August 25, 2025 • 7 mins
Hailey Whitters ("Everything She Ain't") joined Steve & Gina to talk about her "Corn Queen Tour" stop at Omaha's Slowdown on September 18th.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Cat one O three point seven your number one for
New Country. It is Steve and Gina in the morning.
Steve Lundy Gena Melton Well pleased to have with us
this morning. A woman who's going to be appearing Thursday,
September seventeenth is slow Down. Please welcome Shoeyville, Iowa's own
Hailey Winters. Hey, Hailey, good morning, Hey, good morning. Are
you impressed? I knew how to say Shoeyville.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I'm so impressed. Not many people get that on the
first try.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
S h U E y V I L L E.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Oh wow, good for you to wow.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yeah, you know where that is, don't you? Gina, Yes, sure,
do you really?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
No?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
I don't. It's just east of Swisher.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Okay, Well, well now I know. Thank you having welcome
Geography Lesson.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Well, we're excited to have you in town on your
Corn Queen tour. Your new album, Corn Queen is such
a celebration of your Midwestern roots. What inspired the title
besides Iowa Corn?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, you know, my fans kind of started calling me
the Corn Queen, which I think was just kind of
cute and funny. I think, you know, it was just
because I'm from the Midwest. We do have a lot
of corn in Iowa, as you guys know. In Omaha,
you guys have a lot of corn as well, And
so I kind of just named it as like a
little throwback to the fans, a little thank you to fans,
(01:14):
and kind of just really leaning into the Corn Queen.
And I'm so proud to put some corn country on
the corn on the country music map. There ain't a
whole lot of US Midwesterners and country music right now, though.
This was just a little, a little tip of the
hat to that.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I guess that's fantastic. We're talking with Haley Winters. So, hey,
when people come to see you at the Slowdown on
the eighteenth, what can they expect from your show?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
You know, I always say it's a lot of country
in Midwestern. We got fiddle in the band, you know,
we just added a steel player this year. Oh yeah,
it's pretty country, and it's gonna be high energy and
we're gonna be playing the Corn Queen Tour and dabbling
with some of the old old hits from the old
records too.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
So now, the last time you came here, I know
you're a big vintage shopper and I love that kind
of stuff too, and you have the coolest clothes. What's
your favorite thing that you've ever gotten vintage wise?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Well, probably my favorite thing that I've ever gotten. I
have my grandpa's old sod farm jacket. My grandpa was
a sod farmer back in the seventies eighties, and his
logo was Winter's Turf Farms, Our grass is legal, and
you know, everyone called they called him the grass man,
(02:29):
and everybody called him looking for different kinds of grass,
but he sold sod. And I have his old jacket
and I love wearing it. It's like, probably one of
my favorite things that I own. And yeah, I just
I'm so proud of It's God, probably my favorite.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
That sounds like that should have been a whole line
of merch. You know.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
You know I did write a song about it. We
have a song about.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
That on the record.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So yeah, it's kind of one of those stories that
I heard and I was like, that has to be
in a song somewhere too. Good.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Now, you were talking about corn earlier, and I got
to circle back to that. Have you heard this new
term people say, which is corn sweat? Do you know
what that is? So?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, So I had some family that were on Ragbry
this year and they were just talking about the corn sweat.
Now this, I've never heard of this until this year.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, it's like it's some kind of evaporation in the
corn fields and then the corn releases water and something. Anyway,
I don't know, I'm going to have to chat GBT it,
but honestly it was hilarious. It's like all over social
media now, right.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's so crazy.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I've never heard of that before.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It is Steve and Gina here and we've got Hayley
Witters with us. Now, you've toured with legends like Alan Jackson,
even written for Alan Jackson, Shannai Twain, Luke Colmmes, Can
you give us a piece of advice or maybe a
moment from one of those tours that's really stuck with you.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I think all those tours, like the thing that comes
to mind to me is just like authenticity, Like authenticity
and just being true to yourself. And all of those
people were so cool and so humble. You know, they're superstars,
but they treat you like a friend and they were
just so kind and so nice, and seeing them work
(04:12):
with their fans and just you know, it feels like
you're drinking beer in their garage, you know, like no
matter the size, they just have that down to earthness.
