On Season 2, Episode 12 of U&I, Kickoff Kevin sits down with Allie Keck. Kevin saw Allie perform at a small venue in Nashville and approached her after her set to find out a little bit about her. After talking with Allie about her not feeling like she fit the mold for "The Voice", Kevin wanted to find out more. Allie started trying out for TV shows as a teenager, she has sold phone book ads in Nashville for extra income, and talks about her love/hate relationship with social media.  Socials:  Instagram: AllieKeckMusic TikTok: AllieKeckMusic Follow:@KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent artists and bands in Nashville. The purpose of this podcast is to highlight the journey and grind musicians go through trying to make it in the industry; the journey most fans don’t see leading up to national success. People move to music city from all over the country to chase something they have only dreamed of – making music and performing for a living. This podcast will dive into stories on the road, late nights and early mornings on the infamous Broadway, their background story, and if there is an ultimate goal for each artist or band. The artists featured on this podcast don’t have the backing of a label or sometimes even management, or a publishing team to handle their bookings, travel, etc.… But what they all have in common is a genuine passion for the love of music and performing. There is hidden talent spread throughout music city and the aim of this podcast is to give this hidden talent an opportunity to have a platform for an audience to hear their story, what the process is really like in the industry, and hopefully gain a new fan or two. 

Ian Munsick (@ianmunsick) sat down with Bobby Bones to talk about his music journey coming from Wyoming. Ian grew up doing ranch work but was encouraged young to start music and played in his family band. He shares the struggles of leaving Wyoming to chase his music dreams in Nashville and attend Belmont University where he met his manager turned wife, and why they kept their relationship private in the beginning. Ian also reveals why his speech impediment goes away when he's on stage and how he overcomes it. He also shares working with his hero, Cody Johnson, and getting his first cut as a songwriter when he asked for his song "Leather." Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Unsigned & Independent with Kickoff Kevin is back for another batch of episodes! And this one features New Jersey native, Jessica Rose. Jessica lives in Nashville part-time and sleeps on a friend's couch because she is still trying to save up enough money to move to Tennessee next year to pursue music full-time. Jessica also discusses dating a current band member and the struggles of staying true to herself in country music.  Socials:  Instagram: RealJessicaRose TikTok: RealJessicaRose Follow:@KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent artists and bands in Nashville. The purpose of this podcast is to highlight the journey and grind musicians go through trying to make it in the industry; the journey most fans don’t see leading up to national success. People move to music city from all over the country to chase something they have only dreamed of – making music and performing for a living. This podcast will dive into stories on the road, late nights and early mornings on the infamous Broadway, their background story, and if there is an ultimate goal for each artist or band. The artists featured on this podcast don’t have the backing of a label or sometimes even management, or a publishing team to handle their bookings, travel, etc.… But what they all have in common is a genuine passion for the love of music and performing. There is hidden talent spread throughout music city and the aim of this podcast is to give this hidden talent an opportunity to have a platform for an audience to hear their story, what the process is really like in the industry, and hopefully gain a new fan or two.  

Kimberly Perry (@thekimberlyperry) sat down with Bobby Bones to talk about her new chapter in life. In the past year, she and The Band Perry went their separate ways, and she released her first solo project, and also became a first-time mother in September! She shares what happened that made her decide to go solo, how she's not scared to be herself and how she got past measuring her success on a scale. Kiimberly also discussed how she feels when people ask her about The Band Perry and her reaction to being called a country band that 'killed their career.' She also shares how she's adjusting to life as a new mother and shares how her husband didn't know she was famous and how they eloped to Vegas and wrote songs together on their honeymoon and more! Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Randy Houser (@RandyHouser) sat down with Bobby Bones to share updates on his career. He reflected on the time he got dropped from his first record deal and was scared for the future of his career. Then, shares the moment he knew his first big song, "How Country Feels" would be a hit and game changer for him. Plus, he reflects on what it was like to grow up in Mississippi and the family issues he dealt with. Randy also shared how he got into acting and what Leonardo DiCaprio said to him while on the set of 'Killers Of The Flower Moon.' He also shares what his current relationship with alcohol is and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Dierks Bentley turns 48 years old today! We wanted to take a loot back when Bobby sat down with Dierks Bentley in 2017.  He had just come off a weekend of shows. We GET the stories behind some of Dierks’ biggest hits and how he grinding for many years before rising to the top. Bobby and Dierks also share “name dropper stories” and Dierks talks about how he feels not winning the ACM for album of the year.

