Circling The Drain

Karen Staley has spent decades on the inside of Nashville’s music business — as a songwriter, performer and background singer — and this week she joins Circling the Drain to tell the stories behind the songs.

Karen takes Johnny Bozeman, Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy back to her early days entering a talent contest at the legendary Wheeling Jamboree, her move to Nashville and the unlikely series of events that eventually put her on the road with Reba McEntire.

She also tells the story behind Tracy Byrd’s “The Keeper of the Stars,” its journey to becoming a number-one hit and ACM Song of the Year, and the unforgettable night George Strait told her he wished she had pitched the song to him.

Karen’s response — at least internally?

“Who do you think we wrote it for?”

We also get into her years around Faith Hill, the realities of being a songwriter versus an artist, how dramatically the economics of songwriting have changed, and why Karen is actually encouraged by some of the young writers and artists making country music today.

It’s funny, candid and packed with stories from an era of Nashville that produced some of country music’s most enduring songs.

Karen Staley on Circling the Drain.

Follow Johnny B:

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Circling The Drain is sponsored by:
www.crabtreebenefits.com
www.muletownbikes.com

Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

www.itsyourshow.co

Devon O’Day has been part of Nashville radio, music and entertainment for more than four decades — and she has the stories to prove it.

Devon joins Johnny Bozeman, Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy for a hilarious trip through the glory days of Nashville radio, including her years working with the legendary Gerry House and The House Foundation, what made that show work, and what it was like doing truly live morning radio before there was even a dump button.

She also tells the unlikely story of how “Tennessee Whiskey” songwriter Linda Hargrove helped launch her songwriting career, talks about moving to New York with her sister Faith Ford, and shares how a lifelong love of animals became a major part of her life.

Then the conversation gets more personal.

Devon talks about getting fired, betting on herself and launching Devin’s Farm, as well as sobriety, faith, family and what more than 40 years in Nashville have taught her about starting over.

Plus: Buc-ee’s, old Nashville, Cletus T. Judd, T. Graham Brown, Vin Diesel, bad accents and plenty of radio stories that probably couldn’t happen today.

It’s Nashville storytelling the way we remember it — funny, unpredictable and just a little dangerous.

Follow Johnny B:

https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

Follow Jay Harper:

https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff

Follow Jim:

www.jmvos.com

Circling The Drain is sponsored by:
www.crabtreebenefits.com
www.muletownbikes.com

Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

www.itsyourshow.co

Circling the Drain is sponsored by:
Crabtree Benefits - Running a business can be difficult enough. Handling employee benefits doesn't help make your day any easier. David Crabtree can come alongside you and essentially become your fractional Benefits Advisor. He answers your staff's questions and helps them with claims.

Go to www.crabtreebenefits.com to see have David can help you get some time back!

Muletown Bikes - At Muletown Bikes, we believe every bike has a story — and ours goes back over 50 years. Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, Tennessee, our shop carries on a rich tradition of serving local cyclists with passion, knowledge, and a commitment to community.

We are a certified Aventon Ebike dealer and repair shop. 

We service all makes and models — whether it’s your child’s first bike, a daily commuter, or a high-performance road machine.

www.muletownbikes.com

Radio used to be the dream. Now some veteran broadcasters are getting shown the door over Zoom — and one of us was recently offered $14 an hour to get back behind the mic.

Welcome to Episode 51 of Circling the Drain.

Johnny Bozeman, Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy take a look at the current state of radio, including the latest round of iHeart layoffs, longtime personalities suddenly finding themselves out of work, the slow disappearance of AM radio and a question nobody in radio used to want to answer:

How much does this business actually PAY anymore?

Plus, the guys look back at the radio they grew up listening to, how Nashville radio has changed, the strange ability broadcasters develop to instantly turn "it on" when the mic opens, and some absolutely unfiltered stories from their own days behind the board.

Including the night Johnny may have fallen asleep while playing Willie Nelson on the radio.

Oh...and Circling the Drain may not be called Circling the Drain much longer.

Apparently inviting an artist onto a show called "Circling the Drain" can occasionally be misunderstood.

Who knew?

Subscribe for more stories from the people who lived through radio, music and entertainment before it all goes down the disposal.

Follow Johnny B:

https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

Follow Jay Harper:

https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff

Follow Jim:

www.jmvos.com

Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

www.itsyourshow.co

Traditional country singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and Eagleville city councilman Craig Campbell sits down with the Circling the Drain crew to talk about his wild ride from small-town Georgia to Nashville stages and successful coffeehouse-venue brand Grindstone Cowboy.

Craig shares how playing piano in church led to Lower Broadway gigs, touring with Luke Bryan and Tracy Byrd, and eventually landing his first record deal that produced the hit Family Man. He gets honest about financial wake-up calls, label roller coasters, not being allowed to play on his own records, and why he’s now all-in on authenticity, entrepreneurship, and community.

The conversation dives into: 
– Growing up in Lyons/Vidalia, GA and finding music through church and gospel
 – Working as a correctional officer in a level 5 men’s prison before chasing his Nashville dream
 – Cutting his teeth as one of the few piano players on Lower Broadway and singing countless demos
 – The story behind Family Man, its music video, and how his family shaped his songwriting
 – How a misheard phrase became Grindstone Cowboy, and why COVID pushed him into the coffee/restaurant business
 – Trace Adkins helping pack the grand opening and literally working behind the bar
 – Serving on Eagleville city council and protecting the town’s growth while growing his own business
 – The rapid shift from albums to downloads to streaming, and now AI demos with tools like Suno
 – His concerns for musicians in the AI era, but also how broke songwriters can use tech to get ideas off the ground
 – New traditional-leaning artists he believes are the real deal, like Zach Top, Jake Worthington, and Ella Langley

If you love real-deal country stories, the hustle behind the music, and the collision of art, business, and technology, this episode is for you.

