John Rich – Calling Out P. Diddy, TVA Scandal, and Joel Osteen | SRS #232

[Music]. John Rich, welcome to the show. >> Thanks for the invite, man. We have been. in the same room at the same time many. times and never connected. >> I I know, man. I've been looking forward. to this whole time. >> Well, every time I see you, you're. talking to somebody. I don't want to. interrupt you. >> So are you. You're always surrounded. >> But man, we got so much to talk about. But I I want to do a life story on you.

And then I've been I really started. paying attention to you probably around. 2020 and I was like, "Oh man, I really. like what this guy's saying.". >> What got your attention in 2020? >> I don't remember exactly what it was. And I don't remember the exact time. frame, but I just remember you, you. know, you started speaking out about a. lot of the stuff that's going on. And I. just I just have a ton of respect for. any celebrity type, whether that's. Hollywood, music industry, sports, whatever. There's just not that many.

people that go against the grain. And. and you are a man that I think I don't. think I know you stand by your values. and beliefs and you do not waver on that. for what appears to be anything. when I. watch so many other people in the. industry, you know, they just they just. they go with the grain. They don't care. about their values and beliefs and, you. know, for lack of a better term, they. seem to sell their soul, >> you know, and um and you are the exact.

opposite of that. So, I appreciate it. and I know I know a lot of people. appreciate you stepping up. >> That's very kind. I appreciate you. saying that. >> My pleasure. you know, saying uh being. whether whether it's with your music or. an interview or social media or. whatever, saying something that you know is going. to upset your handlers, but you say it. anyway. Will it affect your bank account? Yes,

it will. It affect your opportunities? Yes. You know what else it affects? Good. sleep. It affects your sleep. you sleep. better at night or at least I do knowing. that it somebody with a checkbook. wasn't able to keep me from saying I. didn't look at that as leverage on me to. keep me from saying what I needed to say. cuz I'm an American by God. That's what. I am. And I'm allowed to talk if I want. to. And you're allowed to not pay me if.

you want to, by the way. You're allowed. to take things away from me. But if I'm. willing to give that up, let's go. And. what kind of sacrifice is that compared. to what people have given up for this. country since day one? It's nothing. >> Yeah. >> I like good sleep. And I like to set an. example for my two sons who are. teenagers now that when you get out in. this world, you don't back up. If you. know it's the truth and you know that's. what the boss wants you to do, you do. it. Doesn't matter what they take away. from you. Don't even give it a second.

thought. So, I look at it from all those. various angles and that gives me the. confidence and the. soul fire to go out there and and make. those statements and say what needs to. be said. >> I love that, man. How how fast did you. start seeing that affect your your. business? So it was prior to 2020 when when I came. on your radar. It was in the 201s. probably 20. 10 around in that range when when Obama.

became president. You saw music row a. lot of the a lot of the original guys. that were running those labels from back. in the day which were actually country. music fans and they were mostly all. patriotic guys and really talented and. they were country music to the core. They started replacing those people with. people from LA, people from New York. They would bring in, you know, a New York guy to replace the. Nashville guy at, for instance, RCA.

Records or something. And then when the. new guy comes in, he would start. changing the culture of that label, which bled all the way down into the. artists. And it bled all the way down in. the publicity departments and what kind. of songs you were allowed to cut and not. cut, what interviews you were allowed to. do, who you were allowed to interview. with. >> Holy [ __ ]. >> I started getting in trouble with the. label because I was doing interviews. with Sean Hannity. Like I'd go on Fox. News and Shawn would want me to come on. and talk about the Tea Party, for.

instance. I actually went down and. played with Sean. I played a song at the. first big Tea Party rally in Georgia. those 20 30,000 people and my record. label went absolutely insane that I did. that. You're gonna upset half the half. your audience and of course they've got. their money invested in you to go sell. records to everybody and from their. perspective. I'm alienating people. I. said, "Well, you've got liberal artists. that are out here saying all kinds of. stuff that I don't like. You're not. worried about them." They go they go, "That's not the point." It was the.

point. And so I realized, >> what do you mean that's not the point? >> They would that's what they would say. I. guess what they mean by that's not the. point is we own you. We own your voice, your likeness, your music, and if we say. we don't want you to do it, that's the. point. It's like do as I say, not as I. do. It's like when you ask your parents, well, why can't I do that? And they said. because I said so. That's how they treat you. So, it's like. a indentured servitude type of.

existence. So when it started stepping. in on what they were telling me I was. allowed to say and not say and what kind. of lyrics I was allowed to put on a. record. That's when I realized, okay, we're turning a corner here that I'm not. okay with. But then at the same time, listen, I grew up my whole life wanting. to be on country radio, play the Grand. Old Opry, write hit songs, country. music, man. That's that's what I wanted. to do. It's my American dream. And my.

vehicle to do that is this big record. label. So if I lose that, do I lose the American dream by losing. that? And that's what artists are. looking at. You wonder about the ones. that don't say anything. That's that's literally what they're. looking at. So you really only see the. bigger established artists that are too. big to cancel, too big for the they make. too much money for the record label, for. the label to drop them. Jason Aldine's a. great example. I remember when they attacked his wife.

on Instagram. They, the woke mob, attacked his wife. And I remember him. texting me going, "Basically, you see. what they're doing to my wife?" "Yeah, what do you think I ought to do?". Something along those lines. I said, "What would you do to anybody else that. attacked your wife?". He goes, "Let you know music ain't going to like. that." And I said, "I'm telling you, man, if you come out swinging, you're. selling 30,000 tickets today. You'll be. selling 60,000 tickets this time next.

year cuz the Patriot crowd will come to. your back." And to his credit, man, he. came out and just put his Dukes up and. here he comes swinging and you saw the. fallout, right? Everybody freaking out. about Jason Aldine and he's hanging out. with Trump or he put out this song, try. that in a small town and all these all. these kinds of things. And he is doing. stadium shows now because people. appreciate authenticity in this country. America, be an American. >> Yeah.

>> And if you want to be a lefty American, be a lefty American. Okay. I mean, I. have more respect for hardcore lefties. that'll unapologetically come out and. say the most insane, in my mind, the. most insane things I've ever heard. But. at least they're convicted enough to go. say it. >> Yeah. So, we need those people on the. other side with enough conviction to. counteract that. There just ain't a. whole bunch of us. >> Have you I mean, have you seen anybody. else that starts to make the switch? >> I mean, you saw Carrie Underwood, all. she did was show up and sing America the.

Beautiful at the inauguration. >> She crushed that. >> Of course she did. >> I don't know what was going on. >> with no music. Remember the music got. messed up. >> Yep. I remember. >> They're like, "Where's the track? We. can't get it to play." And Carrie just. goes, "I'll sing it ac cappella." Yeah. because she's a freak of nature talent. She doesn't need any help. That's a real. That's a real artist. And so she sings. it. But then what happens the next day? Everybody in pop culture attacking. Carrie Underwood that that she's, you. know, singing for a fascist or whatever.

they said. And. that's what happens. So you have to be. prepared for that. If you even dip your. pinky toe into that, they're going to. come at you, >> man. >> So that's what artists are looking at if. you're wondering. Damn. >> Why some of them don't say anything? >> It's sad. It's sad to see it, but we'll. dive into this a little bit more later. Everybody starts off with a introduction. here. So, >> all right. I know. I watch your show all. the time. Can't wait to hear it. >> Right on. John Rich,

son of a Baptist preacher. Your faith. inspires your music, including your. recent hit single Revelation. multi-platinum country music singer, songwriter, best known as one half of. the iconic duo Big and Rich. former. basist and co-lead vocalist for the band. Lonear, where he contributed their early. success in the 1990s. Successful solo. artist with albums like Son of a. Preacher Band. entrepreneur who founded.