Cody Jinks (@codyjinks) sat down with Bobby Bones to talk about his music journey! He went the grassroots effort of playing non-stop shows for 15 years and never signed a record deal, and shared why he thinks that helped him find success. Cody explains why he always invested in himself and the turning point in his career where he realized he was doing better than he thought. He also recalls how on his 2-year-old son's birthday the song "Loud and Heavy" was inspired. Cody also shares why he feels like the shift in country music to be more authentic benefited his career, the artists he thinks are the most real with their music right now, why he feels like he's just starting to get to know his teenage kids and he talks about the process of making his new record! 

Songwriter Josh Jenkins (@joshcjenkins) sits down with Bobby Bones to talk about the many levels of his music career. He revisits his years of touring in his band, Green River Ordinance, then deciding to move to Nashville to be a songwriter. He also shares what it's like that his brother, Matt Jenkins, is also a successful songwriter in Nashville and how special it was to write Jordan Davis's and Luke Bryan's song "Buy Dirt" together. Josh also talks about why the day they wrote Walker Hayes' "Fancy Like" was memorable, what it was like when the song went viral and how he feels about the impact TikTok has had on the music industry. Josh also shares the Nashville formula to writing a hit song in 90 minutes and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Marty Roe, the lead singer of the '90s country group, Diamond Rio, sat down with Bobby Bones to talk about his monumental career. Marty shares how he got his start singing at Opryland and doing voice impressions. He also shares why in the early days the band went through multiple name changes and how the group, Shenandoah, inspired the band name they settled on. He also talks about what it was like to be the first band to have their debut single go number one, the new music he's working on, the new band members and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Bobby and Eddie start the episode talking about cover songs that were hated by the original artists and share what they think are the best covers of all-time.  Rob Harvilla is the author / host of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s and a senior staff writer at The Ringer. He's been a professional rock critic for 20-plus years and talked to Bobby Bones about why he chose to explore the music of the '90s in his new book and podcast. Rob talks about what he does as a rock critic, why he chose that profession and the types of interviews it's led him to like the time Courtney Love reached out to him. He also explains why Nirvana were giants in '90s music and discusses some conspiracy theories around Kurt Cobain's death and more!  Rob Harvilla's book, 60 SONGS THAT EXPLAIN THE '90S is out Tuesday, November 14, preorder here, and signed bookplate copies are available here. Also check out new episodes of 60 SONGS THAT EXPLAIN THE '90S every Wednesday! Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Heath Wright, the lead singer of '90s country band, Ricochet, sits down to talk to Bobby Bones and shares the untold story of the band. Find out how they got their band name, how they got their start after waiting years and more. Bobby's wife, Caitlin, also joins the episode because he has a connection to her family! Heath talks about what it was like to be in country music during the '90s, and why he has an issue with modern country music now. He also shares a cool story about meeting The Chicks before they were famous and reveals the real story behind their number-one hit "Daddy's Money."  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Love and Theft (@loveandtheft) stopped by Bobby Bones house to talk about being a group for 17 years and the highs and lows that have happened in their career. They talk about their new EP, Better Off, that was seven years in the making after it got shelved at their old label. They also share what it's like having their new EP come out on a label they are no longer on. They discuss how the music industry has changed, what inspires their songwriting and will share their thoughts about having Taylor Swift write "Hey Stephen" about Stephen and the song they wrote about her!  You can pre-save their single 'Need To Breathe' here: https://loveandtheft.lnk.to/NeedToBreathe

