Lesly Simon is the General Manager of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's record labels, Pearl Records and Gwendolyn Records. She has over 25 years’ experience in the music industry that include jobs from assistant to radio promotions. She talks about her rise in the music ranks in Nashville that lead her to getting the job on Garth and Trisha’s record labels. Lesly shares that in June 2017 she was diagnosed with breast cancer just shortly after getting that new job. She talks about how she has stayed positive even after being told her cancer has returned.
Lesley is being honored by the American Cancer Society Hope Gala in Bham and is currently raising money for cancer research and patient programs.
Please click here to donate in my honor or in honor or memory of a loved one that has also battled cancer! And feel free to share with any friends or family touched by this disease. There is always HOPE!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Alright, Episode three fifty four, Leslie Simon, the general manager
of Garth Brooks and triciyar Wood's record labels. I mean,
just a crazy story of how she got to where
she yesterday, meaning she and we'll talk about this. She
was working with Chingy for a while, which I thought
a pretty good story, pretty funny story. Yeah, and you know,
(00:21):
she did it all and at one point she moved
off and just was like, I'm gonna like being nanny.
It was it a nanny, yeah, and then she was
like I got to get back. It's crazy, you know,
the life of someone in the music industry. And then
she talks about how she's been affected by cancer because
in seventeen she was diagnosed with breast cancer. So right now,
let me say this before this starts, because I hope
(00:42):
you listen to the whole thing. It's it's a really
fantastic hour here. Leslie's being honored by the American Cancer
Society Hope gall in August, and it's currently raising money
for cancer research and patient programs. You can find the
link in the episode notes of this podcast, So if
you hear this and you're so moved, click that to
donate in her honor or, an honor or memory of
a loved one that is also battled cancer. It's in
(01:04):
separate parts, I mean individually, either one of the parts.
We call them parts A and B. Although they're together individually,
they're both a plus. Together it's just another level. And
you know she doesn't have she's not famous, So I
hope that doesn't discourage you from listening all the way
through because it is great and you're gonna take a
(01:24):
lot from this. So that's the deal. This is episode
three four, and she does She talks about taking Coldplay
to a bar. I just chilling, So it's all there.
This is episode Leslie Simon on the Bobby catst As
we get into a lot of your career, Leslie, what's
interesting to me is that I wonder what you remember
(01:47):
from the day Cam came to the studio. People bring
that up to me as a part of my career,
and you know, I have my story what I tell
because it was my version in my life. And you
come to the studio with Cam and you guys have
a radio single. I don't even know what it was.
Thinking back, I gotta be honest, I don't remember what
it was. And it was like, hey, we're gonna come.
(02:08):
And I liked Camp and so I didn't know where
that well then, but I liked her from our limited
time together. And Camp came in the studio and she
played the song and I was like, man, your song
I really like, I said, I just love Burning House
as I would would you play it? And so she did?
And that's a slow song and she's a new artist,
and obviously that's not it wasn't a single. Oh no,
(02:28):
I mean we were all so nervous about I loved
that song, but I mean it was like, how can
you put a four minute slow that? Like the slowest ballot?
So slow? And when you were like, hey, I love
this song, I was like, cool, let's yeah. So she
played it and then I remember playing it all day.
(02:50):
I played it every thirty minutes on the air for
two reasons. One because I loved it, and too, I
was kind of figuring out my place here and what
kind of influence I head, Yeah, And it wasn't just play.
And so this is download still six or seven years ago.
And so you can watch the iTunes chart where now
it takes longer because streaming numbers aren't immediate, and and
(03:12):
we just skyrocketed and it and I was like, I remember, well,
I remember walking out that day and she and I
were both like, wow, that was really special. And it
was weird because I was like, I didn't focus on
the single. It wasn't planned, and we were fine with that.
Were I always thought you guys were a little upset
because you came in for something and I didn't give
(03:32):
it to you. But not on purpose, No, no, no.
What was so exciting when we walked out of the
door was we felt this energy in that interview. We
felt your excitement for the song. We love the song,
but it was really everything that you're told you can't
take to radio on a new artist. I mean, you're
constantly told we want tempo, we want something short that
(03:53):
you know it's going to be air candy, and this
was slow and had a big, kind of powerful story
behind it. So we walked out and we were both like, God,
that felt so good, and we kind of went through
this what if no, it would just never work. What
if no? You know all of the things that were
(04:15):
always listening to, which are the formula for what you're
supposed to do, It didn't fall into any of those things. Well,
and she's also a female artist, which is another layer,
and it's still a layer now, but it was like
back then, it was it was so hard. It was
so hard, so everything was working against it, right, everything
new female, slow, no reason that should have been radio
(04:37):
song no Reason, and my version of the story from
where I lived. I play it to play it. It's crushing,
it's crushing. I talked to Rod, who runs the format
and is also one of my dearest friends. We've been
together for fifteen years, and I'm like, hey, I've only
ever seen this, like one or two songs ever that
we've done. Ever, I've never seen a reaction like this before.
And it's easier to react to a slow song because
(04:59):
you can actually hear the words, so I expect reaction
from powerful songs. But I said, hey, this is a
weird thing where and I thought you guys were upset.
I was like, they didn't come in from a song,
and I asked him to play it. But Rod wasn't
in that role yet. He was partially he was getting involved,
but he wasn't in the big role. But I called
him because I was fighting for him to get that role.
(05:19):
And I was like, hey, we did this and we
were also and eventually I get to be on the
verge part, but he was very much in that conversation
upon the verge, and I was already positioning for it
because not that I loved Cam and I later did,
and not that I loved you, because I didn't really
know you that well yet, but I saw that as
if that was a hit and I did it, that
people will be like, oh, that guy kind of knows
(05:40):
what he's talking about. But I didn't know what I
was talking about. But I was just I was just
experimenting at the time. And you've always had an ear,
and you had you had that ear. Then I remember
sitting at my desk after we got back, Um, and
you texted me and you texted me a screenshot of
the Attunes chart and I was like, oh my gosh.
(06:03):
And right within seconds of you texting me, we were
at a time that we didn't have a chairman at
Sony Nashville. Some dude call me named Dog or something.
So Doug Morris, Doug Morris, who was the head of
Sony in New York, called me and I answered the
phone and I said, somebody from his office called because
(06:26):
I guess right when you sent me that text. I
sent it to somebody in New York and I'll even
remember who. I just remember Dog's office immediately called me
and Doug said what happened today? And I said, well,
Bobby wanted to and Doug loved Burning House. And Doug
was a huge part of signing CAM. I mean he
actually I'm pretty sure he signed Camp. That's what he
(06:48):
told me. Yes, when I started listened to I didn't
really talk much. I listened a lot, That's what he said.
I mean, I'm like, my key, my brain is like
and so I have to go back. But he signed Cam.
He called me and he said what happened today? And
I said, Bobby loves Burning House and wanted to play
Burning House. And when he played Burning House, there was
this media reaction and this is where it is on iTunes,
(07:10):
and so he obviously I saw the iTunes number and
he was like, this has to be our single. That
quickly made that decision. He was like, I think this
has to be the single. And I was like, we're
always looking for something that's reacting. We want something that's
organic and that's real and that has an instant reaction,
and this song is doing that. And from that conversation.
(07:33):
I mean, then he and I started talking on a
way more regular basis, and then On the Verge came
together and that was really what jump started her career.
That song. I mean, that was a number one record
that had it not been for On the Verge, and
the response that happened that day, Um, that instant reaction
(07:54):
from fans, we never would have gotten enough exposure to
have ever gotten the number one I mean, and then
so many things, you know, opened up for her, So
many doors opened up for her, and you know, Grammy
nominations and performances on television and all of these things
opened from the power of that song in that moment,
(08:17):
And it was one of the most special things in
my career because to have a new artist on a
song like that that everybody says it's not gonna work work, Um,
it was really really exciting and really one of the
things I'm most proud of. But I mean, I still
remember it pretty vividly, where she came in, she played it,
(08:38):
I kept I played it a few times on the air,
just being like, you guys, if you like you gotta
do something because and then my goal was like, let's
see if I can move a needle more than just downloads.
And I'm one with Rod because we had just been
talking about on the Bridge for another artist who didn't
get it, so I don't want to say it is
so and on the verge. For those that are listening,
it's basically the biggest thing you can get as a
(08:58):
new artist with a song, because you just automatically get
a ton of play and automatically move up the charts
and automatically get a good place to get research in
a positive way because you have to have research and
has to show up, but you get enough spins that
it's real life research well, and most importantly, people hear
it because you're getting those spins in the daytime. And
(09:18):
the only way fans can react to music is if
they can discover it and they have to hear it
more than one time, and they have to hear it
just over and over again in a in a regular rotation,
and you get that and not at two in the morning.
That happens a lot of time in new artists, like
most of the play is in the overnight spot um
and I remember getting home and it was a New
(09:40):
York number and I was like, oh, I don't think
it's spent. So my answer and he's like, hey, this
is Doug some some name. I just am not connected, right,
and so he probably has a lot of people who
worship a door and respect what he's done. Later I
learned it. I learned to, but I was like, what up, Doug.
(10:01):
I didn't know who it was, and he's he starts
to tell me a story about Cam coming into Sony
and him signing her and how big of a deal.
So I started to put it all together, like this
is the guy that's because you were at Arista, that
that that division of Sony. So in my head I'm
figuring it out. As I'm talking to I'm like, oh,
so Sony the big boss. He's like over over everything,
(10:24):
all formats and so he was super sweet. He's like,
I just want to say thanks, because in a way,
we were gonna play this as a single because the
team in Nashville had felt like we needed to give
what radio usually wants. I'm like good, and we hang
up and he's like, this is gonna be the song
and I appreciate your support. He was also like, can
I have your support more so? And I was like,
I mean, I was like, yeah, I know, I don't
(10:46):
know what to say, and so because it really had
happened so quickly. So I'm talking to Rod and I'm like, hey, man,
do we want a big win on this or do
we want to grab an artist? It's probably gonna do
pretty good anyway, because if we want a big win,
this is the one because it wasn't single, it's female artist.
It's such a good song, it's different. I said, if
(11:09):
you want to win, we gotta give it a cam
And I don't really get in those conversations a whole lot.
I think I've only ever done it twice other when
one was Christians and buy me a Boat, and I
was like, you gotta do it because they just this
was like right after like I'm hot. I'm like, I'm like,
let's do it again. That's probably a little bit of
why I kept doing the song too, because I was like,
let's see if this is I just caught lightning in
a bottle um and I did. Because those songs were
(11:31):
lightning into bottles. It was just somebody had to put
them on a platform, right. I didn't. I didn't do
anything except go, hey, I'm my people, listen to this this? Yeah,
you gave it the exposure that any artist needs. But
when you have great songs like that and they get exposure,
then they do what they're supposed to do, They do
what they're meant to do. They react, and that's what happened.
(11:51):
And I mean listen, there were some program directors who
were not happy. They did not want to play it,
and they were like, you know, why, why does it
have to be this song? Why does it have to
be a ballad? And we were like, you can't say
it's me because other companies, especially then right now, it's
a little okay because I've kind of established, but then
(12:11):
if you were to say, Bobby did this, they just
pe on it. Well, and I think too at the time.
I mean, it was just there was so much A
female cannot come out with a ballad and you need
to listen to us. A female can't come out with
a ballad. And you know, my thought at that time
was like, hey, man, if you don't hear this and
you don't want to do it, no worries. Let's see
(12:32):
what happens in your market. Let's see what happens with
the streaming numbers. Let's see what happens with the download
numbers because like you said, I mean we people were
still downloading it iTunes, and all of those things came
together in such a real and passionate and big way
that you really didn't have a choice. I mean, I
guess you could be you know, you could have such
(12:55):
an ego that you decided not to share it with
your audience. But why would you do that, you know,
because if the people are telling you they want something,
why would anybody have such a big ego that they
wouldn't give it to him. It was a great little
snapshot of you know, those early years for me and
nashvillists seeing that success, because I loved to see a
(13:16):
song that was just real good, get it, even though
it didn't match what the criteria supposedly was for a
song to be real good, whatever that meant. And there
have been a few of those, like Eric Passley, he
Don't he don't love you, She don't love She don't
love you. That was one too where I was like
it was slow and like the song is just so good,
like guys were, and so we played all the time
(13:37):
and it was only like a top ten, but it
was like it was nominated for big awards, and I
was just so proud of like fighting for that song
because it was just about the song and what That's
one of the things I love that you did at
that time, and you still do, but not not as
much now, but yes, but you really at that time said,
I don't care if this doesn't follow the formula of
(13:58):
what we're supposed to be putting on the radio. This
is an amazing song. And I'm seeing I mean, you're
on the front lines. A lot of program directors are
not on the front lines, but you're on the front
lines because you're talking to people, You're connecting with fans,
you're you know, you're communicating with listeners every day, and
so you really see how they react, whether you're seeing
it on socials or I mean, you still have people
(14:19):
calling to the studio. I mean a lot of people
don't even have phone lines to do that, but you do.
And so you had the opportunity to see how the
listeners and the fans reacted to Burning House into the
other songs that you launched, but you were you were
playing songs that no one else would play, and you
were giving them exposure and letting the fans and the
(14:40):
listeners decide. And at the end of the day. That's
what it's all about, right, I mean like that discovery
is what it's all about. And we kind of got
to a place where we I felt like we were
really struggling to get anything that was different, the opportunity
to succeed, and you gave it the opportunity, and good gracious.
(15:01):
There's a picture in the little waiting room here's Mass
It was awesome. It was awesome, and it's an awesome song.