Timed Highlights / Chapters:

 01:33 Rain, racing, and an IndyCar weekend that turned into a three-day saga
 02:32 Introducing guest Craig Campbell: traditional country singer and entrepreneur
 03:10 Grindstone Cowboy origin: the name comes before the business
 03:24 Living in Eagleville and serving on city council
 03:56 Running for re-election and using Grindstone Cowboy to collect petition signatures
 04:10 How the phrase “Grindstone Cowboy” sparked a coffee shop vision
 04:21 COVID wipes out shows and forces a contingency plan
 04:21–05:16 Convincing his wife it wasn’t a terrible idea and buying the building in 2021
 05:16–06:26 Grand opening madness and Trace Adkins working behind the bar and kissing babies
 06:36–07:15 Trace showing up “full Trace Adkins” vs. overalls and cap on this podcast
 07:35 The viral “my wife shot me” Trace story that hit nearly 4 million views
 08:41 Growing up in Lyons/Vidalia, GA and playing piano in church
 08:53–10:07 From correctional officer to honky-tonk band leader and the move to Nashville in 2002
 10:15–11:30 Influences: early 90s country boom, Travis Tritt, and being “taught by the best”
 11:30–14:13 Lower Broadway grind, playing for Luke Bryan and Tracy Byrd, and finally getting noticed at The Stage
 14:13–15:16 Signing his first record deal in 2009 and releasing Family Man in 2010
 14:21–15:16 Family Man video: his daughters, wife almost being in it, and one big regret
 15:18 Kids, family life, and what really shaped his character
 15:20–17:16 Coming to Nashville at 23 to raise his game and avoid plateauing in South Georgia
 17:23–18:20 Being one of only a couple piano players on Lower Broadway and working 5–6 nights a week
 18:20–19:10 Negotiating his record deal around gig money and demo singing
 19:10–21:15 Demo singing, Keith Stegall, Lee Brice, and the song All Night to Get There
 21:15–22:23 Singing the demo for Randy Owen’s Braid My Hair and what hundreds of demos taught him
 21:25–22:23 True Value Country Showdown: getting the stage bug at 15 and winning local twice
 22:20–23:28 Nearly crossing paths with the hosts during the Country Showdown years
 23:41–25:31 Success of Family Man, Fish, and then the rude awakening of a single stalling at 38
 25:31–27:09 Big tax bills, label closures, and career roller coasters that humbled him
 27:15–28:48 Being even-keeled, the serenity prayer, and how his wife’s worrying balances him
 28:19–29:10 Aspiring to act and asking Trace Adkins to throw him small roles
 29:05–30:34 Dreaming of a Taylor Sheridan role in Yellowstone universe shows like Landman
 29:31–31:27 Growing up in a broken home, losing his biological father, and why it didn’t shape his music
 31:36–32:31 Stepdad as the real father figure and the inspiration behind Outskirts of Heaven lyrics
 32:31–33:15 Learning harmony in church by standing beside his mom and soaking up gospel
 33:38–35:00 Teaching himself piano, the old upright he still owns, and eventually plateauing
 35:00–36:18 Nashville musicians who can’t read standard notation but dominate the scene
 36:20–37:30 Formal vs self-taught: Elton John, Eddie Van Halen, and throwing away the rulebook
 37:30–39:11 Imposter syndrome, elite players in Nashville, and still feeling like you belong
 39:36–40:33 Getting vibed in studios by musicians and one guitarist he’ll never hire again
 40:33–43:12 Studio politics when big-name producers walk in and how attitudes suddenly shift
 43:24–45:32 Wounded guitar pickers, radio egos, and people who forget basic courtesy
 45:32–48:33 Tanning salons, cell phone stores, bad financial moves, and discovering Eagleville
 48:33–52:17 Buying and selling houses around the 2008 crash and landing in a farmhouse with acreage
 49:00–51:43 Non-music jobs: correctional officer, maintenance man, sprint phones, tanning, then full-time music
 49:19–50:26 Life inside men’s prisons, fights, and the cert team response
 52:25–53:12 The unicorn employee problem and realities of restaurant staffing
 53:17–54:01 Who actually thrives working at Grindstone Cowboy and why
 54:01–56:07 Pay, restaurant economics, and the constant balance of wages vs opportunity
 56:16–58:00 Shelbyville location, income realities, ticketed concerts, and selling out Pam Tillis
 56:26–56:41 New Grindstone Cowboy being built on 30A in Florida
 57:41–59:02 Pitching Eagleville as part of a day-trip route: Arrington, Grindstone, Nearest Green, Jack, Dickel
 58:31–59:45 Eagleville’s evolution from a dry town to margaritas at Las Fiestas
 59:45–1:01:32 Why he ran for city council and wanting a say in Eagleville’s growth
 1:01:32–1:03:16 The wild 10-year shift from albums to downloads to streaming to AI
 1:03:26–1:05:14 Suno, AI demos, who it helps, and how it might create “fake songwriters”
 1:05:14–1:07:10 Big DSPs creating AI music and placing it atop playlists, and why that scares him
 1:06:18–1:07:58 Live shows as the best defense against AI and the importance of human performance
 1:07:58–1:10:56 Concert prices, fewer kids seeing legends up close, and the future of live inspiration
 1:10:28–1:12:06 New traditional artists he loves: Zach Top, Jake Worthington, Ella Langley
 1:11:56–1:13:07 Favorite kinds of gigs: songwriter rounds, theaters, and cranking everything to 11
 1:12:06–1:12:36 Playing a 45-minute Ryman set opening for Alan Jackson for colorectal cancer charity
 1:13:07–1:14:00 Still releasing music, feeling his voice is better than ever, and keeping his foot on the gas
 1:13:56–1:15:32 Wrap-up, where to find Craig and ...