And I think that was probably the biggest takeaway for
me on those that is so cool.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
You've had just a whirlwind couple of years and acm win,
You've had a CMA nomination, You've done a lot of
late night talk shows. What's been kind of the most
surreal moment out of all of those moments?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yes, exactly, Gosh. I think like getting to hang with
Alan Jackson. Wow, such an Alan. He's just like the
ultimate to me, you know, as a songwriter, as a songwriter,
as an artist. That was like a moment when I
opened for him. Just after I played, I went and
stood side stage all night long and into my beer
(05:00):
because it was just such a great show and he's
just such a great talent. And I think that for
me was like one of those really big full circle
moments where it was like how the heck did you
get here? You know, because I had this dream from
an early age, but you know, growing up in pode On, Iowa,
it was like, yeah, how's that ever going to happen?
You know, and getting to share that moment, share that
(05:23):
stage with him was pretty pretty surreal.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And who else can, by the way, waterski with a
with a cowboy hat on and sing at the same time.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
One of the best early country music videos avera Chattahooche.
Yeah it is Stephen Gene. We're talking with Haley Winters
coming to the slowdown. You've written for artists like Alan
Little Big Town. We mentioned that before, but how do
you decide which ones you want to shop to somebody
else and which ones you get to keep? Right over here?
For me, Haley, how do you decide that?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You know, I feel like if it's something that just
feels really personal or like a story that happened to
me that I come in with, I feel like an
attachment to those, you know, like a bond. It's like
I can't I can't part with this, you know. But honestly,
like to me, it's the ultimate compliment. If if another
artist wants to record one of your songs, you know,
(06:14):
and so I'm a big fan of like you can
record it, I'll record it. Everyone can record it, you
know what I mean. Like, the more the merrier, I
don't really hold back. But yeah, I really love getting
to do both. I love getting to write songs and
then see them go on to make other people's records.
And I love being able to express myself and tell
(06:35):
my stories, you know, through songs on my own records.
So I definitely I need both in my life.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Final question, are you ever looking for song ideas? Song
hook lines?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Always? Always yep. I love to go people watch and Omaha, Nebraska.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I've got one for you, and it's Gina inspired. Oh
here's the line you can work into a song. She's
out of white wine and then of the turpentine.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Hell yeah, taking run with taking run with it, Hailey Haley.
It's been a real pleasure. We can't wait to see
it to slow down here in Omaha. Best wishes. Thanks
for joining us here in Omaha on Cat one O
three point seven.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Thank you,
Cat one O three point seven your number one for
New Country. It is Steve and Gina in the morning.
Steve Lundy Gena Melton Well pleased to have with us
this morning. A woman who's going to be appearing Thursday,
September seventeenth is slow Down. Please welcome Shoeyville, Iowa's own
Hailey Winters. Hey, Hailey, good morning, Hey, good morning. Are
you impressed? I knew how to say Shoeyville.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I'm so impressed. Not many people get that on the
first try.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
S h U E y V I L L E.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Oh wow, good for you to wow.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yeah, you know where that is, don't you? Gina, Yes, sure,
do you really?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
No?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
I don't. It's just east of Swisher.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Okay, Well, well now I know. Thank you having welcome
Geography Lesson.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Well, we're excited to have you in town on your
Corn Queen tour. Your new album, Corn Queen is such
a celebration of your Midwestern roots. What inspired the title
besides Iowa Corn?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, you know, my fans kind of started calling me
the Corn Queen, which I think was just kind of
cute and funny. I think, you know, it was just
because I'm from the Midwest. We do have a lot
of corn in Iowa, as you guys know. In Omaha,
you guys have a lot of corn as well, And
so I kind of just named it as like a
little throwback to the fans, a little thank you to fans,
(01:14):
and kind of just really leaning into the Corn Queen.
And I'm so proud to put some corn country on
the corn on the country music map. There ain't a
whole lot of US Midwesterners and country music right now, though.
