Digest

This podcast features an in-depth interview with country music duo Brooks & Dunn, covering their journey to fame, their experiences navigating the music industry, and their thoughts on the current state of country music. The conversation begins with a discussion of their solo careers, hit songs, and upcoming album "Reboot 2." They delve into their formation, early struggles, and the unexpected success of their first few songs. The duo shares their perspectives on the challenges of fame, the role of luck in the music industry, and the experience of aging as musicians. They also share humorous anecdotes about encounters with celebrities, including Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and Rick Flair. The conversation explores the impact of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash on their early career, the challenges of staying clean in the music industry, and the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship as a duo. The podcast concludes with a discussion about their legacy, their new album "Reboot 2," and their thoughts on the current state of country music.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction, DoorDash Ad, and Brooks & Dunn Interview

The podcast begins with a brief introduction and then transitions into an advertisement for DoorDash, highlighting the benefits of their Dash Pass annual plan, which includes Max streaming service at no extra cost. The host then introduces Brooks & Dunn, iconic country music duo, and discusses their solo careers, hit songs, and upcoming album "Reboot 2."

00:01:34

Brooks & Dunn's Journey to Fame

The conversation delves into the duo's formation, their initial struggles, and the unexpected success of their first few songs. They discuss the pressure of being a duo and how they navigated the early days of their career.

00:02:49

Fame, Control, and Aging in the Music Industry

The conversation explores the challenges of fame, the role of luck in the music industry, and the experience of aging as musicians. Brooks & Dunn share their perspectives on navigating these aspects of their careers.

00:34:53

Funny Encounters with Celebrities

The conversation shifts to humorous anecdotes about encounters with celebrities, including Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and Rick Flair. Brooks & Dunn share their unique experiences with these iconic figures.

00:38:24

Johnny Cash's Influence and Support

The conversation focuses on the impact of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash on Brooks & Dunn's early career. They share a memorable story about spending time with Johnny Cash at his home and the advice he gave them.

00:47:55

Staying Clean and Maintaining a Healthy Relationship

The conversation explores the challenges of staying clean in the music industry and the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship as a duo. Brooks & Dunn discuss their personal experiences and how they've navigated these aspects of their careers.

00:50:44

Brooks & Dunn's Legacy and New Album

The conversation concludes with a discussion about Brooks & Dunn's legacy, their new album "Reboot 2," and their thoughts on the current state of country music.

00:55:51

Louisiana Living and Unique Experiences

The conversation starts with a discussion about Covington, Louisiana, and the prevalence of welders in the area. They then discuss a recent incident where someone stole an arm from a recycling plant, highlighting the unique challenges of living in Louisiana. They shift to Shreeport, Louisiana, where the tallest building was recently imploded, discussing the building's history and the city's unique energy. The conversation turns to an article about the least desirable states to live in, with Louisiana ranking number one, discussing the reasons behind this ranking and the unique aspects of Louisiana culture that might contribute to it.

00:59:38

Duck Hunting in the Louisiana Marsh

The conversation focuses on duck hunting in the Louisiana marsh, with the speakers discussing the different types of ducks found there and the unique experience of hunting in such a natural environment.

01:02:54

Food Preferences and Cultural Differences

The conversation delves into a humorous debate about the taste of turkey and owl meat. The speakers share their experiences with eating owl and discuss the cultural differences in food preferences.

01:04:19

Humorous News and Creative Marketing Ideas

The conversation takes a humorous turn as they discuss a photo of a Russian owl and then transition to a recent news article about Vladimir Putin urging citizens to have sex during work breaks to address Russia's low birth rate. The conversation shifts to a discussion about a Pizza Hut campaign where they put resumes on pizza boxes to help people find jobs. They then brainstorm other creative marketing ideas, such as putting logos on Amazon boxes.

01:08:00

The Reboot of a Band and the Importance of a Good Manager

The conversation focuses on the band's decision to reboot and release new music. They discuss the role of their manager in encouraging this decision and the importance of having a good manager who can guide their career.

