving so fast, and now everything's getting really busy, so.

[Bobby Bones]

And this is the first record, like, new. New music, right?

[Jodi Messina]

Yes. In a long time. Over. Over 10 years now. I released something, I think, in 2014.

[Bobby Bones]

Not a full record, though, like, just

[Jodi Messina]

like a GoFundMe or whatever. It was a Kickstarter. I don't even know. They still in business. I don't know. So something like that. But a major release label. The last thing that came out, I think, was my giveaway. I'm supposed to. 2007.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Jodi Messina]

It's a long time.

[Bobby Bones]

What does it feel like to put out a new project? Because it's been. Again, we have done a full project. Is there. Are there nerves? Is it excitement? Is it both?

[Jodi Messina]

Both.

[Bobby Bones]

Are there expectations from other people?

[Jodi Messina]

Yes. What do you mean?

[Bobby Bones]

What do you mean?

[Jodi Messina]

You know, just other people have expectations for it, and so you don't want to let people down, especially those that are working really hard on it, you know, with the marketing and the promotion and that kind of stuff. So I'm just happy to be here, Bobby, you know that.

[Bobby Bones]

Earth or in the studio.

[Jodi Messina]

Just the studio, of course, and Earth. No, literally every morning, I mean, I'm like, this morning I sat outside and I was like, God, thank you for today. I get today.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, today's a big day because the single's out.

[Jodi Messina]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

New album will be out this summer, but the new song is out, and so we're gonna play some bridges. So this feels like a radio. It will.

[Jodi Messina]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

This feels like a wisdom song.

[Jodi Messina]

It is.

[Bobby Bones]

Tell me about it.

[Jodi Messina]

Well, you know, we grew up. As you're growing up, we're always told, you know, don't be burning bridges. Don't burn bridges. You know? Oh, I know they, you know, like, with my kids, I'm like, don't. Don't be rude to those hockey players in Rec. Hockey. Because you don't want to burn Those bridges, because they'll probably be on your team next year. Or, you know, be respectful to the coach. Don't be burning bridges because, you know, you might run into them, whatever, and we're told, don't burn bridges. You. Because you're not going to find your way back. And. Or if you take chances, which is so funny because I'm looking at your book, fail until you don't. If you don't take chance. If you take chances, oh, you're going to. You know, you might end up off track. You know, you might make a mistake. You might fail. And it's like you. Sometimes you. You have to fail. You know, sometimes you. And sometimes you have to burn bridges. If they lead you back to a place that is harmful to you or where you lose yourself, it's not. It's not worthy.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you feel like this was the single when you wrote it, or did you get all the songs together and then go, this is the one?

[Jodi Messina]

Bobby, did we send you a link for the album?

[Bobby Bones]

Why do you say that?

[Jodi Messina]

It's loaded. So I let someone else pick it because I was like, oh, I love this one. Oh, I love this one. Oh, I love this. So I was, yeah, they're like, boom, let's come out with this one. But. So I wasn't. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. So I have other things to talk about. I want to go to Amy first. What song comes to mind if I just say Jodi Messina, what song first comes to mind of all of them?

[Amy]

I mean, it's gotta be Heads Carolina.

[Bobby Bones]

Would you think that's common? Is it most. Is it. Is that it with most people? Because I think Bye Bye to me is the one that comes to mind first.

[Amy]

That's another good one. I was trying to see if another would come to me, but then that wouldn't be fair because then that the first one was Heads Carolina.

[Bobby Bones]

What do you think the first one

[Jodi Messina]

is to people probably right now? Heads Carolina.

[Amy]

Because of its resurgence.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah, because of its resurgence. And then.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, with Cole.

[Jodi Messina]

That's right. But if you look at, you know, what people are playing from my catalog, I think Bye Bye was first. Then I'm all right. Then Heads Carolina. Isn't that crazy? Yeah. See, there's a lot of them. Then lesson and leaving. Then stand beside me.

[Amy]

Bring on the rain and leave.

[Bobby Bones]

We're gonna do a second here where Amy sings all your songs back to you. Amy.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Here she is.

[Bobby Bones]

Lesson leaving. Amy, go ahead.

[Amy]

Oh, somebody's gonna give you a lesson and leaving. Somebody's gonna give you back what you've been given and I hope that I'm around to watch you. Knock you down.

[Bobby Bones]

That's it.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah. I threw you off. Sorry. No, it's not.

[Bobby Bones]

No, trust me, you didn't throw her off.

[Amy]

Trust me, it was. It wasn't you.

[Bobby Bones]

That's not it at all.

[Amy]

Yeah. Do you.

[Bobby Bones]

Are you still living away from here?

[Jodi Messina]

I live here. No, no, I went. I didn't. I don't talk about this a lot, but you. No, no, no.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay.

[Jodi Messina]

I moved to Georgia for a few years. I went down there originally. Cancer Treatment Centers of America is down there. They had one in Atlanta and one in Minneapolis. They don't exist anymore. But anyways, that's why I went there and I was there for a few years and now I'm back.