the redneck Riviera brand, including a. popular whiskey line and bar in. Nashville and in Las Vegas. Hosted the. CMT reality show Gone Country and. appeared on programs like the Celebrity. Apprentice. Co-founded Old Glory Bank, a. financial institution focused on serving. conservative values and protecting. against debanking. Supporter of veterans. and first responders, and a vocal. advocate for American freedoms. You're a. husband, father of two boys, and most.

importantly, a Christian. >> That's pretty good. I'll take it. >> Right on, man. So, John, I figured uh. I'd love to pray with you. >> Okay. >> You want to lead it? >> Well, it's your house. >> All right, let's do it. >> Jesus, we just want we just want to we. just want this story. You know, John. came from nothing in childhood and and. my purpose of this interview is just to.

show that the American dream is still. alive and well and to bring hope to all. kinds of people, not just in this. country, but throughout the world to. know that there's there's always a way. out of poverty and there are no. limitations. And I just so much just. want to thank you for for bringing me. and John together today. And I just hope. this turns into a flourishing friendship. in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen.

>> Ain't starting better than that. >> That's right. That's right. Everybody. gets a gift. >> Check in with the boss. >> You got any guesses? >> Everybody does get a gift. Yes. Well, I. brought you a gift. >> I love gifts. >> So, it's like like you could add. anything else, but it's not big. It's. small. But the only other person I've. given this to is the Secretary of. Defense Pete Hegth. And I figured he had. probably been given everything. He had. never been given this. And his eyes. widened up and he goes, "This is going.

in my office in a very particular spot.". So I ran across a couple of these. a while back. Saved them. They've been. in my safe for specific people that I. know love our country as much as I do. and have sacrificed for the country. So, what this is, this is an original worn World War I. victory mill. >> No way. >> You've probably seen pictures of these. I doubt you have one.

>> I do not. >> So, oh, that's all right. You ain't. going to hurt it. That thing's been all. over the world. So, what's interesting. on that coin is when you flip it over, you'll see all the countries that were. our allies during that war. And notice. they didn't call it World War I, cuz how. could there be World War I if you hadn't. had World War II yet? Interesting thought. So, they So, if you. read what it says, it'll it'll tell you. what they called that war. And our. allies were China, Japan, Russia, all. these countries, which I got me to.

reading like, wow, I never even. considered that. But that one says. France. So that means that was worn by a. US soldier that had fought in France. >> Man, the Great War for Civilization. >> The Great War for Civilization. So. that's aboutund and. 100 plus, >> man. China. >> Yeah. >> Back when China was an ally. >> Back when China was an ally. >> Yeah, >> man. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> This is getting framed.

>> I figured you'd have a good spot for. that. It's getting framed and it'll be. hanging in here. >> I love stuff like that that's so ancient. and over a century old to know that some. man had that on his chest. Some man was. in France killing Nazis, actual Nazis. And uh he was part of us winning that. war. And like I said, you have one and. Pete Hexth has one. So, >> thank you, John. >> Yes, sir. >> That means. >> happy to give it to you. >> That's awesome. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. Well, man, you've outdone me.

>> Vigilance League gummy bears. >> Oh, awesome. >> Made in the USA, made up in Michigan. No funny business. Legal in all 50. states. You're not going to feel weird. We actually had a guy email in. It's. like, I've I've gone through three bags. of these. I still don't. >> still don't feel anything. It's like, it's just fan. It's just candy, buddy. You'll feel it in the morning. I. appreciate that. >> But. >> can I let my kids eat it? >> Oh, yeah. We'll give you a bunch more.

>> All right, cool. >> We'll give you a bunch more. >> Thank you. I love that bag. >> It's got all the bad [ __ ] in there. Sugar, red dye, you know, all the stuff. everybody hates, but. >> So, you haven't given one to RFK yet, I. guess. >> Oh, yeah. Actually, I did give them one, but they'll probably be illegal in all. 50 states here by the end of the year. And then, um, I. >> appreciate that. >> Got you another thing. I know you're a. gun guy and a huge Second Amendment. supporter. So, I got a buddy over at. SIG. His name's Jason. >> All right. >> And uh I told him you were coming on.

He's a huge fan and he wanted me to he. wanted me to. >> Holy smokes, man. Thank you. >> You got your FFL. Can we sign this over. today? >> Well, we'll sign it over in a couple. days, but. >> Wow. >> I think you'll like this. >> Hopefully, you don't have one already. >> I do not have Wow, look at the grip on. that thing. So, that is the Sig Sauer. P211 GTO. >> Good lord. >> It's Sig's first uh first go around of a. 2011. That thing is smooth as butter.

Oh, wow. Is that a Hollison? >> That is Sig's new optic as well. >> It looks like it. Yeah. I don't know about you, but I like the. circle around the dot. >> You know, some guys just like the dot. >> Yeah, I. >> I actually like being able to see the. circle. I don't know why. That is. beautiful, man. Yeah. My my carry is a. is just a uh uh 43X.

>> Really? >> Yeah. 43X. But I've got a uh Shield Arms. makes a uh aftermarket mag for that. That's a That's a a 15 plus one. So, it'll actually hold 16 rounds in a very. small. >> Oh, nice. >> So, it's easy for me to conceal wherever. I've got it. >> Nice. >> But, man, this is beautiful, man. Thank. you. >> You're welcome. >> Wow. >> Maybe we'll break that in on the break. here. >> Okay, >> cool. >> Thank you. >> See what you got, John. >> Yeah. Well, well, I ain't got what you.

got. I've seen you standing there on. your videos. You go, we're about 80. yards away. Let's see if I can hit it. And you're just like bang. And then you. hear ping. I'm like, oh, come on, man. Yeah, I can't do that. >> Well, we'll get you. >> Be absolutely beautiful. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> And tell that gentleman I said thank. you. >> I will. Jason will be. >> very happy that you like that. >> Thank you, Jason. >> Incredible. >> All right, John. >> I didn't get that when I interviewed. with Piers Morgan. That's crazy.

>> Pierce didn't give you a gun. >> I know. >> How how odd. >> It's so crazy. But um so yeah, I want to start off with. uh your life story and then we'll move. into some. I various topics that are going on. today. I know your latest. >> your latest debacle with the Tennessee. with the TVA. We'll get into that, but. but where did you grow up? >> So I was born in West Tennessee. Uh my. parents met at college in West.

Tennessee. My dad's a Texan from the. panhandle of Texas. So basically where. Amarillo is, there's a little town 60 mi. from here called Pampa, Texas. PA MPa. I. was born in West Tennessee. When I was 4. years old, we moved to Texas. So I don't. really remember living in Tennessee back. then. So I grew up in Texas, up in the. panhandle. And um it's flat, it's windy, um it's tornado alley. I mean, that's. where it's at. It is it is a different.

part of Texas. It's not Dallas or. Houston or Austin. It is it's where the. actual cowboys live up there. And my my. great uncles and all the men that that. came back after World War II that that. lived up there, you know, they had those. lines in their faces so deep you could. plant tomatoes. >> Damn. >> You know, from being in the sun. So they. worked oil rigs out there. They were. farmers. Um and my granny Rich is from. Pampa, Texas. uh Dust Bowl days. She was.

born during the Great Depression while. simultaneously experiencing the Dust. Bowl days. So, think about that. Great. Depression is bad enough, but in that. area of Texas, also the Dust Bowl days. So, those are the types of people I was. around growing up, which has a pretty. dramatic impact. >> Hard workers. >> on a kid. Yeah. Like a lot of they like. to work. It wasn't like, man, I had to. work hard today. It's like, we got a lot. of good work done today. like eat some. dinner, go to sleep, we're going to get.

back up and do it tomorrow. Like it it. was energizing to them and and. gratifying to them to go out and work. really hard. >> Man, you don't hear that much anymore. these days. >> You really don't. >> Unfortunately, >> but there is a great sense of. accomplishment. when you've worked really hard. Let's. say you're splitting wood, something. simple, but it's hard. It's hard to do. And you you went from 45 red oak stumps. that are now no longer there and you. look over there and there's this. beautiful stack of red oak ready for the.

winter light up that fireplace at at. Christmas and you real and you're sore. all over and sweating and bug bites and. all that and you go that's a beautiful. stack of wood and you did something. I. think it's something that a lot, especially young people, miss these. days, is they don't understand the. gratification you get from doing. something hard. >> Yeah. Manual labor. >> I I really think it's not good for your. head to not do manual labor on some. level. >> I don't think so either.