There's a picture in the room here when you walk out,
like the waiting room for the studio, and it's Cam
and Kelsey because Kelsey's first song was going number one
and Cam was in because she had just been announced
on the Virgin and had him come in at the
same time. And they don't I don't remember what they did,
(15:22):
but I have a picture of that day because it
was awesome to me because I used take Kelsey out
on the road and open for us. She didn't have
a song or anything yet, and I was so proud
of her and she was getting her first number one
and I was so pumped for that song and Cam
and I didn't have the relationship with Cam, but I
just loved this song and the idea of someone doing
something that wasn't really being done, which is taking a
(15:44):
big by the label had to take a chance money
and I was so proud of her in that song.
So there's a picture of us, and I was like,
this is such an awesome day for all of us,
and there's women in country music. It's really cool. And
I don't do this. It's funny. I don't do it
as much anymore for a couple of reasons. One because
you don't really get the instant because it takes a
while for streaming to actually show up. Um, three reasons too.
(16:07):
I just try to be funny at this point, right,
you know, I don't have a lot of time to
listen to a bunch of new music. And it got
to the point where I was getting people all the
time begging me to play new music or listen to
new music, and I didn't have time to be fair,
and if I couldn't be fair, I didn't really want
to do it. And then it got to and you'll
know this because you've been in this industry for a while,
it got really bad with because I had had a
(16:30):
bit of success in a non traditional way of breaking
music and artists that other we'll call them gatekeepers or
other places started to get competitive with it and then
hold people back. That I was like, this is good.
So I was like, they're gonna hold people back, come
out because I'm not gonna do anything and have somebody
penalize something I think is great because I don't work
(16:51):
with that streaming service. I don't work at that, And
so that started to happen and I was like, all right,
I'm out. I'm gonna be out for a while until
it chills. And then so now I do it in
a way of I love this artist and if they're
coming to town, you should go see them, because that's
how you can directly affect an artist well. And you
put the gold stage the other night. Yes, I love
(17:13):
and I still love the same thing. It's the same,
but now if I just find different ways to do it.
Are a waiter at a place weet all the time?
Never told me that story. I loved seeing that story,
and I was like, hey, come on, so I put
them up on stage. You played it was awesome. So yes,
I just have to have to find a different way
to do it. But I love it. I love people
that are good and work hard and are trying every
(17:35):
way to get some sort of exposure and then if
I can, if I have a path for them to
walk down, let's go. I'll take you and we'll go.
Using your platform for that is it's exciting that that
still can happen different, Yes, in a different way. I
mean whatever way you're doing it, you're using your platform
to expose music that you think is great, and I
(17:56):
think that's really important. I appreciate that. It's a big
deal to me. It's a big deal to take somebody's
working hard and give a shot. Yeah, and I think
that's probably I got a therapy. That's my aunts, all
that therapy part of stuff. But uh so I was
interested to hear your take on that because that was
a really cool part of my Nashville time. I'm telling you,
it was one of the most and and then in
(18:17):
the end when it came full circle and it was
the number one record it in all of my career,
it's one of the most um special moments in time.
It is one of the things that I'm most proud
to have been a part of. And um, I mean
it's just so many great memories that that, Yeah, I
just not shooting on for Grammy for that song. That's um.
(18:40):
So you had Brad Paisley, And I don't remember the
first time I met you. It had to be in
studio because you you had oh you know, I do.
The first time I met you was when we had
when y'all were announced here and we had Brad do
an interview, and do you remember that? It was right
when you was like was it the press conference? There
was a there was a really dumb press conference. I'm
embarrassed that we had. But and I didn't have I
(19:02):
didn't know what was going on. I was a wide eyed,
like what's happening? But a Brad there for that maybe
or he was the first interview. There was something that
Brad did at the very beginning. And you and I
met right at that time, and um, I mean we
just didn't we connected. YEA well, because you want like
a car salesman, honestly, I mean, and that's a that's it.
(19:24):
In this town. It's like trying to figure out who's
a car salesman, who's not or who you like. You know,
you can have a friend's car salesmanvie, but you gotta
be like, hey, you gotta turn that crap off. Around me, right,
And that's cool too, as long as they turn it
off around you. I've got that relationship with a few
people now where it's like I get it, but don't
do that here, don't do that with me. We're all
this is life, life, life, um. But you know it's
(19:45):
interesting with Brad. Early on, I went to Brad. I
wrote about this my first book. I went to Brad's
house and he was like, hey, come outside for a minute.
And I was like, what are you gonna shoot me?
What's happening with these country country music people? And so
I was walking with them and it was cool to
me because I grew up listening obviously to a lot
of country music in Arkansas, like it was the central
(20:06):
part of my music until I got to be a
teenager and it turned a little more alternative and and
hip hop. But I remember Brad because I remember his
early early part right before I checked out for a
little bit, and that that part of country music, and
so I thought it was real cool that he was
walking on and he was like, hey, man, think I
like you here? And a little bit. I was taken
(20:27):
aback because I thought he was maybe agreeing with them
or maybe secretly like, I don't know, as showing his
how dominant he was. I don't know, I didn't know,
but it was weird and I was like, what do
you mean and he goes, I'll tell you from experience,
and that's when I knew he was kind of giving
me some advice. He was like, they didn't like me
(20:47):
here for a long time because I was a quirky
and I did some funny stuff and I he goes, listen,
I love country music. Nobody doubts that, but there are
a lot of people here that was like that guy
ain't for here. And he said, you're gonna get that
a lot. And I remember going and this is before
I really got that. I did. Boy did I for
two or three years and I remember going really but
I always held that like it's very precious to me
(21:08):
because yeah, people, yeah, he didn't have to do that.
And he was like, they're gonna like you, and it's
gonna stuck for you for a little bit. And he
was right, Walter. I mean, like, he's one of my
favorite humans in the world. I mean, he's a dear
friend and I loved working with him. But you know,
one thing that I always felt about Brad is when
he wanted to sit down and have a conversation with you,
(21:29):
it was a person a person conversation. He wasn't there
wasn't some other intention that you didn't know about. I mean,
he really wanted to have a conversation with you about
you know, whatever it is you were talking about. And
so him having you out there and having that discussion
with you was a real moment of connection. And there
was something that obviously you guys connected on very early,
(21:53):
that you had a lot in common, and I think
it was it was really cool to watch relationships. It's
very special in you know, I got really isolated myself
a lot for a few years because I just felt
like people were just taking their shots. But I always
remember that and really appreciated that from Brad because he superstar.
You have to do that superstar to do anything, and
you know what, people did that for him when he
(22:14):
started and then he has I watched him do that
with other artists and other people in this industry, and
it's um, it's really special. I mean, it's one of
the things in this industry that I love so much
is that there are these real people who want to
connect with real people. And then also want to help
grow these relationships in this industry together. And it's really
(22:35):
fun when it's a partnership and we all work together. Um.
And I think he really all made that connection early
and and I loved watching that relationship. I was talking
to Amy today and yeah, I mean we're you know,
(22:56):
for those if you Leslie and are we're friends like
real life friends. Um. But we met through a professional
environment and we kind of, you know, morphed into that
and you and Amy your clothes, Amy and I are closed,
So you know, I just gets a love triangle, I'll
say it. Um. So, I mean it was like, she
said something about Cheney this morning, and I was like,
where did Chinney come from? Because I know Chingie holiday
(23:18):
in right there all the and she was like, well,
Leslie Monday night, Yeah, and she said, Leslie's to work
Cheney Records or something. I was like, what did you
work in hip hopera Pop? I worked in Pop. I
was at Capital Pop before I came to Aristile what where?
And I was based on Atlanta, so I was at
the time, I was a Southeastern regional. So you know,
(23:42):
back in the day there were ten and twelve fourteen
locals that worked records across the country for one imprint.
And by that, you mean, if we simplified a little bit,
you had an area and you stayed close with all
the radio stations in your in your localish area. Correct.
And so I covered the southeast out of Atlanta, UM,
(24:02):
which was basically Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, UM, Louisiana, Mississippi was
basically my territory. And I mean, when you're in pop,
you work every pop format. So you're working hip hop, alternative, rock,
pott A C. Pop. I mean, I want to say
I had seven formats and I mean fifteen records at
(24:26):
a time, very different than and this is you know,
this is how I kind of was growing up in
the promotion world before I came back into country. And um,
my very first artists that ever worked to radio, My
very first song was Coldplay in My Place. That was
my first day of work, was the add day for
cold Play in My Place. Um, you know, I didn't
(24:48):
really know hip hop music, but I lived in Atlanta,
which is like the center of hip hop music, and
and I had to represent those artists, and so I
really started to learn the music. But I mean, I'm
from Montgomery, Alabama, and I'm you know, most of the
one syllable words I say come out, and especially you
know twenty years ago, years ago, they came out into
(25:12):
three four syllables. So, um, I worked Cheney right there.
But obviously there does not even sound normal coming out
of my mouth. So when I would call my program
directors to talk to them about this new artist, Cheney
and y'all, that song was such an infectious record. I mean,
(25:34):
I hear it once, It's in my head all days,
still still this long. So I would call to work
the record and I'd say, hey, you know, this is
Leslie with capital calling to talk to you about Cheney
right there. And they were like, Leslie, the song is
right there. I'm like, I know that the song is
called right there. But if I said right there, don't
you actually think it's ridiculous and you don't really take
(25:55):
me seriously? I mean, let me just call it right there.
And then I'm a huge numbers geek. Um. So I
always have like the stats and the numbers and all
the things that were going on with this song. But
I had it in my Southern accent, in my searsucker pants,
with my bows in my hair, working right there, and
(26:18):
these people thought. They all thought I was hysterical because well,
the record mass if you did It made it a hit.
The first time Jenny I took changing to radio, it
was to the Beat, which was the huge hip hop
station in Atlanta, And we met outside of the radio
station and he gets out of the car and he's
got like this posse of like twelve people, and I'm like, Cheney, Like,
(26:43):
the studio where you're gonna go cut these liners is
the size of a closet. We cannot take ten people downstairs.
You get to pick one person to come downstairs with you.
And he's like, no, they're all coming. I was like,
they can't fit in the closet. Everybody's gonna sit upstairs.
We're taking one person. They all thought I was so
funny because they were not used to having this like
(27:03):
really southern, strong, Southern woman who you know, if you
thought that you could tell me how it was going
to go, then I was going to stand up and
go hum, and I'd get my little southern accent on
and kind of slow it down, and um, they all
thought I was hysterical. And I also wore so Chiney
(27:26):
gave us all these belts that literally the belt buckle
was this big and it said Chiney on it. So
when I took him to the radio station, I had
on my cute little seven jeans with my Serier sucker
top and my bows and my hair and my chinny
belt and Rich Money, who was one of the guys
in his group that would was, would be on stage
with him when he performed. He was like, Cheney, she
(27:49):
is representing. And I was like, um what. I had
never heard that word before. I was like, what does
that mean? And I didn't see him pointing to my belt.
I was like, and I'm, you know, sitting there and
thinking he's talking about something that I'm wearying or whatever,
but not thinking it's the belt forgot to have the
belt on. He's like, look, she's representing. And I was like,
what does that mean? And they all started laughing and
(28:11):
they're like, she's representing. And I looked down. I was like, oh,
my belt, I'm representing you. I'm representing you, and they
were like, oh my gosh. But I loved him and
that these guys were great, and it was super fun
to work two songs from a brand new artist that
were so massive. I mean I still like you said
about right there with Holiday Inn. When that's when I
(28:34):
hear the word holiday Inn, I go straight to what
you're doing nothing chilling at the Holiday Inn. So you
worked in we'll call it pop. There's a lot of
little formats. How long did you do that in Atlanta?
I was only in Atlanta for two years, and then
I came back here to do country again. So I
started in country. Um actually started as a temp at
(28:58):
r C, a label group, like a like an administration, yeah,
like an assistant. Were you doing that because you knew
you wanted to get into it or you're just looking
for a job. At that time, I knew I wanted
to get into the music business, So as I started,
I was living in Nashville and I actually worked for
the temp company doing marketing. And my first year old
of college. I'll move through this really quickly. It's just
(29:18):
kind of funny. My dad I was like, okay, you
got four years in a day. Your four years is
about up, and then that means you have to have
a job. And I was like, well, okay, and he's like,
if you don't have a job by the time you graduate,
you're moving back to Montgomery and I'm gonna help you
find a job. And all I could think is, I
don't want to move back to Montgomery, Alabama. I mean
(29:40):
I want to go spread my wings and figure out
who I am. And so, um, long story short, ended
up getting a job as a live in nanny for
a race car driver. UM, a famous one. He's a
top fuel driver, great top fuel driver's name was Jim Head.
So I moved to Columbus, Ohio. Oh he didn't live here. No.
My dad was like, you're I'm gonna go live with
(30:01):
some family we don't know. And long story short, his
uncle happened to live in Montgomery, Alabama and was in
the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club and did all
of this philanthropic stuff with my dad, and so my
dad knew him, and he was like, Okay, well he's
a great man, and this is his nephew. Then he's
(30:21):
a great man too, and yes, you can take the job.