[Bobby Bones]

How's your. How's your health?

[Jodi Messina]

It's good right now. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Monitoring always once a year.

[Jodi Messina]

No, I'm to the point where it's once a year I go in and get checked.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Jodi Messina]

The blood work and scans if needed or whatever.

[Bobby Bones]

How do you feel physically?

[Jodi Messina]

Pretty good.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Good days? Some not good days?

[Jodi Messina]

No. Well, the day after leg day or the second day after leg day? I train every day for. I train every day for what? No. Weight? Train? Like lift?

[Bobby Bones]

No, I know just for. Because I say that and I tell them I train. They're like, why are you training? And I'm like, I don't know. Apocalypse?

[Amy]

No, that's what I say.

[Jodi Messina]

He.

[Amy]

But you act like you're training to be a pro athlete. Like we're. It's like we're training for life. Like osteoporosis.

[Jodi Messina]

Well, actually, I'm going for a look, but. Oh, you're going to take longer. It's taking a lot longer than I wanted to.

[Bobby Bones]

Amy was projecting right there.

[Amy]

Yeah, well, lifting is very important for our bone health as women and just.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah, I have kids and you'll find this out. It's a lot of energy to keep up with them. So. Yeah. And I'm gonna start running with my 14 year old. I used to be in big time runner. I ran Boston Marathon, Chicago, San Antonio. No way.

[Amy]

Oh, wow.

[Jodi Messina]

I didn't qualify.

[Bobby Bones]

Bobby, you just got on. Ran.

[Jodi Messina]

I was invited to run because I'm from Boston, so I would never have qualified. I'm way too slow.

[Amy]

What was your time?

[Jodi Messina]

I was. If you go look at that year, I am the second to last. Only before my brother, who let me cross the line first because they cut it off at six hours. I think we're five hours and 59 minutes. I pulled my IT band at mile six, so I'd have to stop every, like, mile or so and let my leg loosen up, let that muscle loosen up, and then start again. But I did finish it.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you see them shutting down? And you're just trying to beat them shutting down, taking all the. All the stuff off? Like, six hours.

[Jodi Messina]

I knew they were waiting. They're like, keep going, keep going. Because there was, like, news crews when I crossed the finish line, and I was just. The last thing you want to do is talk to somebody when you've been running for six hours.

[Bobby Bones]

You were a marathon runner?

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah. I mean, I was never fast.

[Bobby Bones]

That doesn't matter.

[Jodi Messina]

It's kind of the story of my life. You just keep going. You just keep going. You just keep going. Keep going. Again, I'm gonna reference your book. I love it.

[Bobby Bones]

Thank you. Buy it on Amazon.

[Jodi Messina]

Everybody I know go.

[Bobby Bones]

Until you don't. So how many did you do? You did Boston, Chicago.

[Jodi Messina]

Chicago. I did the whole Chicago. I did the half of San Antonio. Crossed the finish line, walked on stage and played a show. And it was a rock and roll marathon. So they have a concert at the end. I was it. So I had to finish my half marathon before the set started. So that was a little.

[Bobby Bones]

But you knew. That was like. You knew, you.

[Amy]

Oh, yeah.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, yeah. They hired me to go down there.

[Bobby Bones]

But you knew you were going to run it and then play?

[Jodi Messina]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones]

How was that? Was that hard to do?

[Jodi Messina]

It was okay. It was okay. You know, my legs started to feel a little jello towards the middle of the show, and then.

[Bobby Bones]

That's crazy that you would do that. You're doing a lot of shows. I was looking at your tour schedule is part of. I would imagine being in shape helps you do, like, a more active show, right?

[Jodi Messina]

Yes, my show is very active.

[Bobby Bones]

What do you mean by that?

[Jodi Messina]

I don't stand still. I'm like, there's two songs where I play a guitar on, and that's about the stillest I get. And then other than that, I'm running around, I'm head banging. You'll see a lot of pictures, my hair flying.

[Bobby Bones]

What do you do as your.

[Jodi Messina]

It's not a beauty show by any means.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't want to spoil it. But what do you do? You have so many big songs. What do you do as your final song?

[Jodi Messina]

Final song of the night?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Is this a spoiler?

[Jodi Messina]

No, it's not my song.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, okay.

[Jodi Messina]

I give a little pep talk to the audience. I'm like, if you have dreams and things that you want to do, surround yourself with positive people.

[Bobby Bones]

Can I guess then? Yeah, give me the pep talk and I'll see if I can guess the song.