Circling the Drain welcomes brothers Jesse and Noah Bellamy to talk about their new album Sunshine Shop, the Bellamy family legacy, and why the best songs are “imperfectly perfect.” They dive into growing up on a Florida cattle ranch, watching their dad and uncle (the Bellamy Brothers) build a career, and carving out their own sound rooted in harmony, story songs, and live-band energy instead of over-gridded perfection.

The conversation hits everything from AI in music and the future of live performance to Nashville’s changing skyline, vinyl nostalgia, DIY video strategy, and surviving horse-drawn chaos on Broadway. Jesse and Noah also perform two songs live in-studio, showcasing the sibling blend and storytelling that set them apart.

Timed highlights

 [00:01:36] Introducing Jesse and Noah Bellamy and their new album Sunshine Shop
 [00:02:28] Growing up on a Florida cattle ranch and the real history of American cowboys
 [00:03:35] The Bellamy Brothers’ LA era, Let Your Love Flow and returning to Florida/Nashville
 [00:05:08] How the brother act formed and why only two of the five brothers play publicly
 [00:07:17] Instruments, overdubs and moving from one-man-band recordings to cutting live
 [00:08:10] Building a core band, recording Sunshine Shop live and working with Zach Kasik at Wildfeather
 [00:09:29] Knowing when a track is “right,” re-cutting I Told a Lie after playing it live
 [00:10:49] Recycling and reviving older songs, the idea of a future live album
 [00:11:26] Splitting lyrics and melody, trading demos and building a 50-song folder
 [00:11:44] Why one of the next tracks has to be a Christmas song, and the video/show domino effect
 [00:12:25] Getting into the Christmas spirit in 90-degree weather and George Strait studio stories
 [00:12:34] Writing from a young age to avoid cover songs and find their own style
 [00:13:40] Songwriting influence from their dad David Bellamy and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
 [00:14:39] Wordsmithing influences from Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Beatles, Paul Simon, Bob McDill and Don Williams
 [00:15:21] Too Dumb for New York City, Too Ugly for L.A. and working with Riders in the Sky on “This Old Cowboys”
 [00:16:21] Deep cowboy music history and why Riders in the Sky are the genre’s custodians
 [00:17:02] Bringing Tess Frizell in for a duet and the power of second-generation country artists
 [00:18:36] Handling comparisons to the Bellamy Brothers and why they want people to come hear their songs
 [00:20:09] The Bellamy last name: blessing, curse or both and the rarity of sibling duos today
 [00:21:36] The only duo that never broke up and joking about Florida Georgia Line
 [00:21:43] Brotherly disagreements, hypothetical fights and thrown instruments
 [00:22:49] Setting up to play in-studio and joking about royalty payments and homemade pickles
 [00:23:31] Live performance: “Line of Rose” (murder ballad… but not really)
 [00:27:10] Reacting to the performance: harmonies, picking and evolving arrangements
 [00:27:48] Re-cutting “Line of Rose” from bluegrass to rock for the new record
 [00:28:23] Traditional song inspiration from “Rain and Snow” and public domain bluegrass
 [00:29:10] “This can’t be happening” moments and Noah getting hit by a horse on Broadway
 [00:30:21] Runaway horse, detached carriage and chaos in downtown Nashville
 [00:30:36] Click tracks, playing to the grid and why they prefer live band feel
 [00:31:15] AI, Suno and fake artists that sound great but aren’t real
 [00:31:44] Why live shows and human feel matter even more in an AI era
 [00:32:04] Returning full-circle to imperfectly perfect records like Dave Clark Five
 [00:33:15] Balancing studio vs live, using the road as a laboratory for songs
 [00:34:49] DIY artist reality: limited budgets, choosing between radio campaigns and social media promotion
 [00:35:21] Is radio still important and how to split focus between radio, video and streaming
 [00:36:11] YouTube vs Spotify, AXS TV support and making iPhone-shot videos with Nita
 [00:37:21] Vinyl as a tactile experience, fans buying records as art and mementos
 [00:38:24] WMOT, WSM and pockets of Americana and country radio support
 [00:38:47] How much more complex promo is now than “just radio and TV”
 [00:39:20] Jesse’s Instagram and social strategy and bringing Nita in as a stealth content creator
 [00:40:22] Thoughts on social media snippets and giving away song samples on TikTok/Reels
 [00:41:02] Discovering Jesse and Noah at Deborah Evans Price’s guitar-pull parties
 [00:42:24] The magic of Deborah’s gatherings, gumbo, community and meeting their drummer there
 [00:43:51] Artists they listen to now, Megadeth “stealing” their video location and Charlie Rich
 [00:45:14] Digging deeper into gospel cuts of “Farther Along” for Deborah Allen’s gospel night
 [00:46:18] Franklin Theatre challenges and weeknight ticket realities
 [00:46:50] Hair products, beard care and “looks-maxxing” as a musician
 [00:47:46] Shooting photo sessions in your 40s and the cigar/beard spokesman jokes
 [00:48:49] Touring realities, regional routing and a potential Mexico trip
 [00:49:40] Favorite Nashville room: Brown’s Diner, burgers, old beer license and Derby bets
 [00:50:58] Soccer, non-sports musicians, marching band and early instrument stories
 [00:52:00] From saxophone to drums and finally making peace with being “a drummer, not a musician”
 [00:53:22] Motives for becoming a front person and old band war stories
 [00:55:00] Songwriter community on Music Row and mostly writing for themselves
 [00:55:35] TikTok, trolls and turning “beer, beer, truck, truck, dirt, dirt” into a hit idea
 [00:56:28] Why Nashville still works: community, collaboration and creativity
 [00:57:00] Austin as a sister city and how both scenes have changed
 [00:57:24] Losing historic studios like Sound Shop and the condo-ization of Music Row
 [00:58:53] Sunshine Shop cover concept and capturing a building before it disappears
 [00:59:42] Nashville skyline then vs now and the Ryman’s near-ruin era
 [01:00:02] Seeing metal and shock rock at the Ryman: Anthrax, Alice Cooper and Ted Nugent
 [01:01:10] Loudest shows ever and changing approaches to live sound
 [01:02:01] From wall-of-amps to silent stages and in-ears: feeling vs hearing
 [01:02:26] Alex Van Halen, ear damage and monitor levels creeping up over a tour
 [01:02:32] Dream venues: Tampa Theatre, Temple Theater in Portland and more
 [01:03:38] New venues: Harkin Hall (Madison) and The Truth (Wedgewood-Houston)
 [01:03:53] Live Nation, AEG, Ryman ownership changes and ticket economics
 [01:05:06] Wrapping up and defending Nashville’s creative vibe amid rapid growth
 [01:05:35] Sunshine Shop plug: why every home should have a copy
 [01:06:21] Setting up one more live song to play out the episode
 [01:06:40] Live performance: “I Told a Lie”
 [01:10:14] Everly Brothers vibes, closing thanks and final Sunshine Shop push
 [01:10:39] Where to find Circling the Drain: Facebook, YouTube, circlingthedrain.net and audio platforms
 [01:10:48] Where to find Jesse and Noah: website, socials and streaming services