I was like, well, and I'm also two years old,
and so I can kind of take the job if
I want to. So, long story short, I went to
go live on this racing circuit and living in that
I mean, so we were racist every weekend. I think
we had thirty two races in that year. Living in
that sports world, I kind of knew I wanted to
(30:41):
be in sports and and or entertainment. Um. I grew
up in Montgomery, but my family is from Nashville. My
mother grew up in Nashville. I had all these aunts
and uncles in Nashville. So I called my aunt uncle
and I was like, can I come live with y'all
and can you help me find a job when I
finished the year with as an annie and so I
came here and went to work for a temp agency
and when they were r C A was one of
(31:03):
our clients. And so I actually went to the owner
of the company after you know, six or eight months,
and I said, I really want to work in the
music business, and I just wanted to see if y'all
would consider placing me if there's an opening at r
C A. And he was like, of course, and so
you know, you've got to do the work when you
get in there, but we'll we'll if you want to
(31:24):
be a temp we'll get you in the door. And
so I went to be a tempt for the head
of sales at r C A. And they had had
a lot of different assistants kind of come through that desk,
and I was there for two weeks as a temp
and they hired me full time. And that and Joe
Belt I was not wearing the changing belt that was
(31:46):
preaching here yesterday. No, I actually, um, I just had
coffee with a friend and she was telling me that
Joe was over here. So I can't wait to hear
that podcast. He's one of my mentors and one of
my favorite human things um on the planet. And I mean,
he really taught me so much about this business. UM.
So did whomever you were with talked to him after
(32:07):
he was here? I wonder how people feeling, Do you
have good experience here? Do we know? I don't know
if she talked to him after. She just said, oh,
because I said, I'm I'm headed over to do Bobby's podcast,
and she goes, oh, my gosh, Joe just did it yesterday.
And I was like, that's so cool. He's amazing, just
done everything and he's done. He's been so influential in
country music, I mean, and he really has been so
(32:30):
important in so many different executives and artist careers. I mean,
he really was is still one of the greatest mentors
um that that you could have did he move you up? Like?
How did that? Well? I mean I worked for people
under him who moved me up. But I mean, you know,
I've always had a really strong work ethic, and I'm
(32:51):
very driven, and I'm also insanely organized and so kind
of don't end my day until everything is done. And
so when I was at it's so at r c A,
it ended up becoming Sony. But when I was at
r c A at the time, I worked in the
sales department and I ran all of the sales reports. Well,
I mean, y'all, back then, we barely had email. I
(33:12):
mean we didn't have cell phones really, so I would
have to get in on Wednesday morning, which was when
all the sales numbers came out. I would show up
to the office at like four in the morning because
I'd have to run all these programs out of doss.
Do you'll even even, y'all, you do not know what DOSses.
So I'd have to like run these all of sound
(33:33):
scan out of DOSS and then move it into an
Excel spreadsheet. And literally, I mean it's a lot of
and I don't want to say labor intensive, but I mean,
it just takes time. Um, So I did that, and
I put the reports together for all of the executives,
and so to get everybody's report together for their meeting
(33:53):
at nine am, I mean I'd get into the office
at four or four thirty in the morning, so that
when they all got into the office US at you know,
eight thirty for their nanny and meeting, all of their reports,
their sales reports were there. And my degree was in accounting,
so I was always just a numbers person and I
would dig through all of the numbers because I was
just interested. I wanted to know what made things sell,
(34:17):
why did certain things sell when other things weren't selling,
how was it marketed? And so I just started really
paying attention to all of the reports. I was focused
on to try to understand, not just to give them
the report, to understand the why behind it. So when
you move from being attempted, what was the job he
took or they they offered you. I was the assistant
(34:37):
to the head of sales, So what do you Okay,
that's still a numbers very numbers oriented Yeah, So from that,
then what did you do? So then I actually ended
up leaving and I went to work for Mindy McCready,
who was one of our artists, and what did you
do for her? Um? I started as a personal assistant
and then became her tour manager. You were a tour manager.
(34:59):
I was like twenty five years old. That's a difficult,
stressful it is, and we were a baby act. We're
we open for at the time. We were going back
and forth between to mcgrawl, George Straight and Allan Jackson
and I literally like showed up that. I was like,
how did I come this rough? I think the tour
(35:19):
manager quit and then she was like, oh, Leslie is
going to be the tour manager. And then her manager
called and said, this is a terrible idea. You are
basically a child and you have no idea what you're doing.
And I was like, I completely agree with you. I
have no idea what I'm doing. And he was like, well,
I'm gonna go out on the road with you for
a weekend and I'm going to teach you and and
(35:40):
so he, you know, taught me what he could literally
on the bus, and then I remember getting to UM.
The first show was Allan Jackson and Tony Stevens was
Allen's tour manager. At the time, and I walked into
the production office and I was like, Hi, my name
is Leslie and I'm Mindy's tom manager and I have
absolutely no idea what I'm doing, and so if you
would just teach me, I promise I will make this
(36:02):
as easy on you as possible. And I did the
same with Tim's t manager, and they were just so
gracious and wonderful and kind of taught me the road
side of the business and the touring side of the business,
which is very different than the label side. Yeah, and
it's interesting. What's really cool is you had I mean
you had to learn a skill and at the time
it's probably difficult and like is this really hard? But
(36:25):
then you had an element that you knew with your
artists that other people do in your position. I didn't
know because they hadn't probably been on the ground in
that in that form. I was with, um my booking
agent is Brad Bissel. It's Cia and his wife Sally.
He's run the opry and I was with them, but
they came out to my show that I did at
a theater and afterwards, Brad, it was like, it was
(36:47):
really interesting about your career is like you can relate
to people on so many levels. He said, you know,
you've you tour, you know how hard it is and
how and when you get an artist, it's coming into
your show to do an interview, and most people are like,
oh well, it's like you can talk about catering or
what it's like to be in a different hotel and
wake up and not know what city you're in and what,
(37:09):
but a promoter is or not getting your merch money
or you know all this and he's like, that's cool.
And I was like, it was hard. I didn't want
to do it, Like I had to learn because I
wasn't I wasn't good at other stuff, so I had
to find a different way to actually get to where
I was, which is doing all these crazy things. But
now it's like a superpower I have. Same for you.
You were a tour manager for an artist, but you
(37:33):
understood how hard it was to travel and we had
to sleeping always difficult. Comfortablity not a thing, especially the
baby artists. No money, no money, you're living on. It's
so to have that skill that you earned, I just
think that would be so valuable. It was like, it
was a really wonderful experience and it's all very humbling.
(37:55):
I mean anytime you whatever you start doing in this
business is humbling because there's so many people who have
come before you that no more than you know. And
so I just always felt like instead of walking in
and pretending like I knew something that I didn't. Um.
And and also there are a lot of people like
they need you to be efficient and to not get
(38:17):
in the way of their job. And so what I
wanted to know is how do I come in and
be the tour manager for the Support Act and do
what y'all need us to do out here and not
get in your way and also look out for my
artists at the same time. And so and I was young.
I mean, you know, I didn't have a lot of
world experience, much less working experience. UM. But it was
(38:39):
a great opportunity. I mean i'd suck. I know what
suck had to suck. That's a hard, sucky job. And
I mean that it was also fun because I was
a kid and I was seeing the world. When I
say valuable, I don't mean valuable like it was the
most amazing thing. I feel bad for my tour manager
and you know what, I pay them pretty good and
but I also know they're dealing with me and my
schedule and I might need a lemon before my throat sore.
(39:03):
They not only have to deal with Okay, here's just
the person doing the merch. Okay, this is the promoter.
We're gonna meet with them after the show to clear this.
I gotta get Bobby a freaking lemon. I gotta make
sure the lights and make sure people don't have their salt.
It's everything, and you've got the band and you've got
to help. You're you're also representing the band, and so
they have knees as well. I mean, um it's my
only point experience. Yes, it's a great experience, but it's
(39:24):
very difficult, and that is like to have empathy, Yeah
for that, Like that's that's awesome, that's what. So you
do that? Where do you do you get back in
the label business after that? Yeah? I ended up getting back.
I mean, it did some other things and kind of
stepped away, and then I came back in it, and
then um I started. So the next thing I did
in the industry was promotion for Capital and um I
(39:47):
was hired but um our president was in l A,
so it was hired out of the l A office
and for the Atlanta job because the regional again where
you're representing area of stay. Yeah, so that's where I
where I represented Coldplay. And yes, that was my first
promotion job and I didn't know anything about promotion at
(40:09):
the time. By the way, I didn't know. I didn't
even really know that record reps called a radio station
to ask the program Drift to play the music. And so,
you know, I believe it or not, there's a lot
of numbers that go into promotion as well. And you're
looking at um, not only we're a song is on
the charts, but you know which markets generate more audience
(40:32):
and how to drive listenership, Um, how to drive people
to play the song. Laura sat that you have more
people listening to the song, and then when you're going
into a market, you obviously want that song to be
really exposed in a in a very strong way so
that when the artists are on stage, the fans a
or the round the tickets and then they're singing along.
(40:52):
So UM just really learned that side of the business
and it really fit my person aldi. I loved it.
I mean, it was a lot of fun and it
was fun to work. You know, this variety of artists
and Kylie Minogue, Um, Coldplay adored Coldplay. It was there, really,
(41:12):
I mean, so I worked Russia Blood. Yeah, and in
My Place was the first single off of that, and
then they came in for the tour. It wasn't the
first one yellow that record before that was that was
the album for I didn't work that album. So I
worked Russia Blood and Um, I mean I feel like
they started the US tour, I mean pretty close to
the beginning. They did Atlanta and Elton John came out
(41:36):
and played with them in Atlanta, and then they did
um the Raemen, and so I brought him to the
Raemen and they wanted to go out after y'all and
nobody knew who they were, so well, literally we walked
across the street from the Raemen to this bar called Rippies,
and the guy that owned the bar shut it down
and let them in. The band. The music was the
(41:56):
opening act. Just play all night long. We had the
best time, and they love music so much that they
wanted to stay another night before they went on to
the next venue. And so they were like, take us
out to hear bluegrass, and so we took him to
the station in and they got to hear Sam Bush play,
and um, the you know, these were just young guys
(42:17):
from them, but knew them to look because you knew
their music the music, but didn't I mean people, They
weren't as recognizable when they walked off of the stage.
But that I mean now they can't walk outside, but um,
they weren't as recognizable then because Chris Martin was when
you remember the Yellow video. I shook my whole world
when I saw him walking on the beach and I
was like, this is the great song and the video
(42:37):
IVE ever seen. And he's not doing the thing but
walking and being sad, and I was like, this is changing,
this is it, And so I was still. I love
cold Play. I like their piano slow stuff more than
their I like the version of the instrument. Some people
like the new version, but I love cold Play. But
it's cool that they I just wanted to hang. They
just wanted to and I mean they were just great people.
(43:00):
They're great guys. I mean, you know the that album.
I mean, think about the great songs on that album.
Clocks the Scientist, what a brilliant song, I mean, And
then Willie Nelson covers the Scientist and Chris's version of
the scientists and Willie's version of the scientists are so different,
but bos so poignant. I mean that's just love of music.
So you were I also remembered you with Carrie. Yeah, right,
(43:30):
you're with Kry right Arista. Is Theresa still a thing?
Yeah it is. Yeah. I have no connection to labels
at all. Yeah, so old dominion is on Arista. Um,
and I gotta be honest, I can't remember. Yeah, I
mean I don't I don't know who's on labels either.
I was talking to you before labels will come in
to the studio anymore. They're in the green room, because
(43:50):
it was just a mess, and I was like, I
want to do a show and have connection me in
the artist, and but if the labels in there, it's
just like it's sometimes yeah, it's a little different. Oh
you're an Arista. And I remember there was like a
big layoff or something like some people left and so
I was there for thirteen years. Um, and then one
(44:11):
time I started as a regional and then you know,
became the national and then became the baby and um,
I mean gosh, when I started, I mean it was
head Brooks and Done and Alan Jackson and Brad and
Um Keith Anderson Filvasser then carry um Lanco at the
(44:32):
beginning maybe we had the beginning of Laco and then
you know, as happens in UM this world when you
have changes at the top, chairman changes, that's what. It
was a big change, and they brought in their own people.
Remember being like what and I hated her after that,
I was like, no more. Well, I mean, listen, when
when I left, we were the number two label, the
(44:54):
number two in print and country music. So I mean
we had a ton of success and it was a
lot of fun. But then everything in life happens for
a reason. I'm a huge believer in that. And I'm
also a huge believer in one door closing is just
making room in your life and space for another door opening.
And right when I I so I left Sony in
(45:16):
Arista in February of two thousand and sixteen, and I mean,
I want to say it was like either right before
that or right after Garth announced he was staffing the
imprint and Um said I'm looking for Garth. Yeah. I
was like Brooks, You're like yeah, and so how does
(45:38):
that happen? You're still with Garth and Tricia. Yeah, so
how does how does that conversation? Does he call you? Does? So?
Mandy McCormick um was working, was the first person that
went over to work directly with he and Trisha, and
so she was really helping him staff it. She called
me and we had a couple of conversations and then
(46:00):
she said, Um, he's playing the show with the Rheman
and we want you to come up and see it.
And it was his first time to play the Rahman yall,
which I did not ever. Yeah, however, I thought it
was like a first time to played Ryan and he
gets too big, he quick, I think he did. He
all of a sudden he had not played the Rheman
and then he went out and was playing these huge shows.
(46:21):
And I don't actually remember the exact story of why
he didn't play it until that moment, but it was
when I say it was one of the most special
music experiences in my life. My husband came up here
with me. We went to the show and at one
point in the show, I had tears coming down my
face and my husband looked at me and he's like,
that's a visceral reaction to music and if you are
(46:45):
emotional in a happy way, not a sad way. I mean,
it was just so it was such a beautiful performance.
I mean, here he's playing these covers at the beginning
with the with the curtains closed on the stage of
the Rheman and he's playing George Jane and Johnny Cash
and just you're like, oh my gosh. I mean, you're
listening to this amazing music and from him, and then
(47:08):
he and Trisha come on stage together. It was just
it was really a powerful night. And Um, the next day,
I remember my husband looking at Mandy and was like,
she's going to do this. And then he called me
that night the next night and we just had a
conversation about, you know, kind of where I was in
my life and what I wanted to do and what
(47:31):
he wanted to do with the label and you know
where he was, and UM, at that point, I was like,
I'm in It's weird when Garth calls on the phone.