While on the road, Bobby, Eddie, Mike D, Kickoff Kevin and their driver, Warren, listed the Top 5 Famous musicians they have met in their life and shared stories about how each happened! Then, at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, Bobby interviewed Lenny Kravitz! He tells us how he's been able to stay relevant all these years, what goes into his songwriting, how he connects to his fans, what he listens to before he goes on set, new music he's loving and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Bobby shares a revealing post from Tenille Arts that she shared on Instagram. We are big fans of her and wanted to look back on the first time she stopped by the Bobbycast. Tenille Arts talks about how she grew up on a wheat farm in Canada and moved to Nashville after being discovered on YouTube. She talks about how she went on the Bachelor twice to perform, gave her Top 3 Life Moments and for the first time ever we have someone perform on the podcast. 

Steven Lee Olsen (@Stevenleeolsen) is a singer- songwriter who sat down Bobby Bones on how he got his start in the music industry writing songs for some of the biggest names. He shares what happened when he got dropped from his label, and when he pitched Keith Urban his song "Blue Ain't Your Color" and it got put on hold and how he modified it. He shares what it was like getting a call that Garth Brooks wanted to record a song he wrote and how he's been coaching him in the studio and got to sing background vocal for him. Steven also reflects on his father leaving him when he was one year old, why he changed his name to honor his stepdad, moving to Nashville at 20 years old and more!  PRE-SAVE Happy Heavenly by Steven Lee Olsen  https://stem.ffm.to/happyheavenly Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

In this episode, Bobby and Eddie share stories from their bands in high school, best concerts they've ever been to as they hang out driving home from a trip. Then, we've taken stories from episodes over the years of artists talking about the jobs they had before they made it big.  You'll hear from Craig Morgan, Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Craig Campbell, John Michael Montgomery, Trisha Yearwood and Nate Smith.  Some had odd jobs just to pay the bills while they pursued music full time...like working in an oil field, being a celebrity impersonator or having a 9-5 desk job at a label.  Some didn't even tell people at their current job they could sing!  But in the end, it all worked out the way it was supposed to! Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

George Birge (@GeorgeBirge) sits down to talk to Bobby Bones about what it's like having his first Top 20 single, "Mind On You," and how he had that song on hold for another artist to record and had to ask if he could record it for himself. George shares what his journey to success has been like and how he deals with imposter syndrome and discusses what really happens when you sign a record deal! He was born and raised in Austin, Texas, so he shares why he never left, how his parents emigrated to America and more. He also talks about going viral on TikTok, what he learned about the industry from Toby Keith, the moment he felt his career really started to take off and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

We remember Jimmy Buffett by looking back at the interview we did with him in 2020 after he  dropped his first album in 27 years. Jimmy Buffett talked about writing his song "Margaritaville”, his country collaborations and if he’d ever go into his own restaurants and not give them a heads up. Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast

Dan + Shay sit down with Bobby Bones and share an inside look of everything going on in their lives. They get vulnerable and share why they almost broke up, the moment they hit rock bottom and started to resent music, until a 3am talk saved the duo and their friendship. Dan also shares why he cut his hair and Shay details how getting sober and cutting sugar out of his diet changed his life. They also give a behind the scenes look of them joining 'The Voice' and what it's like being the first duo chair, and they talk about their new album Bigger Houses, out September 15th and more! 