 Jesse & Noah: jesseandnoah.com
 

Follow Johnny B:

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Nashville legend, attorney, former councilman and stand-up comic Adam Dred joins Johnny B and J. Harper from Nantucket to talk about everything from politics and scooters to sharks, data centers, cab laws and comedy wars.

Adam walks through his infamous “English-speaking cab drivers” bill, his near-fatal stroke and brain bleed, why he splits time between Nashville and Nantucket, and how he went from radio and stand-up to law and animal advocacy. He also dishes on Trace Adkins, Ralphie May, Steve Harvey, Joe Rogan, Bob Saget, bad Californians in Nashville, and why wind farms and data centers make him crazy.

If you love Nashville, comedy, behind-the-scenes radio stories and unfiltered political takes, this episode is packed.

Timed Highlights (for chapters/clips)

02:13 Life in Nantucket and buying manfromnantucket.com from Russians
03:27 Man From Nantucket merch and fundraising for animal charities
03:49 Bonnie Dred, the toilet-trained cat and viral TV coverage
04:19 Splitting life and law practice between Nantucket and Tennessee
05:09 “Hate months,” gossip season and Nashville heat
05:16 Asking if he can swear on the podcast and political correctness
06:15 Fourth of July “water fight” becomes “water game” and cultural wimpification
06:43 Growing up without helmets, seatbelts and safety culture
07:11 The satirical “prenuptial weight agreement” from law school
07:37 History with Trace Adkins and the “Giant Painters – Ladders Are For Fags” story
09:37 Getting fired for on-air drinking and Lightning 100 “music for angry lesbians”
11:18 How Adam fed the entire TV crew via ad deals and earned loyalty
12:25 Doing good deeds, karma and his Nantucket country radio show “Cohog Wild”
13:05 Declaration of Independence reading controversy and moving it to St. Paul’s
14:30 Making outdoor church services pet friendly and doubling attendance
15:39 From scooters to taxes: why Adam fought Nashville scooters and the economics
16:48 Property tax shock on Lower Broadway and Layla’s honky tonk
19:02 Historic entertainment zoning, Zanies, Douglas Corner and losing venues
19:44 Fighting Eighth Avenue bike lanes and Nashville’s climate reality
20:47 Why free buses beat bike lanes and how Nantucket does transit
21:10 Term limits, “community tithing” and what he did on Metro Council
22:21 Stroke story: blacking out, the crash and coding twice
24:21 Citywide prayer on the air and waking up telling jokes
25:13 Second brain bleed, Coumadin, misdiagnosis and changing genetic markers
28:08 Allergies changing, bee stings and new ticks that can make you allergic to meat
29:07 Great whites, bull sharks, tiger sharks and hammerheads vs humans
31:11 Overfishing, baby sharks at New Smyrna and blaming sport fishing
33:30 Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard culture and politics
34:26 Mr. Rogers on Nantucket and the Fred Rogers Award
34:58 Nantucket Clean Team and making kids care about trash
35:21 Nashville’s “ladders on the interstate” vs Nantucket’s paper bags
36:10 Wind farms, broken blades, beach closures and unseen environmental costs
38:30 Data centers by the zoo, water use, contamination and eminent domain problems
40:33 How Nashville bungled the data center permits and legal exposure
41:48 Megan Barry, mayors’ affairs and why Adam still defends her as a person
43:01 Losing children, grief and why some people get a lifelong “hall pass”
43:38 Missing old Nashville: Phasins, the Trace, Maud’s Courtyard and Hillsboro Village
45:15 “Bad Californians,” fake service dogs and a dog-bite lawsuit story
48:38 Payment plans for Bel Meade Californians and serving people by publication
48:50 Jim’s severe dander allergy and workplace pets putting him in the hospital
49:49 Emotional support animals vs real service dogs in law and travel
50:47 Chinese poison pet food case, Phil Valentine’s cat and suing for the owners
52:23 Remembering Bart Durham and what people don’t know about him
53:23 How contingency-fee firms really pick cases
56:16 Abortion question at a forum and Adam’s 16-year “abort your kid” joke
57:51 Musica statue complaints, “I posed for it” and renaming the Christmas tree
58:14 Holiday tree vs Christmas tree, menorah and being born Jewish in that fight
58:52 Circling the Drain as a brand and “circling and stirring”
59:32 When Adam is back in Nashville: Vandy tailgate, tents 1 and 2 and open bar
1:00:09 Pavia, Heisman, image problems and Pacman Jones comparisons
1:01:10 Cheetah 3 strip club in Atlanta and hosting the Battle of the Cheetah Girls
1:02:21 Ralphie May, the divorce, TMZ allegations and the stress that killed him
1:03:56 How Ralphie was treated, money issues and the banned ex-wife
1:04:42 Ralphie’s last phone call and the Vegas shooting
1:05:18 Getting into comedy at Vanderbilt, Rights of Spring and Henry Cho
1:06:10 First road work, a blown radiator and Steve Harvey saving his hand
1:07:06 Co-headlining with Dennis Leary and learning to follow dirty comics
1:07:51 Joe Rogan as his opener and Bob Saget’s filthy sets
1:08:54 Nantucket comedy festivals and his local Nantucket books
1:09:26 Island Cup: Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard, whaling roots and big kids
1:10:26 Tuna, sharks, Block Island and fall “shoulder season” on Nantucket
1:11:07 Restaurant Week, chamber duties and being “a man of leisure”
1:11:45 Faith, obligation to give back and leaving the world better
1:12:07 Johnny B calls Adam a hero and they tease live shows from Vandy and the boat
1:12:36 Adam’s legal plug: no-charge consults and 888-DUI-ADAM
1:13:04 Wrap-up, invitation to future episodes and Circling The Drain plugs