It's weird because you're just like, that's crazy voices coming
out of a little phone right there, and he's just
this kindest that's weird too. He's so kind and he's
so gracious and he's so he listens better than anybody
(47:58):
I know. I mean, like literally listens to the words
coming out of your mouth and what you're saying. And
some people are thinking about what they're going to say
next when they're talking to somebody. He doesn't agree. It's again,
I keep using the word weird, because you just don't
expect a massive start, the big star in the world.
And he all that, he makes the time, and he cares,
(48:20):
he really cares about human beings. And I mean Tricia
is the same. She's one of my very best friends.
I just absolutely adore them. And I have to say,
I mean, you know, I started in September of two
thousand and sixteen, and you know, here I was the
GM of their labels and we're launching this new team
(48:41):
and this new music and and six months after I started,
I was diagnosed with cancer. And both of them immediately
went into whatever you need every single time that I
called him, and I was like, Okay, I want to
really not focus on the answer wonderful normal and focus
(49:02):
on work. And so you know, after I had the
surgery and and i'd kind of get over the hump
of chemo, I would call him to talk about work,
and he'd answer the phone and he'd stopped me. I mean,
I'd go, hey, how you doing. I want to talk
to you about and I'd just like dive in and
he's like, whoa, hey doing and I'm like, I'm good.
How are you feeling? And he would always stop and
(49:24):
want to talk about how I was. And I felt
like with both he a tricia my health and where
I was, not just physically, but I mean, you know,
this kind of a disease is it's emotionally trying as well.
And they were always so concerned about me and my
(49:46):
family and how we were doing in the juggle and
I and I remember saying to him, I need to work.
I need to feel normal, and working makes me feel normal.
And he was like, you know, you can work as
much as you want to, but you also need to
take care of yourself. You felt supported personally and professionally,
(50:11):
which makes you feel even more supported personally exactly, I mean,
and I don't I think it's really difficult in a
corporate environment, even though a lot of corporations are very supportive,
especially of people with you know, health situations, but in
this industry, it's really hard to have that much love
(50:34):
and support around you. I mean, I remember after we
kind of got over the hump, and it was now
it's two thousand and eighteen, and I was up at
the house one day and UM, and I said to him,
you know, we were just talking about the whole journey.
And I said, and you know, here him on the
other side of it, I have no cancer my body. UM,
my hair's growing back. And and he was like, so,
(50:54):
how you know, You've have been through a lot, and
you've been so strong through all of it. And I
remember saying to him, as difficult as this diagnosis is
and going through all of this, it's the greatest thing
that's ever happened in my life. And UM, I thought
that then in two thousand and eighteen, and then as
you know, it came back. Um. Actually right after your wedding.
(51:19):
I remember you told me the wedding was like one
of the last time you didn't know it was the
last celebration I had that I didn't know. UM. I went,
I had my doctor's wom on Tuesday after your wedding,
and UM, and we found out that it's metastatic stage four.
You know, this is the rest of my life and
it has been the is trying and and difficult as
(51:42):
it is, it's been the greatest thing to happen in
my life because of the perspective shift that happens when
your mortality is staring you in the face. Um. You
just you have a choice to make and you can
either be a victim or you can live really intentionally
and you can really celebrate your life and the people
(52:06):
in your life, and you can really decide what what
matters now, Like what am I going to do that's
gonna matter because you know, my life expectancy is not
the same as any of y'alls. And UM, I've come
to terms with that. I've processed that, and so what
you know what I told my doctors, it's just recently
(52:30):
we found out a couple of weeks ago that is
metastasised into my brain, which is the worst possible news
that you can get. Um. But at the same time,
this new drug was just released that is really you know,
this could be a game changer for me. You could
take my life expectancy from two years to you know,
(52:51):
we don't know how long because it's a new drug. Um.
So it it makes you look at life in a
completely different way. It makes you every decision you make,
every what you do when you wake up in the morning. Um,
you know, kindness and love and joy. I've been so
(53:11):
overwhelmed with this just gratitude, the number of people that
have reached out. I mean the first time around, you
guys sent me this toll box full of Pimp and
Joy stuff, and all I wanted to do during the
first battle was to run this race. That was like
the one thing that I was like, if I can
just run this tin k on Thanksgiving Day, Um, while
I'm going through chemo, it's proving to me that I'm
(53:32):
still physically able. And so my sister and um, my
stepchildren's mom, um and her wife, we all went out
and ran this together. And we all I've had everybody
in Pimp and Joy, So everybody on our career was
in like a Pimp and Joy shirt or a Pimp
and Joy sweatshirt, Pimp and Joy hat, and we all
went out and you know, we were in our Pimp
(53:54):
and Joy And so you feel this love and gratitude
that actually is out there for all of us to feel.
You don't have to just have a disease to feel that.
But a lot of times we get caught up in
negativity and just stuff and worry in the world. And UM,
when you kind of let those things go and you
focus on UM, spending really good quality time with people
(54:17):
and sharing love and receiving love. And and then also
you know, right now we're in this phase of bucket
list as I told you earlier, and you know, Robert
and I are let's do everything that that we ever
wanted to do, and you know, spend quality time with people.
(54:38):
And you know, I'm I'm sitting here with two bosses
that not only helped me do that, but UM, there's
not just bosses, they're my friends and they're a real
part of UM helping me have these experiences that there's
(54:58):
nothing there's no for me to even you. I don't
have the words to express the gratitude for that kind
of love and um compassion. I remember at the wedding
(55:19):
and you know, things are running ten thousand miles an
hour to wedding because it's just everybody that you care about,
and everybody wants to hang out and stay a few things.
And remember and I love your husband too, just just
the best. And you know, one of the only people
that I've let dominate me in the fight for the check,
which and something like, all right, you can have it.
I get it. I mean your hometown, you can pay
it for it went with Alabama, we had and so
(55:43):
I remember spending time there, and um, I guess you
had spent some time with Gary the Box of my wedding. Yes,
oh my god, we had so much fun. We sat
next to each other at dinner and I remember him
calling and somehow he had heard your story or I
don't know how he caught it somewhere us because obviously
at the wedding you didn't even know the cancer come back.
(56:04):
And so you're with Gary Gary the Box. I was
fleecing a rascal flats and uh, Gary's just lovely and
it's like a ball of energy and just yes, on,
He's just on. And it's so. I remember he called
me and he was like, hey, so your friend lately.
I spent a lot of time we were at the wedding. Um,
I don't know if he knew you had cancer. I
(56:25):
just want to reach out to you. I don't remember
what version it was, but I remember reaching out just like, hey,
can I give Gary your you know your number? And
Gary called you and I think you told me that
you guys had just prayed just about you know, what
you were going through. And I thought one the fact
(56:46):
that he had such a a night, you know, this
this gathering of moments with you through one night, that
he was like, I need to get in touch with
her because that needs to be my friend. First of all,
I was like, I get it, like that she's my friend,
Like I understand why. And then secondly, because I think
he said, you care if I call her and just
(57:06):
pray with her. Yeah, that's when you when you called me,
That's what you said. He just wants to pray with you.
So he must like, honey, I got I'm taking all
of the prayers and anybody wants to pray with me.
I mean, I'm in So he must have known somehow. Yeah,
But I I just thought, man, like Gary, that's awesome,
you know, And you know what I think happened. I
think when I started, I'm so you know, I'm like
(57:27):
the worst person at social media. Um a, I'm just
not good at it and be um pretty private, so
I don't share a whole lot. But I had this
moment sitting in the chemo chair on October one and
starting this horrific adrianas and which is red Devil Chemo,
and I was like, this is I have to tell
(57:47):
people what's happening because people need to be self aware
and do self checks. There are things that can save
your life if you find cancer early. And so I
just felt really compelled to write my story in a
social media post which is about is not me is?
(58:10):
I mean, it was kind of shocking, and I think
that somehow he saw that, whether it was through a
mutual friend or UM, but it was really sweet. I mean,
to me, somebody offering to come and pray with you
and take It's one of the just the most beautiful
things that happens when you're going through something traumatic. If
(58:31):
you take a step back and you just look at
what is happening in the moment. People wanting to take
time out of their schedule to pray for you, to
check on you, to um just let you know that
they're sending love. I mean, those little things are huge,
(58:52):
and it's really how we should all try to live
our lives. I mean, one thing that I try to
do now is when somebody comes to my mind's a
reason that person came to my mind, Send them a
text or a note and just say you know, I
love you, I'm thinking about you. You just came to
my mind. I just wanted to say hey. And I
used to like I don't want to bother people. I
(59:14):
think that now honestly, I mean I don't want somebody,
but I have this experience has made me go when
when I feel that way, I look at my phone
and you know, yesterday, out of the blue, I had
six or seven friends just reach out that I'm not
talking to on a daily basis. Hey, I just want
you to I'm thinking about you today, how's it going,
when's your next treatment? And it's just fills you, fills
(59:38):
you with love and joy. And and then, as you
guys always say, with pimp and joy what joy forces?
Joy enforces joy enforces joy. And the more that we
spread that, um, I mean, listen, there's enough bad news
on the television and then the news that if we
(59:59):
just started all trying to do our little part to
spread kind of joy love, UM, it's really life changing.
The last thing I want to ask you about is
bay Laura later Ray Ray, my producer, my friend's wife.
How because she got diagnosed breast cancers were as well,
(01:00:21):
and obviously she loves you. But you guys, I don't
know if you knew each other before. We did not.
So Tricia called me and said, I have a friend
who was just diagnosed and she's really young, and she said,
would you talk to her? And I was like, absolutely, Well,
I had my wig made at this fabulous place here
(01:00:42):
because the first time I went through it, losing my
hair was incredibly traumatic. And so Tricia introduced me to
this company here who made wigs, and and Tricia found
them when they made her mom's wig when her mom
had had cancer. So I had gone there and they
made the score just wait from me, and so um,
(01:01:03):
they was going to have an appointment at this place,
and so I flew up here and met her and
went to her appointment with her, and then we just
sat down afterwards and I talked to her about my
experience and all the things that I've been through, the good,
the bad, the ugly, but really the good and the
love and the joy that you have to keep going
(01:01:24):
while you're going, you have to keep perpetuating while you're
in this process. And we instantly connected and then she
what a rock star, I mean, she shared her journey
to so many people and has had such a great
impact on the women who are going through this. So
it started, you know, with her sharing on social media,
(01:01:45):
and then she started a blog and she really has
been so impactful and so many women's treatment and discovery
of the disease. And then she actually asked me to
write my story UM in her blog, and I was like,
oh my gosh, like I don't really do this. I'm
super private, and then I was like, no, I need
(01:02:06):
to do this. So this was before mine came back,
and so UM I wrote for her for her blog.
She's the only person I think that at the time
could have gotten me to do that. UM. And you know,
we've just been friends ever since since she's followed my
journey and I've followed hers, and we're you know, we've
just been friends. There's It's a really interesting thing was
(01:02:28):
when this happens, there's a lot of women who have
been through it. There's a lot of people that have cancer.
But you all of a sudden, you're in the club
that nobody wants to be in. And when you get
invited into this club that nobody wants to be in,
you really want to help love and nurture the other
people in it um. And so I mean, right now,
I have my friend Clea from the Home Edit. She's
(01:02:48):
going through it as well. And you know, we have
houses in Florida that in the same community. And we're
sitting at the pool one day and she's sitting next
to me and I was like, I'm Leslie, I'm going
through the same thing you're going through. And we sat
and talked for you three hours, and we just you
really try to love and support people through it and
(01:03:11):
be there because there's, like anything, you can't really understand
what it's like. As much as I mean, my husband
is my rock, my family, my friends, you know, there's
so many people that are here to support me. But
the women who are going through it, there's just a
different reality that we know that you can't know unless
(01:03:32):
you're going through it. And so there's something super special
about the relationships that form because of this, and it's
one of the things that I'm forever grateful for. And
Bay and I have that, and I'm really grateful for it.
And she is just y'all know, this ball of energy
and light and fun and funny, and I'm super grateful
for her and just so much, you know, just well,
(01:03:57):
I'm glad you stop lying. And I was gonna to
you anyway because you text your like ham in town
and I was like, wow, I'm going to the aiming
one days. You're aiming the girls and I was like, well,
I can't do that on Tuesday, I'm here. I was like,
it's so last minute, but I gotta find some space.
And so I literally had two hours to open this afternoon,
and I was like, I was like, can't you come there?
(01:04:18):
It's all I got and said, obviously I want to
see her, talk to her, but I also want to
talk with her because I think your career itself is
very interesting. I think your story and your journey through
cancer is um extremely compelling, but it's also encouragement to
others and the fact that you remain this positive force
(01:04:39):
and it's not always positive, honestly, nothing right, but you
still remain you know this, but then your overall story
of all of it, Like, I just think people are
gonna take so much from this in so many ways.
I'm grateful that you did it, and you did this.
I'm just so thankful, and you know, I love you,
and and same with Robert AND's awesome has been Uh,
(01:05:01):
you know, I didn't used to talk about this stuff
so openly, but I think it's important, and I think
it's important, especially in the world and all the craziness
that's happening in our world, you know, to use whatever
platform we have to share love and joy and commis
and compassion and um. Everybody's going through something and they
(01:05:21):
just need there's a little kindness. Well, thank you for
your time. It's been awesome. All right, there she is
Leslie Simon. Everybody, thank you to Leslie for coming by.
