On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer

Even with 16 number one hits to his name, Hardy still feels like his career is just getting started. After his breakout album, The Mockingbird & the Crow, Hardy continues to light up the stage and the charts with his unique mix of metal and Mississippi country. Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhofer is joined by his good friend and amateur arrowhead archaeologist Michael, who country music fans call Hardy. Hardy opens up about why country fans love seeing metal music live, writing songs for other artists, and the need for songwriters to earn a living wage. Hardy and Troy detail how someone can go from having “goose eggs” in their bank account, to searching a major music producer’s backyard for arrowheads. Troy shines the spotlight on one of his favorite new artists, Baker Blankenship.

Justin Moore lasted just two weeks of college before dropping out. He left his tiny, 300-person hometown in Arkansas in search of a career in Music City. After a few years of hard work, he finally made it big by leaning on his modest roots, releasing the mega hit single, “Small Town USA.” Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhofer is thrilled to be joined by Justin Moore. Troy really gets Justin to open up as he reveals why the more personal a song is to him, the more likely it is to resonate with fans, and he tries to honor the legacy of his grandparents. Troy has a good laugh when Justin details his confrontation with Luke Bryan after recording, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” After touring for nearly two decades, Justin shares why he’ll never stop playing state fairs.

Having a hit-song writing uncle and a singer/songwriter older brother, Jordan Davis is living proof that some families have music in their DNA. With hits like “Singles You Up” and “Buy Dirt” and a new album out this summer, Jordan has country music running through his veins.This week, Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer sits down with Jordan Davis to discuss why being on the road can make someone a more efficient songwriter, and why the best way to write a new song is to talk to as many people as possible. Even though touring can be a grind, Jordan tells Troy why he treats every night like it’s the Super Bowl. With the ACMs just a week away, Troy has his eye on Ella Langley as she continues to make a name for herself in country music.

Growing up on his family’s cattle farm in rural Georgia, Gavin Adcock dreamt of becoming a professional bull rider. But the universe had other plans. After suffering a knee injury playing football in college, Gavin turned his attention to playing guitar and songwriting, and the rest, as they say, is history. In this episode of On the Bus, Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer sits down with rising country music star Gavin Adcock. Together, they talk about how Gavin got his big break, life on the road, and how he puts himself in the emotional headspace to write his hit songs. Plus, Troy shares a new single from Country Thunder Florida artist Blake Shelton in our Thunder Strike segment.

Many new artists these days get their big breaks on TikTok. But unlike many of those viral sensations, sister duo Tigirlily Gold had already proven their chops in the bar and club scene in Nashville before being discovered. In this episode of On the Bus, Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer talks with Kendra Olson and Krista Slaubaugh of Tigirlily Gold about their serendipitous discovery by songwriter/producer Shane McAnally, the female artists and duos they are inspired by, and how they balance their strengths and personalities working together as sisters. Plus, stick around for our new segment, Bring the Thunder, where Troy features upcoming artist John Morgan talking about his favorite song lyric, festival moment, and tour bus must-haves.

Not many artists actually hail from Tennessee, but the scenic valleys and rolling hills of The Volunteer State are part of Dustin Lynch’s DNA. In this episode of On the Bus, Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer sits down with Dustin to discuss his journey from playing fraternity parties and weddings across the southeast to being the first country artist with a club residency at the Wynn in Las Vegas. Plus, stick around for our new segment, Thunder Strike, where Troy features upcoming festival performer Riley Green’s hit song “Damn Good Day to Leave” to give you a taste of what’s to come at Country Thunder in 2025.

Growing up in Texas, Koe Wetzel dreamt of a career in the NFL. But after a college football injury, he realized he could get more women and free beer by putting his music hobby front and center instead. On this episode of On the Bus, Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer talks with Koe Wetzel about the plethora of music genres that influenced his style, and how he sees the blending of genres in modern music as a good thing. The two also discuss why he decided to sign with a big label, the influence of streaming and TikTok on emerging artists, and the value of playing live in front of an audience.

How do music artists make most of their money? From the smallest act playing dive bars, to the band that sells out stadiums and festivals, musicians earn the bulk of their living on events and tours. And behind every artist is an agent that books those gigs and helps them achieve meaningful financial success in their careers. For this special episode of On the Bus, Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer holds a roundtable panel with three industry veterans—Curt Motley, agent at United Talent Agency; Rod Essig, Vice President at Creative Artists Agency, and Nick Meinema, agent at Action Entertainment. These three have worked with some of music’s biggest acts—from Tim McGraw and Joan Jett, to the late-great Toby Keith. This intimate conversation explores how agents shape the careers of artists behind the scenes, as well as the pitfalls and pivots of putting together live shows, drawing on more than a few star-studded insider stories along the way.

Have you ever wondered about what it’s like touring as a musician on the festival circuit? Or maybe about who discovered them, and just how the heck they helped them make it big? From Country Thunder Music Festivals, we invite you, the fans, to ride shotgun on the tour bus with us to find out all this and a whole lot more. Join host Troy Vollhoffer, the founder and executive producer of Country Thunder, for On the Bus, a podcast that gives you backstage passes to sit down with today’s hottest and up-and-coming music artists and industry professionals. Join Troy as he explores the stories and inspirations behind your favorite songs, the trials and triumphs faced by the artists, and the dedication and grit it takes to succeed in this industry. Listen to On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer. Launching video episodes coming March 20.

Troy engages in a candid conversation with country sensation, Dierks Bentley. Join us as they delve into Dierks's remarkable decade-long journey to success in Nashville, his passion for hockey, and his experiences with Taylor Swift.

Reflecting on Jon Pardi's phenomenal year, we go back into the vault as Troy engages in a candid conversation with the country sensation. Together, they delve into Jon's upbringing, the pursuit of the Nashville dream, insights into his whiskey line, and what he calls the “worst hangover of his life".

Troy sits down with Parker McCollum to talk about his Texas-roots, love of George Strait, and writing songs in fast food drive-thrus.

In this episode, Troy is joined by the hottest artist in country music - Bailey Zimmerman! Get a rare backstage glimpse at how his life has changed since releasing his music online, and what you can expect from him when he comes to a Country Thunder Festival near you.

ACM, CMA, and GRAMMY winner Ashley McBryde sits down with Troy to chat about how she found her place in the music industry.

Season two of On The Bus at Country Thunder returns with legends, Williams & Ree. Troy sits down to chat with the comedy duo to unravel decades of history and laughter.