In Part 2 of Behind the Scenes of the Music Industry, you'll hear from country music reporter & journalist, Marcus K Dowling, legendary music exec, Joe Galante, Grammy award winning producer, Nathan Chapman, General Manager of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's record labels, Lesly Simon, Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell's manager, Kerri Edwards and more! Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

This special episode of the BobbyCast is all about the Behind The Scenes of the Music Industry.  How does a song get on the radio? What exactly does a producer and an artist manager do? How do record labels work?  All of these questions will be answered.  Throughout the years, Bobby has sat down with some of the biggest and most influential industry execs to hear about their roles in the business.  In this episode you'll hear from Luke Combs' manager, Kappy, the former CEO of Warner Music Nashville, John Esposito, legendary producer, Dann Huff, the Head of iHeartCountry, Rod Phillips and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Brandy Clark (@thebrandyclark) joined Bobby Bones to share some updates in her life. She recently won a Tony award for the music she wrote for the musical 'Shucked.' She talked about having to re-work most of the songs after getting mixed-reviews and how it took her 10 years to get it done. Brandy also opens up about her life growing up and how she went to college on a basketball scholarship, why she chose to give that up to pursue music, and her love for Magic Johnson! She also shared the stories behind the songs on her new self-titled album, what it was like working with Brandie Carlie as her producer, and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Thomas Rhett (@thomasrhettatkins) sits down with Bobby Bones for an hour-long therapy session! He gets into why after he saw Taylor Swift's Era's Tour how he felt inspired but also jealous. Thomas also talks about why he hasn't been on social media since January, how it affected his mental health and why he started to not feel like himself anymore. He also discusses the importance of the charity he and his wife Lauren have started called Love One. Thomas also gets honest about his music journey as he reflects on the 20 Number One songs he's had, the new way he's approaching making music and why he hasn't listened to his songs in two months, and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE stopped by Bobby's house to talk about the journey he and the band have been on, how they manage to still get along after 9 albums and reflected on the time he thought the band was over. Bear also recalls what it was like to open for artists like Taylor Swift and One Republic. He also clarifies the Christian-Rock band title the band have been given, and the new musical direction they went in while creating their new album, Caves, that will be out September 15th! Bear also talks about his football days and how he used to make the band watch tape and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Kix Brooks (@KixBrooks) of Brooks & Dunn hangs out with Bobby to talk about his extremely impressive career. Brooks & Dunn is the best-selling country duo of all time, and even though they got their start in the '80s, Kix shares how they are currently playing their biggest shows right now! He'll also share inside details on why they broke up and what Merle Haggard told them that caused him to have an issue with them. Kix has also been hosting the 'American Country Countdown' since 2006, and he'll share how he had to go to interview school to get better at radio. Kix also recalls getting discovered at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the first song he wrote that was special to him and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Lily Rose (@LilyRoseMusicOfficial) joins Bobby Bones to share how she got her start in music and how she doesn't want to be defined by one genre. She shared how when she was working at the mall she would listen to BobbyCast episodes to learn more about being an artist. Lily looked back on the day she made the decision to move to Nashville, and how no one would give her the time of day until her song went viral on TikTok. She also shares how she and her wife met and why she does not want to be known as the 'gay' or 'TikTok' artist. Lily also talks about how she met Diplo, and they started working together and more! 

Michael Ray (@michaelraymusic) sits down with Bobby Bones to give a candid look on his public divorce and how he's grown personally and professionally from it. He'll share what he learned from it and what he wishes he had done differently. He gets vulnerable talking about the steps he took in therapy and how while he was going through that process he had the number one song on country radio. Michael will also share how he was diagnosed with depression and the healthy steps he's taking in his every day life to get better. He'll also talk about his new music, what it's like being on tour and why he feels like he's back in 2019 again.  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

On the finale of Season 2, Kickoff Kevin sits down with Spencer Crandall. Spencer and Kevin talk about their days of playing college football but being forced to retire early due to injuries, and how it led to new careers. Plus, Spencer dives into the advantages social media can give an independent artist, now that he has over 2.5 million TikTok followers. Spencer and Kevin also talk about him being on the road with Morgan Wallen in 2016 and much more!  IG: @SpencerCrandall  TikTok: @SpencerCrandall Follow:@KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent artists and bands in Nashville. The purpose of this podcast is to highlight the journey and grind musicians go through trying to make it in the industry; the journey most fans don’t see leading up to national success. People move to music city from all over the country to chase something they have only dreamed of – making music and performing for a living. This podcast will dive into stories on the road, late nights and early mornings on the infamous Broadway, their background story, and if there is an ultimate goal for each artist or band. The artists featured on this podcast don’t have the backing of a label or sometimes even management, or a publishing team to handle their bookings, travel, etc.… But what they all have in common is a genuine passion for the love of music and performing. There is hidden talent spread throughout music city and the aim of this podcast is to give this hidden talent an opportunity to have a platform for an audience to hear their story, what the process is really like in the industry, and hopefully gain a new fan or two.  