That was an amazing episode. Again, let me remind you
Leslie's being an honored by the American Cancer Society Hope
(01:05:41):
Gala in August and she's currently writing money for cancer
research and patient programs. You can find that link in
the episode notes of this podcast. Five bucks, tin bucks,
whatever you can that would be awesome. Hopefully you removed
by this click that to donate her honor or an
honor or memory of a loved one that is also
a battle cancer. Thank you, guys. The student Active pol
Alright, Episode three fifty four, Leslie Simon, the general manager
of Garth Brooks and triciyar Wood's record labels. I mean,
just a crazy story of how she got to where
she yesterday, meaning she and we'll talk about this. She
was working with Chingy for a while, which I thought
a pretty good story, pretty funny story. Yeah, and you know,
(00:21):
she did it all and at one point she moved
off and just was like, I'm gonna like being nanny.
It was it a nanny, yeah, and then she was
like I got to get back. It's crazy, you know,
the life of someone in the music industry. And then
she talks about how she's been affected by cancer because
in seventeen she was diagnosed with breast cancer. So right now,
let me say this before this starts, because I hope
(00:42):
you listen to the whole thing. It's it's a really
fantastic hour here. Leslie's being honored by the American Cancer
Society Hope gall in August, and it's currently raising money
for cancer research and patient programs. You can find the
link in the episode notes of this podcast, So if
you hear this and you're so moved, click that to
donate in her honor or, an honor or memory of
a loved one that is also battled cancer. It's in
(01:04):
separate parts, I mean individually, either one of the parts.
We call them parts A and B. Although they're together individually,
they're both a plus. Together it's just another level. And
you know she doesn't have she's not famous, So I
hope that doesn't discourage you from listening all the way
through because it is great and you're gonna take a
(01:24):
lot from this. So that's the deal. This is episode
three four, and she does She talks about taking Coldplay
to a bar. I just chilling, So it's all there.
This is episode Leslie Simon on the Bobby catst As
we get into a lot of your career, Leslie, what's
interesting to me is that I wonder what you remember
(01:47):
from the day Cam came to the studio. People bring
that up to me as a part of my career,
and you know, I have my story what I tell
because it was my version in my life. And you
come to the studio with Cam and you guys have
a radio single. I don't even know what it was.
Thinking back, I gotta be honest, I don't remember what
it was. And it was like, hey, we're gonna come.
(02:08):
And I liked Camp and so I didn't know where
that well then, but I liked her from our limited
time together. And Camp came in the studio and she
played the song and I was like, man, your song
I really like, I said, I just love Burning House
as I would would you play it? And so she did?
And that's a slow song and she's a new artist,
and obviously that's not it wasn't a single. Oh no,
(02:28):
I mean we were all so nervous about I loved
that song, but I mean it was like, how can
you put a four minute slow that? Like the slowest ballot?
So slow? And when you were like, hey, I love
this song, I was like, cool, let's yeah. So she
played it and then I remember playing it all day.
(02:50):
I played it every thirty minutes on the air for
two reasons. One because I loved it, and too, I
was kind of figuring out my place here and what
kind of influence I head, Yeah, And it wasn't just play.
And so this is download still six or seven years ago.
And so you can watch the iTunes chart where now
it takes longer because streaming numbers aren't immediate, and and
(03:12):
we just skyrocketed and it and I was like, I remember, well,
I remember walking out that day and she and I
were both like, wow, that was really special. And it
was weird because I was like, I didn't focus on
the single. It wasn't planned, and we were fine with that.
Were I always thought you guys were a little upset
because you came in for something and I didn't give
(03:32):
it to you. But not on purpose, No, no, no.
What was so exciting when we walked out of the
door was we felt this energy in that interview. We
felt your excitement for the song. We love the song,
but it was really everything that you're told you can't
take to radio on a new artist. I mean, you're
constantly told we want tempo, we want something short that
(03:53):
you know it's going to be air candy, and this
was slow and had a big, kind of powerful story
behind it. So we walked out and we were both like, God,
that felt so good, and we kind of went through
this what if no, it would just never work. What
if no? You know all of the things that were
(04:15):
always listening to, which are the formula for what you're
supposed to do, It didn't fall into any of those things. Well,
and she's also a female artist, which is another layer,
and it's still a layer now, but it was like
back then, it was it was so hard. It was
so hard, so everything was working against it, right, everything
new female, slow, no reason that should have been radio
(04:37):
song no Reason, and my version of the story from
where I lived. I play it to play it. It's crushing,
it's crushing. I talked to Rod, who runs the format
and is also one of my dearest friends. We've been
together for fifteen years, and I'm like, hey, I've only
ever seen this, like one or two songs ever that
we've done. Ever, I've never seen a reaction like this before.
And it's easier to react to a slow song because
(04:59):
you can actually hear the words, so I expect reaction
from powerful songs. But I said, hey, this is a
weird thing where and I thought you guys were upset.
I was like, they didn't come in from a song,
and I asked him to play it. But Rod wasn't
in that role yet. He was partially he was getting involved,
but he wasn't in the big role. But I called
him because I was fighting for him to get that role.
(05:19):
And I was like, hey, we did this and we
were also and eventually I get to be on the
verge part, but he was very much in that conversation
upon the verge, and I was already positioning for it
because not that I loved Cam and I later did,
and not that I loved you, because I didn't really
know you that well yet, but I saw that as
if that was a hit and I did it, that
people will be like, oh, that guy kind of knows
(05:40):
what he's talking about. But I didn't know what I
was talking about. But I was just I was just
experimenting at the time. And you've always had an ear,
and you had you had that ear. Then I remember
sitting at my desk after we got back, Um, and
you texted me and you texted me a screenshot of
the Attunes chart and I was like, oh my gosh.
(06:03):
And right within seconds of you texting me, we were
at a time that we didn't have a chairman at
Sony Nashville. Some dude call me named Dog or something.
So Doug Morris, Doug Morris, who was the head of
Sony in New York, called me and I answered the
phone and I said, somebody from his office called because
(06:26):
I guess right when you sent me that text. I
sent it to somebody in New York and I'll even
remember who. I just remember Dog's office immediately called me
and Doug said what happened today? And I said, well,
Bobby wanted to and Doug loved Burning House. And Doug
was a huge part of signing CAM. I mean he
actually I'm pretty sure he signed Camp. That's what he
(06:48):
told me. Yes, when I started listened to I didn't
really talk much. I listened a lot, That's what he said.
I mean, I'm like, my key, my brain is like
and so I have to go back. But he signed Cam.
He called me and he said what happened today? And
I said, Bobby loves Burning House and wanted to play
Burning House. And when he played Burning House, there was
this media reaction and this is where it is on iTunes,
(07:10):
and so he obviously I saw the iTunes number and
he was like, this has to be our single. That
quickly made that decision. He was like, I think this
has to be the single. And I was like, we're
always looking for something that's reacting. We want something that's
organic and that's real and that has an instant reaction,
and this song is doing that. And from that conversation.
(07:33):
I mean, then he and I started talking on a
way more regular basis, and then On the Verge came
together and that was really what jump started her career.
That song. I mean, that was a number one record
that had it not been for On the Verge, and
the response that happened that day, Um, that instant reaction
(07:54):
from fans, we never would have gotten enough exposure to
have ever gotten the number one I mean, and then
so many things, you know, opened up for her, So
many doors opened up for her, and you know, Grammy
nominations and performances on television and all of these things
opened from the power of that song in that moment,
(08:17):
And it was one of the most special things in
my career because to have a new artist on a
song like that that everybody says it's not gonna work work, Um,
it was really really exciting and really one of the
things I'm most proud of. But I mean, I still
remember it pretty vividly, where she came in, she played it,
(08:38):
I kept I played it a few times on the air,
just being like, you guys, if you like you gotta
do something because and then my goal was like, let's
see if I can move a needle more than just downloads.
And I'm one with Rod because we had just been
talking about on the Bridge for another artist who didn't
get it, so I don't want to say it is
so and on the verge. For those that are listening,
it's basically the biggest thing you can get as a
(08:58):
new artist with a song, because you just automatically get
a ton of play and automatically move up the charts
and automatically get a good place to get research in
a positive way because you have to have research and
has to show up, but you get enough spins that
it's real life research well, and most importantly, people hear
it because you're getting those spins in the daytime. And
(09:18):
the only way fans can react to music is if
they can discover it and they have to hear it
more than one time, and they have to hear it
just over and over again in a in a regular rotation,
and you get that and not at two in the morning.
That happens a lot of time in new artists, like
most of the play is in the overnight spot um
and I remember getting home and it was a New
(09:40):
York number and I was like, oh, I don't think
it's spent. So my answer and he's like, hey, this
is Doug some some name. I just am not connected, right,
and so he probably has a lot of people who
worship a door and respect what he's done. Later I
learned it. I learned to, but I was like, what up, Doug.
(10:01):
I didn't know who it was, and he's he starts
to tell me a story about Cam coming into Sony
and him signing her and how big of a deal.
So I started to put it all together, like this
is the guy that's because you were at Arista, that
that that division of Sony. So in my head I'm
figuring it out. As I'm talking to I'm like, oh,
so Sony the big boss. He's like over over everything,
(10:24):
all formats and so he was super sweet. He's like,
I just want to say thanks, because in a way,
we were gonna play this as a single because the
team in Nashville had felt like we needed to give
what radio usually wants. I'm like good, and we hang
up and he's like, this is gonna be the song
and I appreciate your support. He was also like, can
I have your support more so? And I was like,
I mean, I was like, yeah, I know, I don't
(10:46):
know what to say, and so because it really had
happened so quickly. So I'm talking to Rod and I'm like, hey, man,
do we want a big win on this or do
we want to grab an artist? It's probably gonna do
pretty good anyway, because if we want a big win,
this is the one because it wasn't single, it's female artist.
It's such a good song, it's different. I said, if
(11:09):
you want to win, we gotta give it a cam
And I don't really get in those conversations a whole lot.
I think I've only ever done it twice other when
one was Christians and buy me a Boat, and I
was like, you gotta do it because they just this
was like right after like I'm hot. I'm like, I'm like,
let's do it again. That's probably a little bit of
why I kept doing the song too, because I was like,
let's see if this is I just caught lightning in
a bottle um and I did. Because those songs were
(11:31):
lightning into bottles. It was just somebody had to put
them on a platform, right. I didn't. I didn't do
anything except go, hey, I'm my people, listen to this this? Yeah,
you gave it the exposure that any artist needs. But
when you have great songs like that and they get exposure,
then they do what they're supposed to do, They do
what they're meant to do. They react, and that's what happened.
(11:51):
And I mean listen, there were some program directors who
were not happy. They did not want to play it,
and they were like, you know, why, why does it
have to be this song? Why does it have to
be a ballad? And we were like, you can't say
it's me because other companies, especially then right now, it's
a little okay because I've kind of established, but then
(12:11):
if you were to say, Bobby did this, they just
pe on it. Well, and I think too at the time.
I mean, it was just there was so much A
female cannot come out with a ballad and you need
to listen to us. A female can't come out with
a ballad. And you know, my thought at that time
was like, hey, man, if you don't hear this and
you don't want to do it, no worries. Let's see
(12:32):
what happens in your market. Let's see what happens with
the streaming numbers. Let's see what happens with the download
numbers because like you said, I mean we people were
still downloading it iTunes, and all of those things came
together in such a real and passionate and big way
that you really didn't have a choice. I mean, I
guess you could be you know, you could have such
(12:55):
an ego that you decided not to share it with
your audience. But why would you do that, you know,
because if the people are telling you they want something,
why would anybody have such a big ego that they
wouldn't give it to him. It was a great little
snapshot of you know, those early years for me and
nashvillists seeing that success, because I loved to see a
(13:16):
song that was just real good, get it, even though
it didn't match what the criteria supposedly was for a
song to be real good, whatever that meant. And there
have been a few of those, like Eric Passley, he
Don't he don't love you, She don't love She don't
love you. That was one too where I was like
it was slow and like the song is just so good,
like guys were, and so we played all the time
(13:37):
and it was only like a top ten, but it
was like it was nominated for big awards, and I
was just so proud of like fighting for that song
because it was just about the song and what That's
one of the things I love that you did at
that time, and you still do, but not not as
much now, but yes, but you really at that time said,
I don't care if this doesn't follow the formula of
(13:58):
what we're supposed to be putting on the radio. This
is an amazing song. And I'm seeing I mean, you're
on the front lines. A lot of program directors are
not on the front lines, but you're on the front
lines because you're talking to people, You're connecting with fans,
you're you know, you're communicating with listeners every day, and
so you really see how they react, whether you're seeing
it on socials or I mean, you still have people
(14:19):
calling to the studio. I mean a lot of people
don't even have phone lines to do that, but you do.
And so you had the opportunity to see how the
listeners and the fans reacted to Burning House into the
other songs that you launched, but you were you were
playing songs that no one else would play, and you
were giving them exposure and letting the fans and the
(14:40):
listeners decide. And at the end of the day. That's
what it's all about, right, I mean like that discovery
is what it's all about. And we kind of got
to a place where we I felt like we were
really struggling to get anything that was different, the opportunity
to succeed, and you gave it the opportunity, and good gracious.
(15:01):
There's a picture in the little waiting room here's Mass
It was awesome. It was awesome, and it's an awesome song.
There's a picture in the room here when you walk out,
like the waiting room for the studio, and it's Cam
and Kelsey because Kelsey's first song was going number one
and Cam was in because she had just been announced
on the Virgin and had him come in at the
same time. And they don't I don't remember what they did,
(15:22):
but I have a picture of that day because it
was awesome to me because I used take Kelsey out
on the road and open for us. She didn't have
a song or anything yet, and I was so proud
of her and she was getting her first number one
and I was so pumped for that song and Cam
and I didn't have the relationship with Cam, but I
just loved this song and the idea of someone doing
something that wasn't really being done, which is taking a
(15:44):
big by the label had to take a chance money
and I was so proud of her in that song.
