May 19, 2026 • 23 mins
Wayne D sits down with one of country music’s most real voices—Ashley McBryde—and nothing’s off-limits. From the opening, Ashley dives into her brand-new Broadway spot, Redemption Bar, a one-of-a-kind space inside Eric Church’s Chief’s that flips the Nashville bar scene on its head with a focus on inclusivity and non-alcoholic options inspired by her own sobriety journey. [musicrow.com], [whiskeyriff.com] They also get into her powerful new album “Wild,” a deeply personal project that leans into her rock influences and tells honest stories about her life, struggles, and growth—especially her journey through sobriety and finding herself on the other side of it. [billboard.com] And then there’s Eric Church—the unexpected thread running through it all. Ashley shares how a chance moment on stage with him years ago helped change her career, and how that connection has turned into a full-circle friendship… including now having her bar inside his Nashville venue. [whiskeyriff.com], [billboard.com] It’s funny, honest, a little deep, and totally Ashley—exactly the kind of conversation you don’t want to miss.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hanging out with a lady who I can't imagine fancies
Broadway on the regular, missus Ashley McBride.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
How just call me a lady?
Speaker 3 (00:09):
I did.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
That's so nice.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Well I figured random bitch wasn't very nice.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Yeah, because I'm not super random anymore.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Well know, very well known bitch.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Welcome back to our studio here at Jason Neldean's. Thanks
for making the time. I want to start with your
footprint on Broadway, the collab with Eric Church. And it's
funny because somebody was like, oh, like that's I wonder
how that fit?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Like how does that?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I mean things like that usually fall together right, like
it just makes sense?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
The Redemption bars inside Eric Church's bar chiefs. Yes, how
did that come to be?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
And at what point? Like was it official?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
The question was posed to me kind of lightly, what
do you think about having a bar on Broadway? And
I was like, I don't drink anymore, I would want
a bar, and they were like, no, that's what we're
actually wanting to talk to you about, so you do
want to talk about it. Yeah, So as soon as
we sat down with the teams and spoke about it,
and I said, well I would want it. I would
want it to reflect many things, but most importantly I
(01:13):
want it to be sort of like the bars that
I played in when it was just me and a guitar.
I want us to have a stage where we can
experience that on Broadway because of all of the different
styles of playing in honky talking and full banding and
all of the things. That's one of the things we
should be able. If I was a tourist and came
to town for one day, the only place I get
(01:34):
to go is Broadway. I deserve to be able to
go upstairs and hear a kid who just got off
the bus two weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I love that. I love that.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Why did that collab make sense? Because obviously, I mean
there's people collabbing up and down, especially once you get
down to the other end. How close are you with Eric?
How did that play into this being the right.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Move for you?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
After this opportunity presented itself, I started really going back
and looking at this thread of all of the times
Eric has popped into my life into my career. So
I'm about to sign a record deal way back in
the day, and Eric pops into my life and says,
would you like to come to a show. Of course,
(02:16):
I go to the show. That's the night I ended
up being asked to go play with him on stage
in Chicago. It's my first time to use in air monitors,
it's my first time to play in an arena. I
was literally wearing his merch, so he put his stamp
of approval there. Then there were It was shortly after
(02:37):
we lost so many at the Route ninety one thing,
and we were being asked to perform at the Opry,
and I felt better knowing that Eric was there. And
let me see, there's so many others where Eric pops
in and he finds a way to put his mark
on my career throughout. In fact, we just toured. We
(02:58):
just got through touring with him on this line one
and for him to get the last not of the tour,
he said, why don't you come on stage tonight and
let's do Bible in a forty four for old time's sake.
And it was so full circle and I'm standing there
kind of dizzy going. Even when it came to my
ability to put my footprint on Broadway, Eric found a
(03:19):
way to put his stamp of approval on it. It's fantastic.
It's not like we go sit and have a burger together.
He just I think there's a mutual respect there that
is just really enormous.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
There's something so and it doesn't it We're just talking
about other music genres, you know. As we started talking
and as I got to see like pop music and
pop radio and then versus country, like different different genres
don't necessarily like help each other up, right, So for
Eric to be a guy who is a definition of
forging his own way, definitely, Eric was going to do
(03:55):
it his way or he was going to go be
agreed at Walmart. There was no two ways about it,
right right, it worked out for him. What does it
mean for an artist like that who paved their own path? Year,
I literally look at you and feel like you are
you are the same, right, Like you want to do
this and you want to be successful, but like we're
not negotiating who we are, what the music's going to
(04:16):
sound like.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So what does it mean?
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Eric, who did it before you, has seen that in
you and kind of been like, hey, kid, like come
this way a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, it's it's it's like living in the song mister Misunderstood.
It's him looking at me going I.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Understand is that is that? Do you think that?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
And even when you feel like nobody sees you or
nobody hears you, I see you and I hear you.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
How important is that validation?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I didn't know I needed it, and I didn't know
it was one of the things that I had been
searching for. But when somebody like Eric offers that so generously,
with no prompting, there was no solicitation for that, but
for him to go, I get it, and I like it.