[Jodi Messina]

Okay. Oh, well, it ends with okay. So I mention, you know, if you have something that you want to do, don't surround yourself with naysayers, because there's plenty of people that will say, well, that won't work because. And I always tell my team, I'm like, please don't tell me. Why not? Tell me how you want people? And I'm like, look, God's word tells us that the tongue has the power of life and death. You either have people around you that are like, oh, yeah, well, not sure that's going to work out, or, that's dumb. Nobody's doing that. Or you have people that are like, you can do it. You've got this now. And I do say to the audience, I'm like, I'm not saying you're the greatest in the world. I was never. My sister was my greatest support. She's like 15 years older than me, and she never was like, oh, you're such a great singer. She's just like, you just got to keep going. And I remember I got turned down by a record label in Nashville. They said I was too fat. And I was like, actually said that. They told my producer that, oh, if she was 10 pounds lighter, we'd assign her is what they said. So. And I was devastated. And she's like. I said, I did this showcase and I didn't get the record deal. They passed. And she's like, yes. I was like, what do you mean, yes? She's like, oh, they say you have to get passed on a thousand times before you get a deal. She's like, now you only have 999 left. Just keep going. Just keep going. And I was like, and whatever you do, don't stop believing.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, well, now we know the song don't stop believing.

[Jodi Messina]

That's the end of the speech.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, yeah, but you could have not said that part.

[Jodi Messina]

I told you the name was in it.

[Bobby Bones]

You know what I was gonna guess, though? The climb. Miley Cyrus. That was going to be my guess until you

[Jodi Messina]

beast always going to make you move. Hey, the Hannah Montana thing is coming back. We got to do the dance. Did you see that on TikTok? Only took us four hours to learn it.

[Bobby Bones]

So you'll prac. You'll practice a long time for your tiktoks.

[Jodi Messina]

Well, that one was long. I ne I didn't know it at all. And then we learned it. We're on the road. Boy, my legs are sore.

[Amy]

The next day, the Hannah Montana dance.

[Bobby Bones]

Who says to you, this should be the next TikTok that we do?

[Jodi Messina]

I don't know. I don't know if we do you

[Bobby Bones]

doom scroll on TikTok.

[Jodi Messina]

I don't. I don't have time to scroll. But the one that dances with me sometimes will have suggestions. Yeah, probably he would be the most.

[Bobby Bones]

When you moved to town, how long until you had any sort of traction at all?

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, four years.

[Bobby Bones]

Did that four years feel like 40 years?

[Jodi Messina]

It did. I remember my first year was all about trying to survive, finding a place to live, paying the bills. Like, I didn't sing. And there weren't as many places. We didn't have Broadway. Broadway was tootsies. I think that was it. And then Ernest Tubbs record shop or whatever. It wasn't like 50,000 bars with, you know, open 24 hours and different shifts or whatever. So there wasn't a lot of places to sing back then. Once he got here.

[Bobby Bones]

Where did you sing then?

[Jodi Messina]

Talent nights. I'd perform. I needed money for rent, so I would do the talent contests.

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, you would compete. Did you win?

[Jodi Messina]

Yes. Yes, I did. And that's how I got my start. I won a chance to perform on a radio show as well. And then the radio show had me back every Saturday night. It was called Live at Libby's from Daysville, Kentucky. It's gone, but that's where my producer, Byron Gallimore heard me, who was producing Tim McGraw at the time. And then I took a meeting with him and then he's like, hey, let's work on a demo.

[Bobby Bones]

So what would you sing to win these competitions? Because I like. What was your go to?

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, my gosh. Rumor has it.

[Bobby Bones]

Not Adele. Reba.

[Jodi Messina]

Rumor has it she has you.

[Bobby Bones]

And would you know they would. That you'd melt them with that?

[Jodi Messina]

No. I was always terrified. Yeah, I was always terrified.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you ever lose?

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you ever lose? Did you ever lose anybody else that ended up making it?

[Jodi Messina]

No. There was one girl that I had done something with a long time. We were on a competition and she was nasty. Yeah, she is mean. And then later, after our heads, Carolina came out, she got a record deal, but it didn't work out so good. I didn't say that I did good, but she's so mean. Good. She had money, I didn't. So she had like the fancy guitar and the fancy clothes and was like oh, yeah. You're like, ugh. And so she's just not nice.

[Bobby Bones]

How does somebody from Massachusetts. That's exactly what I was gonna ask you. How did they get into country music?

[Jodi Messina]

Well, I had gone to a boarding school, and there were kids from all over the country there, and one of them was from, like. And would listen to country music. And I just loved it because I was like, oh, they're singing about me. They're singing about my life. And so I would gravitate towards that.

[Bobby Bones]

Even though you lived in Massachusetts? Like rural Massachusetts, about 30.

[Jodi Messina]

30 miles outside of Boston.

[Bobby Bones]

Then how was it, your life? What would you hear that would resonate?

[Jodi Messina]

What would I hear? Baby, I lied when I told you I could walk away Remember that one? No, you don't. The song.

[Bobby Bones]

I know the song.

[Jodi Messina]

Break it to me gently. Remember that? No, that was a Juice Newton.

[Bobby Bones]

No, I think Amy's hybriding songs now.

[Amy]

No, I feel like.

[Jodi Messina]

And then I remember Alabama came out with Rule on Highway. I was like, oh, this is so cool. And the Judds. The Judds came out too. Love that.

[Bobby Bones]

There were a lot of Judds in my house. My mom and my grandma. It was all Judds all the time.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah. Then I loved it. And so I gravitated towards.