Warren Zeiders (@warrenzeiders) never intended to become a singer, until a sports injury changed his plans. He sits down with Bobby Bones to talk about his life before music, how he had a lacrosse scholarship in college, and how he got seven concussions while playing. He shares how the pandemic derailed his plans, so he posted a video of himself singing on TikTok that went viral. Warren also recalls the time he posted a video of himself singing on YouTube that he was bullied for, to then having industry people message him. He also reveals why he hired his mom to be his business manager, what fans can expect from his new album Pretty Little Poison coming out in August, and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

On season 2, episode 9 of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin sits down with Fort Smith, Arkansas native - JD Clayton. JD talks about losing his job during COVID and having to work for a landscaping company to make ends meet, but this ultimately led to him writing his first album while on the job. Kevin and JD also talk about his upbringing and not growing up on traditional country music like the rest of his fans, and much more!  Socials:  IG: JDClaytonOfficial Twitter: JDClaytonofcl Follow:@KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent artists and bands in Nashville. The purpose of this podcast is to highlight the journey and grind musicians go through trying to make it in the industry; the journey most fans don’t see leading up to national success. People move to music city from all over the country to chase something they have only dreamed of – making music and performing for a living. This podcast will dive into stories on the road, late nights and early mornings on the infamous Broadway, their background story, and if there is an ultimate goal for each artist or band. The artists featured on this podcast don’t have the backing of a label or sometimes even management, or a publishing team to handle their bookings, travel, etc.… But what they all have in common is a genuine passion for the love of music and performing. There is hidden talent spread throughout music city and the aim of this podcast is to give this hidden talent an opportunity to have a platform for an audience to hear their story, what the process is really like in the industry, and hopefully gain a new fan or two.  

Amanda Shires (@amandapearlshires) talks to Bobby about her project, Loving You, a covers album with the late Bobbie Nelson. She explains how Bobbie was her hero and what it was like working with her and how she will keep her legacy alive with their joint album. Amanda also shares how she got her start in music, how she expresses herself through playing the fiddle, and details the time she wrote a letter to Tyrese Gibson. She also tells us how Billy Joe Shaver convinced her to move to Nashville after she found success with her music in Texas. Amanda will also share how she met her husband, Jason Isbell, when he invited her to play with him, why she stopped smoking marijuana to help her singing, how she's still getting over stage fright and more!  To celebrate the release of Loving You, Amanda is playing two special shows in Texas honoring Bobbie Nelson’s legacy and the rich history of Texas music.  She’ll be playing at two legendary dance halls, accompanied by the iconic band, Asleep At The Wheel on July 8th at The Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas and July 9th at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels. Tickets: HERE Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Bobby saw Jelly Roll earlier this week at the Opry and wanted to revisit his original interview. He came by in May 2022 to share his life. Jelly Roll has a very inspiring story that he loves to share in hopes of connecting with people. He comes from a middle lower class community where he was the youngest child of 4. His dad was a meat salesman for his own family company called DeFord Wholesale Meats, and his mom struggled with addiction and mental health. He spent about 12 years in and out of the jail system until he had an awakening moment sitting in his jail cell. A guard knocked on his cell door to tell him that he had a daughter. Check out the full interview! Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