That gives you just enough gas in your tank to
get over whatever the next obstacle is going to be.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
This is an industry, and I and I say this
in the most respectful of ways. It's an industry where
it's like you're searching for the next validation point. It's
almost like you're on a road trip. We're all on
a road. You're on your side as an artist, we're
on our side doing the radio stuff, and everyone's looking
for the next rest stop.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Right, Well, you want to go see the world's largest
frying pan, and then we want to go see the
world's largest ball of wool, And what's next on our
driven You're like, I don't know. It looks like there's
a giant fork somewhere in New Mexico. You're like, we're
going to see it.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Have you driven through prim Nevada, by the way, the
world's largest thermometer.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
No, I've never seen the world's largest thermometer.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
If you drive from Vegas, Oh you have? Has she
seen it?
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I've seen the world's largest thermometer. Was it back in
my drinking days? Oh? Okay, yeah, you drive.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Through let me tell you very underwhelming. Obviously you were
like it sucks because it was only like sixty eight degrees.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I was like, what the hell, it isn't even that impressive.
It'safway pause.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
But I've seen big butter Jesus, So that's that's.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Yeah. Have you played in the Minnesota stay Fair before,
because they literally carve women out of butter there.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I've seen some really cool butter carvings, but I don't
know that I have seen butter ladies butter ladies.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
That's or hard left.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
But but with with that road of like searching for
validation throughout places, right, there are good ways to do
that that fulfill you and make you feel welcome and
loved and where you're supposed to be.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Like Eric, you know, reaching a handout.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
But there's also things that could be an award show,
a number one winning an award itself that kind of
help you that you're reaching me like, well, that didn't
do anything. What are some of those things along the
way that you had to learn? Like, hey, this is great,
but I can't.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
I can't always value this, right.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I think the way the way awards season feels, we
all get so excited for each other. And then I've
watched I mean, it was amazing when I won my
first ACM, when I won my first CMA, and watching
people coming up behind me placing way heavier weights on
(07:14):
that then is probably safe because when you if you
haven't learned how to lose, man, is it tough. And
I've I've watched, I've watched females. I've watched male artists
be really really really shocked that they did not win
in a category. And I'm in the category more often
(07:36):
than not. I'm the Susan Lucci of the CMAS and
the ACMs, always nominated and uh and and rarely does
she take home the piece. And you you need to
learn how to and it doesn't devalue you. Someone else's
win is not your loss and the things that you're doing.
The validation is butts in seats. The validation is your
(07:58):
merch sales at the end of the night, and it's
low to get together and celebrate our accomplishments or just
celebrate one person's accomplishment award after award all night long.
That's all so lovely, But know that when you're nominated,
that's part of winning right there. And when you lose,
learn how to lose. Don't get up, pout off, sit
(08:19):
in your seat, straighten your spine, and support the person
who takes the hardware home.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It's a great lesson because you will learn the hard way.
And this, listen, this could be if someone's listening to
this and wants to chase being an artist, a baseball player,
a doctor, what learn how to take the l because
they get handed out regularly.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
The way you carry yourself in the struggle is going
to be more visible and more microscoped than the way
you take the w How does that?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
What does that teach you about who you are?
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Because the journey as an artist, like I'd imagine there's
a lot of like like like it's an onion effect, right,
because you come in knowing who you are, you know
you might fail.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Here, or a show doesn't sell out here, or.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
A song goes top ten but no number one, so
it must not have been a hit. All of those
things happen that kind of make you look in the
mirror a little more.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Do you appreciate those things more that they happened, because oh, yeah,
you know who you are more than you.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Would have if all this cute stuff happened all the time.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, I just walked onto the screen and everything was
mine and I'm the queen of all of it. Then
then what do I know about the value of it?
I was just speaking over at I was over at
the Warner Building and one of our female artists that
is younger than me is in a bus for the
first time, and she's the one that drives the van
(09:39):
and she's the one that knows how to back up
a trailer. That woman understands what it is like to
sleep in a bus, and that's how we felt. So
I don't know, I don't know. Hearing that today, I
was like, that's right. And when something is in the
(09:59):
top ten, that doesn't mean it's not a hit. It
means it wasn't a number one. What does a number
one mean? I have no idea. Let's ask someone. If
it's in the top forty, that's great. If it's in
the top thirty, that's fantastic. Top twenty, that's fantastic. You
know what things mean when you have to earn every
inch that you stand on.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
I love that, and it's it's such a great life lesson,
especially for like the younger generation, which I mean I
sound like my back hurts.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
I know, I know, but I mean we're the same age.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
But it's such a lesson like fail, like you see
all you see is the great.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
It's the Instagram effect.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Trouble so you can triumph exactly. Wow, those are big words.
They sounded like, I mean, I went to college in Arkansas.
We're fine, but I mean the feeling of that, like right, right,
but do struggle so you can feel good about the
things that you accomplish.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Yeah, there's beauty in it.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Absolutely, speaking of beauty. Nothing like a little bit of
a tour. You put one together? What so it's twenty
six cities in all right? How do you pick twenty
six cities?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
I don't pick any of them.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Like you're like, what do you say twenty six, I'm in.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
They're like, well, the question, is you up for a
headlining tour in the fault? Yes? Okay, are you yes? No,
that's it. Yes, And it doesn't matter if it's in
Baton Rouge or if it's in Boise, And it doesn't matter.
