April 2, 2025 • 59 mins
Check out this Best Of episode from 2019 with Summer Fawn Duncan before she married Jon Pardi and became Summer Pardi!
Summer is stunning. She had a perfect life in California with her family (who raises all sorts of exotic animals) and running her hair salon which was thriving. But then her client insisted she meet this Country Cowboy Jon Pardi (her client is best friends with Jon’s mom and they arranged the setup). Their first date was Jon flying Summer to Colorado for a weekend of his shows. It could have ended in disaster but instead led to love. We talk about how Summer let go of control and learned to let her life flow which has led her to so much fun and fulfillment, the biggest fight she and Jon have ever had, over Christmas decorations, and the sentimental side of Jon.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
All right.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
So I was going through my podcast just looking all
the incredible episodes that I've had, and I've started to
have some amazing faces rejoin me again, such as some
of the wives that I've interviewed back in the day.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Like Summer Party.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I did an episode with her five years ago before
she married John, and we get into their love story,
how they met, and I just think it's time to
bring some of these episodes back and let you hear them,
and so get excited. Summer Party she was just on
earlier last year, not even a year ago, and we
talk about just like motherhood, all the things with John
(00:38):
being married, their life, their journey, how motherhoods changed them, partying,
all of it. It's such a fun episode, so check
that one out too. But it's kind of even more
exciting to go back into the archives and hear what
their life was like five years ago. So get excited.
This is Summer Party, Summer Fawn Duncan because she wasn't
(00:59):
married yet before all of this has happened with marriage
and baby, so here it is. This is a blast
from the past, the best of episode.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Enjoy a.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Carol n She's a queen and talking to you a song.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
She's getting really.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Not afraid to feel.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
It's episode, so just let it flow. No one can
do were quiet like cary Lone, its sounding Caroline.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I'm here with Summer Fawn duncan see fun is your
middle name?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Fawn is my first Summer Fawn is one summer fun fun.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Do people call you summer fun?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
No, but I've been called fun and I've been called
summer but no summer fun.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
But you're supposed to be called technically summer fun.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Technically it's a hyphenated summer faun. Caroline is the middle.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
There's another one, Caroline.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Carolyn, I mean all Caroline.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Summer Fawn Carolyn duncan Okay, are you like British.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Or something signing like legal documents? No British, No nothing.
My I forget which parents chose which name, but they
were like arguing summer versus Fawn, so they're like, well,
summer Fawn. I love it. Caroline is my grandma.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
So you are just like covered in the name department.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
So you have a very exciting upbringing, and it has
to do with your dad in particular, yes, because he
is like y'all like raised all sorts of exotic animals.
And you're from California, yes, and you grew up with
like zebras all things.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
What kind of animals did you grow up with?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Oh, zebras, donkeys, many donkeys to be exact, many ponies,
regular horses, rams, I mean, pigs, peacocks, dogs.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
What did you do with all these animals?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
They're just pets.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
They were all pets.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
My dad growing up was like an animal fanatic. He
had like a pet boat and stricter that lived near
his bed. And he had a pet alligator. I think,
I mean, maybe I made this up, but I'm pretty
sure he'd put alligator that lived in his pool for
a point in time. Just crazy things. You get a
pet skunk.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I always wanted a pet skunk. Was it decent?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
It was?
Speaker 1 (03:31):
It was Yeah, he didn't like spray on him.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
No.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Did he just love animals?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Those animals and he just like hangs out with them
all What does he do with all of them?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
They were just there?
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So you kind of lived on like a farm.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, it's like a branch of twenty acres divided into
two pastures and then the house and it's just fun.
It was like you wake up, you go out there,
you feed the animals, and then they just do their
thing all day and you come back you feed them again.
They're just fun. It's like, just be peaceful about it,
you know. Like when I lived I lived out there
(04:05):
for a point in time obviously after my whole childhood,
but I was building a house and so I moved
there for like the six month period, and I lived
in the guest house which was above the barn, and so,
like I had to get used to all of the
pigeons doing their little coups because my bedroom was right
above their.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Little stock pet pigeons.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Also, so we have pigeons that my dad tight eyes.
They're homing pigeons.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
So they're all like multi colored, so color video later.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
They're so colorful, it's amazing. So there's like twenty of
them when they fly in this you know, massive circle
together and they're all tight eyed and they love it. Oh,
like they actually love it.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Is your dad like, is he just the craziest? What's
he like? What is it like growing up with.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
The best ever?
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Is he just like an adventure adrenaline junkie.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yes, which I don't have. My mom has handled it
for this long, but they they work well. But yeah,
he's he's a wild man and he loves adventure and
he loves thrill seeking things. And I mean we've talked
about your dad and my dad and not not ever meeting.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
They try to go like and survive and some like wilderness.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yes, with my dad could easily be on like naked
and afraid or survivor and love it.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
You have some story about the zebra with your dad's finger,
because that to me is like, so.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah, zebra finger, So pet Zebra Newman. The Newman was
the o g zebra. And so my dad, being like
Noah's Ark modern day, decided that every other animal we
have has like a pair or more because they need
(05:58):
a buddy, right, So aside from like, we have a
mini bull named we Man and he's the only mini
bull that we have, but he loves to hang out
with like the donkeys, so they're his people. And so
Newman was the only zebra and so my Dad's like, well,
I should get him a real friend, and so we
then got Juliette. Little did we know that apparently zebra's,
being like wild animals, don't do well with competition.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Even if it's opposite sex well.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Newman was like in love with my dad.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Oh oh oh oh.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
So like my dad is Newman's person.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And Newman's not the weevil, He's a zebra.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Newman's the zebra. Okay, So we brought juliette and so
then Newman and Juliet then fought from my dad's attention.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Even though your dad, your dad was just trying to
get him a girlfriends.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
You're just trying to get him.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Just trying to get him something, you know, like so
long story, short way to separate them and to separate
pastors every you know. But it's fine now. Juliet, she's
a whole other story. But my dad, I mean, he's
seventy two. He's had years of experience with feeding animals,
and like everyone knows, if you're gonna feed a horse
(07:05):
or like an animal, you you know, you tuck your
fingers and pull them back, okay, and he keep them
together so you don't have, you know, a finger out
these limbs to be chomped on. And he is feeding
Newman with his left hand one day, just some oats,
and like I don't know if he looked away momentarily
or if he just like got relaxed and his middle
finger kind of curled up and then it was gone,
(07:27):
just like just bit it off. Did he eat it?
He ate it? He ate it? And then not only
does my dad, like a normal human would be like,
oh my god, I have to go the doctor or
like the hospital whatever. He gets on his phone and
starts instagramming and recording live video of his finger missing,
with like the bone and just blood, and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Does he think it's awesome?
Speaker 3 (07:50):
He thinks it's amazing?
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Is he so glad that is?
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I mean, I'm sure at this point, like it's probably
like a fifty to fifty, but.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Is it a great conversation conversation piece?
Speaker 3 (07:59):
It's he yeah, the insurance people that was his favorite.
I think when they called to like figure out what
the deals with the hospital bill and like the story
will ma Zebra bit my finger off? I mean, can
you get that covered? I don't know. But he filmed everything.
He filmed it from the moment he bit it off,
and he filmed it in the kitchen when he was
(08:20):
talking to my mom, and then he filmed it at
the actual hospital where they were cutting it and stitching it.
And I don't think that's legal, but he did it.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Oh my gosh. So so you just had a wild childhood.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I had a very fun childhood.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
What's one of your best memories of growing up that
just brings you so much happiness when you think about it.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
I mean probably just ranch life, like I mean, obviously
back before internet and all those things of being you know,
a teenager and ale all dial up, but just being
a kid out on the ranch and catching tad poles.
And that was one thing that my brother and I
always did was we had a little pond, like a
not a legit pond, but a down by our fence waterwidlet,
(09:00):
and then we'd go catch ten poles. And every year
my dad catches, you know, some gopher snakes and king
snakes and we got to play with those. It was
just I think, growing up like on the ranch and
then with all the animals.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
And does your brother have an awesome name too?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
He is Hawk hot Hawk like the bird Chase Robert
Hawk Duncan, but I think he he may have legally
changed it at some point.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
So y'all are a four name family.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
We're a four name.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Chase Robert hawk family, I mean Duncan.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, I love this, Okay, So then so you grow up,
you have this awesome exotic childhood. You are like living
such a fun life. It was fun and out in California.
Then you're like, I freaking love hair. I'm gonna go
to hair school.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Hair started when I was about fourteen, I know, I
left dispassion. I would get my hair done and then
I would go home and fix it and fix it like.
My mom would pay whatever amount I'm sure was not
like appropriate for a fourteen year old, but I had
to have highlights, oh of course, so she would pay
for this to get done, and then I would like
(10:07):
go home and fry my hair off with you know,
box bleach from Save Art, and I'm like, okay, So
but I started cutting hair, I think, oh gosh, I
was probably seventeen, and I was working at our family
business and we had a big warehouse where we would
do like tidie and stuff.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
What's the family business.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
It started as Duncan Enterprise or Dunkin Ceramics, and then
it went to I left to create. It's just all
arts and crafts. So any kind of tide you've ever done,
or any kind of tulip fabric paints or scribbles, any
kind of iron on crystals or just fun, like all
kinds of arts and crafts, okay, anything, okay, just creative, creative.
So I used to be in design in marketing, and
(10:47):
so I got to make the displays for like Michael's Enjoyings,
like you can create this with these products, and so
I would create that finished look.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And they'd go to the stores, and they'd go to
the stores.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
And so after hours, we would cut hair in like
the big isles of the warehouse, just for fun, just
for fun. A couple of girls there that trusted me
not I don't know why, but in.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
The aisles of the stores cut hair.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Okay, So long story short, it turned out fine.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
So you're like, okay, this is a passion. I'll pursue this.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
So then I started assisting the girl I was my
senior year of high school, maybe right when I graduated.
I was about seventeen eighteen. So I started assisting the
lady that had done my hair this whole time, learned
from her, did a little bit of the apprentice program,
and then I transferred everything to beauty school and finished there.
(11:41):
I went straight to working at a salon, and then
at twenty two, I opened up my salon.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
How was that to open your own salon at twenty two?
Were you amazing or were you just ready?
Speaker 3 (11:51):
I was so excited and my dad was like, you're
basically like batshit crazy, and it was not a strong
point in the economy and just a small business, like
everything was a bad idea from his standpoint of being
in business for so many years. And so I had,
like my dad, who's this realist, my mom who's an optimist,
so she's like, it's gonna be great.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
How was it?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
It was great? It was great. It was great. And
my uncle, who had passed away years ago, had left
me a little bit of money, and so, you know,
it was supposed to be for college, but I did
the beauty school thing, and so I asked my dad
if he, you know, do you think that Gary would
be okay with me spending money on this? And he's like,
I mean, if that's what you want to do, like sure,
(12:37):
And so I opened that at twenty two and had
thirteen girls working for me.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Dang, sister.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
It was fun and great. Girls were all still a team.
Now like fast forward, my best friend now has a
salon and all the girls went with her when I
moved out here. So when I go home and do hair.
We want to still be together, which is fun.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Okay, so you kind So then your story takes a
turn because you meet John party and that is why
you moved out here for the party.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Animal himself party party party.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Yes, so you guys have quite the interesting meeting because
your mother's introduced you, right.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
His mom and my client.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Okay, so how did that happen?
Speaker 3 (13:23):
So his mom is okay, my client, longtime client, family friends.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
We don't even know each other because you're over here.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Is he from californ He's from California, but we didn't
know each other.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
So mom living in California.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah, so she lives up north and I grew up
like three hours south of where he was from. And
so my client had been friends with his mom for years,
like long time years, and so they had stayed in
touch with all the moves and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
And has John moved a lot.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
No, but my client moving like down south and to Fresno,
and then his mom always stayed up north. But they
still remain friends. So I'm client Ellen would grow up
to visit his mom and so they were like legit,
they were friends. They have a whole group of girlfriends.
I forget that, call it the Ayas or something. I
don't remember. Okay, maybe I made that up. I don't know,
but they all stayed in touch, and so I guess
(14:14):
they were talking one day. I don't really know the
full story because it's kind of like a blur now
thinking back, but I remember getting a voicemail from Ellen
when I was at work, and she was like, Ellen's
my client, Okay. And so I had had years of
just like not the greatest relationships, and so I had
been at a point now where I was like single,
and I had my dog, and I had my house
(14:34):
and my salon, and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
It's great, You're like killing it, Like I don't need
a man. No, I'm great.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
I got my dog Cooper, like we're buddiest. Yeah. And
so I get those voicemail at work one day and
Ellen's like, hey, you know, I I have this guy
I want you to meet. Like he's great guy, a
family guy. I grew up in the country, you know,
tall All the things never mentioned anything about who he
was or what he was did for work. I just
(15:01):
assumed he was like a local. Because I was never
going to leave Fresno. I loved Fresno, and I was like,
this is my place, just being you grew up there,
grew up there, and it was like it's a great
like place for family, and my family was there. I
never wanted to read it to college, so it wasn't
like I experienced anything else. And I just, yeah, I
loved it. I had the business. I'd at my clients,
(15:21):
and I just always had that mindset of like I'm
never going to leave here.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
And then so then I was wrong.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Ellen says, I got this dude had John hit yet
he was in the middle of like really breaking out.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Yeah, so I think he had just one ACM's New
Artist of the Year.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Did you know who he was?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
No?