On this episode of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin sits down with married duo The Dryes. Katelyn and Derek have been married for 11 years and began dating before deciding to become a duo and chase their dreams together. They talked about some of the challenges that being a married duo and traveling the country can bring, and how their friends were the ones who set them up 15 years ago. Plus, the couple talks about being the modern day Johnny and June, the big year they've had so far after playing at the CMA Fest and being on tour with Jo Dee Messina.   Socials:  IG: TheDryes Twitter: TheDryesMusic Follow:@KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent artists and bands in Nashville. The purpose of this podcast is to highlight the journey and grind musicians go through trying to make it in the industry; the journey most fans don’t see leading up to national success. People move to music city from all over the country to chase something they have only dreamed of – making music and performing for a living. This podcast will dive into stories on the road, late nights and early mornings on the infamous Broadway, their background story, and if there is an ultimate goal for each artist or band. The artists featured on this podcast don’t have the backing of a label or sometimes even management, or a publishing team to handle their bookings, travel, etc.… But what they all have in common is a genuine passion for the love of music and performing. There is hidden talent spread throughout music city and the aim of this podcast is to give this hidden talent an opportunity to have a platform for an audience to hear their story, what the process is really like in the industry, and hopefully gain a new fan or two.  

From credit cards to credit scores and everything in between, “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult” digs into the good, bad, and prudent ways to build and use credit. We talk to Sara Rathner, a senior writer, travel, and credit card expert at NerdWallet, about why making purchases with a credit card (instead of a debit card) is safer, how we can build our credit back up from a less-than-perfect past, and how to effectively use your credit card to build up a personal rewards savings account! Cited Sources:  Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve Sustem - Economic Well Bing of U.S. Households in 2021

Richard Marx talks to Bobby Bones about his incredible career and how he feels like he has two versions: one has a singer-songwriter, and one writing hit songs for artists like NSYNC, Keith Urban and more! He talks about how he got his start in music, moving to LA right after high school to chase his dreams, and the adversity has he faced. He also shares the time he became a backup singer for Kenny Rogers and went up to him in the studio and pitched him a song he wrote. Richard also reveals the song he was told would never work but ended up becoming a huge hit and more! 

On this episode of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin brings on a Tennessee native in Emily Ann Roberts. Emily Ann was once a finalist on The Voice at just age 15, but quickly learned that was only the beginning of her journey. Kevin and Emily dive into her playing at the Opry 16 times, how her worst tour day became her best, her YouTube channel that she has with her husband, and so much more!  Socials:  IG & Twitter: Emilyann_Music Follow:@KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent artists and bands in Nashville. The purpose of this podcast is to highlight the journey and grind musicians go through trying to make it in the industry; the journey most fans don’t see leading up to national success. People move to music city from all over the country to chase something they have only dreamed of – making music and performing for a living. This podcast will dive into stories on the road, late nights and early mornings on the infamous Broadway, their background story, and if there is an ultimate goal for each artist or band. The artists featured on this podcast don’t have the backing of a label or sometimes even management, or a publishing team to handle their bookings, travel, etc.… But what they all have in common is a genuine passion for the love of music and performing. There is hidden talent spread throughout music city and the aim of this podcast is to give this hidden talent an opportunity to have a platform for an audience to hear their story, what the process is really like in the industry, and hopefully gain a new fan or two.  

Morgan Evans (@MorganEvansMusic) talks to Bobby Bones about the sudden success of his song "Over For You" and the impact it's made on his career and in his fans' lives. He also explains how after the first time he played it, it felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders, but it was a weird time in his life when it went viral. Morgan also talks about his love for jeeps, surfing and being outdoors, and shares the time he beat Dierks Bentley in pickleball. We'll also hear how he got his start as a pop artist in Australia, the transition to country music in America, and more about his new music on the way!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Another batch of Unsigned & Independent season 2 with Kevin O'Connell is back! This time with an artist who has made the transition from pop to country. Originally from Tennessee, Shaylen was once in a pop group as a teenager, even signed to Young Money Cash Money Records and moved to LA! Shaylen talks about making the transition from pop to country and how moving to Nashville last year has allowed her to fall in love with making music again and much more. 