Follow Johnny B:

https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

Follow Jay Harper:

https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff

Follow Jim:

www.jmvos.com

Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

www.itsyourshow.co

On this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B,  Jay Harper and Jim McCarthy sit down with Tanya Montana and Shelli Coe, daughters of outlaw country legend David Allan Coe. They share what it was really like growing up on the road, clear the air about racist allegations and the infamous X‑rated albums, and explain the truth behind the estate, the will, and why the kids aren’t “silver spoon” heirs.

Tanya and Shelli talk about their own musical journeys, the Goodbye Girls Nashville shop, reconnecting with long‑lost siblings, and how their mom Jody quietly held the whole family together. This is one of the most honest, emotional, and human conversations you’ll hear about fame, family, and faith in country music.

Timed Highlights / Chapters:
 
 02:00 – Growing up as Coe kids and Tyler’s guitar chops on the road with Blackberry Smoke
 05:01 – Shelli’s Texas roots, Dripping Springs, Willie Nelson’s grandkids and writing songs from childhood
 06:25 – The family album, Heavenly Father, Holy Mother and 3‑year‑old Shelli on tape
 07:26 – Tanya’s childhood on the road, faxes with her dad and discovering songwriting
 09:57 – From accounting to artist: opening Goodbye Girls and being thrown on stage at GG Happy Hour
 12:10 – Todd Snider discovers Tanya at the shop and offers to record her for free
 13:20 – Silver Bullet: DIY iPhone video, political talk show bumper music and fan reactions
 15:06 – Why radio and “Billy Sherrill rules” don’t define modern independent artists
 16:07 – Billy Sherrill, David Allan Coe’s genre‑bending catalog and embracing creative risk
 17:10 – John Lennon comparisons, Hydro Emotion and the power of All Effed Up
 18:17 – Shelli’s song I Need My Name and writing out of love for her dad
 20:33 – Making a low‑budget but powerful video in a closed furniture/consignment store
 22:13 – Life as kids on the road: band members as protectors and the “Willie Nelson family” vibe
 23:59 – Growing up between strict Christian schools and a rough, all‑male tour bus world
 25:05 – How the band quietly protected the kids from danger and bad situations
 25:21 – The X‑rated albums, racist accusations and what the family actually believes
 27:33 – “I love black culture and music”: Tanya on reconciling her dad’s catalog with her values
 28:10 – Shelli: “The children of David Allan Coe are not racist” and why she’s never listened to those albums
 29:29 – Context for the X‑rated records, parody, Red Foxx, Mel Brooks and intent vs misuse
 30:14 – Never giving up: years of unanswered texts, trying to reconnect and the pain of estrangement
 33:26 – Going to the funeral scared, public viewing and being “breadcrumbed” through each event
 34:41 – Shelli’s impromptu eulogy and thanking the fans for loving their dad
 36:19 – David Allan Coe’s traumatic childhood and the side most fans never saw
 38:16 – Early 80s Nashville radio memories and meeting David at Spence Manor
 39:01 – Playing deep cuts on air: Compass Point, Spectrum 7 and late‑night spins
 40:39 – Shelli joins the road in the early 90s, first show in Austin and deciding to be a performer
 42:08 – Buses, vans, “carnival” convoys and how the big road show eventually went broke
 43:23 – Re‑configuring the bus so the kids could live on the road with their dad
 45:03 – Why the kids had relatively “normal” lives thanks to their mothers
 45:35 – Jody’s crucial role in the family, fan club and giving all the kids a home base
 46:26 – Welcoming a newly discovered brother, Josh, and his family into the fold
 47:35 – How the siblings are building a united family now, even without controlling the estate
 48:19 – Growing up in East Nashville, Goodbye Girls as a community and the “little shop that could”
 50:39 – Surviving 16+ years in retail, COVID, Lana Del Rey’s support and small‑business hustle
 52:09 – What Goodbye Girls actually sells: vintage western, stagewear, boots and boho fashion
 53:38 – Explaining East Nashville’s vibe and the meaning behind Goodbye Girls
 54:04 – Re‑releasing David’s “This Is David Allan Coe” book and why prices spiked after his death
 55:20 – What Tanny Montana Music really is and what Jody actually owns
 57:00 – Clearing up rumors: Tanya doesn’t get royalties from Stand By Your Man or other songs
 58:23 – “We’ve been excluded from everything”: reading the will and dealing with that heartbreak
 1:00:17 – The kids’ perspective on narrative wars, online attacks and trying to stay classy
 1:01:04 – First time publicly going this deep on the record about the will and estate
 1:01:33 – Shout‑out to Tyler Coe’s Cocaine & Rhinestones podcast and the siblings’ admiration
 1:02:30 – Where to find their music: Bandcamp, Facebook pages and respecting each sibling’s privacy
 1:03:58 – How they’re grieving together and keeping the family unit strong
 1:04:36 – Where to find Circling The Drain: Facebook, YouTube, iHeart, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn and merch