If it doesn't matter. I'm here to make music for
as long as there's breath in my lungs, and I
will do that. And it doesn't matter for in Nevada,
doesn't matter for in Florida. I'm I'm in the bus.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
When it comes to cities, and no fluff on this answer. Okay,
when it comes to cities, every artist wants to play
at home. Of course, wants to play at Bridstone. Yes,
where are other cities that you're like, oh yeah, let's
do a tour. I can't wait to get to this
city because of this, this city, because of.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
This always for worth, because Billy Bob's is so legendary
and we always have the best time there, because we
are more relaxed in Billy Bob's.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
But is that why is that it feels like home?
Or I think.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Because yeah, I think it just feels like you're at home.
And I mean it is vast and there are so
many people there, but everybody there knows what the reputation
of that joint is and they're there to experience that.
And you know what the reputation of that joint is,
and you're there to provide it. Like this, We're does
meeting each other's needs here. But I always want to
make sure that we get to play in Cincinnati. Isn't that?
(12:20):
Like everybody does that when I go. I love Cincy really,
the fans are fantastic.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Okay, I thought you were talking like Skyline Chili as
your Jam or something like that.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
But the just the crowds of people. There's a few
places in Iowa too that I've been like, man, I
love the people here. But sincey and Akron, they've got
it going on.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
There's one in Minnesota that I've heard artists say that
we Fest in Minnesota is great. I've heard we Fest,
I've so. I'm from Minneapolis, but I've never been to
we Fest.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
It's like unreal, yes.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
And like Hodag in Wisconsin also unreal crowd unreal and
they rotate the pit, oh real. So you can stand
in the pit for three or four songs and then
they rod chat it out. You go stand at the
back of the line, so you get a fresh pit
the whole time you're on stage. You're getting fresh people
every four songs.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
That's true because dope, I've been the guy that got
as close to the.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Stage as I could.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
And then that's also where you right, because I've got help.
I got help that I blame stage coach. But anyway,
when it comes to the music creation process, you have already.
I mean it's not like you're you're not a new
(13:32):
artist by any means, but you're still in a spot
where you're meeting new fans every day.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Oh yeah, trying to grow every day.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
So with that, what what are things from the first
time we ever met you to now that have helped
you grow as a creator, Because obviously the music you
were making early and the music you're making now feels
different to.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
You, right, it grows?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Uh So, what so.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
The early version of you to now, what what are
the biggest changes as you sit down to write or
record something.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
I think being in less of a hurry and not
feeling a feeling of panic when it's not right right away,
or or if we're in the writing room and we
didn't get everything we wanted to get today to just
not panic and it's I don't want to say not
care because that sounds disconnected, and it's not being disconnected.
(14:23):
It's knowing that it's okay. We didn't get everything we
needed to get done today in the studio and that's okay.
We didn't get the bridge for that stupid song we've
been working so hard on and it's okay. And I
think the patience that has grown through that is what's
making the biggest difference as far as growing is, especially
(14:43):
in growing our audience year to year. Just use your patients.
It's okay. So you didn't so you didn't sell every
single seat in Greeley, Colorado today, Who cares? Do it
next time?
Speaker 3 (14:55):
It's okay because if you do it now, what are
you gonna do next time?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Right?
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Because what are you gonna do? Move up to the
next thing is like twice the venue size and not
sell that. I was like, please just wear the pants
that fit you.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
That's actually awesome. I like that a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
When you when you talk about taking your time, not
not rushing things, is that something that you learned the
hard way? Or are there are other people around you
that are like a girl, like cool, a little bit
of both, a little bit of both.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
And then I had a co writer for years and
years and years. We've been best friends for a long time,
and she would say she uses dog a lot. Dog,
you gotta learn just to not panic. Who cares? And
I was like, what do you mean, who cares? We
have to get this done today. And then I was like, oh,
she's right, I have to learn to just not panic.
It's it's been really to calm down.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Dog.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Where you're gonna go?
Speaker 3 (15:45):
I mean? Valid?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
What else are you gonna do?
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Valid?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
When you when you who's first time in the studio?
I'm just kidding, it's a joke, I'm sure with tom
O case semi emotional question. Yeah, because we're constantly growing
as people, regardless of what we do.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
I think that's the idea anyway.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
We are constantly growing as individuals and as humans through
the trials of being a new artist, second guessing things,
whether it's a song or your approach or am I
even am I doing this right at all? To now,
what have you learned that has made you a more
comfortable human being in the skin you're in?
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Asking yourself, is it just that I'm not good enough?
Am I doing this right? Should I make another record?
If I quit drinking? Am I going to suck? That
question is going to change the words inside it. But
the doubt is never going to leave. And there's your
comfort because the next time it creeps up, you go,
(16:49):
oh yeah, I felt this way last June. I remember
that and I got through it just fine. And then
also realizing that questioning yourself is how you're going to grow.