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Or were you a country music.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
I've always listened to country, but you like since day one,
but I don't know any names anymore. It's like, I
mean I knew like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, George Straight,
like the Ogs when you used to like go and
actually buy you know, CDs or like t set tapes. Yeah,
back at the you know. Then now it's just like
you stream things, so you don't necessarily know who it is.
You just hear a song. Yes, so i'd heard his songs,
(16:05):
but I had no idea and.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
You didn't really know what he looked like now.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
And at this point when I had this voicemail, I
didn't even know who he was. And so then she's like,
call me if you want to know more. So I'm like, well,
so I call her and I'm like, tell me more
about this guy, like when can I meet him? And
she's like, well, he's in country music.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
And I was like no, You're like no, why not interested? Why?
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Like I didn't. I don't know. I didn't want to
be a part of this whole. Like my initial thought
was sex, drugs, rock and roll in light groupyhoes, which
you know, obviously I've been proven wrong, but right that
was my initial thought. Yeah, I was like that's a
whole different life. Like obviously that means no friends, no,
and so I was kind of like hmmm. And so
(16:48):
I talked to my girlfriends about it, and they're like
fifty to fifty, Like half of them were like, go
for it, what do you have to lose? And the
other half was like, I don't like the way that
that sounds like we're with you on that. Don't meet him.
And so he was actually in my hometown, so had.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
You googled him and now you know the him? And
I was like, okay, so cute.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yes, adorable, like freaking modern day Elvis and James Deanish
taking precious. It's so sweet and.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
So he so you already know you have to meet
him because he's so sneak and cute.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
But I still was like I just it was one
of those things like I'm not a really adventurous Yes
you are, you grew the wild, yeah, but as far
as like my like, I was such I'm such a
routine person, Like John makes fun of me because I
have the same breakfast every day.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
What is it?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
A strambled egg? Just one I mean sometimes I might
do like a fried egg, but one egg and some coffee.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
You scrambled just one egg.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I don't love breakfast, like I'd rather save my calories
for like a really good lunch or dinner. But so
you're just just so boring to me. Scramble one one egg.
I make him three eggs and then he's like, could
get some meat, Like okay, so I might, you know,
whatever he wants, But I'm just easy, like I don't
want to be like fool in the morning.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
You just want to get going.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah. So I just that's like I was on a
routine person. So I'm like, this breaks my routine. This
breaks my like wake up, Fresno, work Fresno, everything Fresno related.
And I just wasn't I wasn't sure about it. I
was so set in my ways. And so my best
friend was like, get the hell out of Dodge, like
(18:27):
you need to shake it up.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Shake it girl.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
So and she had been married at this point, and like,
I'm like, okay, so I need to venture out. So
he was performing in my hometown, but I happened to
be in Vegas, okay. And my friend they're like, cancel
your trip. I'm like, no, what were you doing in
Vegas with friends?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Just having a weekend.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Yes, So we had a group of us in Vegas
and I'm like, I'm not going to cancel this. I
don't even know the guy.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
You're like, I'm not going to cancel my trip. It's
probably not going to even do this.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
And so and mind you, John didn't even text me
until the day of his ship stop like he uh
you know this is John, Like your client gave me
your number and if you want to come to the show,
tonight with some of your friends. I would love to
meet you. And I'm like, yeah, well I'm not here,
so and we just kind of like played at nonchalant. Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
So that was his initial meeting.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
That was his initial like just shoot you a text
in the dark, like hi.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
So so okay, so it didn't happen.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Didn't happen. I'm I was like, so I'm in Vegas,
and so then that went into like, well when you know,
when are you free?
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (19:35):
So I think I said something like maybe next time
you're in town. He's like, well that could be like
a year from now, which obviously I wouldn't know how
that whole life style worked. Yeah, and so he's like, well,
I'm free. I have two days in Denver that following
week where he had two shows when they happened to
be like both in Denver, so he was going to be,
you know, stationary, and so I'm like, so she'd come
(19:58):
see me. So he's like, can I fly you out here?
Speaker 1 (20:01):
What y'all have never even fried it? And so summer,
you guys have never even met.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
He looked at my picture for like he said, I
looked at your picture for three days and then I
decided i'd call it. I'm like, okay, what.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
If he wasn't a cute country star, that would be
super creepy.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
So I looked at your picture for three days, like.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Three days, and I figured i'd call you. I was like, oh,
you're so romantic, my god.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
I mean that is kind of sweet in a kind
of creepy way. So I was like, okay, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Its creepy, I thought, So I thought it was kind
of I mean, there's there's a little thing of creepiness
in there. If I don't know you, and I'm not gonna,
like I don't have an escape plan, like I can't
just get in my car and drive back to California.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
I guess because you trust your client, you know that
he's going to be a deep So I did have that.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
You know she's not going to set you up with
a serial killer.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Yeah, no, Ted bundies here.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
So he's like, let me fly you.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
He's like, let me fly you to Denver. And I
was like, can I bring a friend. I'll pay for her, like,
I'm not asking you. Like, I was like, I'm not
asking you to pay for her. I just do you
mind if I bring someone I just don't know you.
You like, very just want to put it out there
because I just don't know who you are. And he
was telling he's like, that's Telly.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Fine, that's so I freaking love you.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
He got my flight, I got her fight. It was great.
I was so nervous. Every other day that week, I
was like, I'm going to cancel. I even at one
point I think I tried to cancel because I had
got my confirmation from his travel agent, but I couldn't
change my flight because it had booked been booked third party.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Okay. So I was like, oh shit, you're stuck. I'm stuck,
like it's happening.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
So and you know what, You're ready, You're ready for
some adventures. Yeah, you got your friend, you got your
back up.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
And my friend had been going through like a rough
relationship time. So on the days that I was like
I don't want to go, I'm nervous, I'm scared, she's
like we're going, like I need this chip, We're going,
you need to go. We're going, let's do it. Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
So I'm dying to know how this played out. How
did the trip play up?
Speaker 3 (22:05):
The night that I was packing, the power goes out
in your house, in my house, like the whole neighborhood,
and I'm like, is this a sign? I don't, I mean,
should am I supposed to go? Like? Oh my god?
So anyways, I ended up going. We get there, you know,
my girlfriend and I we go to the hotel. We
get all dressed up for this first meeting, and he's
(22:28):
performing at Blue Moon Brewery. It's like a little radio show.
So it was a small private gig.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
How long did you think about your outfit that first outfit?
Speaker 3 (22:36):
I think I think I had it like nailed down
on the flight over. Okay, I was like casual, not
too like. I think I had like black jeans on
and an army like T shirt.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
You want you want to like try hard?
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Yes? And so I was feeling really good, like I
was feeling confident, like even if we don't click, like
this will be a fun girls weekend. And I didn't
have any weird nervousness. It was very interesting for me.
I don't know. So we go in and he's like,
when you get here, call this number night. He was
his tour manager, and he goes, my guy, I will
come oud and get you.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
I'm like, this is one heck away to meet somebody, right.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
So I see his tor manager Tray coming around the corner.
I'm like, Okay, here we go. Sorry takes us back
to where John and the guys are like just hanging
out before the show, and it was like nothing, and
it was like we'd known each other for years.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
So was y'all's initial conversation? Easy?
Speaker 3 (23:33):
So easy? Which is awkward because I'm so shy you are, Yes,
I'm still like freaking shy. I'm so shy. Yes, No,
I've gotten better being out here and being in John's life,
like it's you're forced to not be.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
I do not feel like you're shy, so shy really
so awkward? Yeah, oh my god, you can not seem
that way.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
So it's so bad.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
But how did the initial meeting go? Like when you
walk in the room, what happens?
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Honest, it was such a blur. I think I was
so excited and it was just like this energy that
I had never experienced before with when meeting someone. And
obviously I was like, oh my god, he's so hot
and tall, like sexy of tight jeans and cowboy.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Boots and a half my god, You're like, did I
dream you.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
And so I don't even know what we talked about.
It was probably something about how we met. I don't
even know, but it just flowed and we were laughing
and it was like the band guys were so nice
and it was literally like we've been friends for forever.
And my girlfriend, I mean, she's freaking hilarious and so
so does she have fun to be well, we had
a great time. So she had so much fun.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
No, no, she had a blast.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
And we had that first night we watched his show,
which was super fun, and we ended up going to
dinner afterwards. You John and your friend and two of
his band members and we had great dinner to steakhouse
and then we went to a champagne bar after I
(25:06):
had way too much champagne. And then we went back
to the hotel and John of course was like, you like,
come cuddle and I'm like, no, sir, I don't like nice.
Try and he was trying so hard. It was so
cute because he was like, I just want to talk
to you in like cuddle and I'm like ah, so
he walked you want to It was sweet. He walked
(25:27):
us back to our room, my girlfriend and I oh,
I said no summer. I said, no, go, and.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
So I'm after that whole first role in meeting, it'd
be hard to stay notable.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
I was like, you're welcome to come hang out with
us for a bit, and so he came to our
room for maybe like twenty minutes and then he's like
you sure you don't want to come cuddle, like I'll
see you tomorrow. And I had told him that day.
I said I had a girlfriend and her husband that
lived in Denver, and I was like, we're going to go.
I'm stirring the cord. So I said, we're going to
(26:02):
brunch tomorrow if you are interested in coming, like no pressure,
I know you might be busy. And of course his
first response earlier that day when we first met was yeah,
you know, like I probably had like an interview or something.
And I'm like, yeah, okay, okay, makes good good. So
the next morning I just gave him like a courtesy
text of like, hey, and I you said you might
have like things going on, but we're going to brunch
(26:23):
at ten if you want to come, yeah, and he's
like pick me up out front. I'm like mm hmm, okay,
you fell through. Okay, So we had brunch with my friends.
It was fun. It was like chill, and then it
turned into a whole day and like we went to
the mall in Denver and we went shopping.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
We had the day off, the whole day and no
show that night.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
No, we had it. He had a show that night
at the Drizzly Rose, which is like super honky tonk
and fun, so fun, and that was like his first
real show that I was going to see because the
previous night was just like guitar pool thing. So that
was from the whole day with like his buddy mal
flew In and he's a comedian, he's a freaking crack up,
and his girlfriend and their friend. It was just like
(27:06):
a whole group of us that like met and just
got along so well, and we like walked around the
mall and went shopping and had drinks and like just
I don't know, it was just fun. I like nervous,
like nervous. I was so nervous, and then like at
one point he was walking behind me and put his
hands on my waist and I was like done, came over.
(27:32):
But it was nice to experience that and have like
you haies, like you're just like I am I text
my mom and I said something like sell my house,
sell my clothes, and send my dog, like I'm done. Done,
and she was like, oh shit, okay. So and then
she she was like, you know, I remember when you
send me that text message. And she's like, I told
(27:53):
Ali he's my best friend. She's like, I told Alie
like I think Summer's I think she's serious, and I'm
like yep. So that was it. So then I flew home.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
And what how did you feel when you flew home?
I really I was so.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Sad, but also so like giddy. And it was so
funny because that night at the Grizzly Rose, they had
bus call at like one am, and so we had
the show we like dance, we hang out, we have
our We had our first dance to Wheeler Walker.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Junior's so romantic, so.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
Romantic, that's kind of awesome. I have that on camera
on film. And so what was the song? Something so cool,
drop him out, let me see them knockers. It was flawless.
We had a flawless dance. And as the bus was
leaving that night, he was like waving out the window.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Was so he was smitt and kitten.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
He was he I remember he was telling me that
he was texting like his manager and stuff like I
just met this girl and like she's the real deal
or something. She's like a walking Carls Junior commercial like whatever.
His funny things. I don't know. He was just he
was so funny. And then like Jen, I met her
recently after that after meeting him, and she was like,
oh my god, John text me when he met you,
(29:06):
and I was like, I have to meet this girl
because he was totally in he was in it. I'm like, okay,
let's good to know, like we're on the same page.
And so that last day with him, he had asked
me to come back and be his date for the
CMT Awards, which was like a month later, and I
was like, oh shit, okay, I'm I'll come. And he
(29:27):
had as people book my flight like right then, and
I'm like I'm going. I guess I'm going. So that
was a month in between which we wouldn't see each other.
And so how did the communication go? Non stop texting
phone calls, which I had never been a phone call person.