>> I mean, go mow the grass. Do something. Go run a weed eater for three or four. hours and tell me how you're feeling. >> Do you have your kids do manual labor? >> Yes. >> What kind of stuff do you have them. doing? >> They help me split wood. They run weed. eaters. They'll go out and I'll say, um, uh, we don't hire people to put mulch. down at our house. We go to the mulch. yard with my truck and trailer. They'll. load in 9, 10, 11 yards of mulch, which. is quite a bit. >> Yeah. >> Then get to the house and then we got. pitchforks and wheelbarrows and I'll.

say, "Invite two of your buddies over. I'm hiring everybody to lay this mulch. today and I'll be right here doing it. with you." And so it takes all day to do. it. And when it's over, they all get. paid and they're all just beat from. pushing a wheelbarrow up a hill a hund. times, you know, but then they feel they. go, "Boy, it looks good, doesn't it, Dad?" I go, "It looks perfect. It looks. better than the guys I hired to do it a. few years ago. That's why I don't hire. them anymore. Looks better when we do it. cuz we own this land and someday you're.

going to own this land and you need to. know every square inch of this land. The. land's alive and you own it. Do you need. to know how to take care of it? What it. is, where all its spots are, good and. bad. You need to improve your land. Like, you need to own it. It It's part. of who you are is the land. And they. really latch on to that. And so, they. they take a lot of pride in doing things. that improve the surroundings of where. we live. >> Man, I love that. When did you start. that? How old were they? >> Probably they're 15 and 13. when they.

were about 8 and 10. When they were when. they were big enough and had enough on. them where they could pick something up. >> Nice. >> Yeah. >> Did you grow up doing hard work? >> Big time. >> What kind of work? >> I mean, we were running um. Oh, was halfacre or bigger garden in the. panhandle growing beans, jalapenos, tomatoes, watermelons, cantalopes, corn. I mean, and so out there,

it's so windy that you have to you have. to dig really deep rows when you plant. those seeds. And you build it cuz it's. so flat, you can't get the water. If you. lay a hose in a row, you can't get the. water to move down the row. So, you. actually have to find a spot of land. that's a little bit tilted or even build. your rows up a little bit. So, when you. lay that water hose at the top, it'll. run all the way down the row down to the. end. And then you finish watering that. row, you lay it in another row, right? And you're weeding it and you're.

shooting jack rabbits that are out there. trying to eat your cantalopes and and. all that stuff. And and uh yeah, I I. have a little garden in town right now. Nothing big, but I always like to have. something I can go pick. I picked some. cayenne this morning at my house. >> Nice. Nice. >> Yeah. >> What else were you into as a kid? >> Um. you know, guitar. The guitar for me was. was my that was my thing. My dad taught. me how to play guitar when I was about 5. years old. That was one of his extra.

jobs would give guitar lessons. My dad's. really great singer, really strong. guitar player. And um one of his side. jobs was giving those lessons. And one. day he he asked me, he said, "John. Daniel," which is what they all called. me till I was not that long ago. My. grandmother called me John Daniel till. the day she died. John Daniel, you want. to go with you want to go with me to. guitar lessons? I said, 'Yeah, Dad. So, I jump in the car and go down there and. he's got seven or eight adults sitting.

in a semicircle and he's going to give. them a lesson. He kind of hands me a. little cheapy guitar and says, "Just. follow along with what we're doing." He. gave me the gave me the page that they. were all looking at and I'm following. along and I'm picking it up. Well, after. two or three of those lessons, I was. picking it up real fast and he realized, "You're pretty good at that. you're like. ahead of a lot of the adults I'm. teaching. So then he really started to. teach me some stuff and by the age of. probably seven, seven and eight years. old, the worst punishment you could give.

me would be to not let me have my. guitar. >> Okay, >> that's the worst. >> It's seven or eight years old. >> Like today it would be take away the. kids video game or take away their iPad. For me it was take that guitar away. So. I would sit in my room. We had these, you probably remember these, um, like a. jam box where you could play, you could. play the radio, but it also had a. cassette deck. So if you'd hit play and. record at the same time, it would record. whatever you're hearing on the radio. >> Oh, yeah. I used to do that all the.

time, man. >> Yeah. So you'd be like, >> you'd be waiting waiting for the song to. come on. >> Boom. Hit both of them. >> Yeah. So I would do that and then I. would spend the next week listening to. that particular song over and over and. over till I could play everything in. that song and that's how I got that's. how I got better at guitar. >> No kidding. >> Yeah. >> You grew up I mean if I remember. correctly you grew up in a trailer. Did. you grow up in a trailer? >> It was a it was a double wide. So it you. know your your idea of what a trailer is.

is not what I would say I lived in. We. It's manufactured housing is what what I. would call it. But yeah, it's a double. wide. >> Um but you know, my dad there were weeks. that my dad my dad's a preacher, >> but my dad would work sometimes over a. 100 hours a week. Over a hundred. So. some of the jobs he would do, um. especially getting started out there in. Texas, he was a night watchman in. Amberlin National Bank on the weekend. So he's walking all night long. Um he we.

slop dogs, uh guitar lessons. Um he. worked for several car dealerships. Matter of fact, he got a big break, uh. after he was he's a really great. salesman. Got a big break and became. general manager of the big Nissan. dealership. Now, when that happened in. Amarillo, we moved from where we were. living into a brand new brick house with. a concrete slab and 10 acres and a horse. barn. >> Nice. >> Right. But there were times I watched my. dad really have to dig deep and make. sure he's got four kids. Um, make sure.

that everybody had what they needed and. everybody did have what they needed. But. you watched your dad work that hard. I. remember him coming in like on a he. would walk the bank on a Sunday night. and we're getting up at 6:00 a.m. to go. to school on Monday morning and there's. my dad walking in with his uniform, sits. down in his chair, and me and my two. little sisters would grab his boots, everything we had, try to get his boots. off his feet cuz they were swelled up. like balloons from walking the bank all.

night. >> Wow. >> He'd sleep three or four hours and he'd. get up and he'd head to the car. dealership or he'd had to go do whatever. other job he was doing. But, you know, to his credit, uh, no plates hit the. floor. You know, you hear about spinning. plates. Plates didn't hit the floor. The most important action you can take. today is to help protect your family's. future from cyber criminals and online. predators. And Bunker, that's B KR, can. help you do just that. Bunker was. developed by experts with 25 years of.