This was just a little, a little tip of the
hat to that.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I guess that's fantastic. We're talking with Haley Winters. So, hey,
when people come to see you at the Slowdown on
the eighteenth, what can they expect from your show?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
You know, I always say it's a lot of country
in Midwestern. We got fiddle in the band, you know,
we just added a steel player this year. Oh yeah,
it's pretty country, and it's gonna be high energy and
we're gonna be playing the Corn Queen Tour and dabbling
with some of the old old hits from the old
records too.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
So now, the last time you came here, I know
you're a big vintage shopper and I love that kind
of stuff too, and you have the coolest clothes. What's
your favorite thing that you've ever gotten vintage wise?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Well, probably my favorite thing that I've ever gotten. I
have my grandpa's old sod farm jacket. My grandpa was
a sod farmer back in the seventies eighties, and his
logo was Winter's Turf Farms, Our grass is legal, and
you know, everyone called they called him the grass man,
(02:29):
and everybody called him looking for different kinds of grass,
but he sold sod. And I have his old jacket
and I love wearing it. It's like, probably one of
my favorite things that I own. And yeah, I just
I'm so proud of It's God, probably my favorite.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
That sounds like that should have been a whole line
of merch. You know.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
You know I did write a song about it. We
have a song about.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
That on the record.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So yeah, it's kind of one of those stories that
I heard and I was like, that has to be
in a song somewhere too. Good.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Now, you were talking about corn earlier, and I got
to circle back to that. Have you heard this new
term people say, which is corn sweat? Do you know
what that is? So?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, So I had some family that were on Ragbry
this year and they were just talking about the corn sweat.
Now this, I've never heard of this until this year.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, it's like it's some kind of evaporation in the
corn fields and then the corn releases water and something. Anyway,
I don't know, I'm going to have to chat GBT it,
but honestly it was hilarious. It's like all over social
media now, right.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's so crazy.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I've never heard of that before.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It is Steve and Gina here and we've got Hayley
Witters with us. Now, you've toured with legends like Alan Jackson,
even written for Alan Jackson, Shannai Twain, Luke Colmmes, Can
you give us a piece of advice or maybe a
moment from one of those tours that's really stuck with you.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I think all those tours, like the thing that comes
to mind to me is just like authenticity, Like authenticity
and just being true to yourself. And all of those
people were so cool and so humble. You know, they're superstars,
but they treat you like a friend and they were
just so kind and so nice, and seeing them work
(04:12):
with their fans and just you know, it feels like
you're drinking beer in their garage, you know, like no
matter the size, they just have that down to earthness.
And I think that was probably the biggest takeaway for
me on those that is so cool.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
You've had just a whirlwind couple of years and acm win,
You've had a CMA nomination, You've done a lot of
late night talk shows. What's been kind of the most
surreal moment out of all of those moments?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yes, exactly, Gosh. I think like getting to hang with
Alan Jackson. Wow, such an Alan. He's just like the
ultimate to me, you know, as a songwriter, as a songwriter,
as an artist. That was like a moment when I
opened for him. Just after I played, I went and
stood side stage all night long and into my beer
(05:00):
because it was just such a great show and he's
just such a great talent. And I think that for
me was like one of those really big full circle
moments where it was like how the heck did you
get here? You know, because I had this dream from
an early age, but you know, growing up in pode On, Iowa,
it was like, yeah, how's that ever going to happen?
You know, and getting to share that moment, share that
(05:23):
stage with him was pretty pretty surreal.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And who else can, by the way, waterski with a
with a cowboy hat on and sing at the same time.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
One of the best early country music videos avera Chattahooche.
Yeah it is Stephen Gene. We're talking with Haley Winters
coming to the slowdown. You've written for artists like Alan
Little Big Town. We mentioned that before, but how do
you decide which ones you want to shop to somebody
else and which ones you get to keep? Right over here?
For me, Haley, how do you decide that?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You know, I feel like if it's something that just
feels really personal or like a story that happened to
me that I come in with, I feel like an
attachment to those, you know, like a bond. It's like
I can't I can't part with this, you know. But honestly,
like to me, it's the ultimate compliment. If if another
artist wants to record one of your songs, you know,
(06:14):
and so I'm a big fan of like you can
record it, I'll record it. Everyone can record it, you
know what I mean. Like, the more the merrier, I
don't really hold back. But yeah, I really love getting
to do both. I love getting to write songs and
then see them go on to make other people's records.
And I love being able to express myself and tell
(06:35):
my stories, you know, through songs on my own records.
So I definitely I need both in my life.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Final question, are you ever looking for song ideas? Song
hook lines?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Always? Always yep. I love to go people watch and Omaha, Nebraska.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I've got one for you, and it's Gina inspired. Oh
here's the line you can work into a song. She's
out of white wine and then of the turpentine.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Hell yeah, taking run with taking run with it, Hailey Haley.
It's been a real pleasure. We can't wait to see
it to slow down here in Omaha. Best wishes. Thanks
for joining us here in Omaha on Cat one O
three point seven.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Thank you,
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