So you're talking on the phone all all the time,
(29:48):
and I hate phone talking.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Like every day were texting talking.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Yes. And so my best friend when I got home,
you know, we were talking about it, and John and
I were texting and she's like, you're not going to
see each other for a month. And she was like
reading our text message and she's like, that's not going
to work out. She goes, you need to go like
see each other now. Yeah. And so I had the
ability to move my clients, which is great, and so
(30:13):
I'm like, Okay, I can make this work where I
can cram everybody into like two days and then take
off again. And so I then met him like four
days later in Nebraska.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Okay, and how is that job? Cuddle time?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
We tell had cuddle time and it was so awkward
like that, like rolling my suitcase up to the bus
and I'm like, like do we kiss?
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Do?
Speaker 3 (30:34):
I mean? Like because I had y'all kissed you, he
kissed me goodbye, So y'all had just had like one
had one kiss. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Was it like a big kiss or is it just
like a little kiss.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
It was like a medium kiss, okay, not sloppy, not
not too long.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Okay, okay, And that was it. Then you're and I
was like, bye, So that's what you left.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
With, Like yeah, totally. Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Yeah, So then that week later I went and met
him and it.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Was like, did y'all kiss right away? No?
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Like I was so nervous and I think he was nervous.
It took about an hour and.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Then how did it happen?
Speaker 3 (31:10):
And then we were like cuddling on the bus and
then he just reached over and like pulled my face
and kissed me. And that was that, Oh my god,
I die done deal. So yeah, that was that was
my first time being on the bus, and I was
spoiled because it was just John his bass player and
tour manager. It was a like, I think he was
out with Tim and Faith and so it was a
(31:31):
you know, not the full band. So that was a
good intro to my first bus experience because then the
following trip was like two weeks later. I started doing
like a two weeks on with him and then a
week home working, and then back for two weeks and
that that was the rest of my life from that
point on.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
So I've never stopped it. It never stopped. And did y'all
just become official right then?
Speaker 3 (31:53):
No, I took a couple months, I think it did.
It took yeah, for him to call me his girlfriend?
Speaker 1 (31:58):
How did that happen?
Speaker 3 (32:01):
That was hilarious. He he like we had talked about
things like are you know, are you seeing other people?
Because I'm not, just want to make sure on the
same page, and he's like, nope, no, I'm all about you.
Like blah blah blah. But you never know, like it's new,
and so do.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
You still have fears of like your initial fears of
what liked?
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Oh yeah, music for sure.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Yeah, because there were weekends that I wasn't out and
you see things on Instagram, you know, like you can't
help it. But I just had a feeling about it
that I was like, Okay, I trust this and it
was a good thing and a good feeling. And when
I saw him and like we talked so much like
before a show, after show, throughout the rest of the night,
(32:45):
all the time. And so I think that's probably five
months in. We were on the bus one night and
somebody said something and he was like, oh, this this
is my girlfriend. And I was like, oh, you want
to talk about that? Because I didn't agree about that.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
I mean, I want to talk about I didn't know
anything about this, but I was sweet.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
It was like proud moment of like, she's mine, like,
let's make this official, and so of course felt good
for me, and in my mind it was already like
a thing, you know, and so that that was that.
And then a couple of weeks later, we were having
Thai food for lunch and he out of nowhere, was like,
so when you move here, are you going to bring
your car? And I was like, again, do you want
(33:30):
to talk about this?
Speaker 2 (33:31):
So he.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Like, she's coming. So yeah, So that's I moved. I
think it was. We met in May and I moved
out here officially for Christmas and did you.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
So then did you just like sell your I.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Sold my house my best friend I had built houses
side by side, and that was amazing. That was an
awesome experience for two years and we both sold our
houses and her and her husband found a great house
and I just sold mine, sold my car, your salon,
my So the year let's see, I met John, so
(34:06):
October before I met John, I was like four months
before I met him. My lease was up at my
salon and so it was either renew or figure out
plan B. And I wasn't. I didn't love the business
side of the business like I loved hair, and I'm
so passionate about hair, and I think being such a
(34:28):
small business, I wasn't willing to give up the control.
And so I had a lot on my plate of
stress wise of like taxes and just managing a business
thing because my art is doing hair.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
And so is kind of like frustrating.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeah, And so I talked with the girls and I,
you know, I was like, what's your guys have thought
on if we if I don't renew Entangled, do we move,
you know, to like these little individual suites kind of thing?
And we had options. And so long story short, everything
worked out perfectly, like there couldn't have been a more
(35:04):
perfect ending to that whole situation. So we all still
got to work together, but we had our own private
suites and everyone girl got to be basically their own
boss and they had their own like business name. And
then when I after I met John, that's when Ali
opened up her salon and then all the girls went
to her place.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
So it was seamless.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
It was seamless, like in the craziest way, which I
people always say, like everything happens.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
And it wouldn't supposed to happen.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
It works out right, And I'm like yeah, yeah, yeah, okay,
And then never in my life have I experienced that
in a true reform, like from me meeting John, like
actually from the business not renewing. First was like, okay,
let's make a decision to not renew that. And then
I met John and I'm like, damn, if I had
kept tangled, I wouldn't be able to travel the way
(35:52):
I was, and then selling my house and my best
friend getting pregnant and so it was just like it
all worked out so crazy, and it does it make you.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Trust like things more are timing about?
Speaker 3 (36:06):
Yeah yeah, absolutely, which I always I didn't. I want
ton't say I doubt it, doubted it when I was,
you know, drawing up the whole thing. But it's definitely
like okay, it's a real deal. Yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
So when something's meant to be, it's meant to be.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
But do you have do you think that you have
to like allow yourself to follow it?
Speaker 3 (36:26):
Sure if I would have gone, yeah, yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
So okay, so how are the same to your wards?
When you went to the first your first award show,
it was fun.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
I didn't walk the carpet with him or anything. So
I was thinking that I was enough to do all that,
and I was so freaked out. And then it was
like a okay, like a relief of like okay, okay,
we're just gonna go. And he walked the carpet and
did his thing, and I hung out with his managers,
which are awesome, all like majority girl team he has,
which was so cool and they're so sweet, and we
(37:03):
got all dressed up. He had a lady that did
my hair and makeup and all set up for you.
He had it all set up stop and so stop it.
It was so sweet.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
It's such a cowboy, but he's so thoughtful.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
It was sweet. It was fun. We ended up leaving
right after. I forgot if he was presenting something. I'm
so bad, but we ended up leaving. We went to
dinner at Jeffreyby's Steakhouse, which was my first experience there,
and it was so good and it was just a
fun night. We ended up going bowling after that with
(37:35):
some friends and that was it. It was like over,
like that.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
Were you nervous to like walk into the country music.
Speaker 3 (37:42):
I was so nervous and I had to meet everybody.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
What did you think about meeting like people that you've
seen on TV.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Everyone was so nice and it was like, no, I
thought it was going to be weird. But like the
first before this even happened, he had CMT interviews, like
the day before the CMT Awards, and so we were
at the CMT headquarters downtown. I was literally standing able
to elbow with Keith Urban and they were talking all buddy, buddy,
and I'm like, what is this life? I mean, I
(38:11):
was kind of dying inside, but I was very composed.
John was like, I'm so like, I'm shocked you weren't
like crazy or like asking for pictures and I'm like, well,
I mean I would never do that. But I was
definitely dying inside for sure, like dying inside. I mean
everybody that was in there, it was like wow, like
and they're all just normal people and they're so nice
(38:33):
and it was just like just another day at the job.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Have you felt now that you've been with John two years,
said youner Mercary. Have you felt do you feel now
like super comfortable in the music community around everybody.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Yeah, I mean it's it's just like friends and family
in a sense. Everyone is so nice even if you
don't know them or like we passed John performed the
Nissan thing for c Mafes with Thomas and the whole
like little big town gang was there and I do
(39:08):
one of the wife's hair and they all like I
haven't met any of them really formally, but they were
all like, oh my god, hey girl. And I was like,
that's sweet, Like this is awesome. They're just everyone's so nice.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
So it is something about country music is so down
home good people. Yes they have these awesome careers, but
it's still just regular people.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
Everybody's like that, So it's nice. It was. I was
pleasantly surprised, being that my initial thought of this whole
lifestyle was like, you know, all bad things.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
Right growing up behind music. Yeah, on VH one all that.
Speaker 3 (39:46):
So it's been good.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
Okay, So how have the two years been moving away
from Fresno? Leaving Fresno that you swore you would never leave.
Now you're like on the road.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
All the time.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
This girl who loves her routine never probably has one.
How has that all been?
Speaker 3 (40:01):
It's been great?
Speaker 1 (40:03):
What has it taught you about yourself?
Speaker 3 (40:07):
That? I mean, basically that I just had more patience
than I ever thought I had really, and that I
am open to not being in control of my life
and every part of it, which was tough.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
What have you found to be the benefit of being
open and not in control?
Speaker 3 (40:26):
You're just happier, you think, Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Do you feel like like you experienced things that you
could just never have? Amazing?
Speaker 3 (40:32):
Yes, and it you know, because like when I was
in Fresno, everything, like like I said, was routine and
I had you know, it was literally like if I
didn't have my stevia drops from my coffee, if I
was out or I didn't get all four of them,
I was like my day was ruined, really and it
just like it would throw it off and I'd be like,
oh my god. And so it would be you know,
(40:53):
in this lifestyle with Yeah, so it's like I don't
have I mean, even if I to have a routine
like that, it's really kind of impossible. So it's like
the adjustment from living out of a suitcase and eating
whatever you can it, catering and sleeping when you get
to sleep, like it's just it's been fun.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Did it take a moment for you to adjust to
it or did you get into it right away?
Speaker 3 (41:20):
I got into it right away. Yes, somehow I have
no I think I was just so in love and
so willing to do whatever like this. I just even
my best friend she's like, I don't know who you are.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
So have you like morphed into a different person kind
of obviously the same.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
Person, but so much more like I don't know what
the word like, not relax, I don't know, like like
laid back, yeah, which I've always been very laid back
personality wise, but lifestyle wise, it was, you know, I
had to be in control of everything.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
So now so it's freedom.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
It's freedom. Yeah, yeah, that's scary to put it, and
it's I still have my moments, you know, like when
we are home for a period of time and then
we have to go back on the road and I'm like.
Speaker 4 (42:05):
I'm so comfortable, Like it's been so healthy. Okay, so
because you'll have this beautiful house. Living together has been fun.
Speaker 1 (42:16):
What have you learned about yourself and John living together?
Speaker 3 (42:21):
He's the first guy that I've ever dated, slash lived
with that I didn't pick apart, Okay, I don't. I
think it's just because I genuinely like am connected to
him or with him, and I'm happy and so like
the little things don't irritate me, you know. I mean
(42:45):
there's some things like now, like leaving dirty clothes next
with the hamper on the.
Speaker 2 (42:51):
Right, Michael just took his clothes off and just puts
them on the ground wherever he is.
Speaker 3 (42:55):
I might it's literally right next to the hamper, John,
right next to the him.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
I swear, guys pretty such a guy thing.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
But I just laugh. Like an ex boyfriend, I would
have been like fuming over and I just like, because
it's so ham it's and like you said, it's just
a dude thing of it. It's just funny. And it's
like it's almost sweet in a sense because it's so obvious. Yes,
and I'm like, come on, dude, but it's just it's good.
I used to be a person that was so into
(43:25):
my alone time, Like I would turn down hanging out
with friends because I was like, no, it's my Like
it's seven o'clock PM. I'm like coming home from work
and it's me and my dog and I want to chill.
And so that was the biggest adjustment I think was
being with someone twenty four to seven and not only
being twenty four seven, but being on a tour bus half.
Speaker 1 (43:47):
The week right in a very small space.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
Very small space. In the first eight months, it was
John and I and told other guys dang. And so
we went from that, which I don't I literally don't
know like and even the guys we all laugh look
back when we talked about stories of how the heck
did you do that?
Speaker 1 (44:04):
And you loved it.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
I loved it, and I loved it. It did not
bother me.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
And then you guys gross smelly wings.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
I think the worst part was Like then John always says,
that's the funniest thing I've ever said, was how I've
never seen so much urine on a toilet seat on
the bus. But you just deal with it, and like
I would keep like a little Clorox whites, I just
wipe it down like old Summer would have been, like
I am not staying on here, Oh my god, like
(44:32):
but I just went with it and it was fun.
And then we ended up going from that bus to
a bus with John's bass player and his tour manager
and then John and I and that was great. And
now it's just John and I on a bus, which
is awesome, even better, and we did not we know Bear.
We're gonna try to bring Bear out because he is
(44:54):
the most is that the new one. That's the new one,
that's the doodle mix. He's I mean, my favorite. I
think he's maybe John's favorite, but he won't say that.
Cowboys always going to be John's favorite, right because cowboys
og Cowboys his baby. But Cowboy will like niffit people.