Oh am I good. Well, there's something in you that
feels like something needs to level up, and that's not
coming from an outside source. That's in you. That feeling
was put in you. You will meet the need.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
When you talk about that doubt or that uncomfort. What's
the biggest question that you've had for yourself looking in
the mirror, sitting alone, backstage, whatever that you have absolutely
knocked out.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Of the park.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Oh wow, like the biggest wall in front of you
that you just kicked down easily. Maybe not easily, but
I mean on the other side of it.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Today, dreaming when I was younger, of being a member
of the Grand Old Opry, dreaming of playing it at all.
Standing on this side of it, I'm like, man, some
doozy bumps in there, but we got it.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
We did it.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
And being in country music, there's always, and I'm sure
it's in any industry, there's always the thing that's being
celebrated and the thing that is awesome and it's just
not on your TV right now, and so you gotta
you gotta remember that. I mean, there are artists that
I can credit for influencing me so much that we're
(18:09):
never on the end caps at Kroger and think like
I think about songs like nothing but the Wheel Patty Loveless.
Was that ever a radio single? Was that song ever
plastered all over the billboards and all over the award shows? No,
but it created a songwriter when I heard it. So
(18:31):
even though it doesn't have the most sparkle on it,
or it's not the most celebrated song on the record,
it could create another musician. Do not discount it.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeh, that's so great.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
I love that the new album is out now. It's
called Wild, So album titles I feel like, are it's
two things for an artist. It fits, so we toss
it on there and we're moving on right Or it's like, hey,
this is extremely pivotal for where I'm at and what
we asked Lady Wilson the same question, whirlwind, because literally
(19:02):
I don't know what is up and what is down?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Yeah, so a whirlwind. So why did this fit for
where you're at right now?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
I thought about I looked at all the track listing
and I'm like, Okay, if we name it Arkansas Mud,
then anyone who has never been to the state of
Arkansas already is not clicking on it because you name
the whole record that, So that doesn't capture it. If
we name it hand Me Downs, one of the most
important songs I'll have ever written. At the end of
my life, we will look back and go, that's one
(19:30):
of the most important songs she ever it. But if
we put that on the title of the record, you
think it's a sad record, or you think it's a
I don't know, like it's a it's somehow discounting itself
from the get go, and I'm not gonna let that
happen either. Lines in the carpet it it doesn't capture
the spirit of the whole thing. But when I think
(19:50):
about the song, the track listing rattlesnake. So this woman
comes from she's the daughter of a rattlesnake who clawed
out of the Arkansas mud, who believes there's not enough
water in the river for the Lord to forgive her.
In fact, I say, don't cry for me when I die,
just mark my grave with a railroad tie. And then
we talked about having a drinking problem. Of course that
(20:12):
girl has a drinking problem. Just the swath of things
we've covered from track one to track four or five
is wild. And then as you're like digging through the
trauma in here and covering things and healing things in
you and yourself and the band and your listeners, throughout
the stuff we're tackling is wild. And then by the
(20:33):
time you get to the song, wild completely different. Meaning
the part of you that believes anything is possible, that
was the loudest when you were younger, is still alive
and it is begging you to hang out with it.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
That is wild.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
So I was like, okay, wow, I mean I didn't
want anybody to think it was a mattress sale, you know,
like it's wild and now it's twenty five percent more
fowarm or whatever that's that's not going to be fitting.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Although that does sound comfortable.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Right, But wild in that sense and inviting us into
the wild, back into ourselves, and when we believe that
all things are anything as possible. That really covered it.
And I'm so thankful that Mikayla Lynn and Jeremy Spielman
and Materesa Berg had pins in their pockets that day.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
I love when we can get you on the calendar
to talk music because you're soulful and you're real, and
you're raw in every answer you give. And so something
you just said made me want to ask as somebody
who is so authentically you, which some people could be like,
but like that, I mean, that's a compliment i'd imagine
(21:39):
as an artist like it is. You don't not once
have we ever felt you're creating a song to make
sure you're writing big hits. Now once have you came
in here feel like you know, you're just chasing the
biggest songs and you're like chasing the songs that fit
you and hope that they feed souls around you.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Correct, But for feeding your soul? What song?
Speaker 1 (22:02):
And it's gonna be tough, because I'm gonna make you
pick one, Okay, on this album, the most therapeutic, the
song that has helped you the most.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Wild, hands down wild. When I heard it, I pictured
little me sitting on the floor, dreaming of what big
me would be like. And then I was like, oh
my god, she's still in there. I'd completely forgotten about her.
I just left her sitting there on the floor all
these years. And it made me want to run around
(22:29):
the room. And it made me so mad because the
melody is just so good, It is so delicious, and
we don't get the luxury of having melodies that diverse anymore.
And it was it was like meeting It was like
recognizing a friend that you haven't seen in forever and
you didn't even know you missed her. That song grabs
me by the guts.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Good Lord, do you hope that it does the same
when when somebody hears it.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Like that's yes, that's the hope. If it moves me,
I hope it moves you. And I'm not a writer
on that song. And that's because my job isn't just
as a songwriter. My job, the reason I'm on the
planet is to make sure that songs don't go unheard.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
That's so good.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Do you get to hear wild and I get to
be why?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
That's so awesome?