Socials / Links 
 Tanya’s shop:
 • Goodbye Girls Nashville – goodbyegirlsnashville.com

Music (Bandcamp):
 • Tanya Montana – “Silver Bullet” (vinyl) and “Hydro Emotion” (CD) available on Bandcamp
 • Shelli Coe – “A Girl Like Me” available on Bandcamp

Follow Johnny B:

https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

Follow Jay Harper:

https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff

Follow Jim:

www.jmvos.com

Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

www.itsyourshow.co

On this episode of Circling The Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim talk about how political division has seeped into every corner of entertainment and media. They trade stories from talk radio, debate Trump’s influence on patriot events, and unpack why fans are turning on artists who get too political from the stage.

The guys also reminisce about women who changed rock (Linda Ronstadt, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Amy Lee), underrated girl and boy bands, and classic film stars and directors. They hit on the Morgan Wallen and Jason Aldean controversies, the 250th celebration tied to Trump, CMA Fest politics, and how talk radio and cable news are burning people out. It’s part nostalgia, part media critique, and part “can we please just enjoy a show again?”

Includes:
 – Behind-the-scenes stories from talk radio and WTN
 – How politics hijacked July 4th and the 250th celebration
 – Country music’s culture war: Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, Beyoncé, CMA/ACM awards
 – Why conservative talk radio has become an echo chamber
 – Classic crushes and icons: Linda Ronstadt, Bridget Fonda, Cher, Marilyn Monroe
 – Film noir, Turner Classic Movies, and Spielberg’s new UFO film
 – Trace Adkins, Taylor Sheridan, and dream casting for Yellowstone-style shows

Timed Highlights:
 0:00 Lioness, Linus and dad-joke cold open
 0:45 Johnny B, Jay, and Jim check in and bust chops on age and birthdays
 2:50 Sharing birthdays with Tom Cruise, Andrew Garfield, Demi Lovato, Amy Adams, Scorsese, and Danny DeVito
 4:10 Jim’s last-minute save as a baseball PA announcer and learning the lingo on the fly
 7:50 Mercy rules, softball vs baseball pace, and why tournament ball can be brutal
 8:45 Rush’s new drummer on tour and pulling off Tom Sawyer live
 10:15 Blink-182’s drummer, plane crashes, DJ AM, and guilty-pleasure pop bands
 12:10 Boy bands, Backstreet Boys, The Bangles, Go-Go’s, and needing more women drummers and guitarists
 14:15 Linda Ronstadt, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Amy Lee, and greatest female rock vocalists
 15:59 Linda Ronstadt stories, studios in Nashville, and realizing you’ve been sitting next to a legend
 19:10 Aging icons: Linda Ronstadt, Cher turning 80, separating politics from performance
 21:14 Trump, De Niro, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp and when politics ruins the art
 22:38 Trump’s 250th celebration, Martina McBride and Bret Michaels backing out
 25:00 Can we have a non-political patriotic event anymore? Remembering the 1976 Bicentennial
 29:30 Covid money printing, tariffs, gas prices, and why voters always come back to their wallets
 31:00 Bruce Springsteen, the Black Crowes, and crowds telling artists to “shut up and play”
 32:10 CMA Fest, Justin Pearson, and bringing politicians on stage to rant
 32:58 Music Row’s political disconnect from the country audience
 33:37 Morgan Wallen being ignored by awards shows despite massive popularity
 33:58 Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” Columbia courthouse, and outrage over the video
 34:51 A billion streams, Congressional recognition, and producing the songwriter podcast
 35:58 10–15 years of politics dividing entertainment
 36:34 Steve Earle, protest songs, and when stage rants kill the vibe
 37:10 Dixie Chicks backlash, Natalie Maines, and radio phones melting down
 37:50 Playing Dixie Chicks on classic country formats and the name-change wars (Dixie Chicks, Lady A)
 38:33 College indoctrination, Jim Breuer’s bit, and “racist, sexist, gender” on repeat
 39:40 Campus politics then vs now, old-school professors who actually debated
 40:59 Talk radio turning into an echo chamber and worshipping Trump
 41:38 Jim getting heat on WTN for criticizing Trump’s spending
 42:21 Audience demanding red meat and nothing but politics
 44:16 Burnout from politics on air: filling in at WTN and being exhausted by the news cycle
 45:18 Fox News running nonstop in the background and how it shapes older viewers
 48:54 Family stories: visiting parents and in-laws who live on cable news and Trump
 49:53 Streaming instead of news: Turner Classic Movies, film noir, and great writing
 50:47 Classic Hollywood glamor, Bogart and Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, and missing wit in modern movies
 52:00 Marvel highs and lows after Endgame and Spielberg’s new disclosure/UFO movie
 53:23 Emily Blunt, Monty Python references, and “huge tracts of land”
 54:02 Whatever happened to Bridget Fonda and why she left Hollywood
 55:00 Privacy, health, car accidents, and what aging looks like in the spotlight
 57:17 Growing up a Fonda, Hollywood burnout, and punning about “Fond of Fondas”
 57:37 Sound drops, Kelsey Grammer’s legendary stage fall, and physical comedy clips
 58:15 Trace Adkins’ accident, almost losing a leg, and that unreal voice in headphones
 59:44 Deep-voice envy, timbre, and why Trace belongs in a Taylor Sheridan series
 1:00:36 IndyCar in Nashville, Alex Palou, short shorts, and being surrounded by race fans
 1:02:06 Hospital stories, heart issues, and future guest John with his Muscle Shoals lineage
 1:03:26 Why it’s fun but risky to wade into politics on a usually non-political show
 1:04:10 Nearing episode 50 and the idea of “drinking before vs after” each podcast
 1:05:21 Racing, upcoming events in Nashville, and guests missing the studio driveway
 1:08:24 Directions, flagpoles, and the perils of running a hidden hilltop studio
 1:09:21 Joking about fans “clogging the drain” and possible spin-off names
 1:10:00 Where to find Circling The Drain across platforms and video/audio