So and Bears bears just a big goober. He's like, dude,
(45:16):
I'm bear, but I'm curious to see. You'll have to
find a short run where we can bring him out
for like a nights, Like we're doing a show in
Georgia one night for fourth of July or the third
of July actually, So I'm like, maybe we'll do that. Yeah,
quick up and back and see how he does on
the bus. Because he's got he's a he's a bear
dog with high anxiety. We have Doggies annex for him.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
Sweet buddy.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
So he's so sweet. So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
So you have just completely upraided your life. You now
live in Nashville, You go on the road all the time,
You live with boys and pee on the toilet. You
have no and you love it.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
I love it. It's good.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
Crazy. Probably you would have never dreamed.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
That you could be never in a million years. Ever,
So what is I just go to you, like now
where you are now? After like how you've grown up
meeting John, all this change within you?
Speaker 1 (46:09):
What is your takeaway on just like rolling with it?
Speaker 3 (46:15):
I think it's the best best thing you can do
for yourself in life and for the people around you.
Speaker 1 (46:19):
Why is it so hard to do that?
Speaker 3 (46:20):
Though? I think it's just a control thing, or maybe
it's like a fear.
Speaker 1 (46:25):
I don't know, like what's the underlying fear.
Speaker 3 (46:29):
Change? I guess I mean for me it was change.
But I mean John's the complete opposite of me, so
he couldn't even help me figure out what was wrong
with me or why I had such a fear of
giving up things and changing my ways or changing my location.
(46:51):
But I think it's great. I think it's great to
allow yourself to let go and see where it takes you,
because I mean, there's so many opportunities that I could
have made or maybe I have missed in the past,
you know, being the way that I was, And so
that's weird to look back and think, like, what like,
had I not been so dead set in my ways,
(47:12):
where would I have been? But then again, I would
never met John.
Speaker 1 (47:16):
And you let it all go at the right time. Yeah,
what's your favorite thing about John that maybe people don't know?
Speaker 3 (47:24):
He doesn't keep much private about him, Like his personality
obviously hilarious, but that's I mean, I think the whole
world knows that. Like we can I can look at
him or he can look at me in the car
and we'll just be busting up with no words or anything.
But he's just always making you laugh always, and he's
I think my favorite part is how sentimental he is.
Like we had our first all out, like blowout fight
(47:47):
over Christmas.
Speaker 1 (47:48):
Oh wow, Oh how'd that go?
Speaker 3 (47:50):
Because I'm a control freak And my Christmas tree was
like the Mona Lisa of Christmas trees. And I was
so proud of it, Like he was so irrit when
I we took it. He had a show in California,
and I was like, Okay, I'm going to put all
my Christmas decorations on the bus and we'll get them
back to Tennessee, because like, Christmas is my thing.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Like you wanted to decorate a tree on the bus?
Speaker 3 (48:13):
No, no, no, But like I had to get all my stuff,
like I sold everything in my life basically, but I
kept my Christmas decorations because I've spent like years collecting that.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
Okay, this is big deal.
Speaker 3 (48:24):
It's like my jam. So when it came time for Christmas,
I was like, we are getting my ornaments, my trees, everything.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (48:30):
So we set up a tree and I was so
proud of it, and he was like it looks like
a grandma did it. And I'm like, oh, this hurt feelings. Okay,
that's cool rude. And so he was like, where's all
the fun ornaments and I'm like, what a fun ornament?
He goes like the fun like childhood ornaments and I'm like,
you can't put fun ornaments on my Mona Lisa tree, okay.
(48:53):
And so we're sitting at the table one night and
he's online ordering like minion ornaments and toy story ornaments
and I'm like, he's n you gonna rent my tree
And I'm like, why don't we just get to a
tree for the office and we'll do that like a
fun tree. And he's like, why don't you just let
me put my ornaments on the tree for the family tree?
And I'm like I was getting so fired up, and
this goes back to me. It went down I mean,
(49:16):
I was like blood boiling, and he was too, like.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
Because he's like, what in the world, let me put
my fun right?
Speaker 2 (49:24):
But You're like, oh my gosh, why do you not
appreciate this beautiful tree?
Speaker 3 (49:28):
So I mean when I say this was our first
all out like I was screaming are you serious? He
because he I'm like I told I'm like, you don't understand.
That's like putting a poop emoji on my on the
Mona Lisa.
Speaker 1 (49:40):
You don't.
Speaker 3 (49:40):
You can't do that. And he was like, why are
you being so crazy? He's like, it's Christmas, like you're
supposed to have fun ornaments, and I'm like, it's my tree,
Like I just and then so the worst part about
this was I then text my best friend and I
were sitting at the table and I'd texting her like
I'm so freaking mad he's being so mean, and I
sent it to John across the table and so he
(50:02):
I was like, oh shit, And at that point I
just had to start laughing. And then he started laughing,
and I was like it was like this aha moment
of why am I so crazy and controlling over my Christmas?
Like over anything in life? Like all he wanted was
to have sentimental ornaments of like a lawnmower, and he's like,
I ordered you a lawnmower, babe, like because I have
(50:24):
a John Deer here at the house. And he's like,
I got you the dreen John Deer lawnmower for your ornament.
And he's like, and I got your dad a zebra
and like every and then I was like, I'm such
a dick, Like I am such an asshole. He is
so sweet and so sentimental, like he's not ordering these,
it's just to be like your tree. Like he got
his grandma a little bottle of Tito's, like the you know,
(50:44):
travel size because Noney loves dirty, dirty like not dirty Martini's,
but she does. But she drinks vodka like water, just
solo cup filled with vodka. And so everything had yeah,
like they were all meaningful to him in a way
which I didn't realize that was our you know, like
I never knew his Christmas history and he didn't know mine.
(51:06):
And so he's like the sweetest part about him is
that I think people maybe maybe they don't see that
part is how sentimental he is and it is so
freaking sweet. And so that was a I learned. I
learned something big that day.
Speaker 1 (51:21):
So do you think that let you let go of
control even more?
Speaker 3 (51:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (51:25):
I just like droping control right summer, you're going to
turn into like a hole blown hippie.
Speaker 3 (51:31):
You know, but really good. I'll still always have that
little little mission in the corner.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
Just in the corner. Just still gotta be me, that's right.
Speaker 2 (51:46):
But yeah, I'm impressed though, with like how aware you
are of everything too.
Speaker 3 (51:50):
M hmm, I try. I was in therapy before I
met John. I so my whole life I had never
like been to therapy or anything. And then to meeting him,
I had seen this great lady for like five weeks
and I was so excited about the idea of like
seeing someone because it was always like everyone puts like
a weird thing, like they're ashamed or something of talking
(52:12):
to someone. And I'm like, it's a great, unbiased opinion
and just like an outlit And so she's the first
one that really helped me, I think, and leading up
to meeting John, of her, she was like, you should
go and just let go and like be free, and
I'm like that's where it all started. So it kind
of like a snowball effect meeting her and then talking
(52:34):
about her.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
Working on yourself yeah, and becoming aware yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:38):
And so I'm like okay, and then it all evolves
into this and I'm like thankful for it.
Speaker 1 (52:46):
So what does success look like to you?
Speaker 2 (52:49):
Not like just monetarily or career wise, just like a
successful life happiness and what is what is happiness?
Speaker 4 (52:56):
Like?
Speaker 2 (52:56):
How does that play out? If you were going to
design happiness or like, what is it?
Speaker 3 (53:01):
It's a tough question, I mean, for like my life
in particular.
Speaker 1 (53:09):
For you, what fills you with the most happiness?
Speaker 2 (53:12):
Like what do you want your life to feel like,
to look like, to be full of, to have a
happy life?
Speaker 1 (53:20):
What is that to you?
Speaker 3 (53:22):
I'm so bad at answering questions. Oh you're great at them.
I don't know. I mean I think just healthy balance
and doing what you want and being who you are. Obviously,
if you're in a relationship, being happy in that and
being open you know, to communication with that and not
(53:43):
holding back anything. And if you love your job, you
love your job. If you don't love your job, find something.
Speaker 1 (53:48):
You do love.
Speaker 3 (53:50):
I love my job, I love my boyfriend, I love
our dogs, love our friends. So I'm happy. That's that's
that's success, in my opinion, a successful life, full circle
of just find what you love and stick with it.
Speaker 2 (54:07):
What do you think makes a successful relationship? Because John
said something so sweet. He's like, this is the healthiest
relationship I've ever been in he was talking about with you.
So what makes y'all's relationship so healthy?
Speaker 3 (54:17):
Communication? One thousand percent?
Speaker 1 (54:19):
You are great at communicating.
Speaker 3 (54:20):
Yes, It's it's been a slow road to it because
when we first met, you know, if there was anything
that ever, like hurt my feelings or if he did something,
I'd be like, you know, can we talk? And he's
like maybe we just shouldn't be together, And I'm like, well,
maybe we should just talk. How about that idea? Because
he would you know, I don't know. His past is
(54:40):
his past, and he's you know, never had a relationship
where he had to communicate or reopen to these things,
and so I'm like, well, let's be adults and have
a conversation. And so I think that and just respect,
like especially with his lifestyle, there's girls everywhere, and there's
Instagram and things that you know come up on Instagram,
(55:01):
and it's just communication and respect and love for one another.
Speaker 1 (55:06):
Definitely make it and keep it. How do you deal
with all the girls?
Speaker 3 (55:12):
I mean, I think it's funny most of the time,
Like I love how much girls love him because I
love him and I see what they see and then
they see it ten times more somehow. But most of
the time they're respectful, which is great, and you know
there's always going to be those that aren't, which we
just laugh about it at the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (55:31):
But does John make you feel safe with thin y'all's
relationship and the girls?
Speaker 3 (55:35):
Yeah? Yeah. There was a the other night we were
out and this junk guy was like a total party fan.
He was in his thirties or seven, and he brought
these two girls over, which clearly I was there with John,
but we had some other friends in the setting and
this guy, I mean, this is just these two girls
that cover and this one girl sat down next to
him and you could tell. I mean, they had some
(55:57):
cocktails and she was working. She was on a mission. Yeah,
And John looks over and he's like, babe, you're good,
like you good? And I'm like, I'm good, baby, you
do your day, you talk talk to those girls. But
he's always sweet about just you know, casually being like
this is my girl, Like I got you. You good, You're good.
(56:19):
So he's he's good at that because I know it's
part of the job, Like he can't be rude people
or he can't you know, one girl asking for a
kiss in Australia, he's like, you know, I can't do that.
And I'm like sitting in the back seat and he's
in the front passenger and he's like, I get She's like,
I'm married, it doesn't matter, and I'm like, oh my god,
like with people, but he finds a way of you know,
(56:43):
having humor in it and making it, you know, so
they're not offended or they're not like mad at him.
It's not making yeah, and then it still makes me
feel comfortable and he's a he's been good about that
since day one. So I'm lucky for that.
Speaker 2 (56:58):
Okay, So I want to keep talking to you, but
we're already like an hour, so we're we're about to
do an instant pot We're having dinner after this.
Speaker 1 (57:04):
So excited For a minute.
Speaker 2 (57:06):
Summer you were teaching me how to cook, yes, and
I still need less easy recipes though.
Speaker 1 (57:11):
Because you're like a really awesome chef.
Speaker 3 (57:14):
It's fun. I enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (57:15):
What are your favorite things to cook? You know my salad,
you're salad. I mean you do a good salad.
Speaker 3 (57:22):
Salad is the best. But we I mean when we're home,
we try to eat home at home as much as
we can. And it's always like Mediterranean chicken, easiest marinate ever,
and then filet and salad, and we do like bacon,
op to sparago so and maybe some rice love it,
but it's like that's that's the routine.
Speaker 1 (57:39):
It's our routine. I love it. So we're gonna do
some What are we doing?
Speaker 3 (57:45):
Coconut chicken curry curry. I'm so excited, so excited.
Speaker 1 (57:49):
Oh my god, it's gonna blow your will.
Speaker 3 (57:51):
I'm excited that you brought out this phenomenal recipe.
Speaker 1 (57:53):
I can't wait.
Speaker 3 (57:54):
Curries my jam.
Speaker 1 (57:55):
So I leave every interview would leave your light.
Speaker 2 (57:57):
So just leave some inspiration people listening on what you
through all your life, through all your journey, what you
would like to share with people that you think they
should know to help them in their life that you
have learned.
Speaker 3 (58:11):
I would say, every day above ground is a day
we're celebrating. So my mom always had the string up
when we go to dinner, they big, are you guys
celebrating anything? And you know, everyone's like, no, it's just
like life, because it is every day that you're happy
and alive and healthy, and even if you're not healthy,
or even if you're not entirely happy, you're still alive
(58:31):
and it's a great day. So that's sad. That's my thing.
So I always say that now when everyone they're like, oh,
you're celebrating them with life. Thanks mom.
Speaker 1 (58:41):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (58:42):
So it's it's good. It keeps you grounded and it
keeps you like in check in those moments when when
you do go to dinner or lunch and they ask
you that. I just keep that in.
Speaker 1 (58:54):
Mind every day above ground, in the day we'resel.
Speaker 2 (58:56):
It's a nice reminder Amanda that YEPM were fond Carolyn Duncan.
