From the Patriot Mobile studio powered by E|Spaces, the guys dive into a packed episode of Try That In A Small Town.

They kick things off by reacting to the latest ACM Award nominations: who belongs, who doesn’t, and why politics still run the game. Entertainer, Group, Duo, New Artist, Album, Song, Single, and Musical Event of the Year all get the TTIAST treatment, with plenty of opinions on names like Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Alabama, Zac Brown Band, Parmalee, and more.

Kelly shares a huge personal milestone: after interning for Reba’s company back in the 90s, he finally lands his first Reba cut on a song written in 2005. That opens up a conversation about prayer, persistence, and whether Christians should pray about career and business. The guys revisit the backstory of “If I Didn’t Love You” (Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood), from losing a duet slot to writing something ultra-specific on a deadline and watching it connect.

In the fan-favorite Dip Shitty-its segment, they unload on Masters “pond jumpers,” public bathroom pee etiquette, clapping when servers drop dishes, trash in urinals, rental car abuse, and more everyday behaviors that drive them crazy.

They close with a powerful Small Town Hero story from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where a principal charged an armed student, took a bullet, and likely saved lives. It’s exactly the kind of “try that in a small town” courage the show was built to highlight.

If you like country music, songwriting war stories, small town grit, and unfiltered opinions, this one delivers from front to back.

Timed Highlights (Audio):

0:00 E|Spaces and Patriot Mobile studio intro

1:30 New mic arm, setup chatter, and moon-landing clip going viral

4:00 Moon rocks, Soviets, and joking about “disinformation”

5:10 The Brad Paisley song that “wouldn’t get cut” in 2026

6:00 Masculinity, political correctness, and “I’m still a guy” lyrics

7:30 Origin story: pink cupcakes at school, church culture, and irritation-fueled writing

10:00 Writing the song with Lee Miller and pitching it to Brad Paisley

11:30 Paisley’s issue with singing the word “guy” and nearly losing the cut

13:00 Corporate shows, offended “fancy guys,” and how Kelly softens the bit

14:00 Why fans love their award show breakdowns

14:30 Songwriter of the Year nominees and how political awards can be

15:50 Entertainer of the Year: Luke, Jelly Roll, Cody, Megan, Stapleton, Morgan, Lainey

16:40 Is Megan Moroney really ready for Entertainer of the Year?

17:20 Group of the Year confusion: 49 Winchester, Flatland Cavalry, Red Clay Strays, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts

18:10 Where are Alabama, Zac Brown Band, and Parmalee?

19:10 Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Thelma and James, Muscadine Bloodline

20:20 Admitting they haven’t even heard some nominees, despite being in the business

21:00 New Female Artist: quick thoughts on Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Dasha, Caroline Jones, Emily Ann Roberts

21:40 New Male Artist: Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason, Shaboozey, Hudson Westbrook, Tucker Webb

22:30 Album of the Year: Zach Top, Carter Faith, Riley Green, Morgan Wallen, Parker McCollum

22:55 “If Morgan doesn’t win, call BS on the ACMs”

23:50 Song of the Year: Miranda/Stapleton, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, Zach Top, Lainey Wilson

24:20 Consensus that “Choosing Texas” is massive

25:00 Musical Event of the Year: predicting a big night for Riley Green and Ella Langley

25:40 Single of the Year: Lainey, Cody, Zach Top, Ella, Megan

26:40 Neil missing a Riley Green writers round and golf event

27:30 Neil heading out on the road with Jason Aldean (and staying up late on the bus)

28:40 Original Glory beer and Patriot Mobile spots

30:20 Kelly’s answered prayer: Reba cuts his song from 2005

31:10 From Reba intern in the 90s to Reba cut in 2026

32:00 Co-writers Connie Harrington and Brett Beavers and the power of persistence

33:00 How one cut boosts morale and the next few writing days

33:40 Should Christians pray for career and business?

34:30 Praying for ideas, strength, and perseverance vs specific trophies

35:20 The “If I Didn’t Love You” story: losing a duet, writing on a mission

36:30 Late-night demo, quick mix, and Aldean’s instant reaction

38:00 Lessons in frustration, prayer, and not giving up

39:10 Neil’s Reba hit that nudged him from artist lane to full-time writer

40:10 Kelly/Lovelace/Loveless name confusion and growing up with a “girl’s name”

41:20 Army nameplate abuse and teasing a future long-form story

42:10 Launching into Dip Shitty-its

42:40 Masters Par 3 “pond jumpers” at Augusta and tradition vs spectacle

44:20 Public bathroom pee etiquette: clean your own mess

46:30 Band life and cleaning up after other people’s bad aim

47:40 Clapping when a server drops dishes and why it’s mean, not funny

49:30 Gum and trash in urinals and the “not my problem” mentality

50:30 Rental car abuse vs taking care of what isn’t yours

51:20 The slow driver with the “Caution: Mowers Ahead” truck and the perfect podcast job

52:30 Small Town Hero: Oklahoma principal tackles armed student, takes a bullet

53:40 “Just do something” instead of filming or running

54:30 Why that kind of courage fits the show’s theme

55:30 Bethel Bible Village benefit with John Morgan in Chattanooga

56:30 Final thoughts on ACM noms and Megan Moroney as Entertainer

57:30 Listener call-to-action: subscribe, rate, and leave comments (love or hate)

58:30 Sign-off from TK, Kurt, and K-Low, Patriot Mobile studio powered by E|Spaces

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