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>> I got two younger sisters and a younger. brother. So, I'm the oldest of four. >> Right on. >> Yeah. >> How did you guys handle that? I mean, I. I I work my ass off. >> Mhm. >> I work my ass off and I I always worry. about, you know, I got enough time with. the kids. I got enough time with the. family. So, I'm curious, you know, how. did you guys feel about your dad working. so much? Did you understand what he was. doing? >> I did. I I understood that he was. hustling because you got four kids and. you got you got to keep everything.

going. Even at a young age, watching him. work like that, I'm like, man, that dude. is just it was unreal how much he was. working. But I'll give you like a story. on him, tell tell you maybe give you. some insight on me just knowing this. about him. He didn't like any of the. schools in Amarillo. He didn't like. them. even even the the little Christian. school that he had me going to, he didn't he didn't like it 100%. He saw. some issues with that. So, he said, "You. know what? Um, I'm just going to make my.

own school." And so, he found I think it. was a couple of World War II army. barracks sitting off somewhere outside. of Amarillo. Used to be a big uh air. force base out there. LBJ, I think, had. a big base out there. I could have the. details wrong, but anyway, it was some. old barracks. They were going to get rid. of them. and he brought two of them out. and got some other men together and they. spent about a year or so connecting. those buildings and completely. remodeling these buildings. And this was. when we were in the double wide and. started a school called Tiara Grande.

Christian School. So the area of town we. lived in was called Tiara Grande, Big. Earth. And that's where I went to uh. third and fourth grade. >> No kidding. >> Yes, sir. And so, you know, in later. years I said, "Why did you go through. all that?" He goes, "There wasn't a. there wasn't a school in Emerald I. thought was good enough for you to go. to." So, I built my own school. >> Damn. >> And hired teachers and got other people. to enroll. And he he ran a successful. school there for a couple years. And now.

that's some that's some drive. >> That is. >> Yeah. That's a dad that cares about. what's happening with his kids. >> Hell yeah. Is he still alive? >> He is. Yeah. He just had his birthday. 73, >> man. >> Well, >> happy birthday. >> Happy birthday, Dad. >> That's awesome. Yeah. >> So, so music became part of your life. You became really good at guitar. >> Seven, eight years old. >> Dad works his ass off. What kind of. manual labor? What kind of What kind of.

work were you doing as a kid? >> Well, so when he was slopping hogs, I. would go slop hogs with him. So, he. would take me along on his jobs. I was. the uh You ever slopped hogs? >> No. >> Okay. So they give the kid the job of. basically the hog farmer. would go to the grocery stores when. their bread and milk would expire. And so you would get these pallets of. moldy bread and pallets of clabbered. milk, gallon jugs of milk. Okay? And so.

my job had this this concrete wall. My. job was to take bags of bread and smack. them against the wall and throw the. plastic away and smack them and smack. smack say a hundred loaves of bread and. then take a snow shovel and dump them. off into a bucket. And then you had a. you had a a razor like an like an Xacto. knife and you pick up the clabbered milk. and you cut cut the top of the milk off. and chunk chunk blah blah blah into a. bucket. >> Oh man. >> And then throw it away and then cut.

another one and do 100 gallons of milk. And then they would blend those two. things and put vitamins in it. And then. the men would go out and they would. actually slop the hogs. So I'm standing. in the back prepping the slop. >> Right on, man. >> Yeah. >> Right on. >> Yeah. And it was interesting. I mean, you got. hog operations are interesting. Some of. those hogs are 7800. They look like 7800. lb. Massive tusks. >> I saw I saw them eat each other, >> attack each other, kill each other. Yeah. >> Damn. >> You know, in the Wizard of Oz when he. said tell Dorothy, "Don't climb up on.

that fence because you don't fall in the. pig pin." Well, there's a reason. because they'll eat you. >> Damn. Damn. >> But I love that I got to do stuff like. that. I mean, it's so vivid in my mind, you know? I was 8 n 10 years old doing. that. It didn't seem bad to me at all. It see I was working with my dad, so I. thought it was cool. And again, it goes. back to doing manual labor, doing hard. work. There's a lot of gratification you. get out of that. And you learn things. and right, you get to take credit for.

something looking better or something. getting done. I did a lot of manual. labor. I didn't didn't slop hogs though. But um what about your mom? Who was your. mom? >> So she's a Tennessian. Um my parents. were married uh about 18 years. I got. divorced when I was going in to my. senior year of high school. Um she was. like a you know she could type real. fast. So she was like a parallegal and. uh you know did her job on the side. It. was it was a lot of effort going on back.

in those days. Are you guys close? >> Not really. >> Why not? >> Well, are you close with both of your. parents? >> Yes, I am. >> Well, you're a very lucky man. >> Yes, I am. >> Very fortunate man. Um, my mother figure. in my life really was my granny Rich. So, I'd be my dad's mother. Um, you know, without impugning anyone or. anything like that, it was uh just. the way I was being raised by her was.

not the correct way to raise somebody. I'll put it to you that way. I'll put. I'll give you another example. I married. someone who is the exact opposite of who. my mother is. I mean, totally opposite. You know, you hear people say, "Well, you're going to marry somebody like your. mother. You're going to marry somebody. like your dad." and whatever was going. on that wasn't right, that just. perpetuates itself generation to. generation. And I said, "Yeah, not not. in my case. That's not going to happen.". So, I married somebody that was the. opposite of that. That was the opposite.

of me in a lot of ways. A lot of balance. >> between the two of us. And now we're. about to be have our 17th anniversary, which is pretty good for anybody, much. less a country music singer. No kidding. >> It's almost unheard of, man. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. So you. know it's it also becomes part of your. life. I think the way she raised me and. the way she was around me hardened me. It uh it angered me a lot. It but it. hardened me too. It made me it made me.

go like that. Like it made me understand. what that is. And. as you get older in your life, you got. to let a lot of that go. You got to dump. that because you can't have that hanging. on you the rest of your life. But you do. pick up things from it that are useful. For instance, how to how to exist as you. know as a as a combat guy. I wasn't in. combat, but but the mentality of I'm not. afraid to walk into this uncomfortable.

perilous situation, whatever it is, because I've been around them a lot. Now, on my end, again, that's does not. even compare to you and some of the men. that have sat in this chair. But for me, that mentality was there. It's still. there. And it's why I don't really back. up. I don't I don't mind engaging people. when they need to be engaged. Does that. make sense? >> It does make sense. I mean, being a a man of faith, and I.

know you have a very strong faith, and. you know the Bible. really well. I'm just curious. I mean, if if does it bother you that you're not. close with her now in these days? Is she. still alive? >> She's still alive. Yeah. >> Do you guys ever talk? I think if I. think if uh I think if somebody if let's. say her if she was ever willing to come. forward and admit to all that stuff and. apologize for it, we could we could kick things back off.

again. But when somebody wants to keep. it frozen in time and just leave it. there. Then the choice of the person who. was on the receiving end of that, you. have two choices at that point. One is let it continue to be part of. what you think about and let it affect. you in really bad ways, which I did for. a very long time. Or two is to you talk. to the boss and you say, "I want you to. take that off of me. I want that off of my back. I want it.

out of my mind. I want it off of my. back. It is what it is. It has there has. been no amends made for it and there. won't be. So, I'm asking you to take it. off of me. The word would be deliver me. from that. >> Get that out of my what makes me me. >> And uh after asking that for several. times and meaning it one day he just. did. >> No kidding. >> Yeah. And then I'm able to look back at. it and go, well, what are the positives. that came out of that? Not a bunch. But.

it did turn me into the type of. individual that now where I do have. control over myself and I, you know, I. don't uh do what I used to do, which we. can get into all that. Google it, you'll. find it. Um, I'm able to use that and be. extremely effective when it comes to. when it comes to engaging something that. needs to happen. I know we're going to. talk about some of those stories coming. up, but almost fearless of things.