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Listen, Congratulations on the tour, Congratulations on the album. And
it's been like too long since.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I know, it's been like over two years since I
got to sit in this chair and stare at your face. Well, fine,
it's on me. You're gonna get you're gonna get take
kind of tired in my face. You're gonna look out
the window and be like Jesus, actually.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Out there's gonna be like, she's back again. She's down,
she's she's eating mac and cheese out there and says
she's here for another interview.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
It's Wednesday, don't kid it, you dear.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yeah, it's good to see you.
Hanging out with a lady who I can't imagine fancies
Broadway on the regular, missus Ashley McBride.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
How just call me a lady?
Speaker 3 (00:09):
I did.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
That's so nice.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Well I figured random bitch wasn't very nice.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Yeah, because I'm not super random anymore.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Well know, very well known bitch.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Welcome back to our studio here at Jason Neldean's. Thanks
for making the time. I want to start with your
footprint on Broadway, the collab with Eric Church. And it's
funny because somebody was like, oh, like that's I wonder
how that fit?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Like how does that?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I mean things like that usually fall together right, like
it just makes sense?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
The Redemption bars inside Eric Church's bar chiefs. Yes, how
did that come to be?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
And at what point? Like was it official?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
The question was posed to me kind of lightly, what
do you think about having a bar on Broadway? And
I was like, I don't drink anymore, I would want
a bar, and they were like, no, that's what we're
actually wanting to talk to you about, so you do
want to talk about it. Yeah, So as soon as
we sat down with the teams and spoke about it,
and I said, well I would want it. I would
want it to reflect many things, but most importantly I
(01:13):
want it to be sort of like the bars that
I played in when it was just me and a guitar.
I want us to have a stage where we can
experience that on Broadway because of all of the different
styles of playing in honky talking and full banding and
all of the things. That's one of the things we
should be able. If I was a tourist and came
to town for one day, the only place I get
(01:34):
to go is Broadway. I deserve to be able to
go upstairs and hear a kid who just got off
the bus two weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I love that. I love that.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Why did that collab make sense? Because obviously, I mean
there's people collabbing up and down, especially once you get
down to the other end. How close are you with Eric?
How did that play into this being the right.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Move for you?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
After this opportunity presented itself, I started really going back
and looking at this thread of all of the times
Eric has popped into my life into my career. So
I'm about to sign a record deal way back in
the day, and Eric pops into my life and says,
would you like to come to a show. Of course,
(02:16):
I go to the show. That's the night I ended
up being asked to go play with him on stage
in Chicago. It's my first time to use in air monitors,
it's my first time to play in an arena. I
was literally wearing his merch, so he put his stamp
of approval there. Then there were It was shortly after
(02:37):
we lost so many at the Route ninety one thing,
and we were being asked to perform at the Opry,
and I felt better knowing that Eric was there. And
let me see, there's so many others where Eric pops
in and he finds a way to put his mark
on my career throughout. In fact, we just toured. We
(02:58):
just got through touring with him on this line one
and for him to get the last not of the tour,
he said, why don't you come on stage tonight and
let's do Bible in a forty four for old time's sake.
And it was so full circle and I'm standing there
kind of dizzy going. Even when it came to my
ability to put my footprint on Broadway, Eric found a
(03:19):
way to put his stamp of approval on it. It's fantastic.
It's not like we go sit and have a burger together.
He just I think there's a mutual respect there that
is just really enormous.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
There's something so and it doesn't it We're just talking
about other music genres, you know. As we started talking
and as I got to see like pop music and
pop radio and then versus country, like different different genres
don't necessarily like help each other up, right, So for
Eric to be a guy who is a definition of
forging his own way, definitely, Eric was going to do
(03:55):
it his way or he was going to go be
agreed at Walmart. There was no two ways about it,
right right, it worked out for him. What does it
mean for an artist like that who paved their own path? Year,
I literally look at you and feel like you are
you are the same, right, Like you want to do
this and you want to be successful, but like we're
not negotiating who we are, what the music's going to
(04:16):
sound like.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So what does it mean?
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Eric, who did it before you, has seen that in
you and kind of been like, hey, kid, like come
this way a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, it's it's it's like living in the song mister Misunderstood.
It's him looking at me going I.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Understand is that is that? Do you think that?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
And even when you feel like nobody sees you or
nobody hears you, I see you and I hear you.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
How important is that validation?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I didn't know I needed it, and I didn't know
it was one of the things that I had been
searching for. But when somebody like Eric offers that so generously,
with no prompting, there was no solicitation for that, but
for him to go, I get it, and I like it.
That gives you just enough gas in your tank to
get over whatever the next obstacle is going to be.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
This is an industry, and I and I say this
in the most respectful of ways. It's an industry where
it's like you're searching for the next validation point. It's
almost like you're on a road trip. We're all on
a road. You're on your side as an artist, we're
on our side doing the radio stuff, and everyone's looking
for the next rest stop.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Right, Well, you want to go see the world's largest
frying pan, and then we want to go see the
world's largest ball of wool, And what's next on our
driven You're like, I don't know. It looks like there's
a giant fork somewhere in New Mexico. You're like, we're
going to see it.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Have you driven through prim Nevada, by the way, the
world's largest thermometer.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
No, I've never seen the world's largest thermometer.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
If you drive from Vegas, Oh you have? Has she
seen it?