So there's a picture of us, and I was like,
this is such an awesome day for all of us,
and there's women in country music. It's really cool. And
I don't do this. It's funny. I don't do it
as much anymore for a couple of reasons. One because
you don't really get the instant because it takes a
while for streaming to actually show up. Um, three reasons too.
(16:07):
I just try to be funny at this point, right,
you know, I don't have a lot of time to
listen to a bunch of new music. And it got
to the point where I was getting people all the
time begging me to play new music or listen to
new music, and I didn't have time to be fair,
and if I couldn't be fair, I didn't really want
to do it. And then it got to and you'll
know this because you've been in this industry for a while,
it got really bad with because I had had a
(16:30):
bit of success in a non traditional way of breaking
music and artists that other we'll call them gatekeepers or
other places started to get competitive with it and then
hold people back. That I was like, this is good.
So I was like, they're gonna hold people back, come
out because I'm not gonna do anything and have somebody
penalize something I think is great because I don't work
(16:51):
with that streaming service. I don't work at that, And
so that started to happen and I was like, all right,
I'm out. I'm gonna be out for a while until
it chills. And then so now I do it in
a way of I love this artist and if they're
coming to town, you should go see them, because that's
how you can directly affect an artist well. And you
put the gold stage the other night. Yes, I love
(17:13):
and I still love the same thing. It's the same,
but now if I just find different ways to do it.
Are a waiter at a place weet all the time?
Never told me that story. I loved seeing that story,
and I was like, hey, come on, so I put
them up on stage. You played it was awesome. So yes,
I just have to have to find a different way
to do it. But I love it. I love people
that are good and work hard and are trying every
(17:35):
way to get some sort of exposure and then if
I can, if I have a path for them to
walk down, let's go. I'll take you and we'll go.
Using your platform for that is it's exciting that that
still can happen different, Yes, in a different way. I
mean whatever way you're doing it, you're using your platform
to expose music that you think is great, and I
(17:56):
think that's really important. I appreciate that. It's a big
deal to me. It's a big deal to take somebody's
working hard and give a shot. Yeah, and I think
that's probably I got a therapy. That's my aunts, all
that therapy part of stuff. But uh so I was
interested to hear your take on that because that was
a really cool part of my Nashville time. I'm telling you,
it was one of the most and and then in
(18:17):
the end when it came full circle and it was
the number one record it in all of my career,
it's one of the most um special moments in time.
It is one of the things that I'm most proud
to have been a part of. And um, I mean
it's just so many great memories that that, Yeah, I
just not shooting on for Grammy for that song. That's um.
(18:40):
So you had Brad Paisley, And I don't remember the
first time I met you. It had to be in
studio because you you had oh you know, I do.
The first time I met you was when we had
when y'all were announced here and we had Brad do
an interview, and do you remember that? It was right
when you was like was it the press conference? There
was a there was a really dumb press conference. I'm
embarrassed that we had. But and I didn't have I
(19:02):
didn't know what was going on. I was a wide eyed,
like what's happening? But a Brad there for that maybe
or he was the first interview. There was something that
Brad did at the very beginning. And you and I
met right at that time, and um, I mean we
just didn't we connected. YEA well, because you want like
a car salesman, honestly, I mean, and that's a that's it.
(19:24):
In this town. It's like trying to figure out who's
a car salesman, who's not or who you like. You know,
you can have a friend's car salesmanvie, but you gotta
be like, hey, you gotta turn that crap off. Around me, right,
And that's cool too, as long as they turn it
off around you. I've got that relationship with a few
people now where it's like I get it, but don't
do that here, don't do that with me. We're all
this is life, life, life, um. But you know it's
(19:45):
interesting with Brad. Early on, I went to Brad. I
wrote about this my first book. I went to Brad's
house and he was like, hey, come outside for a minute.
And I was like, what are you gonna shoot me?
What's happening with these country country music people? And so
I was walking with them and it was cool to
me because I grew up listening obviously to a lot
of country music in Arkansas, like it was the central
(20:06):
part of my music until I got to be a
teenager and it turned a little more alternative and and
hip hop. But I remember Brad because I remember his
early early part right before I checked out for a
little bit, and that that part of country music, and
so I thought it was real cool that he was
walking on and he was like, hey, man, think I
like you here? And a little bit. I was taken
(20:27):
aback because I thought he was maybe agreeing with them
or maybe secretly like, I don't know, as showing his
how dominant he was. I don't know, I didn't know,
but it was weird and I was like, what do
you mean and he goes, I'll tell you from experience,
and that's when I knew he was kind of giving
me some advice. He was like, they didn't like me
(20:47):
here for a long time because I was a quirky
and I did some funny stuff and I he goes, listen,
I love country music. Nobody doubts that, but there are
a lot of people here that was like that guy
ain't for here. And he said, you're gonna get that
a lot. And I remember going and this is before
I really got that. I did. Boy did I for
two or three years and I remember going really but
I always held that like it's very precious to me
(21:08):
because yeah, people, yeah, he didn't have to do that.
And he was like, they're gonna like you, and it's
gonna stuck for you for a little bit. And he
was right, Walter. I mean, like, he's one of my
favorite humans in the world. I mean, he's a dear
friend and I loved working with him. But you know,
one thing that I always felt about Brad is when
he wanted to sit down and have a conversation with you,
(21:29):
it was a person a person conversation. He wasn't there
wasn't some other intention that you didn't know about. I mean,
he really wanted to have a conversation with you about
you know, whatever it is you were talking about. And
so him having you out there and having that discussion
with you was a real moment of connection. And there
was something that obviously you guys connected on very early,
(21:53):
that you had a lot in common, and I think
it was it was really cool to watch relationships. It's
very special in you know, I got really isolated myself
a lot for a few years because I just felt
like people were just taking their shots. But I always
remember that and really appreciated that from Brad because he superstar.
You have to do that superstar to do anything, and
you know what, people did that for him when he
(22:14):
started and then he has I watched him do that
with other artists and other people in this industry, and
it's um, it's really special. I mean, it's one of
the things in this industry that I love so much
is that there are these real people who want to
connect with real people. And then also want to help
grow these relationships in this industry together. And it's really
(22:35):
fun when it's a partnership and we all work together. Um.
And I think he really all made that connection early
and and I loved watching that relationship. I was talking
to Amy today and yeah, I mean we're you know,
(22:56):
for those if you Leslie and are we're friends like
real life friends. Um. But we met through a professional
environment and we kind of, you know, morphed into that
and you and Amy your clothes, Amy and I are closed,
So you know, I just gets a love triangle, I'll
say it. Um. So, I mean it was like, she
said something about Cheney this morning, and I was like,
where did Chinney come from? Because I know Chingie holiday
(23:18):
in right there all the and she was like, well,
Leslie Monday night, Yeah, and she said, Leslie's to work
Cheney Records or something. I was like, what did you
work in hip hopera Pop? I worked in Pop. I
was at Capital Pop before I came to Aristile what where?
And I was based on Atlanta, so I was at
the time, I was a Southeastern regional. So you know,
(23:42):
back in the day there were ten and twelve fourteen
locals that worked records across the country for one imprint.
And by that, you mean, if we simplified a little bit,
you had an area and you stayed close with all
the radio stations in your in your localish area. Correct.
And so I covered the southeast out of Atlanta, UM,
(24:02):
which was basically Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, UM, Louisiana, Mississippi was
basically my territory. And I mean, when you're in pop,
you work every pop format. So you're working hip hop, alternative, rock,
pott A C. Pop. I mean, I want to say
I had seven formats and I mean fifteen records at
(24:26):
a time, very different than and this is you know,
this is how I kind of was growing up in
the promotion world before I came back into country. And um,
my very first artists that ever worked to radio, My
very first song was Coldplay in My Place. That was
my first day of work, was the add day for
cold Play in My Place. Um, you know, I didn't
(24:48):
really know hip hop music, but I lived in Atlanta,
which is like the center of hip hop music, and
and I had to represent those artists, and so I
really started to learn the music. But I mean, I'm
from Montgomery, Alabama, and I'm you know, most of the
one syllable words I say come out, and especially you
know twenty years ago, years ago, they came out into
(25:12):
three four syllables. So, um, I worked Cheney right there.
But obviously there does not even sound normal coming out
of my mouth. So when I would call my program
directors to talk to them about this new artist, Cheney
and y'all, that song was such an infectious record. I mean,
(25:34):
I hear it once, It's in my head all days,
still still this long. So I would call to work
the record and I'd say, hey, you know, this is
Leslie with capital calling to talk to you about Cheney
right there. And they were like, Leslie, the song is
right there. I'm like, I know that the song is
called right there. But if I said right there, don't
you actually think it's ridiculous and you don't really take
(25:55):
me seriously? I mean, let me just call it right there.
And then I'm a huge numbers geek. Um. So I
always have like the stats and the numbers and all
the things that were going on with this song. But
I had it in my Southern accent, in my searsucker pants,
with my bows in my hair, working right there, and
(26:18):
these people thought. They all thought I was hysterical because well,
the record mass if you did It made it a hit.
The first time Jenny I took changing to radio, it
was to the Beat, which was the huge hip hop
station in Atlanta, And we met outside of the radio
station and he gets out of the car and he's
got like this posse of like twelve people, and I'm like, Cheney, Like,
(26:43):
the studio where you're gonna go cut these liners is
the size of a closet. We cannot take ten people downstairs.
You get to pick one person to come downstairs with you.
And he's like, no, they're all coming. I was like,
they can't fit in the closet. Everybody's gonna sit upstairs.
We're taking one person. They all thought I was so
funny because they were not used to having this like
(27:03):
really southern, strong, Southern woman who you know, if you
thought that you could tell me how it was going
to go, then I was going to stand up and
go hum, and I'd get my little southern accent on
and kind of slow it down, and um, they all
thought I was hysterical. And I also wore so Chiney
(27:26):
gave us all these belts that literally the belt buckle
was this big and it said Chiney on it. So
when I took him to the radio station, I had
on my cute little seven jeans with my Serier sucker
top and my bows and my hair and my chinny
belt and Rich Money, who was one of the guys
in his group that would was, would be on stage
with him when he performed. He was like, Cheney, she
(27:49):
is representing. And I was like, um what. I had
never heard that word before. I was like, what does
that mean? And I didn't see him pointing to my belt.
I was like, and I'm, you know, sitting there and
thinking he's talking about something that I'm wearying or whatever,
but not thinking it's the belt forgot to have the
belt on. He's like, look, she's representing. And I was like,
what does that mean? And they all started laughing and
(28:11):
they're like, she's representing. And I looked down. I was like, oh,
my belt, I'm representing you. I'm representing you, and they
were like, oh my gosh. But I loved him and
that these guys were great, and it was super fun
to work two songs from a brand new artist that
were so massive. I mean I still like you said
about right there with Holiday Inn. When that's when I
(28:34):
hear the word holiday Inn, I go straight to what
you're doing nothing chilling at the Holiday Inn. So you
worked in we'll call it pop. There's a lot of
little formats. How long did you do that in Atlanta?
I was only in Atlanta for two years, and then
I came back here to do country again. So I
started in country. Um actually started as a temp at
(28:58):
r C, a label group, like a like an administration, yeah,
like an assistant. Were you doing that because you knew
you wanted to get into it or you're just looking
for a job. At that time, I knew I wanted
to get into the music business, So as I started,
I was living in Nashville and I actually worked for
the temp company doing marketing. And my first year old
of college. I'll move through this really quickly. It's just
(29:18):
kind of funny. My dad I was like, okay, you
got four years in a day. Your four years is
about up, and then that means you have to have
a job. And I was like, well, okay, and he's like,
if you don't have a job by the time you graduate,
you're moving back to Montgomery and I'm gonna help you
find a job. And all I could think is, I
don't want to move back to Montgomery, Alabama. I mean
(29:40):
I want to go spread my wings and figure out
who I am. And so, um, long story short, ended
up getting a job as a live in nanny for
a race car driver. UM, a famous one. He's a
top fuel driver, great top fuel driver's name was Jim Head.
So I moved to Columbus, Ohio. Oh he didn't live here. No.
My dad was like, you're I'm gonna go live with
(30:01):
some family we don't know. And long story short, his
uncle happened to live in Montgomery, Alabama and was in
the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club and did all
of this philanthropic stuff with my dad, and so my
dad knew him, and he was like, Okay, well he's
a great man, and this is his nephew. Then he's
(30:21):
a great man too, and yes, you can take the job.
I was like, well, and I'm also two years old,
and so I can kind of take the job if
I want to. So, long story short, I went to
go live on this racing circuit and living in that
I mean, so we were racist every weekend. I think
we had thirty two races in that year. Living in
that sports world, I kind of knew I wanted to
(30:41):
be in sports and and or entertainment. Um. I grew
up in Montgomery, but my family is from Nashville. My
mother grew up in Nashville. I had all these aunts
and uncles in Nashville. So I called my aunt uncle
and I was like, can I come live with y'all
and can you help me find a job when I
finished the year with as an annie and so I
came here and went to work for a temp agency
and when they were r C A was one of
(31:03):
our clients. And so I actually went to the owner
of the company after you know, six or eight months,
and I said, I really want to work in the
music business, and I just wanted to see if y'all
would consider placing me if there's an opening at r
C A. And he was like, of course, and so
you know, you've got to do the work when you
get in there, but we'll we'll if you want to
(31:24):
be a temp we'll get you in the door. And
so I went to be a tempt for the head
of sales at r C A. And they had had
a lot of different assistants kind of come through that desk,
and I was there for two weeks as a temp
and they hired me full time. And that and Joe
Belt I was not wearing the changing belt that was
(31:46):
preaching here yesterday. No, I actually, um, I just had
coffee with a friend and she was telling me that
Joe was over here. So I can't wait to hear
that podcast. He's one of my mentors and one of
my favorite human things um on the planet. And I mean,
he really taught me so much about this business. UM.