[Bobby Bones]

Were you singing in high school? Like, in school?

[Jodi Messina]

I was. I started performing out in clubs when I was 13 or 14. My mother would drive me. I'd sleep through class. It is not advice for those listening. But anyways, my mom would drive me out to open mic nights, and I'd sit in with bands. And then my brother and my sister and myself put a band together. And then I'd ride with my older siblings.

[Bobby Bones]

You had a family band?

[Jodi Messina]

Kinda, yeah. We hired a guitar player, but my sister played the bass and my brother played the drums.

[Bobby Bones]

Did they not want to pursue it further? Because they didn't move down for music, did they?

[Jodi Messina]

They did not. They live here now, but they did not. I think, you know, it was just a time where you just gotta get a real job.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Jodi Messina]

And so my brother's had the same job since he was 18, and he's a little older now. And, like, he was programming computers for the government or something. You know what I mean? He was a computer programmer and does that still to this day. Same job, same. Never left that job.

[Bobby Bones]

My theory is there has to be a screw loose to even pursue what this is. Right. It's gotta be the right screw. But to pursue any sort of art, there's gotta be a screw loose.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

Because you have to have, like, this wild belief in yourself that even other people may not have. Like, you have to believe in yourself so much.

[Jodi Messina]

Do you have to believe in yourself, or do you just have to want

[Bobby Bones]

the dream it can be? I don't think you can even understand the want of it if you don't believe in yourself, really.

[Jodi Messina]

Because I'm really insecure even today.

[Bobby Bones]

But I'm really insecure, too. I think insecurity fuels me. I'm embarrassed by everything that I do. It's a weird juxtaposition of I believe in myself more than anybody ever, but also hate everything about me.

[Jodi Messina]

Right. I hear you. I didn't mean that in, like, in a mean way.

[Bobby Bones]

She's like, I hate everything about you, too, man.

[Jodi Messina]

Go ahead. No, no, but I get it. Cause, you know, I'm looking at myself in the. Whatever in the room. I got my picture next to your sign, and I was like, I look awful. You know what I mean? You're your own Morse critic. And so that. That circle just keeps going on and on in your head, even when you're standing in front of tens of thousands of people. I remember playing Texas Stadium for the first time, and I stood there at the edge of the stage, and people were, like, screaming and cheering. It was so loud. It, like, rumbled the stage. And I'm like, what am I doing here? Like, I don't belong here. Like. And none of these people realize that.

[Bobby Bones]

And you can't let them know that you're thinking that.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah, well, I did now.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. I think that. I think that happens with a lot of artists, though, that when you. For me, especially when I got to a point, you start to go, man, I don't. Like. This is kind of crazy. I don't know if I'm actually good enough. But I believe. I at least believed I was good enough at some point.

[Jodi Messina]

I think there's a point of gratitude, too, where the gratitude kicks in. So if you go see my show now, it isn't really, hey, look at me. I'm up here. It's like, oh, my gosh, we're gonna have so much fun. You know? And I do. We have a blast with the audience.

[Bobby Bones]

But for you to move down here and want to be a singer and also have to have a job to make money again, you didn't have the benefit of having your bills paid for and still pursuing this. Like, there's. There's a. There's a small screw loose. To think you could do that, I

[Jodi Messina]

think it was naive. It was a superpower though, if I knew that everyone that I ran into in town was in town for the same reason, I probably. My insecurity would have kicked in, and I'd be like, no, no, no. I can't compete with all those people. Right. But I didn't know. So I was like, oh, in order to get a record deal, I got to go to Nashville. So, okay, I'm going to Nashville. Me and 50,000 other people.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you get down and see other people and go, oh, wow, the competition is pretty tough.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah, they're talented. Oh, yeah. I'd go to these talent contests, and I'd be like, oh, I'll just put my name on the list. Something to do.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you ever almost go home?

[Jodi Messina]

No, because I loved to sing, I loved to perform. So that's what would fuel me and keep me in the room was my chance to sing.

[Amy]

That record label, starry, still thinking about them. That said you were 10 pounds.

[Jodi Messina]

If I was 10 pounds lighter, they would assign me like that.

[Amy]

Whenever you did get your first hit, did you ever think, like, you know, having, like, a Pretty Woman moment with them of, like, big mistake. Huge. Like, I have to go make music now because I. I can't stop thinking about how. I mean, I know that's the reality for a lot of women in the business. Pop, country. You've heard a lot of people, especially now that they're older, they're like, oh, yeah. When I was first starting out, I heard this from my record label, this from my management team.

[Jodi Messina]

I wasn't allowed to wear my hair this way. I had to wear these clothes. I had to.

[Amy]

Yeah. So, I mean, did you. I don't know, did you just, like, let it go or.

[Jodi Messina]

It's 30 years later, I'm still talking about it. I didn't let it go.

[Amy]

Or if, like, you run into them, like, kind of just.

[Bobby Bones]

But you act like it's not happening now, too.