Speaker 1 (59:01):
It was such a pleasure having you on over and
out fun. This is your first podcast, my first podcast.
You killed it.
Speaker 3 (59:08):
I'm so excited for dinner me doo.
Speaker 1 (59:11):
Okay, you're the best.
Speaker 3 (59:12):
Bye bye.
All right.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
So I was going through my podcast just looking all
the incredible episodes that I've had, and I've started to
have some amazing faces rejoin me again, such as some
of the wives that I've interviewed back in the day.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Like Summer Party.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I did an episode with her five years ago before
she married John, and we get into their love story,
how they met, and I just think it's time to
bring some of these episodes back and let you hear them,
and so get excited. Summer Party she was just on
earlier last year, not even a year ago, and we
talk about just like motherhood, all the things with John
(00:38):
being married, their life, their journey, how motherhoods changed them, partying,
all of it. It's such a fun episode, so check
that one out too. But it's kind of even more
exciting to go back into the archives and hear what
their life was like five years ago. So get excited.
This is Summer Party, Summer Fawn Duncan because she wasn't
(00:59):
married yet before all of this has happened with marriage
and baby, so here it is. This is a blast
from the past, the best of episode.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Enjoy a.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Carol n She's a queen and talking to you a song.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
She's getting really.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Not afraid to feel.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
It's episode, so just let it flow. No one can
do were quiet like cary Lone, its sounding Caroline.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I'm here with Summer Fawn duncan see fun is your
middle name?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Fawn is my first Summer Fawn is one summer fun fun.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Do people call you summer fun?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
No, but I've been called fun and I've been called
summer but no summer fun.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
But you're supposed to be called technically summer fun.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Technically it's a hyphenated summer faun. Caroline is the middle.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
There's another one, Caroline.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Carolyn, I mean all Caroline.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Summer Fawn Carolyn duncan Okay, are you like British.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Or something signing like legal documents? No British, No nothing.
My I forget which parents chose which name, but they
were like arguing summer versus Fawn, so they're like, well,
summer Fawn. I love it. Caroline is my grandma.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
So you are just like covered in the name department.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
So you have a very exciting upbringing, and it has
to do with your dad in particular, yes, because he
is like y'all like raised all sorts of exotic animals.
And you're from California, yes, and you grew up with
like zebras all things.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
What kind of animals did you grow up with?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Oh, zebras, donkeys, many donkeys to be exact, many ponies,
regular horses, rams, I mean, pigs, peacocks, dogs.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
What did you do with all these animals?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
They're just pets.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
They were all pets.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
My dad growing up was like an animal fanatic. He
had like a pet boat and stricter that lived near
his bed. And he had a pet alligator. I think,
I mean, maybe I made this up, but I'm pretty
sure he'd put alligator that lived in his pool for
a point in time. Just crazy things. You get a
pet skunk.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I always wanted a pet skunk. Was it decent?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
It was?
Speaker 1 (03:31):
It was Yeah, he didn't like spray on him.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
No.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Did he just love animals?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Those animals and he just like hangs out with them
all What does he do with all of them?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
They were just there?
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So you kind of lived on like a farm.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, it's like a branch of twenty acres divided into
two pastures and then the house and it's just fun.
It was like you wake up, you go out there,
you feed the animals, and then they just do their
thing all day and you come back you feed them again.
They're just fun. It's like, just be peaceful about it,
you know. Like when I lived I lived out there
(04:05):
for a point in time obviously after my whole childhood,
but I was building a house and so I moved
there for like the six month period, and I lived
in the guest house which was above the barn, and so,
like I had to get used to all of the
pigeons doing their little coups because my bedroom was right
above their.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Little stock pet pigeons.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Also, so we have pigeons that my dad tight eyes.
They're homing pigeons.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
So they're all like multi colored, so color video later.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
They're so colorful, it's amazing. So there's like twenty of
them when they fly in this you know, massive circle
together and they're all tight eyed and they love it. Oh,
like they actually love it.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Is your dad like, is he just the craziest? What's
he like? What is it like growing up with.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
The best ever?
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Is he just like an adventure adrenaline junkie.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yes, which I don't have. My mom has handled it
for this long, but they they work well. But yeah,
he's he's a wild man and he loves adventure and
he loves thrill seeking things. And I mean we've talked
about your dad and my dad and not not ever meeting.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
They try to go like and survive and some like wilderness.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yes, with my dad could easily be on like naked
and afraid or survivor and love it.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
You have some story about the zebra with your dad's finger,
because that to me is like, so.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah, zebra finger, So pet Zebra Newman. The Newman was
the o g zebra. And so my dad, being like
Noah's Ark modern day, decided that every other animal we
have has like a pair or more because they need
(05:58):
a buddy, right, So aside from like, we have a
mini bull named we Man and he's the only mini
bull that we have, but he loves to hang out
with like the donkeys, so they're his people. And so
Newman was the only zebra and so my Dad's like, well,
I should get him a real friend, and so we
then got Juliette. Little did we know that apparently zebra's,
being like wild animals, don't do well with competition.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Even if it's opposite sex well.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Newman was like in love with my dad.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Oh oh oh oh.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
So like my dad is Newman's person.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And Newman's not the weevil, He's a zebra.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Newman's the zebra. Okay, So we brought juliette and so
then Newman and Juliet then fought from my dad's attention.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Even though your dad, your dad was just trying to
get him a girlfriends.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
You're just trying to get him.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Just trying to get him something, you know, like so
long story, short way to separate them and to separate
pastors every you know. But it's fine now. Juliet, she's
a whole other story. But my dad, I mean, he's
seventy two. He's had years of experience with feeding animals,
and like everyone knows, if you're gonna feed a horse
(07:05):
or like an animal, you you know, you tuck your
fingers and pull them back, okay, and he keep them
together so you don't have, you know, a finger out
these limbs to be chomped on. And he is feeding
Newman with his left hand one day, just some oats,
and like I don't know if he looked away momentarily
or if he just like got relaxed and his middle
finger kind of curled up and then it was gone,
(07:27):
just like just bit it off. Did he eat it?
He ate it? He ate it? And then not only
does my dad, like a normal human would be like,
oh my god, I have to go the doctor or
like the hospital whatever. He gets on his phone and
starts instagramming and recording live video of his finger missing,
with like the bone and just blood, and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Does he think it's awesome?
Speaker 3 (07:50):
He thinks it's amazing?
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Is he so glad that is?
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I mean, I'm sure at this point, like it's probably
like a fifty to fifty, but.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Is it a great conversation conversation piece?
Speaker 3 (07:59):
It's he yeah, the insurance people that was his favorite.
I think when they called to like figure out what
the deals with the hospital bill and like the story
will ma Zebra bit my finger off? I mean, can
you get that covered? I don't know. But he filmed everything.
He filmed it from the moment he bit it off,
and he filmed it in the kitchen when he was
(08:20):
talking to my mom, and then he filmed it at
the actual hospital where they were cutting it and stitching it.
And I don't think that's legal, but he did it.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Oh my gosh. So so you just had a wild childhood.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I had a very fun childhood.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
What's one of your best memories of growing up that
just brings you so much happiness when you think about it.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
I mean probably just ranch life, like I mean, obviously
back before internet and all those things of being you know,
a teenager and ale all dial up, but just being
a kid out on the ranch and catching tad poles.
And that was one thing that my brother and I
always did was we had a little pond, like a
not a legit pond, but a down by our fence waterwidlet,
(09:00):
and then we'd go catch ten poles. And every year
my dad catches, you know, some gopher snakes and king
snakes and we got to play with those. It was
just I think, growing up like on the ranch and
then with all the animals.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
And does your brother have an awesome name too?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
He is Hawk hot Hawk like the bird Chase Robert
Hawk Duncan, but I think he he may have legally
changed it at some point.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
So y'all are a four name family.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
We're a four name.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Chase Robert hawk family, I mean Duncan.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, I love this, Okay, So then so you grow up,
you have this awesome exotic childhood. You are like living
such a fun life. It was fun and out in California.
Then you're like, I freaking love hair. I'm gonna go
to hair school.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Hair started when I was about fourteen, I know, I
left dispassion. I would get my hair done and then
I would go home and fix it and fix it like.
My mom would pay whatever amount I'm sure was not
like appropriate for a fourteen year old, but I had
to have highlights, oh of course, so she would pay
for this to get done, and then I would like
(10:07):
go home and fry my hair off with you know,
box bleach from Save Art, and I'm like, okay, So
but I started cutting hair, I think, oh gosh, I
was probably seventeen, and I was working at our family
business and we had a big warehouse where we would
do like tidie and stuff.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
What's the family business.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
It started as Duncan Enterprise or Dunkin Ceramics, and then
it went to I left to create. It's just all
arts and crafts. So any kind of tide you've ever done,
or any kind of tulip fabric paints or scribbles, any
kind of iron on crystals or just fun, like all
kinds of arts and crafts, okay, anything, okay, just creative, creative.
So I used to be in design in marketing, and
(10:47):
so I got to make the displays for like Michael's Enjoyings,
like you can create this with these products, and so
I would create that finished look.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And they'd go to the stores, and they'd go to
the stores.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
And so after hours, we would cut hair in like
the big isles of the warehouse, just for fun, just
for fun. A couple of girls there that trusted me
not I don't know why, but in.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
The aisles of the stores cut hair.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Okay, So long story short, it turned out fine.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
So you're like, okay, this is a passion. I'll pursue this.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
So then I started assisting the girl I was my
senior year of high school, maybe right when I graduated.
I was about seventeen eighteen. So I started assisting the
lady that had done my hair this whole time, learned
from her, did a little bit of the apprentice program,
and then I transferred everything to beauty school and finished there.
(11:41):
I went straight to working at a salon, and then
at twenty two, I opened up my salon.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
How was that to open your own salon at twenty two?
Were you amazing or were you just ready?
Speaker 3 (11:51):
I was so excited and my dad was like, you're
basically like batshit crazy, and it was not a strong
point in the economy and just a small business, like
everything was a bad idea from his standpoint of being
in business for so many years. And so I had,
like my dad, who's this realist, my mom who's an optimist,
so she's like, it's gonna be great.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
How was it?
Speaker 3 (12:15):
It was great? It was great. It was great. And
my uncle, who had passed away years ago, had left
me a little bit of money, and so, you know,
it was supposed to be for college, but I did
the beauty school thing, and so I asked my dad
if he, you know, do you think that Gary would
be okay with me spending money on this? And he's like,
I mean, if that's what you want to do, like sure,
(12:37):
And so I opened that at twenty two and had
thirteen girls working for me.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Dang, sister.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
It was fun and great. Girls were all still a team.
Now like fast forward, my best friend now has a
salon and all the girls went with her when I
moved out here. So when I go home and do hair.
We want to still be together, which is fun.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Okay, so you kind So then your story takes a
turn because you meet John party and that is why
you moved out here for the party.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Animal himself party party party.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Yes, so you guys have quite the interesting meeting because
your mother's introduced you, right.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
His mom and my client.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Okay, so how did that happen?
Speaker 3 (13:23):
So his mom is okay, my client, longtime client, family friends.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
We don't even know each other because you're over here.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Is he from californ He's from California, but we didn't
know each other.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
So mom living in California.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah, so she lives up north and I grew up
like three hours south of where he was from. And
so my client had been friends with his mom for years,
like long time years, and so they had stayed in
touch with all the moves and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
And has John moved a lot.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
No, but my client moving like down south and to Fresno,
and then his mom always stayed up north. But they
still remain friends. So I'm client Ellen would grow up
to visit his mom and so they were like legit,
they were friends. They have a whole group of girlfriends.
I forget that, call it the Ayas or something. I
don't remember. Okay, maybe I made that up. I don't know,
but they all stayed in touch, and so I guess
(14:14):
they were talking one day. I don't really know the
full story because it's kind of like a blur now
thinking back, but I remember getting a voicemail from Ellen
when I was at work, and she was like, Ellen's
my client, Okay. And so I had had years of
just like not the greatest relationships, and so I had
been at a point now where I was like single,
and I had my dog, and I had my house
(14:34):
and my salon, and I'm like.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
It's great, You're like killing it, Like I don't need
a man. No, I'm great.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
I got my dog Cooper, like we're buddiest. Yeah. And
so I get those voicemail at work one day and
Ellen's like, hey, you know, I I have this guy
I want you to meet. Like he's great guy, a
family guy. I grew up in the country, you know,
tall All the things never mentioned anything about who he
was or what he was did for work. I just
(15:01):
assumed he was like a local. Because I was never
going to leave Fresno. I loved Fresno, and I was like,
this is my place, just being you grew up there,
grew up there, and it was like it's a great
like place for family, and my family was there. I
never wanted to read it to college, so it wasn't
like I experienced anything else. And I just, yeah, I
loved it. I had the business. I'd at my clients,
(15:21):
and I just always had that mindset of like I'm
never going to leave here.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
And then so then I was wrong.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Ellen says, I got this dude had John hit yet
he was in the middle of like really breaking out.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Yeah, so I think he had just one ACM's New
Artist of the Year.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Did you know who he was?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
No?