01:11:51

Working with Artists and Learning from Professionals

The conversation shifts to the band's experience working with other artists on their new album. They discuss the creative freedom given to the artists and share a story about learning from Robin Williams' professionalism during a tour in Afghanistan.

01:14:38

Comedians and the Dark Side of Humor

The conversation explores the darker side of humor, particularly in the world of comedy. They discuss how some comedians use humor to cope with difficult experiences and the high rates of suicide among comedians.

01:15:25

Greyhound Bus Tales and Southern Comedians

The conversation takes a humorous turn as they share stories about their experiences riding Greyhound buses, including encounters with inmates, missing people, and a French woman who needed to be rescued from the bus station. The conversation focuses on Southern comedians, specifically Brother Dave Gardner. They discuss his unique style of humor, which was often dark and inappropriate, and his influence on the comedy scene.

01:18:06

Meeting Merle Haggard and Finding New Passions

The conversation shifts to the band's experience meeting Merle Haggard and the impact he had on their careers. They discuss his influence on their music and the honor of performing with him on tour. The conversation focuses on the band's decision to take a break from touring and the importance of finding new passions outside of music. They discuss their personal pursuits, such as vineyards, writing, and acting.

01:21:54

Ronnie's Passions and the Mile City Bucking Horse Sale

The conversation shifts to Ronnie's passion for photography and rodeo. He discusses his experience working with a Sports Illustrated photographer and his love for the rodeo, including his experience at the Angola prison rodeo. The conversation focuses on the Mile City Bucking Horse Sale in Montana, where breeders bring their horses to be auctioned off. They discuss the unique aspects of the sale, including the horse semen business and the breeding process.

01:28:04

The Band's Global Reach and Conclusion

The conversation concludes with a discussion about the band's global reach and their experience playing in Asia. They discuss their experience with a record company campaign to promote their music in different countries and the impact their music has had on people around the world.

Keywords

Q&A

• How did Brooks & Dunn come together as a duo?

  Brooks & Dunn's formation was a classic story of serendipity. A mutual friend, Tim Dubois, suggested they might make a good pair, and they ended up writing a song together on their first meeting.

• What were some of the challenges Brooks & Dunn faced in the early days of their career?

  Brooks & Dunn faced the typical challenges of starting a music career, including financial struggles, long hours, and the pressure of finding success. They also had to navigate the unique dynamics of being a duo.

• How did Brooks & Dunn's relationship evolve over the years?

  Brooks & Dunn have maintained a strong and respectful relationship throughout their career. They've learned to appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses, and they've always been able to work through any disagreements.

• What advice would Brooks & Dunn give to aspiring musicians?

  Brooks & Dunn emphasize the importance of hard work, perseverance, and a love for music. They also advise aspiring musicians to be prepared for the challenges and uncertainties of the industry.

• What are Brooks & Dunn's thoughts on the current state of country music?

  Brooks & Dunn are optimistic about the future of country music. They believe that the genre is constantly evolving and that there's always room for new artists and sounds.

• What are some of the unique challenges of living in Louisiana?

  The conversation highlights the prevalence of welders in Covington, Louisiana, and the recent incident of an arm being stolen from a recycling plant, suggesting that crime and unusual events are part of the unique challenges of living in Louisiana.

• What is the significance of the tallest building in Shreeport being imploded?

  The implosion of the tallest building in Shreeport signifies a change in the city's landscape and potentially a shift in its economic or social dynamics. The speakers discuss the building's history and the city's unique energy, suggesting that the implosion is a significant event for the community.

• Why does Louisiana rank as the least desirable state to live in?

  The conversation suggests that Louisiana's ranking as the least desirable state to live in is based on a combination of factors, including its unique culture, its high crime rates, and its susceptibility to natural disasters. The speakers discuss the reasons behind this ranking and the unique aspects of Louisiana culture that might contribute to it.

• What is the experience of duck hunting in the Louisiana marsh like?

  Duck hunting in the Louisiana marsh is described as a unique and magical experience, with the speakers highlighting the diverse types of ducks found there and the natural beauty of the environment. They also discuss the challenges of hunting in such a wild and unpredictable environment.

Show Notes