[Amy]

Oh, yeah, no, I'm sure. I guess I just have a little bit of hope that maybe we progress a little bit. But you're right, we probably haven't. As much as I would like to

[Bobby Bones]

think, was there a time it does

[Jodi Messina]

still happen, actually, on my record, there is. I was talking to an artist, and she's like, man, I just, you know, I can't do this. I can't do that. I just. Oh, she's, like, exhausted. And I said, whatever you do, don't let him hide your beautiful. And then we wrote a song that's actually a song on the album.

[Bobby Bones]

I believe it's Track three.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh yeah, there you go. You know everything. But yeah, that's where that song came from. Was someone being told by everyone else, no, this is what you need to do. This is how you have to look. This is what you should do. This is where you should be. This is, you know. And she's like, none of it's me. You know, what are they selling? It's not me. And I was like, well, don't let

[Amy]

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[Amy]

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[Bobby Bones]

you got to town where you had so much success that you started to feel a bit bulletproof because you had you had to run like a multi week that's like never been done before where it's like number one for multi week. Number one for multi week. Number one for multi week.

[Jodi Messina]

Well, and that's the thing. I remember Byron Gallimore telling me, my producer saying I was like, oh man, it would be so great to have a number one record. And he goes, yeah, but then you gotta have another one. And so you were so in the chase for the next one for me. And then again you're insecure, right? So you were like, oh gosh, I gotta have another one or else I'm done. Or else what? I remember Downtime came out and it peaked at number eight. What I would do for a number eight song right now. Not really. I mean, but it would be such a thrill to have a number eight song, right? I'd be like, oh my gosh. But as soon as that song maxed out at number eight, they're like, well, she's done, she's done, she's over again. That was like probably 20 years ago, but still at that point, you know, everyone was so disappointed And I felt like they were disappointed in me. I was like, I am a failure. I am. You know, so I don't know that there ever was a point where I felt bulletproof. Now it was always about working harder.

[Bobby Bones]

If you could do it again or you could tell you back then, like right when it was starting to hit, like, right. Right before you got your first number one, you have a deal. You're. What advice would you give yourself then?

[Jodi Messina]

I always say this. Don't sell out who you are just to be successful.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you feel like you did that?

[Jodi Messina]

I think there were moments, yes, where I did that. And I would look at pictures and be like, oh, boy, I remember that. You know, there was a point where I was myself. Then we went, had some success and then all of a sudden the people would flock and be like, wear this, do that. We had a photo shoot and I remember looking at these photos. My hair was bone straight long down to here, all these like couture clothes. And I was like, I don't know who that is. And they're like, oh, but you look beautiful. I'm like, yeah, but I don't know who she is. Like, I don't know who that is. Who is that? I can't. I said, I don't go to Kroger looking like this. You know, people, they will never see me look like that. You know, I can't sell that. Why would I represent something that I'm not? Which. That was a. Then, then. Back then it was like, oh, we are being difficult. Oh, she's hard to work with. And it was really just, I can't pretend, I can't pretend to be something that I'm not.

[Bobby Bones]

Were there a group of women that kind of had each other's back or did you have a. At all? Or was it so competitive?

[Jodi Messina]

No, it wasn't. I don't know that it was like backbiting competitive. And I don't even know if it's that way now. I think a lot of social media creates those scenarios where it's like, I see all these girls and just. I love them because I. I'm a little older, so I'm gonna, You know, they don't see me as like, oh, get out of my way. But I think at that point, again, I was just running so hard for the end zone that I didn't really. I'm always on the road. I was always, you know, touring, always. Or in the studio or whatever. I didn't have time to be like, hey, how's it going? And I was terrified. You know what? Actually. Okay, back to the insecurity. There was one. One award show. I remember I shared a dressing room with Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Faith Hill. You were talking about beautiful women. Golly, stand next to Faith Hill. I never will. She's. She's still stunning. And I had a curtained off section in the back corner, and I didn't come out. I was just. I did not feel worthy enough to be in the room with those girls. And so they. But they read it, probably. I. This is that. Oh, she thinks she's all that. And I wasn't all that. I was just like, oh, my gosh, I'm hiding from these beautiful, talented girls. So it wasn't cutthroat or anything. It was just keep your eye on your own. On your own game at that point

[Bobby Bones]

when you decide that you're gonna do a new album. Or was it an album? Cause it could have just been a couple songs. And it kept growing like, what was this?

[Jodi Messina]

It turned out I started writing a lot with people in town. And then someone's like, you should record this. You should record this. This is a hit. You should record this. And then it just started to roll into a full project because I was like, well, I don't. You know, I'm just here to write. I just love to write. You know, I'm still out touring, always been touring. And so then they were like, you should really put this together as a. As a record. And I was like, I don't know if anyone wants to hear a record from me. And they're like, just do it. So we did.

[Bobby Bones]

So have you put any expectations on yourself with this record? You. I'm asking you again, not anybody else, like. Or has the expectation been met already by just creating it?