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Or were you a country music.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
I've always listened to country, but you like since day one,
but I don't know any names anymore. It's like, I
mean I knew like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, George Straight,
like the Ogs when you used to like go and
actually buy you know, CDs or like t set tapes. Yeah,
back at the you know. Then now it's just like
you stream things, so you don't necessarily know who it is.
You just hear a song. Yes, so i'd heard his songs,
(16:05):
but I had no idea and.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
You didn't really know what he looked like now.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
And at this point when I had this voicemail, I
didn't even know who he was. And so then she's like,
call me if you want to know more. So I'm like, well,
so I call her and I'm like, tell me more
about this guy, like when can I meet him? And
she's like, well, he's in country music.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
And I was like no, You're like no, why not interested? Why?
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Like I didn't. I don't know. I didn't want to
be a part of this whole. Like my initial thought
was sex, drugs, rock and roll in light groupyhoes, which
you know, obviously I've been proven wrong, but right that
was my initial thought. Yeah, I was like that's a
whole different life. Like obviously that means no friends, no,
and so I was kind of like hmmm. And so
(16:48):
I talked to my girlfriends about it, and they're like
fifty to fifty, Like half of them were like, go
for it, what do you have to lose? And the
other half was like, I don't like the way that
that sounds like we're with you on that. Don't meet him.
And so he was actually in my hometown, so had.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
You googled him and now you know the him? And
I was like, okay, so cute.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yes, adorable, like freaking modern day Elvis and James Deanish
taking precious. It's so sweet and.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
So he so you already know you have to meet
him because he's so sneak and cute.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
But I still was like I just it was one
of those things like I'm not a really adventurous Yes
you are, you grew the wild, yeah, but as far
as like my like, I was such I'm such a
routine person, Like John makes fun of me because I
have the same breakfast every day.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
What is it?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
A strambled egg? Just one I mean sometimes I might
do like a fried egg, but one egg and some coffee.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
You scrambled just one egg.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I don't love breakfast, like I'd rather save my calories
for like a really good lunch or dinner. But so
you're just just so boring to me. Scramble one one egg.
I make him three eggs and then he's like, could
get some meat, Like okay, so I might, you know,
whatever he wants, But I'm just easy, like I don't
want to be like fool in the morning.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
You just want to get going.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah. So I just that's like I was on a
routine person. So I'm like, this breaks my routine. This
breaks my like wake up, Fresno, work Fresno, everything Fresno related.
And I just wasn't I wasn't sure about it. I
was so set in my ways. And so my best
friend was like, get the hell out of Dodge, like
(18:27):
you need to shake it up.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Shake it girl.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
So and she had been married at this point, and like,
I'm like, okay, so I need to venture out. So
he was performing in my hometown, but I happened to
be in Vegas, okay. And my friend they're like, cancel
your trip. I'm like, no, what were you doing in
Vegas with friends?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Just having a weekend.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Yes, So we had a group of us in Vegas
and I'm like, I'm not going to cancel this. I
don't even know the guy.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
You're like, I'm not going to cancel my trip. It's
probably not going to even do this.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
And so and mind you, John didn't even text me
until the day of his ship stop like he uh
you know this is John, Like your client gave me
your number and if you want to come to the show,
tonight with some of your friends. I would love to
meet you. And I'm like, yeah, well I'm not here,
so and we just kind of like played at nonchalant. Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
So that was his initial meeting.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
That was his initial like just shoot you a text
in the dark, like hi.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
So so okay, so it didn't happen.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Didn't happen. I'm I was like, so I'm in Vegas,
and so then that went into like, well when you know,
when are you free?
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (19:35):
So I think I said something like maybe next time
you're in town. He's like, well that could be like
a year from now, which obviously I wouldn't know how
that whole life style worked. Yeah, and so he's like, well,
I'm free. I have two days in Denver that following
week where he had two shows when they happened to
be like both in Denver, so he was going to be,
you know, stationary, and so I'm like, so she'd come
(19:58):
see me. So he's like, can I fly you out here?
Speaker 1 (20:01):
What y'all have never even fried it? And so summer,
you guys have never even met.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
He looked at my picture for like he said, I
looked at your picture for three days and then I
decided i'd call it. I'm like, okay, what.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
If he wasn't a cute country star, that would be
super creepy.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
So I looked at your picture for three days, like.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Three days, and I figured i'd call you. I was like, oh,
you're so romantic, my god.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
I mean that is kind of sweet in a kind
of creepy way. So I was like, okay, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Its creepy, I thought, So I thought it was kind
of I mean, there's there's a little thing of creepiness
in there. If I don't know you, and I'm not gonna,
like I don't have an escape plan, like I can't
just get in my car and drive back to California.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
I guess because you trust your client, you know that
he's going to be a deep So I did have that.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
You know she's not going to set you up with
a serial killer.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Yeah, no, Ted bundies here.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
So he's like, let me fly you.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
He's like, let me fly you to Denver. And I
was like, can I bring a friend. I'll pay for her, like,
I'm not asking you. Like, I was like, I'm not
asking you to pay for her. I just do you
mind if I bring someone I just don't know you.
You like, very just want to put it out there
because I just don't know who you are. And he
was telling he's like, that's Telly.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Fine, that's so I freaking love you.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
He got my flight, I got her fight. It was great.
I was so nervous. Every other day that week, I
was like, I'm going to cancel. I even at one
point I think I tried to cancel because I had
got my confirmation from his travel agent, but I couldn't
change my flight because it had booked been booked third party.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Okay. So I was like, oh shit, you're stuck. I'm stuck,
like it's happening.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
So and you know what, You're ready, You're ready for
some adventures. Yeah, you got your friend, you got your
back up.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
And my friend had been going through like a rough
relationship time. So on the days that I was like
I don't want to go, I'm nervous, I'm scared, she's
like we're going, like I need this chip, We're going,
you need to go. We're going, let's do it. Okay.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
So I'm dying to know how this played out. How
did the trip play up?
Speaker 3 (22:05):
The night that I was packing, the power goes out
in your house, in my house, like the whole neighborhood,
and I'm like, is this a sign? I don't, I mean,
should am I supposed to go? Like? Oh my god?
So anyways, I ended up going. We get there, you know,
my girlfriend and I we go to the hotel. We
get all dressed up for this first meeting, and he's
(22:28):
performing at Blue Moon Brewery. It's like a little radio show.
So it was a small private gig.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
How long did you think about your outfit that first outfit?
Speaker 3 (22:36):
I think I think I had it like nailed down
on the flight over. Okay, I was like casual, not
too like. I think I had like black jeans on
and an army like T shirt.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
You want you want to like try hard?
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Yes? And so I was feeling really good, like I
was feeling confident, like even if we don't click, like
this will be a fun girls weekend. And I didn't
have any weird nervousness. It was very interesting for me.
I don't know. So we go in and he's like,
when you get here, call this number night. He was
his tour manager, and he goes, my guy, I will
come oud and get you.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
I'm like, this is one heck away to meet somebody, right.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
So I see his tor manager Tray coming around the corner.
I'm like, Okay, here we go. Sorry takes us back
to where John and the guys are like just hanging
out before the show, and it was like nothing, and
it was like we'd known each other for years.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
So was y'all's initial conversation? Easy?
Speaker 3 (23:33):
So easy? Which is awkward because I'm so shy you are, Yes,
I'm still like freaking shy. I'm so shy. Yes, No,
I've gotten better being out here and being in John's life,
like it's you're forced to not be.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
I do not feel like you're shy, so shy really
so awkward? Yeah, oh my god, you can not seem
that way.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
So it's so bad.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
But how did the initial meeting go? Like when you
walk in the room, what happens?
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Honest, it was such a blur. I think I was
so excited and it was just like this energy that
I had never experienced before with when meeting someone. And
obviously I was like, oh my god, he's so hot
and tall, like sexy of tight jeans and cowboy.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Boots and a half my god, You're like, did I
dream you.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
And so I don't even know what we talked about.
It was probably something about how we met. I don't
even know, but it just flowed and we were laughing
and it was like the band guys were so nice
and it was literally like we've been friends for forever.
And my girlfriend, I mean, she's freaking hilarious and so
so does she have fun to be well, we had
a great time. So she had so much fun.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
No, no, she had a blast.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
And we had that first night we watched his show,
which was super fun, and we ended up going to
dinner afterwards. You John and your friend and two of
his band members and we had great dinner to steakhouse
and then we went to a champagne bar after I
(25:06):
had way too much champagne. And then we went back
to the hotel and John of course was like, you like,
come cuddle and I'm like, no, sir, I don't like nice.
Try and he was trying so hard. It was so
cute because he was like, I just want to talk
to you in like cuddle and I'm like ah, so
he walked you want to It was sweet. He walked
(25:27):
us back to our room, my girlfriend and I oh,
I said no summer. I said, no, go, and.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
So I'm after that whole first role in meeting, it'd
be hard to stay notable.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
I was like, you're welcome to come hang out with
us for a bit, and so he came to our
room for maybe like twenty minutes and then he's like
you sure you don't want to come cuddle, like I'll
see you tomorrow. And I had told him that day.
I said I had a girlfriend and her husband that
lived in Denver, and I was like, we're going to go.
I'm stirring the cord. So I said, we're going to
(26:02):
brunch tomorrow if you are interested in coming, like no pressure,
I know you might be busy. And of course his
first response earlier that day when we first met was yeah,
you know, like I probably had like an interview or something.
And I'm like, yeah, okay, okay, makes good good. So
the next morning I just gave him like a courtesy
text of like, hey, and I you said you might
have like things going on, but we're going to brunch
(26:23):
at ten if you want to come, yeah, and he's
like pick me up out front. I'm like mm hmm, okay,
you fell through. Okay, So we had brunch with my friends.
It was fun. It was like chill, and then it
turned into a whole day and like we went to
the mall in Denver and we went shopping.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
We had the day off, the whole day and no
show that night.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
No, we had it. He had a show that night
at the Drizzly Rose, which is like super honky tonk
and fun, so fun, and that was like his first
real show that I was going to see because the
previous night was just like guitar pool thing. So that
was from the whole day with like his buddy mal
flew In and he's a comedian, he's a freaking crack up,
and his girlfriend and their friend. It was just like
(27:06):
a whole group of us that like met and just
got along so well, and we like walked around the
mall and went shopping and had drinks and like just
I don't know, it was just fun. I like nervous,
like nervous. I was so nervous, and then like at
one point he was walking behind me and put his
hands on my waist and I was like done, came over.
(27:32):
But it was nice to experience that and have like
you haies, like you're just like I am I text
my mom and I said something like sell my house,
sell my clothes, and send my dog, like I'm done. Done,
and she was like, oh shit, okay. So and then
she she was like, you know, I remember when you
send me that text message. And she's like, I told
(27:53):
Ali he's my best friend. She's like, I told Alie
like I think Summer's I think she's serious, and I'm
like yep. So that was it. So then I flew home.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
And what how did you feel when you flew home?
I really I was so.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Sad, but also so like giddy. And it was so
funny because that night at the Grizzly Rose, they had
bus call at like one am, and so we had
the show we like dance, we hang out, we have
our We had our first dance to Wheeler Walker.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Junior's so romantic, so.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
Romantic, that's kind of awesome. I have that on camera
on film. And so what was the song? Something so cool,
drop him out, let me see them knockers. It was flawless.
We had a flawless dance. And as the bus was
leaving that night, he was like waving out the window.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Was so he was smitt and kitten.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
He was he I remember he was telling me that
he was texting like his manager and stuff like I
just met this girl and like she's the real deal
or something. She's like a walking Carls Junior commercial like whatever.
His funny things. I don't know. He was just he
was so funny. And then like Jen, I met her
recently after that after meeting him, and she was like,
oh my god, John text me when he met you,
(29:06):
and I was like, I have to meet this girl
because he was totally in he was in it. I'm like, okay,
let's good to know, like we're on the same page.
And so that last day with him, he had asked
me to come back and be his date for the
CMT Awards, which was like a month later, and I
was like, oh shit, okay, I'm I'll come. And he
(29:27):
had as people book my flight like right then, and
I'm like I'm going. I guess I'm going. So that
was a month in between which we wouldn't see each other.
And so how did the communication go? Non stop texting
phone calls, which I had never been a phone call person.
So you're talking on the phone all all the time,
(29:48):
and I hate phone talking.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Like every day were texting talking.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Yes. And so my best friend when I got home,
you know, we were talking about it, and John and
I were texting and she's like, you're not going to
see each other for a month. And she was like
reading our text message and she's like, that's not going
to work out. She goes, you need to go like
see each other now. Yeah. And so I had the
ability to move my clients, which is great, and so
(30:13):
I'm like, Okay, I can make this work where I
can cram everybody into like two days and then take
off again. And so I then met him like four
days later in Nebraska.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Okay, and how is that job? Cuddle time?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
We tell had cuddle time and it was so awkward
like that, like rolling my suitcase up to the bus
and I'm like, like do we kiss?