>> Mhm. just go, "Yeah, that's not right. I'm. coming straight at him." So, >> you've always been like that. >> I've always been like that to a degree. Uh I think though, you know, I got saved. when I was 8 years old. My dad having. church at the house, little kid, got. baptized in a horse trough. So where the horse drank water in our. backyard, eight years old, way on down the road. into my adult life as all kinds of.

things unrolled and I was living as as. the ultimate prodal son for a very long. time and reconnected back to him and. apologized to him. and. rededicated myself to him. And then all. that stuff that I had that I had done. and learned throughout those years that. I was using in the wrong way, but I had learned them and gotten good. at certain things. Now that I'm.

straightened back out and plugged back. in and listening, now I can take that. skill set and apply it towards extremely. big things and be effective with those. things. It's interesting how he does. that. >> Mhm. Mhm. Like the question of can a. person that doesn't have insatiable ego. ever succeed in the music industry. No, they can't. There's something about.

the listeners, the the any entertainer, whether it's a movie or singers or. whatever, the the general public, they're attracted to people that have. overpowering. They'll call it charisma. I would call. it ego. I guess maybe it's a mixture of. both, but that's there and it's. extremely destructive. But can you even. accomplish what it is you accomplished. if you hadn't had that? I wouldn't have. But then it can eat you.

>> down the road. So the the the thing is. if you're lucky enough and he gives you. enough enough patience to let you go. through all that without you dying or. something terrible happening, you can. then you can turn the corner and then. all that stuff you got to learn and now. you can do it on his behalf instead of. on your own behalf which is where I am. today. Love that. When you say you got. saved at 8 years old, you got baptized. at 8 years old. Was that was there. anything specific that had happened that. that saved you? Do you have any.

experiences? What what was it that why 8. years old listening to my dad preach? Um. he was he was going through the passage. where Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at. the door and knock." I remember my dad. was knocking on a table. He like went. knock when he said that. "Behold, I. stand at the door and knock. And if any. man hears my voice and opens the door, I. will come in with him and suck with him, meaning have dinner with him and he with.

me. And I I could see that picture in my. head like of Jesus knocking on the door. and coming inside our house and sitting. down. And he Jesus is standing outside. the door and all I've got to do is go. over that door and turn the knob and. open the door and he'll just walk in. Remember thinking that at 8 years old I. go, "Well, if he's standing at the door. of my heart, of course I want him to. come in. It's Jesus. And I remember just. being hit by that such a strong way that. when my dad had the invitation to come.

forward if you'd like to give your life. to Jesus. And I'm eight years old and I. went like that and came down. >> Wow. >> Yep. >> I bet he was proud of. >> kids. Kids. Kids can give their life to Jesus much. easier than an adult because they're not. all fouled up with their with their own. issues and problems. They're kids. They're innocent still. You know, it's. one of the probably the most aggressive. thing Jesus ever said.

Uh, and I wish I could have heard it in. person in Hebrew cuz I bet I bet they. would have considered it some cuss words. coming out of his mouth was if any man. causes one of these little ones to. stumble, he'd be better off to have a. millstone tied around his neck and cast. into the depths of the sea. Not if any man c if any man abuses one. of these little ones. If any man kills. one of these little ones, if anyone. slaps one of these, if anyone causes. them to stumble,

well, if you go look that up, what that. means is mess with them at all because. they are in a state of innocence. It's the most innocent thing that lives. on the earth or kids. He said, you'd be. better off dead than to do that. So when. you're eight years old, you're standing. wide open, right? That's why kids need to hear the. gospel. Kids need to be told about who. Jesus is. Kids need to understand that. cuz they once you give your life to.

Jesus, yeah, your life could go off the. rails. It probably will at some point or. another and whatever. It's a, you know, life's a crazy thing, but he's in there. And you you come back around to him, he's going, I've been waiting on you. That's kind of how I feel like it went. with me, >> man. Wow. Have is is your have you. stayed rooted in faith throughout the. duration of your existence or have you. fallen off at all? >> I stay well I stayed. rooted in in it as so much as I knew it.

and I knew it to be true and there were. things I would do that were obedient, but for every obedient thing I would do. there were nine things that were. disobedient. And he'll only let you do that for so. long. >> Mhm. >> And if you're really lucky, he'll only. slap you hard enough to knock your teeth. out and not knock your brains out. >> If you're really lucky, >> a good way to put it. >> Yeah. And so, you know, when I became a.

dad, I started thinking about I mean, we. we call him the father. He's our father. Well, now I'm. somebody's father. And so, and then I. thought, and we're created in the image. of God. We were created in his image. Well, what that means to me is that. means every emotion that I feel, he. feels. I am in his image. That also. means he has a sense of humor, which I. find to be a really interesting thing. I'd love to hear him laugh one time.

But every emotion we have, he also has. So that means how I feel about my sons. on on the absolute perfect and most. intense level is how he feels about his. sons and daughters. So mine is an imperfect way and it is so. intense for me. I would pile them up by. the fence as deep as I could get them if. they came after my kids. And so would. you and so would millions of people that. are probably watching this right now. Mhm.

>> That's the level of love we have for our. kids. Extrapolate that times infinity. and that's how God feels about us. Man, once I had that realization, I went, "Wow." I'm like looking up going, "That's how you think." So, if you're. going to discipline your kid, your kid. will it keeps going out in the street. and playing football. And you have told. him 10 times, "Do not go out in the. street and play football. You get hit by. a car, dummy." And he keeps going out. there. Well, eventually you're going to. have to do something pretty drastic to.

punish this kid because you don't want. him to get hit by a car. >> Mhm. >> Right now, you ain't going to kill him. You're not going to break a bone or. something. You're going to do something. You're going to snatch him up and. something significant is going to happen. for his own good. He looks down at us. and goes, I'm looking at my son John. down there. I'm going to have to be. drastic with this guy. He is too. bullheaded. He's too fearless of things. He ain't. listening. I'm going to have to I'm going to have. to smack him around. That's why I said.

if you're lucky, he'll only knock your. teeth out instead of your brains cuz he. can just take you out. >> Have you had your teeth knocked out? >> I' I've given you every chance in the. world you're out. >> Have you had your teeth knocked out? >> Many times. >> You got any examples? >> He He knocked him out a few times and it. didn't work. So, like public. humiliation, uh, losing record deals, being fired. from very, very successful situations. and take me from riding high all the way.

down to nobody's calling and can't pay. my rent. That was knocking my teeth out. Didn't matter. Wasn't understanding what that was. Wasn't ready to turn. Wasn't ready to. yield yet. And so, on and on and on it. goes. And my I used my success. as a hammer to beat the crap out of. people with it. And that goes back to. how I was treated as a kid. When you. talked about me and my mother, I felt.

like I was having the crap beat out of. me all the time. So when I finally got. the upper hand, I took my own success. and it was big success. Millions and. millions and millions of records, number one songwriter in Nashville three. years in a row at ASCAP. I was. songwriter of the year three years in a. row. >> That's hard to do. >> Wow. >> That means my songs got played on. country radio more than anybody else's. songs in all of Nashville for three. years in a row.

>> Wow. >> Right. So, I had that kind of success. and instead of doing what I would do now. with success, which is go out and try to. help other people and do good things. with it, I'd go right on. My hammer just. got bigger. Who now who can I hit? And. I'd make sure they knew I had a hammer, >> right? >> Wow. >> Walk around like a mob boss. Like I'm. I'm the I'm the I'm the man, >> you know? And what that was, I was just. dishing out what I had taken. >> Interesting.