[Jodi Messina]

I would love to hear how people like yourself like the record. You know, of course, you're always so kind, so you wouldn't be like, well, this sucks. So not to my face, but I'd love to hear that, because I wrote everything on the record. And it's never happened before. I've never written. I've never been able to, like, pour my entire guts into an album. And that's the difference between now and then or then and now or whatever is a lot of stuff that I recorded was written by other people and staff writers at certain places that were the great songwriters. Nowadays, the artists write most of their records. And I was like, oh, can I do that? I can do that. This is great. So this is the first time I'VE ever had a. There's one song I didn't write, but for the rest of the record, I wrote everything on there.

[Bobby Bones]

So this is way more vulnerable, I think, than you've ever been as far as a creator, probably.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah, there's a song on there. Yeah, there's a song. I share this in the live show. It's called if He Knew Jesus. And it came out of a conversation that I had with somebody, and they're like, oh, you know, would you ever consider, you know, going out with so and so and this? And I was like, whoa, no, no, no, no, no. They gotta love Jesus, because I've been down that road. And so I walked into the writing room and I said, I have an idea. I said, what if we wrote and I'm gonna start crying? So I said, I have this idea of a song. And it just starts off, well, if he knew Jesus, there'd be no raising these babies alone. And so I again, started crying. Like, I'm crying here. Sorry. And the guys looked at me, and they're like, oh, man, it's gonna be a long day. But it wasn't.

[Bobby Bones]

But they knew that was a song. But that's what they meant, though, right? Like, it's gonna be a long day. Cause they're gonna write that song with you.

[Jodi Messina]

Well, they. Well, just. Cause they're like, oh, man, we gotta deal with her emotion. But we made it through. We made it through. And then there's a. There's a verse in the. I'm sorry. The bridge. That's like, Willie might go to church, know the words in the Bible, but only if he knew the man or whatever. And then one of the guys was like, okay, this is making me second guess myself here. So it was just.

[Bobby Bones]

He found salvation in your writing.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, that's my. That is my hope. What is your big. What is my biggest hope for this project? And I'll be really, really honest.

[Redfin Announcer]

Is.

[Jodi Messina]

And it might be too honest. And you can edit it out if you want is to be relevant enough to share the gospel with people behind the scenes. You know, my heart on that.

[Bobby Bones]

What do you mean, behind the scenes?

[Jodi Messina]

Well, you know, I think because, like, a lot of the new artists, I want to be a safe place for them to go when they're like, oh, my gosh, how do I handle all this? Cause they're inundated with requests and demands and requirements and all this other stuff. And it's like an opportunity to say, hold on a second. You're okay. You're okay. I Just did a show with Carter Faith.

[Bobby Bones]

I love her.

[Jodi Messina]

And I.

[Bobby Bones]

Awesome.

[Jodi Messina]

I was like, here's my number. Things are about to get crazy for you, and if you need a safe space, please call me.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Jodi Messina]

And that's what I want. That's my heart. Space. Desire is to be a safe place for people who are spinning around so fast within the industry that they need to step away for a second, you know, just realize who they. Who they really are in the midst of it.

[Bobby Bones]

Why would we edit that out?

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, I don't know. People don't like to talk about Jesus.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't know.

[Jodi Messina]

But that's. That's my heart. Because that's what happened with me. I know the road that they're walking. I know that the demands that are on them and the expectation on an everyday basis. I know what it's like to have things said that aren't necessarily accurate. And it hurts. It hurts. And so you start to get a hard heart, and then you start to get, you know, a little bit feistier and a little bit. And then before you know it, you're. You don't even know who you are anymore. And so just someone that understands what they're walking through and can give them a safe place to just decompress and be themselves.

[Bobby Bones]

That's awesome.

[Jodi Messina]

That's my heart.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. Did CMT make being famous easier and harder?

[Jodi Messina]

In what way?

[Bobby Bones]

People knew who you were because of videos.

[Jodi Messina]

Videos? No. I don't know.

[Bobby Bones]

Easier or harder or both, but easier because they now knew who you were as a face, but harder because now you had to deal with the fame because there weren't really a lot of. Until CMT or mtv, sometimes you wouldn't know what an artist looked like.

[Jodi Messina]

Right. Hence the Christopher Cross syndrome that happened. There was a big singer named Christopher Cross, and then someone said as soon as the video aspect came out, you know, that's when he lost some traction. And I was like, well, that doesn't seem fair. But it did put a lot of expectation on the way you carry yourself and the way, you know, you have to look and et cetera. It did put all that added pressure on you, but also it was good for, you know, people recognizing you and familiarity in the sense of getting a shows and getting work.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you ever have, like, valets handing you music and stuff?

[Jodi Messina]

All the time still? I drop stuff in my mailbox all the time.

[Bobby Bones]

In your mailbox?

[Amy]

I get your home.

[Bobby Bones]

Yes. Oh, no, I don't like it.

[Jodi Messina]

Or the. I think the latest was the insect guy that Came over and he's like, hey, yeah, so here. Will you go check out my stuff on this website?