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I've seen the world's largest thermometer. Was it back in
my drinking days? Oh? Okay, yeah, you drive.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Through let me tell you very underwhelming. Obviously you were
like it sucks because it was only like sixty eight degrees.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I was like, what the hell, it isn't even that impressive.
It'safway pause.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
But I've seen big butter Jesus, So that's that's.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Yeah. Have you played in the Minnesota stay Fair before,
because they literally carve women out of butter there.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I've seen some really cool butter carvings, but I don't
know that I have seen butter ladies butter ladies.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
That's or hard left.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
But but with with that road of like searching for
validation throughout places, right, there are good ways to do
that that fulfill you and make you feel welcome and
loved and where you're supposed to be.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Like Eric, you know, reaching a handout.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
But there's also things that could be an award show,
a number one winning an award itself that kind of
help you that you're reaching me like, well, that didn't
do anything. What are some of those things along the
way that you had to learn? Like, hey, this is great,
but I can't.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
I can't always value this, right.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I think the way the way awards season feels, we
all get so excited for each other. And then I've
watched I mean, it was amazing when I won my
first ACM, when I won my first CMA, and watching
people coming up behind me placing way heavier weights on
(07:14):
that then is probably safe because when you if you
haven't learned how to lose, man, is it tough. And
I've I've watched, I've watched females. I've watched male artists
be really really really shocked that they did not win
in a category. And I'm in the category more often
(07:36):
than not. I'm the Susan Lucci of the CMAS and
the ACMs, always nominated and uh and and rarely does
she take home the piece. And you you need to
learn how to and it doesn't devalue you. Someone else's
win is not your loss and the things that you're doing.
The validation is butts in seats. The validation is your
(07:58):
merch sales at the end of the night, and it's
low to get together and celebrate our accomplishments or just
celebrate one person's accomplishment award after award all night long.
That's all so lovely, But know that when you're nominated,
that's part of winning right there. And when you lose,
learn how to lose. Don't get up, pout off, sit
(08:19):
in your seat, straighten your spine, and support the person
who takes the hardware home.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
It's a great lesson because you will learn the hard way.
And this, listen, this could be if someone's listening to
this and wants to chase being an artist, a baseball player,
a doctor, what learn how to take the l because
they get handed out regularly.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
The way you carry yourself in the struggle is going
to be more visible and more microscoped than the way
you take the w How does that?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
What does that teach you about who you are?
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Because the journey as an artist, like I'd imagine there's
a lot of like like like it's an onion effect, right,
because you come in knowing who you are, you know
you might fail.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Here, or a show doesn't sell out here, or.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
A song goes top ten but no number one, so
it must not have been a hit. All of those
things happen that kind of make you look in the
mirror a little more.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Do you appreciate those things more that they happened, because oh, yeah,
you know who you are more than you.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Would have if all this cute stuff happened all the time.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, I just walked onto the screen and everything was
mine and I'm the queen of all of it. Then
then what do I know about the value of it?
I was just speaking over at I was over at
the Warner Building and one of our female artists that
is younger than me is in a bus for the
first time, and she's the one that drives the van
(09:39):
and she's the one that knows how to back up
a trailer. That woman understands what it is like to
sleep in a bus, and that's how we felt. So
I don't know, I don't know. Hearing that today, I
was like, that's right. And when something is in the
(09:59):
top ten, that doesn't mean it's not a hit. It
means it wasn't a number one. What does a number
one mean? I have no idea. Let's ask someone. If
it's in the top forty, that's great. If it's in
the top thirty, that's fantastic. Top twenty, that's fantastic. You
know what things mean when you have to earn every
inch that you stand on.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
I love that, and it's it's such a great life lesson,
especially for like the younger generation, which I mean I
sound like my back hurts.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
I know, I know, but I mean we're the same age.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
But it's such a lesson like fail, like you see
all you see is the great.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
It's the Instagram effect.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Trouble so you can triumph exactly. Wow, those are big words.
They sounded like, I mean, I went to college in Arkansas.
We're fine, but I mean the feeling of that, like right, right,
but do struggle so you can feel good about the
things that you accomplish.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Yeah, there's beauty in it.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Absolutely, speaking of beauty. Nothing like a little bit of
a tour. You put one together? What so it's twenty
six cities in all right? How do you pick twenty
six cities?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
I don't pick any of them.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Like you're like, what do you say twenty six, I'm in.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
They're like, well, the question, is you up for a
headlining tour in the fault? Yes? Okay, are you yes? No,
that's it. Yes, And it doesn't matter if it's in
Baton Rouge or if it's in Boise, And it doesn't matter.
If it doesn't matter. I'm here to make music for
as long as there's breath in my lungs, and I
will do that. And it doesn't matter for in Nevada,
doesn't matter for in Florida. I'm I'm in the bus.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
When it comes to cities, and no fluff on this answer. Okay,
when it comes to cities, every artist wants to play
at home. Of course, wants to play at Bridstone. Yes,
where are other cities that you're like, oh yeah, let's
do a tour. I can't wait to get to this
city because of this, this city, because of.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
This always for worth, because Billy Bob's is so legendary
and we always have the best time there, because we
are more relaxed in Billy Bob's.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
But is that why is that it feels like home?