So did whomever you were with talked to him after
(32:07):
he was here? I wonder how people feeling, Do you
have good experience here? Do we know? I don't know
if she talked to him after. She just said, oh,
because I said, I'm I'm headed over to do Bobby's podcast,
and she goes, oh, my gosh, Joe just did it yesterday.
And I was like, that's so cool. He's amazing, just
done everything and he's done. He's been so influential in
country music, I mean, and he really has been so
(32:30):
important in so many different executives and artist careers. I mean,
he really was is still one of the greatest mentors
um that that you could have did he move you up? Like?
How did that? Well? I mean I worked for people
under him who moved me up. But I mean, you know,
I've always had a really strong work ethic, and I'm
(32:51):
very driven, and I'm also insanely organized and so kind
of don't end my day until everything is done. And
so when I was at it's so at r c A,
it ended up becoming Sony. But when I was at
r c A at the time, I worked in the
sales department and I ran all of the sales reports. Well,
I mean, y'all, back then, we barely had email. I
(33:12):
mean we didn't have cell phones really, so I would
have to get in on Wednesday morning, which was when
all the sales numbers came out. I would show up
to the office at like four in the morning because
I'd have to run all these programs out of doss.
Do you'll even even, y'all, you do not know what DOSses.
So I'd have to like run these all of sound
(33:33):
scan out of DOSS and then move it into an
Excel spreadsheet. And literally, I mean it's a lot of
and I don't want to say labor intensive, but I mean,
it just takes time. Um, So I did that, and
I put the reports together for all of the executives,
and so to get everybody's report together for their meeting
(33:53):
at nine am, I mean I'd get into the office
at four or four thirty in the morning, so that
when they all got into the office US at you know,
eight thirty for their nanny and meeting, all of their reports,
their sales reports were there. And my degree was in accounting,
so I was always just a numbers person and I
would dig through all of the numbers because I was
just interested. I wanted to know what made things sell,
(34:17):
why did certain things sell when other things weren't selling,
how was it marketed? And so I just started really
paying attention to all of the reports. I was focused
on to try to understand, not just to give them
the report, to understand the why behind it. So when
you move from being attempted, what was the job he
took or they they offered you. I was the assistant
(34:37):
to the head of sales, So what do you Okay,
that's still a numbers very numbers oriented Yeah, So from that,
then what did you do? So then I actually ended
up leaving and I went to work for Mindy McCready,
who was one of our artists, and what did you
do for her? Um? I started as a personal assistant
and then became her tour manager. You were a tour manager.
(34:59):
I was like twenty five years old. That's a difficult,
stressful it is, and we were a baby act. We're
we open for at the time. We were going back
and forth between to mcgrawl, George Straight and Allan Jackson
and I literally like showed up that. I was like,
how did I come this rough? I think the tour
(35:19):
manager quit and then she was like, oh, Leslie is
going to be the tour manager. And then her manager
called and said, this is a terrible idea. You are
basically a child and you have no idea what you're doing.
And I was like, I completely agree with you. I
have no idea what I'm doing. And he was like, well,
I'm gonna go out on the road with you for
a weekend and I'm going to teach you and and
(35:40):
so he, you know, taught me what he could literally
on the bus, and then I remember getting to UM.
The first show was Allan Jackson and Tony Stevens was
Allen's tour manager. At the time, and I walked into
the production office and I was like, Hi, my name
is Leslie and I'm Mindy's tom manager and I have
absolutely no idea what I'm doing, and so if you
would just teach me, I promise I will make this
(36:02):
as easy on you as possible. And I did the
same with Tim's t manager, and they were just so
gracious and wonderful and kind of taught me the road
side of the business and the touring side of the business,
which is very different than the label side. Yeah, and
it's interesting. What's really cool is you had I mean
you had to learn a skill and at the time
it's probably difficult and like is this really hard? But
(36:25):
then you had an element that you knew with your
artists that other people do in your position. I didn't
know because they hadn't probably been on the ground in
that in that form. I was with, um my booking
agent is Brad Bissel. It's Cia and his wife Sally.
He's run the opry and I was with them, but
they came out to my show that I did at
a theater and afterwards, Brad, it was like, it was
(36:47):
really interesting about your career is like you can relate
to people on so many levels. He said, you know,
you've you tour, you know how hard it is and
how and when you get an artist, it's coming into
your show to do an interview, and most people are like,
oh well, it's like you can talk about catering or
what it's like to be in a different hotel and
wake up and not know what city you're in and what,
(37:09):
but a promoter is or not getting your merch money
or you know all this and he's like, that's cool.
And I was like, it was hard. I didn't want
to do it, Like I had to learn because I
wasn't I wasn't good at other stuff, so I had
to find a different way to actually get to where
I was, which is doing all these crazy things. But
now it's like a superpower I have. Same for you.
You were a tour manager for an artist, but you
(37:33):
understood how hard it was to travel and we had
to sleeping always difficult. Comfortablity not a thing, especially the
baby artists. No money, no money, you're living on. It's
so to have that skill that you earned, I just
think that would be so valuable. It was like, it
was a really wonderful experience and it's all very humbling.
(37:55):
I mean anytime you whatever you start doing in this
business is humbling because there's so many people who have
come before you that no more than you know. And
so I just always felt like instead of walking in
and pretending like I knew something that I didn't. Um.
And and also there are a lot of people like
they need you to be efficient and to not get
(38:17):
in the way of their job. And so what I
wanted to know is how do I come in and
be the tour manager for the Support Act and do
what y'all need us to do out here and not
get in your way and also look out for my
artists at the same time. And so and I was young.
I mean, you know, I didn't have a lot of
world experience, much less working experience. UM. But it was
(38:39):
a great opportunity. I mean i'd suck. I know what
suck had to suck. That's a hard, sucky job. And
I mean that it was also fun because I was
a kid and I was seeing the world. When I
say valuable, I don't mean valuable like it was the
most amazing thing. I feel bad for my tour manager
and you know what, I pay them pretty good and
but I also know they're dealing with me and my
schedule and I might need a lemon before my throat sore.
(39:03):
They not only have to deal with Okay, here's just
the person doing the merch. Okay, this is the promoter.
We're gonna meet with them after the show to clear this.
I gotta get Bobby a freaking lemon. I gotta make
sure the lights and make sure people don't have their salt.
It's everything, and you've got the band and you've got
to help. You're you're also representing the band, and so
they have knees as well. I mean, um it's my
only point experience. Yes, it's a great experience, but it's
(39:24):
very difficult, and that is like to have empathy, Yeah
for that, Like that's that's awesome, that's what. So you
do that? Where do you do you get back in
the label business after that? Yeah? I ended up getting back.
I mean, it did some other things and kind of
stepped away, and then I came back in it, and
then um I started. So the next thing I did
in the industry was promotion for Capital and um I
(39:47):
was hired but um our president was in l A,
so it was hired out of the l A office
and for the Atlanta job because the regional again where
you're representing area of stay. Yeah, so that's where I
where I represented Coldplay. And yes, that was my first
promotion job and I didn't know anything about promotion at
(40:09):
the time. By the way, I didn't know. I didn't
even really know that record reps called a radio station
to ask the program Drift to play the music. And so,
you know, I believe it or not, there's a lot
of numbers that go into promotion as well. And you're
looking at um, not only we're a song is on
the charts, but you know which markets generate more audience
(40:32):
and how to drive listenership, Um, how to drive people
to play the song. Laura sat that you have more
people listening to the song, and then when you're going
into a market, you obviously want that song to be
really exposed in a in a very strong way so
that when the artists are on stage, the fans a
or the round the tickets and then they're singing along.
(40:52):
So UM just really learned that side of the business
and it really fit my person aldi. I loved it.
I mean, it was a lot of fun and it
was fun to work. You know, this variety of artists
and Kylie Minogue, Um, Coldplay adored Coldplay. It was there, really,
(41:12):
I mean, so I worked Russia Blood. Yeah, and in
My Place was the first single off of that, and
then they came in for the tour. It wasn't the
first one yellow that record before that was that was
the album for I didn't work that album. So I
worked Russia Blood and Um, I mean I feel like
they started the US tour, I mean pretty close to
the beginning. They did Atlanta and Elton John came out
(41:36):
and played with them in Atlanta, and then they did
um the Raemen, and so I brought him to the
Raemen and they wanted to go out after y'all and
nobody knew who they were, so well, literally we walked
across the street from the Raemen to this bar called Rippies,
and the guy that owned the bar shut it down
and let them in. The band. The music was the
(41:56):
opening act. Just play all night long. We had the
best time, and they love music so much that they
wanted to stay another night before they went on to
the next venue. And so they were like, take us
out to hear bluegrass, and so we took him to
the station in and they got to hear Sam Bush play,
and um, the you know, these were just young guys
(42:17):
from them, but knew them to look because you knew
their music the music, but didn't I mean people, They
weren't as recognizable when they walked off of the stage.
But that I mean now they can't walk outside, but um,
they weren't as recognizable then because Chris Martin was when
you remember the Yellow video. I shook my whole world
when I saw him walking on the beach and I
was like, this is the great song and the video
(42:37):
IVE ever seen. And he's not doing the thing but
walking and being sad, and I was like, this is changing,
this is it, And so I was still. I love
cold Play. I like their piano slow stuff more than
their I like the version of the instrument. Some people
like the new version, but I love cold Play. But
it's cool that they I just wanted to hang. They
just wanted to and I mean they were just great people.
(43:00):
They're great guys. I mean, you know the that album.
I mean, think about the great songs on that album.
Clocks the Scientist, what a brilliant song, I mean, And
then Willie Nelson covers the Scientist and Chris's version of
the scientists and Willie's version of the scientists are so different,
but bos so poignant. I mean that's just love of music.
So you were I also remembered you with Carrie. Yeah, right,
(43:30):
you're with Kry right Arista. Is Theresa still a thing?
Yeah it is. Yeah. I have no connection to labels
at all. Yeah, so old dominion is on Arista. Um,
and I gotta be honest, I can't remember. Yeah, I
mean I don't I don't know who's on labels either.
I was talking to you before labels will come in
to the studio anymore. They're in the green room, because
(43:50):
it was just a mess, and I was like, I
want to do a show and have connection me in
the artist, and but if the labels in there, it's
just like it's sometimes yeah, it's a little different. Oh
you're an Arista. And I remember there was like a
big layoff or something like some people left and so
I was there for thirteen years. Um, and then one
(44:11):
time I started as a regional and then you know,
became the national and then became the baby and um,
I mean gosh, when I started, I mean it was
head Brooks and Done and Alan Jackson and Brad and
Um Keith Anderson Filvasser then carry um Lanco at the
(44:32):
beginning maybe we had the beginning of Laco and then
you know, as happens in UM this world when you
have changes at the top, chairman changes, that's what. It
was a big change, and they brought in their own people.
Remember being like what and I hated her after that,
I was like, no more. Well, I mean, listen, when
when I left, we were the number two label, the
(44:54):
number two in print and country music. So I mean
we had a ton of success and it was a
lot of fun. But then everything in life happens for
a reason. I'm a huge believer in that. And I'm
also a huge believer in one door closing is just
making room in your life and space for another door opening.
And right when I I so I left Sony in
(45:16):
Arista in February of two thousand and sixteen, and I mean,
I want to say it was like either right before
that or right after Garth announced he was staffing the
imprint and Um said I'm looking for Garth. Yeah. I
was like Brooks, You're like yeah, and so how does
(45:38):
that happen? You're still with Garth and Tricia. Yeah, so
how does how does that conversation? Does he call you? Does? So?
Mandy McCormick um was working, was the first person that
went over to work directly with he and Trisha, and
so she was really helping him staff it. She called
me and we had a couple of conversations and then
(46:00):
she said, Um, he's playing the show with the Rheman
and we want you to come up and see it.
And it was his first time to play the Rahman yall,
which I did not ever. Yeah, however, I thought it
was like a first time to played Ryan and he
gets too big, he quick, I think he did. He
all of a sudden he had not played the Rheman
and then he went out and was playing these huge shows.
(46:21):
And I don't actually remember the exact story of why
he didn't play it until that moment, but it was
when I say it was one of the most special
music experiences in my life. My husband came up here
with me. We went to the show and at one
point in the show, I had tears coming down my
face and my husband looked at me and he's like,
that's a visceral reaction to music and if you are
(46:45):
emotional in a happy way, not a sad way. I mean,
it was just so it was such a beautiful performance.
I mean, here he's playing these covers at the beginning
with the with the curtains closed on the stage of
the Rheman and he's playing George Jane and Johnny Cash
and just you're like, oh my gosh. I mean, you're
listening to this amazing music and from him, and then
(47:08):
he and Trisha come on stage together. It was just
it was really a powerful night. And Um, the next day,
I remember my husband looking at Mandy and was like,
she's going to do this. And then he called me
that night the next night and we just had a
conversation about, you know, kind of where I was in
my life and what I wanted to do and what
(47:31):
he wanted to do with the label and you know
where he was, and UM, at that point, I was like,
I'm in It's weird when Garth calls on the phone.