[Amy]

Pest control.

[Jodi Messina]

Like pest control. Yes, the insect guy.

[Bobby Bones]

But he's a singer too, it sounds like.

[Amy]

Right, but was he pest controlling your house?

[Jodi Messina]

Yes. After he sprayed the house, he was like, and don't forget, listen to my songs.

[Amy]

I mean, I guess. Yeah. They show up and then they realize, like, okay, whoa, this is Jodi Messina's house. Like, maybe I should shoot my shot,

[Jodi Messina]

but what can I do? I'm like, I'm. I can't do anything for myself. Never mind for that. I'm like, I don't know.

[Bobby Bones]

That's not true. That's funny, but that's not true.

[Jodi Messina]

It's kind of true, right?

[Bobby Bones]

I don't think so. Because you play these shows where tons of people. Come again? I made the comment earlier. You're now TikTok relevant, which is the hardest thing to be. You just have all these different avenues. Because fame is so fractured now. It is more fractured than I've ever seen it. Somebody could be famous to somebody, and then the person next to them has no idea who they are. Yet. This person is freaking out because this person that they follow on TikTok. And so I think you're now so tucked strongly into these areas of, like, new versions of fame. Like, I see people freaking out about you on TikTok and I'm like, oh, dang, this is like a whole different world of fame versus what the fame that you have had for the past 20, 25, 30 years or so.

[Jodi Messina]

You're right. I love that, that it's fractured because it used to be, you know, so many TV shows and everyone would watch them and everyone either had knew them or didn't. You know what I mean? It was like, it's not like, you know, you now have. You find your celebrity here or you're. Find your music there or you find, you know. So that's a great way of describing. That is so great. But I. I love it in the sense of people are like, well, we think your demographic is da, da, da, da. And then you come to. And a lot of these people don't come to the show. So my whole thing is, look at the first 50 rows.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Jodi Messina]

Like, we got six year olds with their moms and their grandmothers, so we're covered. So I think with all those different social media platforms, we're able to hit different demographics. And you know what? These kids still love Bye Bye. And they still love I'm all right. And they are singing it so like, it's crazy the way they find music now. They're singing like deep cuts, all the words. I'm like, I don't even know the words to this.

[Bobby Bones]

So that's why you were being too harsh on yourself when you said you can't even do things for you. You're doing massive, great, wonderful things right now.

[Jodi Messina]

I think I live in a bubble. So, like I just post my little. Do my little dance, you know, and I. Then I go bring my kids to school. And that's true, you know, Or I'm at the rink, I'm at the hockey rink or whatever.

[Bobby Bones]

Kids play hockey?

[Jodi Messina]

Yes. So I see Dirk Spantly quite a bit.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you play against Dirk's kids or same team?

[Jodi Messina]

Well, his kids are younger. Son is younger, so. But they're, you know, it was so funny one time, I was like, are you at the rink? He respond, I texted him and he texted me back. He's like, I'm always at the rink. I'm like, I get you.

[Bobby Bones]

So do your kids play hockey because they have fallen in love with it because of Nashville or because you come from a hockey place and you pass it down a little bit?

[Jodi Messina]

They discovered it on their own. They discovered it when we lived in Georgia. They started with inline hockey.

[Bobby Bones]

I don't know what that is.

[Jodi Messina]

Roller. Like a rollerblade.

[Bobby Bones]

Got it.

[Jodi Messina]

And then they wanted to play ice. So when we move back here, they play ice hockey.

[Bobby Bones]

Just too cold for me. You think if I got to wear a coat to go watch a game, ain't for me.

[Jodi Messina]

Well, sometimes you don't have to wear a coat, but sometimes, yeah, sometimes I keep those drinks.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you travel? Are you a travel parent?

[Jodi Messina]

No, because I travel for work. So my kids were not able to try out for the travel teams.

[Bobby Bones]

That's probably better.

[Jodi Messina]

Well, yeah, and I wasn't going to let them like, hey, go to, you know, Detroit by yourself with people that I don't know and all that stuff.

[Ben Walter]

But.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, I'm so happy that one you're here. You have a box of gifts. Do you. I mean, do you want to give it to us now or do you want to give it to us after? I don't know what it is.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, it would be on the. Hi. It would be on the air. Look, you can see my pants.

[Bobby Bones]

No, your pants are awesome.

[Jodi Messina]

I wear happy pants. I lead worship at a school and so there's 18 months to 8th grade kids that I lead worship with and I always wear my happy pants for them. Mostly the middle schoolers who care less. But the little ones like my pants.

[Bobby Bones]

And we're like your little ones. We act like that's our whole situation here.

[Jodi Messina]

Did you get to all your questions?

[Bobby Bones]

Oh, I could do this for two hours.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, well, we can fire them. I'll give them in 10 words less.

[Bobby Bones]

Did you ever, like, way back in the day, talk about doing Dancing with the Stars? My.

[Jodi Messina]

Yes.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Jodi Messina]

They never. I wasn't ever.

[Bobby Bones]

But did they not approach. They approach you or no.