>> Yeah. >> Interesting. >> Yep. >> It makes sense when you look at it like. that. >> What was the turning point? turning point for me was uh. nothing um specific other than what I'm. about to explain to you. Meaning I. didn't lose some big deal or almost have. a car wreck or anything like that. It. literally was this. I was sitting in a. hotel room and that's the way I'm.

conducting myself like I've been. explaining here. sing in a hotel room after a concert and. I felt God. vacate me. left. >> How so? >> He just left. >> What was the feeling? >> Like you had been abandoned in the. Arctic Circle. Gone. So until that point, I still it was.

still in there. You know, when you give. your life to Jesus, you ask the Holy. Spirit to come in and he will. And you. can feel it. I can feel it right now. You can, too. >> So, imagine that being taken away. He just leaves like, "Bye." And the same. door he walked in, he just walked out. and slammed it. And you're just sitting. there now. There, no more protection for. you, no more patience for you, no more. nothing for you. You're not going to. listen. I'm out.

That doesn't mean I'd have gone to hell. if I'd have died. But it means that he's. done. He ain't going to mess with me. anymore. And if you go look back in. Psalms, King David had that experience. several times. >> Mhm. >> Like he said, "I'm crying out to you and. you will not answer me. Where have you. gone? Where are you? Please answer me.". Cuz David did some really bad stuff. >> Mhm. >> You know what he did to Uriah, what he. did to Bash, what he with Bashibba and. Uriah and and other things that were. really, really bad. I mean, he had.

Bashibba's husband killed and B put. Uriah up on the front lines to make sure. he died so he could take his wife. That's pretty bad. That's about as bad. as it gets, actually. And God God. abandoned him. That's the word. Abandon. Abandonment. is what that felt like. >> So, you get done with the concert, you're sitting in what, the green room. or something? >> Sitting in a hotel room. Back in my room. with my ears ringing, like symbols in my. ears. Yeah. Sweating. So, what was it like a bolt of.

lightning? I mean, was it instantaneous? >> It was not like a bolt of lightning. It. was like uh it was almost like you could. like you were looking at yourself from. the outside of yourself a little bit. like you're sitting there, but you feel. like you can see the room and you can. literally feel like the air just got. sucked out of it. It just it was a. horrible feeling. I bet it's probably. what it might feel like if you were. drowning. Did you know what it was? >> Yes, I knew what it was.

>> What was your next move? >> Uh went over to the went over to the. little, you know, end table in the hotel. room where they always have a Bible. Pulled it out and started reading it and. it didn't make any difference. It did not help me at all. >> cuz he was gone. It's interesting. It's like maybe if. your kid says, "I'm going to run away. I'm going to run away. I'm going to run. away." And then you finally say, "Fine,

run away. Here's your bag." And you shut. the door behind him. What's the kid do. at that point? Now it's real. >> Did that happen to you? >> Yeah. That's how it felt. And then. what's the kid want to do at that point? Let me back in the house. Let me back in. the house. Let me back in the house. It was like that. >> How'd you get him to come back? I apologized and apologized and. apologized for weeks and. >> to him to people he had hurt.

>> to him. to him. This is way past me being around. my mother. This way way decades after. that. >> Mhm. >> I apologize to him. And uh and then I I. ran across who is now without a doubt my. favorite preacher of all time. It's too. bad that he he's not alive here anymore, but Dr. Charles Stanley, if you don't know who that is, go look. him up. But I was on YouTube and ran.

across Dr. Charles Stanley. and I'm watching him and he gets into I. forget what he was even talking about. and I went, "That is the best I have. ever heard that explained. What else is. on here?" And I find another one and. another one and another one. And I think. for a month, I bet I I bet I consumed. three or 4 hundred sermons from him just. on just one after the next after the. next after the next. Then I'd pull my. Bible out and read along with him and go. through it and go through it and go. through it and started reconnecting.

everything that I had been taught. growing up from my dad. I started. understanding it again. And now as a. grown man, I could feel it. And then one. day you wake up and you just feel like. it's back. That's how it felt. Wow. It was like. light switch, light switch off, dark room, dark room, dark room, dark. room. Lights just came back on. Power. just came back on. I could feel him come. back in. And then you felt really weird. because when when that happens to you,

then you walk back out into the same. world you were just walking back into, except now everything looks completely. absurd. and repulsive to you. Like I had a. horrible gambling problem. Horrible. >> You had a gambling problem. >> Oh my. I was so good at it, John. So. good at it. >> If you were that good at it, then it. might not be a problem. >> I was so good at it at blackjack. So I. would go in, take over an entire.

blackjack table. I'd play all nine. seats, just me and a dealer. And I'd. play all nine hands and I would make. sure that they didn't use more than two. decks. cuz I could count them if it was two. decks. I couldn't count them. Those six. deck shoes couldn't. You can't count. those. I couldn't, but I count two. And. so I was knocking their brains out, man. Left and right. And you go from a $10. bet like, "Oh, I hope I don't lose my. $10, too." That now it needs to be a. $100 bet. Now it needs to be a $500 bet.

Now it needs to be a $5,000 bet. >> Jeez. I start getting up in those kinds. of numbers where me and Kenny pull up at. a show for instance, like in Vegas, you. get out of the car to check in the hotel. and a guy would run up with a clip go, "Mr. Rich, welcome back to Harris. Uh, here's a $50,000 marker. It's already. been approved. Just sign your name here. The chips are in your room." Wow. Wow. >> That's how much I gambled. And then one day I was in Tuna,

Mississippi, played a concert, took $62,000 off of a blackjack table in. about an hour. I'm telling you, man, I was good at it. cuz I I could I could read I could I. knew what was happening. $62,000 in cash. Fly back home. woke up. the next morning looking at that money. and I realized that is the most. disrespectful thing you could possibly. ever do. Like that's how he was making. me feel about that.

You grew up in Amarillo, Texas with your. dad working 100 hours a week keeping. everything going. Can you imagine? Like. this is him putting this into my head. Son, can you imagine what your dad could. have done with $62,000? Where did you get the 62,000 to even. gamble? I gave you the 62. I gave you. the talent that would allow you to go. out here and earn money like that. And. this is what you're going to do with it? Stick it on a stupid blackjack table and. risk it? Why don't you take $62,000 and.

go help a bunch of old people eat lunch. every day? Or why don't you go help some. kids get out of a bad situation? Or why. don't you go help some military vets? Or. why don't you go what is your problem? Miss how he was talking to me. And I. went, that is so disrespectful to what. he's given me. That is like the ultimate. disrespect. And so I took the 62. and I went down to a Ford dealership. cuz I needed a new pickup.

and I bought uh I bought a 2010. four-wheel drive Ford King Ranch pickup. and paid cash for it. And you should. have seen the looks on their faces when. I said, "All right, here you go. I'm. paying for it with this." And they open. it up and it's just stacks of $100. bills. They called the police and I said, "That's fine. I've got the receipt from. Harris, you know, and they these old. ladies back there going one, two, three." They counted it two or three. times. It was all there. Had the.

receipt. Got the truck. Guess what, Sean? I still own the truck. I refuse to. sell the truck. >> No kidding. Cuz every time I see the. truck, and I drove it yesterday, every. time I get in that, I remember. where I was and now where I am. The. truck is a reminder of that to me. And I. stopped cold turkey. I've not played. one-handed cards since 2010. >> No kidding. >> And I mean, I would take that tour bus. two or three hund miles out of the way. to go hit an Indian casino somewhere or. something. I mean, it was like a drug. addiction. >> No kidding.