Follow Johnny B:

https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

Follow Jay Harper:

https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff

Follow Jim:

www.jmvos.com

Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

www.itsyourshow.co

Country icon Trace Adkins gets candid about buying his Tennessee farm, Nashville’s explosive growth, and why “perfect” modern records leave him cold. He shares wild stories with Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, and more, plus visions for a catfish joint called Hot Mamas.

Trace Adkins is back for part three, and this time he goes deep on life at the farm, Nashville’s real estate explosion, and why old-school, imperfect records still hit harder than today’s polished tracks. From Merle Haggard in boxer shorts with a joint over his ear to Waylon cussing the bugs onstage and Buck Owens’ brutally honest “low note” advice, Trace tells the kind of stories only a true country legend can.

He and the guys also riff on Nashville turning into a “clean New Orleans,” soccer vs. hockey, the changing studio scene, in-ear monitors vs. wedges, health food vs. fried catfish, and his dream of opening a catfish joint called “Hot Mamas.” If you love real country, road stories, and unfiltered opinions, this is your episode.

 1:01 How Trace found his dream 100‑acre farm (and paid more later for 30 acres)
 2:55 Nashville’s growth, California money, and $3M homes in former farm fields
 3:35 “Clean New Orleans” vibes: Broadway, CMA week, and 250 people a day moving in
 5:19 Murfreesboro, Franklin, Gallatin: when the outer ring gets just as crowded
 6:07 Getting outside 840 to keep “country living” alive
 7:26 Little League moms, grocery store encounters, and a fan story gone sideways
 8:18 Why Trace hates soccer and loves hockey fights
 10:37 Being a Titans fan, the Music City Miracle, and growing up with the Saints
 12:20 Nashville before the Titans and Predators: massage parlors, Printer’s Alley, and a ghost town downtown
 17:07 What happens to Music Row studios when AI and home recording take over?
 18:39 “Too perfect” records vs. real, messy, live music
 19:46 Cutting with Asleep at the Wheel high and out of tune – and why that’s exactly what Trace wanted
 20:22 Loving rough live albums and records with mistakes and feel
 21:54 Old records recorded by eye and cue, not click tracks and grids
 22:33 Trace refuses to sing to a click in the studio
 23:00 One in‑ear, loud wedges, and missing the days of club monitors ripping his face off
 25:08 Country legends: Merle Haggard in boxers, Waylon fighting bugs, and Hall of Fame grudges
 29:41 Buck Owens puts Trace through his paces and gives him brutal “low note” advice
 33:05 Grand Ole Opry memories and realizing he’s now one of the “old guys” backstage
 36:09 Married to a fitness model: salmon, rice, salads… and disastrous squash brownies
 38:02 “I pay for premium health insurance so I can eat what I want”
 39:30 Bougie Nashville: Sperry’s, Perry’s, Bourbon Steak, truffle and duck‑fat fries
 40:46 Organic fast food and shameless restaurant plugs
 41:38 Trace’s dream restaurant: a catfish joint called “Hot Mamas” with flirtatious 50‑something waitresses
 43:28 Victoria’s “guilt‑free” menu concept and why Trace’s buddies won’t eat there
 44:20 Real pizza talk: New York‑style favorites and local spots
 45:22 Mafia‑vibe Italian joints, Godfather radio bits, and ticking off the real bosses
 46:37 Wrapping up: three hours with Trace, veterans work, 30th anniversary tour, and where to find Circling the Drain

Follow Johnny B:

https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

Follow Jay Harper:

https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff

Follow Jim:

www.jmvos.com

Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

www.itsyourshow.co

In Part 2 of our deep-dive with country icon Trace Adkins, we get the stories behind his most emotional and controversial songs, from “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” to “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Arlington.” Trace shares powerful memories from Arlington National Cemetery, his candid take on Donald Trump, and the radio days with Phil Valentine that almost got people fired.