Or I think.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Because yeah, I think it just feels like you're at home.
And I mean it is vast and there are so
many people there, but everybody there knows what the reputation
of that joint is and they're there to experience that.
And you know what the reputation of that joint is,
and you're there to provide it. Like this, We're does
meeting each other's needs here. But I always want to
make sure that we get to play in Cincinnati. Isn't that?
(12:20):
Like everybody does that when I go. I love Cincy really,
the fans are fantastic.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Okay, I thought you were talking like Skyline Chili as
your Jam or something like that.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
But the just the crowds of people. There's a few
places in Iowa too that I've been like, man, I
love the people here. But sincey and Akron, they've got
it going on.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
There's one in Minnesota that I've heard artists say that
we Fest in Minnesota is great. I've heard we Fest,
I've so. I'm from Minneapolis, but I've never been to
we Fest.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
It's like unreal, yes.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
And like Hodag in Wisconsin also unreal crowd unreal and
they rotate the pit, oh real. So you can stand
in the pit for three or four songs and then
they rod chat it out. You go stand at the
back of the line, so you get a fresh pit
the whole time you're on stage. You're getting fresh people
every four songs.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
That's true because dope, I've been the guy that got
as close to the.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Stage as I could.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
And then that's also where you right, because I've got help.
I got help that I blame stage coach. But anyway,
when it comes to the music creation process, you have already.
I mean it's not like you're you're not a new
(13:32):
artist by any means, but you're still in a spot
where you're meeting new fans every day.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Oh yeah, trying to grow every day.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
So with that, what what are things from the first
time we ever met you to now that have helped
you grow as a creator, Because obviously the music you
were making early and the music you're making now feels
different to.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
You, right, it grows?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Uh So, what so.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
The early version of you to now, what what are
the biggest changes as you sit down to write or
record something.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
I think being in less of a hurry and not
feeling a feeling of panic when it's not right right away,
or or if we're in the writing room and we
didn't get everything we wanted to get today to just
not panic and it's I don't want to say not
care because that sounds disconnected, and it's not being disconnected.
(14:23):
It's knowing that it's okay. We didn't get everything we
needed to get done today in the studio and that's okay.
We didn't get the bridge for that stupid song we've
been working so hard on and it's okay. And I
think the patience that has grown through that is what's
making the biggest difference as far as growing is, especially
(14:43):
in growing our audience year to year. Just use your patients.
It's okay. So you didn't so you didn't sell every
single seat in Greeley, Colorado today, Who cares? Do it
next time?
Speaker 3 (14:55):
It's okay because if you do it now, what are
you gonna do next time?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Right?
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Because what are you gonna do? Move up to the
next thing is like twice the venue size and not
sell that. I was like, please just wear the pants
that fit you.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
That's actually awesome. I like that a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
When you when you talk about taking your time, not
not rushing things, is that something that you learned the
hard way? Or are there are other people around you
that are like a girl, like cool, a little bit
of both, a little bit of both.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
And then I had a co writer for years and
years and years. We've been best friends for a long time,
and she would say she uses dog a lot. Dog,
you gotta learn just to not panic. Who cares? And
I was like, what do you mean, who cares? We
have to get this done today. And then I was like, oh,
she's right, I have to learn to just not panic.
It's it's been really to calm down.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Dog.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Where you're gonna go?
Speaker 3 (15:45):
I mean? Valid?
Speaker 2 (15:46):
What else are you gonna do?
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Valid?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
When you when you who's first time in the studio?
I'm just kidding, it's a joke, I'm sure with tom
O case semi emotional question. Yeah, because we're constantly growing
as people, regardless of what we do.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
I think that's the idea anyway.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
We are constantly growing as individuals and as humans through
the trials of being a new artist, second guessing things,
whether it's a song or your approach or am I
even am I doing this right at all? To now,
what have you learned that has made you a more
comfortable human being in the skin you're in?
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Asking yourself, is it just that I'm not good enough?
Am I doing this right? Should I make another record?
If I quit drinking? Am I going to suck? That
question is going to change the words inside it. But
the doubt is never going to leave. And there's your
comfort because the next time it creeps up, you go,
(16:49):
oh yeah, I felt this way last June. I remember
that and I got through it just fine. And then
also realizing that questioning yourself is how you're going to grow.
Oh am I good. Well, there's something in you that
feels like something needs to level up, and that's not
coming from an outside source. That's in you. That feeling
was put in you. You will meet the need.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
When you talk about that doubt or that uncomfort. What's
the biggest question that you've had for yourself looking in
the mirror, sitting alone, backstage, whatever that you have absolutely
knocked out.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Of the park.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Oh wow, like the biggest wall in front of you
that you just kicked down easily. Maybe not easily, but
I mean on the other side of it.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Today, dreaming when I was younger, of being a member
of the Grand Old Opry, dreaming of playing it at all.