>> Yeah. 100%. >> Damn. I had no idea. >> Gambling addiction is real. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Wow. And you haven't gambled again since. >> on one hand on anything. And I've played. a ton of places where I could have. >> done whatever I want. >> Did you start giving more after that? >> Absolutely. >> Immediately. >> Yes. >> What was the first thing you did? >> I don't remember the first thing I did, but I do remember I started looking. around for situations that I thought. needed help. St. Jude was one uh that I.

need to start locking into to like kids. fighting cancer is like one of the worst. things you've ever seen in your life. You've ever been to a hospital like. that. You will never be the same. You. will be so glad that your kid does not. have cancer. Cuz it's bad enough when you see the kid. dealing then you look over there at the. corner is their parents what that mom. and dad are going through. So, you know, seeing that, experiencing that, I went I. I went in hardcore with them. Started.

helping them raise tens of millions of. dollars, donating to them myself. You. can use my house for whatever you want. Let me know where you want me to go. So, it wasn't just money, it was my time and. effort. So, yeah, I'm gambling money, but I'm spending a lot of time and. effort gambling, too. Why am I spending. my time doing that? >> Kids at the time. >> What? Did you have kids at the time? >> My first son had just been born.

>> He was born in 2010. >> Let's go back to childhood. So, you get. baptized today. Hard worker. Dad's a preacher. Don't get along with. mom. Four brothers and sisters. >> Yep. >> Where do we go from here? How did you. start? How did the music career take. off? >> So, I never thought in a million years. you could make money playing music. I. mean, Amarila, Texas, the guys I knew. that made money. were driving combines.

or riding quarter horses at the Amar. livestock auction or whatever. Like, it. was basically agriculturalbased. So, guitar for me was just something I. did for fun and love to do. When I was. 15, my mother wanted to move to Tennessee. where she's from. So we uprooted out of. Texas and moved to Tennessee. Started going to school in Tennessee and. I remember meeting this kid at school.

and I said, "What's your dad do for a. living?" He said, "Oh, my dad drives. Ricky Skaggs's bus." I was a huge Ricky. Skaggs fan. I'm still a huge Bluegrass. fan. I looked at this kid. I said Ricky. Skaggs rides on a school bus. He said, "No, a tour bus. My dad drives. Ricky Skaggs' tour bus." I said, "Your. dad personally knows Ricky Skaggs." He. goes, "He drives his bus?" Like, "Yeah,

he's on the bus with him all the time.". I went, it was like this light bulb. moment of, "Holy cow, all the country. music is out here." Now, we were living. in Ashlin City, Tennessee, out in Chetm. County, but that's only like 30 minutes, 40 minutes from downtown Nashville. And. I had this epiphany that all the people. I'd grown up listening to and recording. off that jam box and learning their. music are literally 30 miles down the. road from here right now. And I'm 15, so. I'm almost old enough to drive. So when I turned 16 and could drive, I.

started entering talent contests in. Nashville at Honky Tons where you got to. be 21 to get in. And I had to beg, steal, and borrow on my way in. The lady. that's running the thing, her name's. Judy Martin, the Judy Martin talent. showcase at the Broken Spoke on Trinity. Lane. I'll never forget it. I'm 16. And. she goes, "Son, you're too young to come. in here and compete in this. I'm sorry.". I said, "You got to let me in. You got. to let me get up there." She goes, "Okay, if you'll sit right next to me.

and I'm going to bring you a can of. CocaCola. and that's all you're going to drink and. you're going to sit right next to me. If. you do that, I'll let you enter. I'll. let you sing." I said, "Yes, ma'am. You. got it." So, I remember the first one I. got into, Trace Atkins was in there. Tracy Lawrence was in there. Like, all. these guys that went on to be. multiplatinum and I'm 16. >> and and they're singing trying to win. this prize money or whatever. That's. when I realized, "Holy cow, this is. within my reach to possibly do this for.

a living.". >> Damn. >> Yeah, >> that's pretty cool. >> You did that a lot. >> I did it. If there was an open. microphone, I was on it. >> And how did that develop? Well, that turned into me getting a lot. better fast because, you know, one piece. of advice I give not just entertainers, but I give it give this advice to. anybody is that if you want to be great. at something, not just successful, but.

great and considered to be great at. something, do not compare yourself to. your to the people you were currently. competing against. Compare yourselves to. the greatest of all time. So, you could. say, "I'm a pretty good songwriter. compared to who all's out here right. now." And you might be right about that. Matter of fact, you may be the best one. compared to who all is out here right. now. But are you as good as Johnny Cash? No. You as good as Tom Petty?

No. Charlie Daniels? No. Let's go down. the list. Merl Haggard? I don't think. so. So, if you want to be great, it. there's no end to it. So what I do is I. keep Merl Haggard lyrics and Johnny Cash. lyrics and stuff. You saw them. He stopped loving her today. Greatest. country song ever written. I have those. lyrics by Bobby Bradock and Curly. Putnham written out by those writers and. signed by George Jones when he was at my.

house one time. >> Wow. >> On at my front door. I see it every. single day. And what that does for me as. a songwriter is yeah, you're pretty. good. You can write a hit song, but you. ain't written that song. So, I give that advice to everybody whe. whether you're a soldier, whether you're. a teacher, whatever it is that you do in. your life, compare yourself to the. greatest of all time, and you will never. stop improving. >> Man, I love that. I love that. I I do. that. I've just never uh articulated it. Choose your competition wisely.

>> Right. Yeah. Because you're you're great. at what you do. But in your line of work. and what you've done in your history, I'm sure you're aware of other people. that you go, "Yeah, but I haven't done. that." Right. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I don't watch anybody. >> Yeah. >> I don't do it cuz I don't want to. I feel like that can um. inhibit your creativity. It could. influence you to do things that you. wouldn't normally do because somebody.

else is doing it. So, I don't watch. anything. I learn everything from this. show. But. I keep tabs on people, but I don't watch. it because I don't I don't want it to. end. >> Well, let's take something as simple as. as shooting a gun, right? So, you handed. me this incredible pistol. >> and you're a great shot, but you're. bound to be aware of other guys that are. better shot than you are. >> Mhm. >> Right. >> That can do things with a with a rifle. or a pistol that you can't you can't. pull that one off. Right. So, you go, I.

better keep practicing. >> That's what I'm saying. Once you think. you're the best that ever did it, well, what's there to shoot for? >> Yeah, that's that's a damn good. >> kind of how I look at it. Maybe it's. different because I'm in the creative. world, you know? >> Yeah. >> That I mean, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, those kind of guys. Come on, man. >> Did you meet them? Any of them? >> Oh, yeah. >> Who did you meet Johnny Cash? >> I did. >> Dude, how was that? I met Johnny Cash. when I was 19 years old and I was in the.

band Lonear. uh in the about 94 and we got to open. for Johnny Cash at a fair in Ohio. >> That is cool. >> And it was June Carter was with him the. whole thing and I'm just on the side of. the stage just I just can't believe it. Got one picture with him outside the. back. That's the only time I ever met. him. It's hanging up in the house. >> No kidding. >> Yeah. My first son's name is Cash. Just cuz I I think what Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash conveyed more information.

and more emotion with fewer words than. anybody that ever wrote a song. The way. Johnny Cash wrote music, I would say, is. similar to how David wrote Psalms. or Solomon wrote like in Proverbs and. place like this. this mass amount of. information in like four lines. That's how Johnny Cash wrote songs. I mean, that's just God-given ability.

and just his depth was just. unbelievable. So, again, I will not I. will never be Johnny Cash, but I'm going. to try. I'm going get as close as I can. Did you. ever meet Whan? >> I never met Whan. >> Oh, damn. I'm a huge. >> I knew I know I know Willie. I knew. Christopherson very well. Haggard. Knew. Haggard very well, but never got to be. around Whan. That was that was the odd. man out for me. >> Who was your Who was your favorite icon. that you got to know? >> Favorite icon I got to know was Charlie.