We also dig into his acting career, how he met his wife on a movie set, the wild origin of his dog “Gary Busey,” and why he believes live shows are now the only truly “real” part of the music business.

0:43 – If Trace had to be in a tribute band forever, who would he choose? 

1:36 – Waylon Jennings’ “Honky Tonk Heroes” and how it inspired Trace’s “Dangerous Man” album cover  

3:25 – The grind of album photo shoots and making a real, gritty cover shot  

4:12 – The Phil Valentine show, stepdad life, and getting sick of “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”  

5:44 – Why “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” is cleverly written, not just a novelty hit  

6:42 – How the song became the most-played country song in strip club history  

7:44 – The backroom label deals behind certain cuts and how “You’re Gonna Miss This” started as a wedding song  

9:00 – “I thought it was too sappy” – Trace misjudges a song that becomes a massive number one  

10:26 – Ashley Gorley’s hit-making juggernaut and why everyone wants one of his songs  

11:04 – Writing “American Made” for the country’s 250th anniversary  

11:38 – “Arlington” and “An Empty Chair” – songs that choke him up on stage  

12:04 – Performing “Arlington” at Arlington National Cemetery and barely getting through it  

12:43 – Why Trace only does “Arlington” for the right audiences (and never for drunks or festivals)  

14:04 – The true story behind “Arlington” and Lance Corporal Patrick Nixon  

16:26 – Playing “Arlington” on air, Phil Valentine’s reaction, and the emotional weight of the song  

17:04 – Remembering Phil Valentine: sparring on-air, sharp wit, and real friendship  

18:34 – A hilarious voicemail from Trace and joking about “your little radio show”  

19:22 – Rodeo memories, FCC close calls, and the infamous “hot and juicy” weather report  

21:18 – Live radio chaos: open mics, cussing and thinking they’d be fired  

22:16 – Trace’s new production company “Fifth Rodeo” and its cowboy-with-a-fifth-of-whiskey logo  

23:14 – Why Trace doesn’t want the pressure of doing a podcast  

24:07 – From tractors to Lululemon and voiceovers: “degradation” of the conversation  

24:19 – “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown,” real cowboys and concern for the horses  

25:25 – Why some ranch work still has to be done on horseback  

26:08 – Trace’s Christmas show: Celtic vibes, stories behind songs and gospel roots  

27:32 – Feeling good about the Christmas show vs. “I’m sorry, Lord” after “Badonkadonk”  

28:08 – Is memorizing dialog hard? How years on stage made acting easier  

28:58 – Directors who demand word-for-word delivery vs. those who allow improvisation  

29:46 – Meeting his wife on the set of “The Virginian” in Vancouver  

30:21 – How his wife writes, acts and why their dog is named Gary Busey  

31:50 – The Christmas parade, a weird looking puppy and the Gary Busey hair and teeth  

32:05 – Writing a song for the 250th and the Freedom 250 concert controversy  

32:48 – PBS Fourth of July, Trump’s event, and shifting TV schedules  

34:02 – The best Trump impressions Trace has heard and how Trump exaggerated his own persona  

35:43 – Riding in Trump’s limo and getting asked: “Are you reasonably faithful to your wife?”  

36:55 – Trump Jr. explains his job: “I follow him around and put fires out”  

37:42 – Wanting to be Ambassador to Australia or the “Office of Hell No”  

38:00 – How Trace judges Trump: “He’s a rich old asshole, not evil”  

39:11 – New York real estate, DC politics, and why Trump didn’t need to run  

40:00 – Meeting Trump on the plane: funny, warm, and totally different from the public caricature  

40:31 – Touring Trump’s penthouse and offices: proud of what he’s built  

41:04 – Negotiating through hyperbole: Greenland, Canada, and “shooting for the moon”  

42:23 – Dave Chappelle’s take on Trump’s debate moment about tax loopholes  

43:07 – Rand Paul vs. Trump on stage and how one debate moment flipped opinions  

43:54 – Label history: Capitol, Show Dog, Broken Bow, Verge, and coming back “home” to MCA  

45:22 – Why this next MCA album might be Trace’s last  

45:32 – New artists he likes (Ella Langley) and why she “has every tool”  

46:12 – Betting whether Ella Langley will stay country or go pop  

46:42 – Not knowing many of today’s artists and thinking “Shaboozy” was a whiskey brand  

47:32 – Loving traditional country and hopes for a pendulum swing (Zach Topp)  

47:57 – Advice for new artists in the AI era and why live shows are the last “real” thing  

48:54 – Getting fooled by an AI demo and how hard it is to tell what’s real  

49:14 – Why you should never spend your own money if people truly believe in you  

50:12 – Writing his book with twin collaborators and building the “roller coaster” story  

52:33 – Immigration, politics and realizing parts of the book were prophetic  

52:53 – Feeling uneasy before release and calling Charlie Daniels for advice  

53:55 – Charlie Daniels’ wisdom: “People who don’t like you now aren’t going to read your book”  

54:20 – Singing at Charlie Daniels’ funeral and what Charlie meant to him  

54:51 – Why he probably didn’t sell enough books to worry in the first place  

55:09 – Why there’s no audiobook yet and how a Trace-voiced edition could revive it  

56:00 – Ideas for updating the book with new chapters and addendums  

56:17 – Tease: Trace Adkins Part 3 is coming to Circling the Drain  

Follow Johnny B:

https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman

Follow Jay Harper:

https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff

Follow Jim:

www.jmvos.com

Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co

www.itsyourshow.co