It's weird because you're just like, that's crazy voices coming
out of a little phone right there, and he's just
this kindest that's weird too. He's so kind and he's
so gracious and he's so he listens better than anybody
(47:58):
I know. I mean, like literally listens to the words
coming out of your mouth and what you're saying. And
some people are thinking about what they're going to say
next when they're talking to somebody. He doesn't agree. It's again,
I keep using the word weird, because you just don't
expect a massive start, the big star in the world.
And he all that, he makes the time, and he cares,
(48:20):
he really cares about human beings. And I mean Tricia
is the same. She's one of my very best friends.
I just absolutely adore them. And I have to say,
I mean, you know, I started in September of two
thousand and sixteen, and you know, here I was the
GM of their labels and we're launching this new team
(48:41):
and this new music and and six months after I started,
I was diagnosed with cancer. And both of them immediately
went into whatever you need every single time that I
called him, and I was like, Okay, I want to
really not focus on the answer wonderful normal and focus
(49:02):
on work. And so you know, after I had the
surgery and and i'd kind of get over the hump
of chemo, I would call him to talk about work,
and he'd answer the phone and he'd stopped me. I mean,
I'd go, hey, how you doing. I want to talk
to you about and I'd just like dive in and
he's like, whoa, hey doing and I'm like, I'm good.
How are you feeling? And he would always stop and
(49:24):
want to talk about how I was. And I felt
like with both he a tricia my health and where
I was, not just physically, but I mean, you know,
this kind of a disease is it's emotionally trying as well.
And they were always so concerned about me and my
(49:46):
family and how we were doing in the juggle and
I and I remember saying to him, I need to work.
I need to feel normal, and working makes me feel normal.
And he was like, you know, you can work as
much as you want to, but you also need to
take care of yourself. You felt supported personally and professionally,
(50:11):
which makes you feel even more supported personally exactly, I mean,
and I don't I think it's really difficult in a
corporate environment, even though a lot of corporations are very supportive,
especially of people with you know, health situations, but in
this industry, it's really hard to have that much love
(50:34):
and support around you. I mean, I remember after we
kind of got over the hump, and it was now
it's two thousand and eighteen, and I was up at
the house one day and UM, and I said to him,
you know, we were just talking about the whole journey.
And I said, and you know, here him on the
other side of it, I have no cancer my body. UM,
my hair's growing back. And and he was like, so,
(50:54):
how you know, You've have been through a lot, and
you've been so strong through all of it. And I
remember saying to him, as difficult as this diagnosis is
and going through all of this, it's the greatest thing
that's ever happened in my life. And UM, I thought
that then in two thousand and eighteen, and then as
you know, it came back. Um. Actually right after your wedding.
(51:19):
I remember you told me the wedding was like one
of the last time you didn't know it was the
last celebration I had that I didn't know. UM. I went,
I had my doctor's wom on Tuesday after your wedding,
and UM, and we found out that it's metastatic stage four.
You know, this is the rest of my life and
it has been the is trying and and difficult as
(51:42):
it is, it's been the greatest thing to happen in
my life because of the perspective shift that happens when
your mortality is staring you in the face. Um. You
just you have a choice to make and you can
either be a victim or you can live really intentionally
and you can really celebrate your life and the people
(52:06):
in your life, and you can really decide what what
matters now, Like what am I going to do that's
gonna matter because you know, my life expectancy is not
the same as any of y'alls. And UM, I've come
to terms with that. I've processed that, and so what
you know what I told my doctors, it's just recently
(52:30):
we found out a couple of weeks ago that is
metastasised into my brain, which is the worst possible news
that you can get. Um. But at the same time,
this new drug was just released that is really you know,
this could be a game changer for me. You could
take my life expectancy from two years to you know,
(52:51):
we don't know how long because it's a new drug. Um.
So it it makes you look at life in a
completely different way. It makes you every decision you make,
every what you do when you wake up in the morning. Um,
you know, kindness and love and joy. I've been so
(53:11):
overwhelmed with this just gratitude, the number of people that
have reached out. I mean the first time around, you
guys sent me this toll box full of Pimp and
Joy stuff, and all I wanted to do during the
first battle was to run this race. That was like
the one thing that I was like, if I can
just run this tin k on Thanksgiving Day, Um, while
I'm going through chemo, it's proving to me that I'm
(53:32):
still physically able. And so my sister and um, my
stepchildren's mom, um and her wife, we all went out
and ran this together. And we all I've had everybody
in Pimp and Joy, So everybody on our career was
in like a Pimp and Joy shirt or a Pimp
and Joy sweatshirt, Pimp and Joy hat, and we all
went out and you know, we were in our Pimp
(53:54):
and Joy And so you feel this love and gratitude
that actually is out there for all of us to feel.
You don't have to just have a disease to feel that.
But a lot of times we get caught up in
negativity and just stuff and worry in the world. And UM,
when you kind of let those things go and you
focus on UM, spending really good quality time with people
(54:17):
and sharing love and receiving love. And and then also
you know, right now we're in this phase of bucket
list as I told you earlier, and you know, Robert
and I are let's do everything that that we ever
wanted to do, and you know, spend quality time with people.
(54:38):
And you know, I'm I'm sitting here with two bosses
that not only helped me do that, but UM, there's
not just bosses, they're my friends and they're a real
part of UM helping me have these experiences that there's
(54:58):
nothing there's no for me to even you. I don't
have the words to express the gratitude for that kind
of love and um compassion. I remember at the wedding
(55:19):
and you know, things are running ten thousand miles an
hour to wedding because it's just everybody that you care about,
and everybody wants to hang out and stay a few things.
And remember and I love your husband too, just just
the best. And you know, one of the only people
that I've let dominate me in the fight for the check,
which and something like, all right, you can have it.
I get it. I mean your hometown, you can pay
it for it went with Alabama, we had and so
(55:43):
I remember spending time there, and um, I guess you
had spent some time with Gary the Box of my wedding. Yes,
oh my god, we had so much fun. We sat
next to each other at dinner and I remember him
calling and somehow he had heard your story or I
don't know how he caught it somewhere us because obviously
at the wedding you didn't even know the cancer come back.
(56:04):
And so you're with Gary Gary the Box. I was
fleecing a rascal flats and uh, Gary's just lovely and
it's like a ball of energy and just yes, on,
He's just on. And it's so. I remember he called
me and he was like, hey, so your friend lately.
I spent a lot of time we were at the wedding. Um,
I don't know if he knew you had cancer. I
(56:25):
just want to reach out to you. I don't remember
what version it was, but I remember reaching out just like, hey,
can I give Gary your you know your number? And
Gary called you and I think you told me that
you guys had just prayed just about you know, what
you were going through. And I thought one the fact
(56:46):
that he had such a a night, you know, this
this gathering of moments with you through one night, that
he was like, I need to get in touch with
her because that needs to be my friend. First of all,
I was like, I get it, like that she's my friend,
Like I understand why. And then secondly, because I think
he said, you care if I call her and just
(57:06):
pray with her. Yeah, that's when you when you called me,
That's what you said. He just wants to pray with you.
So he must like, honey, I got I'm taking all
of the prayers and anybody wants to pray with me.
I mean, I'm in So he must have known somehow. Yeah,
But I I just thought, man, like Gary, that's awesome,
you know, And you know what I think happened. I
think when I started, I'm so you know, I'm like
(57:27):
the worst person at social media. Um a, I'm just
not good at it and be um pretty private, so
I don't share a whole lot. But I had this
moment sitting in the chemo chair on October one and
starting this horrific adrianas and which is red Devil Chemo,
and I was like, this is I have to tell
(57:47):
people what's happening because people need to be self aware
and do self checks. There are things that can save
your life if you find cancer early. And so I
just felt really compelled to write my story in a
social media post which is about is not me is?
(58:10):
I mean, it was kind of shocking, and I think
that somehow he saw that, whether it was through a
mutual friend or UM, but it was really sweet. I mean,
to me, somebody offering to come and pray with you
and take It's one of the just the most beautiful
things that happens when you're going through something traumatic. If
(58:31):
you take a step back and you just look at
what is happening in the moment. People wanting to take
time out of their schedule to pray for you, to
check on you, to um just let you know that
they're sending love. I mean, those little things are huge,
(58:52):
and it's really how we should all try to live
our lives. I mean, one thing that I try to
do now is when somebody comes to my mind's a
reason that person came to my mind, Send them a
text or a note and just say you know, I
love you, I'm thinking about you. You just came to
my mind. I just wanted to say hey. And I
used to like I don't want to bother people. I
(59:14):
think that now honestly, I mean I don't want somebody,
but I have this experience has made me go when
when I feel that way, I look at my phone
and you know, yesterday, out of the blue, I had
six or seven friends just reach out that I'm not
talking to on a daily basis. Hey, I just want
you to I'm thinking about you today, how's it going,
when's your next treatment? And it's just fills you, fills
(59:38):
you with love and joy. And and then, as you
guys always say, with pimp and joy what joy forces?
Joy enforces joy enforces joy. And the more that we
spread that, um, I mean, listen, there's enough bad news
on the television and then the news that if we
(59:59):
just started all trying to do our little part to
spread kind of joy love, UM, it's really life changing.
The last thing I want to ask you about is
bay Laura later Ray Ray, my producer, my friend's wife.
How because she got diagnosed breast cancers were as well,
(01:00:21):
and obviously she loves you. But you guys, I don't
know if you knew each other before. We did not.
So Tricia called me and said, I have a friend
who was just diagnosed and she's really young, and she said,
would you talk to her? And I was like, absolutely, Well,
I had my wig made at this fabulous place here
(01:00:42):
because the first time I went through it, losing my
hair was incredibly traumatic. And so Tricia introduced me to
this company here who made wigs, and and Tricia found
them when they made her mom's wig when her mom
had had cancer. So I had gone there and they
made the score just wait from me, and so um,
(01:01:03):
they was going to have an appointment at this place,
and so I flew up here and met her and
went to her appointment with her, and then we just
sat down afterwards and I talked to her about my
experience and all the things that I've been through, the good,
the bad, the ugly, but really the good and the
love and the joy that you have to keep going
(01:01:24):
while you're going, you have to keep perpetuating while you're
in this process. And we instantly connected and then she
what a rock star, I mean, she shared her journey
to so many people and has had such a great
impact on the women who are going through this. So
it started, you know, with her sharing on social media,
(01:01:45):
and then she started a blog and she really has
been so impactful and so many women's treatment and discovery
of the disease. And then she actually asked me to
write my story UM in her blog, and I was like,
oh my gosh, like I don't really do this. I'm
super private, and then I was like, no, I need
(01:02:06):
to do this. So this was before mine came back,
and so UM I wrote for her for her blog.
She's the only person I think that at the time
could have gotten me to do that. UM. And you know,
we've just been friends ever since since she's followed my
journey and I've followed hers, and we're you know, we've
just been friends. There's It's a really interesting thing was
(01:02:28):
when this happens, there's a lot of women who have
been through it. There's a lot of people that have cancer.
But you all of a sudden, you're in the club
that nobody wants to be in. And when you get
invited into this club that nobody wants to be in,
you really want to help love and nurture the other
people in it um. And so I mean, right now,
I have my friend Clea from the Home Edit. She's
(01:02:48):
going through it as well. And you know, we have
houses in Florida that in the same community. And we're
sitting at the pool one day and she's sitting next
to me and I was like, I'm Leslie, I'm going
through the same thing you're going through. And we sat
and talked for you three hours, and we just you
really try to love and support people through it and
(01:03:11):
be there because there's, like anything, you can't really understand
what it's like. As much as I mean, my husband
is my rock, my family, my friends, you know, there's
so many people that are here to support me. But
the women who are going through it, there's just a
different reality that we know that you can't know unless
(01:03:32):
you're going through it. And so there's something super special
about the relationships that form because of this, and it's
one of the things that I'm forever grateful for. And
Bay and I have that, and I'm really grateful for it.
And she is just y'all know, this ball of energy
and light and fun and funny, and I'm super grateful
for her and just so much, you know, just well,
(01:03:57):
I'm glad you stop lying. And I was gonna to
you anyway because you text your like ham in town
and I was like, wow, I'm going to the aiming
one days. You're aiming the girls and I was like, well,
I can't do that on Tuesday, I'm here. I was like,
it's so last minute, but I gotta find some space.
And so I literally had two hours to open this afternoon,
and I was like, I was like, can't you come there?
(01:04:18):
It's all I got and said, obviously I want to
see her, talk to her, but I also want to
talk with her because I think your career itself is
very interesting. I think your story and your journey through
cancer is um extremely compelling, but it's also encouragement to
others and the fact that you remain this positive force
(01:04:39):
and it's not always positive, honestly, nothing right, but you
still remain you know this, but then your overall story
of all of it, Like, I just think people are
gonna take so much from this in so many ways.
I'm grateful that you did it, and you did this.
I'm just so thankful, and you know, I love you,
and and same with Robert AND's awesome has been Uh,
(01:05:01):
you know, I didn't used to talk about this stuff
so openly, but I think it's important, and I think
it's important, especially in the world and all the craziness
that's happening in our world, you know, to use whatever
platform we have to share love and joy and commis
and compassion and um. Everybody's going through something and they
(01:05:21):
just need there's a little kindness. Well, thank you for
your time. It's been awesome. All right, there she is
Leslie Simon. Everybody, thank you to Leslie for coming by.
That was an amazing episode. Again, let me remind you
Leslie's being an honored by the American Cancer Society Hope
(01:05:41):
Gala in August and she's currently writing money for cancer
research and patient programs. You can find that link in
the episode notes of this podcast. Five bucks, tin bucks,
whatever you can that would be awesome. Hopefully you removed
by this click that to donate her honor or an
honor or memory of a loved one that is also
a battle cancer. Thank you, guys. The student Active pol
Host
Bobby Bones
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