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Do?
Speaker 3 (30:34):
I mean? Like because I had y'all kissed you, he
kissed me goodbye, So y'all had just had like one
had one kiss. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Was it like a big kiss or is it just
like a little kiss.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
It was like a medium kiss, okay, not sloppy, not
not too long.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Okay, okay, And that was it. Then you're and I
was like, bye, So that's what you left.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
With, Like yeah, totally. Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Yeah, So then that week later I went and met
him and it.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Was like, did y'all kiss right away? No?
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Like I was so nervous and I think he was nervous.
It took about an hour and.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Then how did it happen?
Speaker 3 (31:10):
And then we were like cuddling on the bus and
then he just reached over and like pulled my face
and kissed me. And that was that, Oh my god,
I die done deal. So yeah, that was that was
my first time being on the bus, and I was
spoiled because it was just John his bass player and
tour manager. It was a like, I think he was
out with Tim and Faith and so it was a
(31:31):
you know, not the full band. So that was a
good intro to my first bus experience because then the
following trip was like two weeks later. I started doing
like a two weeks on with him and then a
week home working, and then back for two weeks and
that that was the rest of my life from that
point on.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
So I've never stopped it. It never stopped. And did y'all
just become official right then?
Speaker 3 (31:53):
No, I took a couple months, I think it did.
It took yeah, for him to call me his girlfriend?
Speaker 1 (31:58):
How did that happen?
Speaker 3 (32:01):
That was hilarious. He he like we had talked about
things like are you know, are you seeing other people?
Because I'm not, just want to make sure on the
same page, and he's like, nope, no, I'm all about you.
Like blah blah blah. But you never know, like it's new,
and so do.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
You still have fears of like your initial fears of
what liked?
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Oh yeah, music for sure.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Yeah, because there were weekends that I wasn't out and
you see things on Instagram, you know, like you can't
help it. But I just had a feeling about it
that I was like, Okay, I trust this and it
was a good thing and a good feeling. And when
I saw him and like we talked so much like
before a show, after show, throughout the rest of the night,
(32:45):
all the time. And so I think that's probably five
months in. We were on the bus one night and
somebody said something and he was like, oh, this this
is my girlfriend. And I was like, oh, you want
to talk about that? Because I didn't agree about that.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
I mean, I want to talk about I didn't know
anything about this, but I was sweet.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
It was like proud moment of like, she's mine, like,
let's make this official, and so of course felt good
for me, and in my mind it was already like
a thing, you know, and so that that was that.
And then a couple of weeks later, we were having
Thai food for lunch and he out of nowhere, was like,
so when you move here, are you going to bring
your car? And I was like, again, do you want
(33:30):
to talk about this?
Speaker 2 (33:31):
So he.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Like, she's coming. So yeah, So that's I moved. I
think it was. We met in May and I moved
out here officially for Christmas and did you.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
So then did you just like sell your I.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Sold my house my best friend I had built houses
side by side, and that was amazing. That was an
awesome experience for two years and we both sold our
houses and her and her husband found a great house
and I just sold mine, sold my car, your salon,
my So the year let's see, I met John, so
(34:06):
October before I met John, I was like four months
before I met him. My lease was up at my
salon and so it was either renew or figure out
plan B. And I wasn't. I didn't love the business
side of the business like I loved hair, and I'm
so passionate about hair, and I think being such a
(34:28):
small business, I wasn't willing to give up the control.
And so I had a lot on my plate of
stress wise of like taxes and just managing a business
thing because my art is doing hair.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
And so is kind of like frustrating.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Yeah, And so I talked with the girls and I,
you know, I was like, what's your guys have thought
on if we if I don't renew Entangled, do we move,
you know, to like these little individual suites kind of thing?
And we had options. And so long story short, everything
worked out perfectly, like there couldn't have been a more
(35:04):
perfect ending to that whole situation. So we all still
got to work together, but we had our own private
suites and everyone girl got to be basically their own
boss and they had their own like business name. And
then when I after I met John, that's when Ali
opened up her salon and then all the girls went
to her place.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
So it was seamless.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
It was seamless, like in the craziest way, which I
people always say, like everything happens.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
And it wouldn't supposed to happen.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
It works out right, And I'm like yeah, yeah, yeah, okay,
And then never in my life have I experienced that
in a true reform, like from me meeting John, like
actually from the business not renewing. First was like, okay,
let's make a decision to not renew that. And then
I met John and I'm like, damn, if I had
kept tangled, I wouldn't be able to travel the way
(35:52):
I was, and then selling my house and my best
friend getting pregnant and so it was just like it
all worked out so crazy, and it does it make you.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Trust like things more are timing about?
Speaker 3 (36:06):
Yeah yeah, absolutely, which I always I didn't. I want
ton't say I doubt it, doubted it when I was,
you know, drawing up the whole thing. But it's definitely
like okay, it's a real deal. Yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
So when something's meant to be, it's meant to be.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
But do you have do you think that you have
to like allow yourself to follow it?
Speaker 3 (36:26):
Sure if I would have gone, yeah, yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
So okay, so how are the same to your wards?
When you went to the first your first award show,
it was fun.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
I didn't walk the carpet with him or anything. So
I was thinking that I was enough to do all that,
and I was so freaked out. And then it was
like a okay, like a relief of like okay, okay,
we're just gonna go. And he walked the carpet and
did his thing, and I hung out with his managers,
which are awesome, all like majority girl team he has,
which was so cool and they're so sweet, and we
(37:03):
got all dressed up. He had a lady that did
my hair and makeup and all set up for you.
He had it all set up stop and so stop it.
It was so sweet.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
It's such a cowboy, but he's so thoughtful.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
It was sweet. It was fun. We ended up leaving
right after. I forgot if he was presenting something. I'm
so bad, but we ended up leaving. We went to
dinner at Jeffreyby's Steakhouse, which was my first experience there,
and it was so good and it was just a
fun night. We ended up going bowling after that with
(37:35):
some friends and that was it. It was like over,
like that.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
Were you nervous to like walk into the country music.
Speaker 3 (37:42):
I was so nervous and I had to meet everybody.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
What did you think about meeting like people that you've
seen on TV.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Everyone was so nice and it was like, no, I
thought it was going to be weird. But like the
first before this even happened, he had CMT interviews, like
the day before the CMT Awards, and so we were
at the CMT headquarters downtown. I was literally standing able
to elbow with Keith Urban and they were talking all buddy, buddy,
and I'm like, what is this life? I mean, I
(38:11):
was kind of dying inside, but I was very composed.
John was like, I'm so like, I'm shocked you weren't
like crazy or like asking for pictures and I'm like, well,
I mean I would never do that. But I was
definitely dying inside for sure, like dying inside. I mean
everybody that was in there, it was like wow, like
and they're all just normal people and they're so nice
(38:33):
and it was just like just another day at the job.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
Have you felt now that you've been with John two years,
said youner Mercary. Have you felt do you feel now
like super comfortable in the music community around everybody.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
Yeah, I mean it's it's just like friends and family
in a sense. Everyone is so nice even if you
don't know them or like we passed John performed the
Nissan thing for c Mafes with Thomas and the whole
like little big town gang was there and I do
(39:08):
one of the wife's hair and they all like I
haven't met any of them really formally, but they were
all like, oh my god, hey girl. And I was like,
that's sweet, Like this is awesome. They're just everyone's so nice.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
So it is something about country music is so down
home good people. Yes they have these awesome careers, but
it's still just regular people.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
Everybody's like that, So it's nice. It was. I was
pleasantly surprised, being that my initial thought of this whole
lifestyle was like, you know, all bad things.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
Right growing up behind music. Yeah, on VH one all that.
Speaker 3 (39:46):
So it's been good.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
Okay, So how have the two years been moving away
from Fresno? Leaving Fresno that you swore you would never leave.
Now you're like on the road.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
All the time.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
This girl who loves her routine never probably has one.
How has that all been?
Speaker 3 (40:01):
It's been great?
Speaker 1 (40:03):
What has it taught you about yourself?
Speaker 3 (40:07):
That? I mean, basically that I just had more patience
than I ever thought I had really, and that I
am open to not being in control of my life
and every part of it, which was tough.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
What have you found to be the benefit of being
open and not in control?
Speaker 3 (40:26):
You're just happier, you think, Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Do you feel like like you experienced things that you
could just never have? Amazing?
Speaker 3 (40:32):
Yes, and it you know, because like when I was
in Fresno, everything, like like I said, was routine and
I had you know, it was literally like if I
didn't have my stevia drops from my coffee, if I
was out or I didn't get all four of them,
I was like my day was ruined, really and it
just like it would throw it off and I'd be like,
oh my god. And so it would be you know,
(40:53):
in this lifestyle with Yeah, so it's like I don't
have I mean, even if I to have a routine
like that, it's really kind of impossible. So it's like
the adjustment from living out of a suitcase and eating
whatever you can it, catering and sleeping when you get
to sleep, like it's just it's been fun.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Did it take a moment for you to adjust to
it or did you get into it right away?
Speaker 3 (41:20):
I got into it right away. Yes, somehow I have
no I think I was just so in love and
so willing to do whatever like this. I just even
my best friend she's like, I don't know who you are.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
So have you like morphed into a different person kind
of obviously the same.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
Person, but so much more like I don't know what
the word like, not relax, I don't know, like like
laid back, yeah, which I've always been very laid back
personality wise, but lifestyle wise, it was, you know, I
had to be in control of everything.
Speaker 1 (41:53):
So now so it's freedom.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
It's freedom. Yeah, yeah, that's scary to put it, and
it's I still have my moments, you know, like when
we are home for a period of time and then
we have to go back on the road and I'm like.
Speaker 4 (42:05):
I'm so comfortable, Like it's been so healthy. Okay, so
because you'll have this beautiful house. Living together has been fun.
Speaker 1 (42:16):
What have you learned about yourself and John living together?
Speaker 3 (42:21):
He's the first guy that I've ever dated, slash lived
with that I didn't pick apart, Okay, I don't. I
think it's just because I genuinely like am connected to
him or with him, and I'm happy and so like
the little things don't irritate me, you know. I mean
(42:45):
there's some things like now, like leaving dirty clothes next
with the hamper on the.
Speaker 2 (42:51):
Right, Michael just took his clothes off and just puts
them on the ground wherever he is.
Speaker 3 (42:55):
I might it's literally right next to the hamper, John,
right next to the him.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
I swear, guys pretty such a guy thing.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
But I just laugh. Like an ex boyfriend, I would
have been like fuming over and I just like, because
it's so ham it's and like you said, it's just
a dude thing of it. It's just funny. And it's
like it's almost sweet in a sense because it's so obvious. Yes,
and I'm like, come on, dude, but it's just it's good.
I used to be a person that was so into
(43:25):
my alone time, Like I would turn down hanging out
with friends because I was like, no, it's my Like
it's seven o'clock PM. I'm like coming home from work
and it's me and my dog and I want to chill.
And so that was the biggest adjustment I think was
being with someone twenty four to seven and not only
being twenty four seven, but being on a tour bus half.
Speaker 1 (43:47):
The week right in a very small space.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
Very small space. In the first eight months, it was
John and I and told other guys dang. And so
we went from that, which I don't I literally don't
know like and even the guys we all laugh look
back when we talked about stories of how the heck
did you do that?
Speaker 1 (44:04):
And you loved it.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
I loved it, and I loved it. It did not
bother me.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
And then you guys gross smelly wings.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
I think the worst part was Like then John always says,
that's the funniest thing I've ever said, was how I've
never seen so much urine on a toilet seat on
the bus. But you just deal with it, and like
I would keep like a little Clorox whites, I just
wipe it down like old Summer would have been, like
I am not staying on here, Oh my god, like
(44:32):
but I just went with it and it was fun.
And then we ended up going from that bus to
a bus with John's bass player and his tour manager
and then John and I and that was great. And
now it's just John and I on a bus, which
is awesome, even better, and we did not we know Bear.
We're gonna try to bring Bear out because he is
(44:54):
the most is that the new one. That's the new one,
that's the doodle mix. He's I mean, my favorite. I
think he's maybe John's favorite, but he won't say that.
Cowboys always going to be John's favorite, right because cowboys
og Cowboys his baby. But Cowboy will like niffit people.
So and Bears bears just a big goober. He's like, dude,
(45:16):
I'm bear, but I'm curious to see. You'll have to
find a short run where we can bring him out
for like a nights, Like we're doing a show in
Georgia one night for fourth of July or the third
of July actually, So I'm like, maybe we'll do that. Yeah,
quick up and back and see how he does on
the bus. Because he's got he's a he's a bear
dog with high anxiety. We have Doggies annex for him.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
Sweet buddy.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
So he's so sweet. So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
So you have just completely upraided your life. You now
live in Nashville, You go on the road all the time,
You live with boys and pee on the toilet. You
have no and you love it.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
I love it. It's good.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
Crazy. Probably you would have never dreamed.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
That you could be never in a million years. Ever,
So what is I just go to you, like now
where you are now? After like how you've grown up
meeting John, all this change within you?