[Redfin Announcer]

No.

[Bobby Bones]

They never approached you about it?

[Jodi Messina]

No, they. I've got. I went out there a few times, too, so. To support people, and they still never called.

[Bobby Bones]

See? Okay, I'd like to see.

[Jodi Messina]

Maybe they saw my tick tock.

[Bobby Bones]

It hasn't been up long enough, I think. I think you would be excellent for the show.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, I'd love.

[Bobby Bones]

Would you do it now?

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, yeah. It would be fun.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay. I mean, I know people, so I'll just send out a text and be like, hey. Because they do look for different areas, right? They look for somebody in country music every other year. They do look for, like, an athlete. And I'll just be like, hey, keep Jodi Messina in mind, if you wouldn't mind me doing that. I don't want to do that. And then go for it.

[Jodi Messina]

It'd be fun.

[Bobby Bones]

Because if they came to you and you said no, then I'd look bad. Then I'd have to be like, boycott Jod.

[Jodi Messina]

I don't even have a response.

[Bobby Bones]

Okay, good.

[Jodi Messina]

The boycott thing. I thought I'd have a quick comeback. I didn't.

[Bobby Bones]

The album just says out this summer. I don't know what that means. Any date yet? We're just waiting. Do you just want to wait?

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah. There's Sarah. Sarah, what do you think?

[Bobby Bones]

You don't have to say it now. You can take.

[Jodi Messina]

She's. Sarah's like, the mastermind behind all the marketing.

[Bobby Bones]

I just heard. Wait. They're close to confirming, so don't say it.

[Jodi Messina]

Okay.

[Bobby Bones]

I heard in my ear.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh, yeah, there is something in the works there.

[Bobby Bones]

Do you play any of the new

[Jodi Messina]

shows live now that it's out? We're gonna do the whole song.

[Bobby Bones]

That's awesome.

[Jodi Messina]

But people were so frustrated because I would just do the little bit of the chorus and then the hook and then would end it, and they're like, no, they've never heard the whole thing till your show.

[Bobby Bones]

Amy, any question for Jodi before she goes?

[Amy]

Yeah, well, your. Your energy, like, where does that come from?

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah. How do you do it?

[Jodi Messina]

Gratitude, I think oh, yeah.

[Amy]

Okay. So it just splits pure like. Like it's joy.

[Jodi Messina]

It's not.

[Amy]

There's a happiness, joy, content.

[Jodi Messina]

Like.

[Amy]

Would you describe yourself as content?

[Jodi Messina]

I. Somebody said, why is it taking 10 years? And I was like, well, I don't know. I've just kind of been content, you know, I'm happy. So when I say I'm happy to be here, I'm happy to be here at the Bobby Bones show and happy to be here, you know?

[Amy]

Well, there is a different energy about you. Sometimes people come in and they're happy and it feels a little manufactured or just like they're putting it on. And like, you're just like. I feel the energy.

[Jodi Messina]

So that's. That's Jesus. That joy, that joy that comes from within is not like, oh, he makes me so happy because he gave me a new car. I don't have a new car. I bought it used. It's five years old. But it isn't that it's not happy. Happiness is depending on your situation. It's joy where. And perspective, too. Just grateful and grateful. I get to sit here with you. I'm like, that's a gift. That it really is. And you know that I love you and I see you maybe once every couple years, and it's so. So this moment is awesome.

[Bobby Bones]

It's weird that you say that, because you're right. That's absolutely right. But I. Social media allows you to feel like you're closer to somebody because we know each other, but I see all this stuff that you're doing, so I don't. I don't feel like it's been a couple years. But you're right. I think since we've hugged each other, it's been a couple years.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones]

But I do, like, keep up, so it doesn't feel like we're so disconnected. And I also feel like I could just message you and be like, hey, what up?

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah. Yeah, I sent Bobby messages.

[Bobby Bones]

That's not weird. That's because we know each other well.

[Jodi Messina]

Yeah, I like to think. I like to think so because there are moments where I just reach out. Or I think when you announced. When you guys made your announcement, I was like, hang on, brother. Your world's about to change.

[Bobby Bones]

My wife getting pregnant.

[Jodi Messina]

Yes. Because let me tell you, there's a part of your heart. You love your wife, and you think you know what love feels like, but there's a part of your heart that you don't even know exists until that child comes. And then you're like, what is this. Where did this come from? You know? And so I'm so excited for you.

[Bobby Bones]

Thank you.

[Jodi Messina]

Because you're such a good guy.

[Bobby Bones]

Well, I appreciate you saying that. Thank you very much. You're the best. We love having you in. We can't wait for the album and everybody check out stream the new song some bridges. She's gonna play it in her live shows. And again I looked at your tour schedule. You have so many shows. So go to jodymascina.com, shows all the way up until October.

[Jodi Messina]

Oh yeah. Follow me on socials. You'll get to see my dance.

[Bobby Bones]

Odymasina Jodi, Great to see you. Thank you so much. There she is. Jodi Messina

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