Standing on this side of it, I'm like, man, some
doozy bumps in there, but we got it.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
We did it.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
And being in country music, there's always, and I'm sure
it's in any industry, there's always the thing that's being
celebrated and the thing that is awesome and it's just
not on your TV right now, and so you gotta
you gotta remember that. I mean, there are artists that
I can credit for influencing me so much that we're
(18:09):
never on the end caps at Kroger and think like
I think about songs like nothing but the Wheel Patty Loveless.
Was that ever a radio single? Was that song ever
plastered all over the billboards and all over the award shows? No,
but it created a songwriter when I heard it. So
(18:31):
even though it doesn't have the most sparkle on it,
or it's not the most celebrated song on the record,
it could create another musician. Do not discount it.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeh, that's so great.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
I love that the new album is out now. It's
called Wild, So album titles I feel like, are it's
two things for an artist. It fits, so we toss
it on there and we're moving on right Or it's like, hey,
this is extremely pivotal for where I'm at and what
we asked Lady Wilson the same question, whirlwind, because literally
(19:02):
I don't know what is up and what is down?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Yeah, so a whirlwind. So why did this fit for
where you're at right now?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
I thought about I looked at all the track listing
and I'm like, Okay, if we name it Arkansas Mud,
then anyone who has never been to the state of
Arkansas already is not clicking on it because you name
the whole record that, So that doesn't capture it. If
we name it hand Me Downs, one of the most
important songs I'll have ever written. At the end of
my life, we will look back and go, that's one
(19:30):
of the most important songs she ever it. But if
we put that on the title of the record, you
think it's a sad record, or you think it's a
I don't know, like it's a it's somehow discounting itself
from the get go, and I'm not gonna let that
happen either. Lines in the carpet it it doesn't capture
the spirit of the whole thing. But when I think
(19:50):
about the song, the track listing rattlesnake. So this woman
comes from she's the daughter of a rattlesnake who clawed
out of the Arkansas mud, who believes there's not enough
water in the river for the Lord to forgive her.
In fact, I say, don't cry for me when I die,
just mark my grave with a railroad tie. And then
we talked about having a drinking problem. Of course that
(20:12):
girl has a drinking problem. Just the swath of things
we've covered from track one to track four or five
is wild. And then as you're like digging through the
trauma in here and covering things and healing things in
you and yourself and the band and your listeners, throughout
the stuff we're tackling is wild. And then by the
(20:33):
time you get to the song, wild completely different. Meaning
the part of you that believes anything is possible, that
was the loudest when you were younger, is still alive
and it is begging you to hang out with it.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
That is wild.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
So I was like, okay, wow, I mean I didn't
want anybody to think it was a mattress sale, you know,
like it's wild and now it's twenty five percent more
fowarm or whatever that's that's not going to be fitting.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Although that does sound comfortable.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Right, But wild in that sense and inviting us into
the wild, back into ourselves, and when we believe that
all things are anything as possible. That really covered it.
And I'm so thankful that Mikayla Lynn and Jeremy Spielman
and Materesa Berg had pins in their pockets that day.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
I love when we can get you on the calendar
to talk music because you're soulful and you're real, and
you're raw in every answer you give. And so something
you just said made me want to ask as somebody
who is so authentically you, which some people could be like,
but like that, I mean, that's a compliment i'd imagine
(21:39):
as an artist like it is. You don't not once
have we ever felt you're creating a song to make
sure you're writing big hits. Now once have you came
in here feel like you know, you're just chasing the
biggest songs and you're like chasing the songs that fit
you and hope that they feed souls around you.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
Correct, But for feeding your soul? What song?
Speaker 1 (22:02):
And it's gonna be tough, because I'm gonna make you
pick one, Okay, on this album, the most therapeutic, the
song that has helped you the most.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Wild, hands down wild. When I heard it, I pictured
little me sitting on the floor, dreaming of what big
me would be like. And then I was like, oh
my god, she's still in there. I'd completely forgotten about her.
I just left her sitting there on the floor all
these years. And it made me want to run around
(22:29):
the room. And it made me so mad because the
melody is just so good, It is so delicious, and
we don't get the luxury of having melodies that diverse anymore.
And it was it was like meeting It was like
recognizing a friend that you haven't seen in forever and
you didn't even know you missed her. That song grabs
me by the guts.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Good Lord, do you hope that it does the same
when when somebody hears it.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Like that's yes, that's the hope. If it moves me,
I hope it moves you. And I'm not a writer
on that song. And that's because my job isn't just
as a songwriter. My job, the reason I'm on the
planet is to make sure that songs don't go unheard.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
That's so good.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Do you get to hear wild and I get to
be why?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
That's so awesome?
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Listen, Congratulations on the tour, Congratulations on the album. And
it's been like too long since.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I know, it's been like over two years since I
got to sit in this chair and stare at your face. Well, fine,
it's on me. You're gonna get you're gonna get take
kind of tired in my face. You're gonna look out
the window and be like Jesus, actually.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Out there's gonna be like, she's back again. She's down,
she's she's eating mac and cheese out there and says
she's here for another interview.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
It's Wednesday, don't kid it, you dear.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Yeah, it's good to see you.
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