John Sykes, the chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Co-Founder of MTV and VH1 and the current President of iHeartMedia Entertainment Enterprises, joined Bobby Bones to talk about his incredible career that has made a lasting impact on music on television. He explains the process of who gets voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the note he wrote Dolly Parton to convince her to accept her nomination. John also shares how he got his start as one of the founding people at MTV and how he later created VH1 and 'Behind The Music,' and Pop-Up videos! We treat this episode as if it were a Pop-Up Video episode with fun facts behind all of the artists John mentions! He also details the importance of knowing the story being the music, what his role at iHeart now entails and more! 

Legendary songwriter and lead singer of McBride and The Ride, Terry McBride (@TerryMcBrideMusic), talked to Bobby Bones about how he formed McBride and The Ride and shares the origin story of their name. Plus, he talks about how Brooks & Dunn have recorded over 25 songs he's written, and what it's like to be a songwriter in Nashville. Terry also recalls how his dad didn't want him to pursue music and shares the story about why his grandparents once called the cops on him. He also shares stories from when he toured with John Fogerty and Huey Lewis in the 80s and how trying to get George Strait to record a song he wrote landed him a record deal. Terry will also reveal why McBride and The Ride got back together and released new music for the first time in 20 years, and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

The lead singer of Counting Crows, Adam Duritz (@CountingCrows) talked to Bobby about how he discovered he was a good singer and started a band at 13 but didn't write his first song until he was a freshman in college. He shared how songwriting took over his life so much that it affected his schoolwork and when he was one credit away from graduating college and didn't care to get his degree. He also talked about the years he spent struggling to make it in music that led him to go to Europe and quit for a little while. Adam also recalled what inspired their song "Mr. Jones" and how after they performed it on SNL their careers blew up and he started to get mobbed at places. Adam is very passionate about music and shared how he got asked to create a song for the 'Shrek' movie called "Accidentally In Love," and why he was so excited to have a song in an animated movie, and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

At the 58th ACM Awards, people were introduced to the married duo, The War and Treaty, when they performed their song "Blank Page." Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter talk to Bobby about their unusual start in the music industry, their resilience as a couple working together and the turning point that changed everything for them. Michael, who served in the army, shared how he learned to play piano while in the military and how it inspired him to start writing songs for the fallen. The War and Treaty also reveals what their duo name stands for and gives an inside look to their incredible love story that led them to make their latest album, Lover's Game, and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Fresh off the heels of his first number one song, "Wild As Her," rising country star, Corey Kent (@CoreyKent), talks to Bobby about his winding road to success in the music industry. When the pandemic started and live music stopped, Corey started working at a pavement company to make money and support his wife and kids. During that time, he got sent a demo of a song Morgan Wallen wrote, which he recorded while still working at the paving company until it went viral. He shares his journey from moving to Nashville at 17, getting dropped from his publishing deal, moving back home in Texas to landing a record deal. Corey also recalls the time he ended up on stage with Willie Nelson when he was 16 and what Willie gave him. He also shares how much his life has changed in the last year, the process of making his new album, how he's preparing to go on tour with Jason Aldean this summer, and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Patrick Hicks (@PatrickHicks82) has become a TikTok star for his music storytelling videos where he shares stories on musicians' background, how they got their start, and fun facts about their life. He joins Bobby for a conversation about why he started making videos, how he knows a bunch of music info and how he gained a massive social media following.  He also discusses the challenges of working a normal 9-5 job and doing social media full time on the side. Patrick will also share his thoughts on the legalities of AI music creation and how he thinks it will affect music in the future. And he'll share what's next for him in his career!   Check out his Podcast: Good Measure with Patrick Hicks - HERE Follow on Instagram:@TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok:@TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode onYoutube