Speaker 1 (46:09):
What is your takeaway on just like rolling with it?
Speaker 3 (46:15):
I think it's the best best thing you can do
for yourself in life and for the people around you.
Speaker 1 (46:19):
Why is it so hard to do that?
Speaker 3 (46:20):
Though? I think it's just a control thing, or maybe
it's like a fear.
Speaker 1 (46:25):
I don't know, like what's the underlying fear.
Speaker 3 (46:29):
Change? I guess I mean for me it was change.
But I mean John's the complete opposite of me, so
he couldn't even help me figure out what was wrong
with me or why I had such a fear of
giving up things and changing my ways or changing my location.
(46:51):
But I think it's great. I think it's great to
allow yourself to let go and see where it takes you,
because I mean, there's so many opportunities that I could
have made or maybe I have missed in the past,
you know, being the way that I was, And so
that's weird to look back and think, like, what like,
had I not been so dead set in my ways,
(47:12):
where would I have been? But then again, I would
never met John.
Speaker 1 (47:16):
And you let it all go at the right time. Yeah,
what's your favorite thing about John that maybe people don't know?
Speaker 3 (47:24):
He doesn't keep much private about him, Like his personality
obviously hilarious, but that's I mean, I think the whole
world knows that. Like we can I can look at
him or he can look at me in the car
and we'll just be busting up with no words or anything.
But he's just always making you laugh always, and he's
I think my favorite part is how sentimental he is.
Like we had our first all out, like blowout fight
(47:47):
over Christmas.
Speaker 1 (47:48):
Oh wow, Oh how'd that go?
Speaker 3 (47:50):
Because I'm a control freak And my Christmas tree was
like the Mona Lisa of Christmas trees. And I was
so proud of it, Like he was so irrit when
I we took it. He had a show in California,
and I was like, Okay, I'm going to put all
my Christmas decorations on the bus and we'll get them
back to Tennessee, because like, Christmas is my thing.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Like you wanted to decorate a tree on the bus?
Speaker 3 (48:13):
No, no, no, But like I had to get all my stuff,
like I sold everything in my life basically, but I
kept my Christmas decorations because I've spent like years collecting that.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
Okay, this is big deal.
Speaker 3 (48:24):
It's like my jam. So when it came time for Christmas,
I was like, we are getting my ornaments, my trees, everything.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (48:30):
So we set up a tree and I was so
proud of it, and he was like it looks like
a grandma did it. And I'm like, oh, this hurt feelings. Okay,
that's cool rude. And so he was like, where's all
the fun ornaments and I'm like, what a fun ornament?
He goes like the fun like childhood ornaments and I'm like,
you can't put fun ornaments on my Mona Lisa tree, okay.
(48:53):
And so we're sitting at the table one night and
he's online ordering like minion ornaments and toy story ornaments
and I'm like, he's n you gonna rent my tree
And I'm like, why don't we just get to a
tree for the office and we'll do that like a
fun tree. And he's like, why don't you just let
me put my ornaments on the tree for the family tree?
And I'm like I was getting so fired up, and
this goes back to me. It went down I mean,
(49:16):
I was like blood boiling, and he was too, like.
Speaker 1 (49:21):
Because he's like, what in the world, let me put
my fun right?
Speaker 2 (49:24):
But You're like, oh my gosh, why do you not
appreciate this beautiful tree?
Speaker 3 (49:28):
So I mean when I say this was our first
all out like I was screaming are you serious? He
because he I'm like I told I'm like, you don't understand.
That's like putting a poop emoji on my on the
Mona Lisa.
Speaker 1 (49:40):
You don't.
Speaker 3 (49:40):
You can't do that. And he was like, why are
you being so crazy? He's like, it's Christmas, like you're
supposed to have fun ornaments, and I'm like, it's my tree,
Like I just and then so the worst part about
this was I then text my best friend and I
were sitting at the table and I'd texting her like
I'm so freaking mad he's being so mean, and I
sent it to John across the table and so he
(50:02):
I was like, oh shit, And at that point I
just had to start laughing. And then he started laughing,
and I was like it was like this aha moment
of why am I so crazy and controlling over my Christmas?
Like over anything in life? Like all he wanted was
to have sentimental ornaments of like a lawnmower, and he's like,
I ordered you a lawnmower, babe, like because I have
(50:24):
a John Deer here at the house. And he's like,
I got you the dreen John Deer lawnmower for your ornament.
And he's like, and I got your dad a zebra
and like every and then I was like, I'm such
a dick, Like I am such an asshole. He is
so sweet and so sentimental, like he's not ordering these,
it's just to be like your tree. Like he got
his grandma a little bottle of Tito's, like the you know,
(50:44):
travel size because Noney loves dirty, dirty like not dirty Martini's,
but she does. But she drinks vodka like water, just
solo cup filled with vodka. And so everything had yeah,
like they were all meaningful to him in a way
which I didn't realize that was our you know, like
I never knew his Christmas history and he didn't know mine.
(51:06):
And so he's like the sweetest part about him is
that I think people maybe maybe they don't see that
part is how sentimental he is and it is so
freaking sweet. And so that was a I learned. I
learned something big that day.
Speaker 1 (51:21):
So do you think that let you let go of
control even more?
Speaker 3 (51:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (51:25):
I just like droping control right summer, you're going to
turn into like a hole blown hippie.
Speaker 3 (51:31):
You know, but really good. I'll still always have that
little little mission in the corner.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
Just in the corner. Just still gotta be me, that's right.
Speaker 2 (51:46):
But yeah, I'm impressed though, with like how aware you
are of everything too.
Speaker 3 (51:50):
M hmm, I try. I was in therapy before I
met John. I so my whole life I had never
like been to therapy or anything. And then to meeting him,
I had seen this great lady for like five weeks
and I was so excited about the idea of like
seeing someone because it was always like everyone puts like
a weird thing, like they're ashamed or something of talking
(52:12):
to someone. And I'm like, it's a great, unbiased opinion
and just like an outlit And so she's the first
one that really helped me, I think, and leading up
to meeting John, of her, she was like, you should
go and just let go and like be free, and
I'm like that's where it all started. So it kind
of like a snowball effect meeting her and then talking
(52:34):
about her.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
Working on yourself yeah, and becoming aware yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:38):
And so I'm like okay, and then it all evolves
into this and I'm like thankful for it.
Speaker 1 (52:46):
So what does success look like to you?
Speaker 2 (52:49):
Not like just monetarily or career wise, just like a
successful life happiness and what is what is happiness?
Speaker 4 (52:56):
Like?
Speaker 2 (52:56):
How does that play out? If you were going to
design happiness or like, what is it?
Speaker 3 (53:01):
It's a tough question, I mean, for like my life
in particular.
Speaker 1 (53:09):
For you, what fills you with the most happiness?
Speaker 2 (53:12):
Like what do you want your life to feel like,
to look like, to be full of, to have a
happy life?
Speaker 1 (53:20):
What is that to you?
Speaker 3 (53:22):
I'm so bad at answering questions. Oh you're great at them.
I don't know. I mean I think just healthy balance
and doing what you want and being who you are. Obviously,
if you're in a relationship, being happy in that and
being open you know, to communication with that and not
(53:43):
holding back anything. And if you love your job, you
love your job. If you don't love your job, find something.
Speaker 1 (53:48):
You do love.
Speaker 3 (53:50):
I love my job, I love my boyfriend, I love
our dogs, love our friends. So I'm happy. That's that's
that's success, in my opinion, a successful life, full circle
of just find what you love and stick with it.
Speaker 2 (54:07):
What do you think makes a successful relationship? Because John
said something so sweet. He's like, this is the healthiest
relationship I've ever been in he was talking about with you.
So what makes y'all's relationship so healthy?
Speaker 3 (54:17):
Communication? One thousand percent?
Speaker 1 (54:19):
You are great at communicating.
Speaker 3 (54:20):
Yes, It's it's been a slow road to it because
when we first met, you know, if there was anything
that ever, like hurt my feelings or if he did something,
I'd be like, you know, can we talk? And he's
like maybe we just shouldn't be together, And I'm like, well,
maybe we should just talk. How about that idea? Because
he would you know, I don't know. His past is
(54:40):
his past, and he's you know, never had a relationship
where he had to communicate or reopen to these things,
and so I'm like, well, let's be adults and have
a conversation. And so I think that and just respect,
like especially with his lifestyle, there's girls everywhere, and there's
Instagram and things that you know come up on Instagram,
(55:01):
and it's just communication and respect and love for one another.
Speaker 1 (55:06):
Definitely make it and keep it. How do you deal
with all the girls?
Speaker 3 (55:12):
I mean, I think it's funny most of the time,
Like I love how much girls love him because I
love him and I see what they see and then
they see it ten times more somehow. But most of
the time they're respectful, which is great, and you know
there's always going to be those that aren't, which we
just laugh about it at the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (55:31):
But does John make you feel safe with thin y'all's
relationship and the girls?
Speaker 3 (55:35):
Yeah? Yeah. There was a the other night we were
out and this junk guy was like a total party fan.
He was in his thirties or seven, and he brought
these two girls over, which clearly I was there with John,
but we had some other friends in the setting and
this guy, I mean, this is just these two girls
that cover and this one girl sat down next to
him and you could tell. I mean, they had some
(55:57):
cocktails and she was working. She was on a mission. Yeah,
And John looks over and he's like, babe, you're good,
like you good? And I'm like, I'm good, baby, you
do your day, you talk talk to those girls. But
he's always sweet about just you know, casually being like
this is my girl, Like I got you. You good, You're good.
(56:19):
So he's he's good at that because I know it's
part of the job, Like he can't be rude people
or he can't you know, one girl asking for a
kiss in Australia, he's like, you know, I can't do that.
And I'm like sitting in the back seat and he's
in the front passenger and he's like, I get She's like,
I'm married, it doesn't matter, and I'm like, oh my god,
like with people, but he finds a way of you know,
(56:43):
having humor in it and making it, you know, so
they're not offended or they're not like mad at him.
It's not making yeah, and then it still makes me
feel comfortable and he's a he's been good about that
since day one. So I'm lucky for that.
Speaker 2 (56:58):
Okay, So I want to keep talking to you, but
we're already like an hour, so we're we're about to
do an instant pot We're having dinner after this.
Speaker 1 (57:04):
So excited For a minute.
Speaker 2 (57:06):
Summer you were teaching me how to cook, yes, and
I still need less easy recipes though.
Speaker 1 (57:11):
Because you're like a really awesome chef.
Speaker 3 (57:14):
It's fun. I enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (57:15):
What are your favorite things to cook? You know my salad,
you're salad. I mean you do a good salad.
Speaker 3 (57:22):
Salad is the best. But we I mean when we're home,
we try to eat home at home as much as
we can. And it's always like Mediterranean chicken, easiest marinate ever,
and then filet and salad, and we do like bacon,
op to sparago so and maybe some rice love it,
but it's like that's that's the routine.
Speaker 1 (57:39):
It's our routine. I love it. So we're gonna do
some What are we doing?
Speaker 3 (57:45):
Coconut chicken curry curry. I'm so excited, so excited.
Speaker 1 (57:49):
Oh my god, it's gonna blow your will.
Speaker 3 (57:51):
I'm excited that you brought out this phenomenal recipe.
Speaker 1 (57:53):
I can't wait.
Speaker 3 (57:54):
Curries my jam.
Speaker 1 (57:55):
So I leave every interview would leave your light.
Speaker 2 (57:57):
So just leave some inspiration people listening on what you
through all your life, through all your journey, what you
would like to share with people that you think they
should know to help them in their life that you
have learned.
Speaker 3 (58:11):
I would say, every day above ground is a day
we're celebrating. So my mom always had the string up
when we go to dinner, they big, are you guys
celebrating anything? And you know, everyone's like, no, it's just
like life, because it is every day that you're happy
and alive and healthy, and even if you're not healthy,
or even if you're not entirely happy, you're still alive
(58:31):
and it's a great day. So that's sad. That's my thing.
So I always say that now when everyone they're like, oh,
you're celebrating them with life. Thanks mom.
Speaker 1 (58:41):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (58:42):
So it's it's good. It keeps you grounded and it
keeps you like in check in those moments when when
you do go to dinner or lunch and they ask
you that. I just keep that in.
Speaker 1 (58:54):
Mind every day above ground, in the day we'resel.
Speaker 2 (58:56):
It's a nice reminder Amanda that YEPM were fond Carolyn Duncan.
Speaker 1 (59:01):
It was such a pleasure having you on over and
out fun. This is your first podcast, my first podcast.
You killed it.
Speaker 3 (59:08):
I'm so excited for dinner me doo.
Speaker 1 (59:11):
Okay, you're the best.
Speaker 3 (59:12):
Bye bye.
Host
Caroline Hobby
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