Shannon Ella and Kevin O'Connell give their initial reaction following Thursday night's 58th ACM Awards. From their initial thoughts, to running through every award and giving their biggest surprise, Shannon and Kevin cover it all immediately following the show! You can follow Shannon @ShannonElla_ & Kevin @kickoffkevin

Meghan Patrick (@MeghanPatrickMusic) is unapologetically herself in this conversation with Bobby. Meghan is a Canadian country music superstar, and the back-to-back winner of the Canadian Country Music Associations Female Artist of The Year. But finding her way in the American country music scene hasn't been easy. She talks about how she turned to music after she got into a serious snowboarding accident, and focused on it so much that she dropped out of college to pursue it as a career, which her parents weren't too pleased with. Meghan also shares how she and Mitchell Tenpenny met and what married life is like with them both on tour and away from each other. She also discusses her latest project, Greatest Show On Dirt, and how she was brutally honest with herself and her struggles while creating the songs for the EP.  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

In the final episode of the first batch of season 2, Kevin sits down with independent artist Royale Lynne. Royale is originally from Canada, and she and Kevin talk about the Visa she has to obtain in order to stay in Nashville! Plus, Royale talks about creating her own genre which she calls 'Punktry', playing as a Hannah Montana cover as a child, opening for Luke Combs this summer, and much more! 

Since his new album comes out next week, Bobby takes a look back at the first time he met Bailey Zimmerman. Just a few years ago, Bailey Zimmerman was working at the gas pipeline…fast forward to this year and he just signed his first record deal! Bailey talks to Bobby about how he never sang his entire life until one day at the opportunity at a basketball court then decided he wanted to drop everything  to pursue music! He started out in 2020 on TikTok just posting videos of his custom lifted trucks and then got attention from record labels and management after one of his songs went viral.  Bailey talks about how he’s had to learn everything in such a small amount of time, getting to play his first shows and how his biggest inspirations are rock star frontmen.  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

Jessie Jo Dillon (@JessieJoDillon) has penned songs recorded by some of the biggest names in today’s music, including Dan + Shay, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Cole Swindell & many more. She's had 21 cuts since January 2023, and 32 in the last 12 months. She talks to Bobby about how some people were mean to her because her father, Dean Dillon, was a famous songwriter, and how she wasn't taken seriously in the beginning. Jessie Jo Dillon also shares what it was like getting her first major cut recorded by George Strait, and now having some of country's biggest artists record her songs. She'll also explain why even though she was the 2019 winner of Songwriter of The Year, she doesn't like to perform at writers rounds and why she once ran away from the idea of becoming a songwriter. Jessie also shares what needs to go into a song to make it a hit and more!  Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on Youtube

On this week's episode of Unsigned & Independent, Kevin sits down with a familiar face around the Bobby Bones Show studio - Canaan Cox. Kevin and Canaan talk about the first time he ran into Bobby while working as a waiter, and why he's done with playing on Broadway. Plus, Canaan talks about his fitness journey of losing close to 100 pounds, why his love story sounds like a movie, and how all of that has led him to living his best life as an artist.  Twitter & IG: @Canaancox Follow:@KickOffKevin Podcast Description: Unsigned and Independent is a six episode season podcast hosted by Kevin O’Connell that features unsigned and independent artists and bands in Nashville. The purpose of this podcast is to highlight the journey and grind musicians go through trying to make it in the industry; the journey most fans don’t see leading up to national success. People move to music city from all over the country to chase something they have only dreamed of – making music and performing for a living. This podcast will dive into stories on the road, late nights and early mornings on the infamous Broadway, their background story, and if there is an ultimate goal for each artist or band. The artists featured on this podcast don’t have the backing of a label or sometimes even management, or a publishing team to handle their bookings, travel, etc.… But what they all have in common is a genuine passion for the love of music and performing. There is hidden talent spread throughout music city and the aim of this podcast is to give this hidden talent an opportunity to have a platform for an audience to hear their story, what the process is really like in the industry, and hopefully gain a new fan or two.