Daniels. >> Yeah, I got to meet him. >> Did you? >> Yes, I did. >> How did you feel when you looked him in. the eye and talked to him? >> Like he is just a. awesome human being. I met him at this. thing called You might have been there. actually. uh the Journey Home Project. He had this thing going on for veterans. and um and that's where I met him and uh. he was just the the nicest guy, man. Everybody loved that dude.

>> Nice and extremely appear appeared to. everybody loved that guy. But um. >> yeah, and intense. >> How was it meeting him for the first. time? >> Kind of like it was meeting Cash just. because he's just such a. so much gravity around Charlie Daniels. But later on as I then began to know. him, um I'll give you an interesting. story. I had a show called The Pursuit. and that was a show on Fox Business. Network. I did 40 episodes where I would.

interview people kind of like this about. their pursuit of happiness in America. And so it was a like profile interviews. I got to interview Charlie Daniels and. went out to his farm. This is during. COVID, so this is 2020. And um we. finished the interview. He goes, "Hey, follow me over here. I'm gonna show you. this new big old stud horse I just. bought." I said, "All right." So he's. chomping on his nicotine gum or. whatever, you know. We go lean on this. fence rail. He goes, "Look at that.

thing, man. That's something, man." I. go, "God, that's a one hell of a horse. right there." He goes, "I know, man. I. can't wait to get that thing bred, man. It's gonna be We're talking about. horses." And he looks at me and he goes, "You know, John Boy, I ain't gonna be. around here forever.". I said, 'Well, how old are you now?' He. said, '83.'. I said, 'How many shows you got booked. this year?' He said, 'Well, before CO. canceled it, about 120. Holy [ __ ] But I. ain't going to be around here forever. I.

said, oh, I think you're going to be. around here for a while. I mean, come. on. He said, well, what I'm getting at. is, man, he said, no, I won't be around. here forever. And he said, "We need ones. like you to pick that baton up when guys. like me are gone and run with it about. our country, about our vets, about God. and the Bible and the truth and all. those things." He said, "I know that's. who you are. Someday guy, I ain't going. to be around. We need guys like you to. run with it." That was the last. interview he ever did. He died 13 days.

later. >> Holy cow, man. The last time he was on. camera doing an interview was with me. and the last thing he ever told me was. that. >> What an honor. That's an honor. >> I think about it often. >> I'll bet. >> Mhm. >> You took it in. You definitely took it in. >> Dead serious. And I'm dead serious. And you're dead. serious. And there's a bunch of us that. are. But uh for me that that encounter.

was a big deal. It stuck with me. It's. interesting when you think about the. timing of that that he felt moved to. tell me that right then and 13 days. later he passed away. >> Man, maybe he told a 100 people that. I. don't know, but I know he told me that. >> Oh, you were one of them. >> I appreciate it. >> Yeah, man. Yeah. What an honor. >> So, what let's go back to the music. career. So, you're you're 16 years old. You're playing in honky tonks.

What is that? When do you start gaining. a lot of attention? >> Well, so. my parents got divorced when I was 17, my junior year of high school. And um my. mother took my two sisters and brother. and moved them to Dixon, Tennessee, which is where she's from, her hometown. My dad and I were then stranded back in. Ashlin City, Tennessee, about 60s. something miles away, 65 miles away. And.

my dad says, "Well, my two daughters and. my son are now in Dixon, so I'm going to take a job in Dixon, but. still living in Chetm County, and I'm. living in Chetm County." I'm like, "Well, I'm okay. So now my dad's going. to be working in Dixon. My brothers and. sisters are going to be going to school. at Dixon County High School. I've got to. go there. That's where my family's at. But I didn't live there. So, I'm driving. my 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger, which I.

still own. Still own it. And it still looks good. Uh, I was driving that thing round trip. every single day going doing my senior. high school at this public school. Now, up to this point, my dad had us in a. little little Christian school. There. was maybe 25 kids in my whole class. I. walk into Dixon County High School the. first day. There was over 700 kids in. the senior class alone. So at this point, that county only had. one high school. So everybody went.

there. I go walking in this building about to. throw up. That feeling of just nauseous, scar, like just like I've got this list. of classes and I don't even know where. I'm supposed to go. And this boy comes. walking up to me. He looks at me and he. goes, "This your first year?" I said, 'Yeah.' He goes, "What? What are you, junior? Senior?" I said, 'I'm a senior.'. He goes, "You're coming here your senior. year." I went, "Yeah.". I said, ' Listen, man. Can you tell me. where this class is?

He goes, "Oh, yeah. That's English. class." He goes, "I'll walk you down. there." He goes, "When's your when's. your lunch?" And he looks at lunch. He. goes, "Oh, we have we have the same. lunch break." He goes, "I tell you what, I'll come find you at lunch, too, and. introduce you to some people." But I. walk you down to your class. So, he. walks me down to my class. I go to. lunch. This guy comes over and finds me. and he becomes my buddy and that's where. I got to exist and with his friends my. senior year. That guy's name is Jody. Barrett. Jody is now the u Tennessee uh.

Tennessee representative for district 69. which is Dixon County, Hickman County, and Lewis County and is now running for. district 7 US Congress which is where. Mark Green just vacated. >> Jod's running for that. >> No kidding. >> I know, right? This is the kid that. walks up. I slept on Jod's couch. probably 80 to 100 times that year. >> Wow. >> So I didn't have to go all the way back. home and try to do homework and drive. all the way back. He said, "You can stay. on my couch anytime you want.". So.

it was during that time that Jody and. some of his friends realized I could. sing and play the guitar cuz how am I. going to get a girlfriend, man? Right? I don't care what anybody tells. you, Sean. The only reason a guy learns. how to play a guitar is to meet girls. I've always had an inclination that was. true. >> That is what that's why. Not big enough. to get on the football team, not tall. enough to get on the basketball team. How else can I get a date? Oh, maybe. I'll learn how to play some George. Straight. That might do it. And it did.

And so, >> and it did. >> And it did. I won't lie. And so, I started bringing my guitar. And at. Jod's house, he'd call over a bunch of. friends. I'd sit there and I'd play. everything on the top 40. I'd play. everything on the radio. I could play it. that point. Yeah. And so Jody says, "Hey man, uh you ought. to you ought to go work at Opry Land. You ever heard of Opry Land?". >> Yeah. >> So that was the big theme park that was. in Nashville. Huge. Like.

>> Oh, that was a theme park. >> Oh, roller coasters, log rides. I mean, it was massive. It's where Hunter Oaks. Mall is now. That entire thing was. Operand Opry Land USA. >> And they had live music throughout the. park. And he says, 'You should go. audition for one of those shows, man. You'd probably get it. And I said, 'Ah. man, you got to you got to be able to. dance. And I said, ' Have you seen the. guys on some of those shows? He's like, you know, there's probably going to be a. bunch of good-looking girls at the. audition. I said, well, that is true. Maybe I will. So, I took the Dodge Dart.

Swinger to Opry Land and I audition for. a show called Country Music USA where. you go on stage and you emulate famous. country singers. So like one guy's Vince. Gill and one guy's George Jones and on. and on and on and I got the call back. which means I was good enough to get. called back. Got the call back and they. said can you dance? I said I can. twostep. They go can you do anything else? I went.

nope. They said okay you're hired. He. gave me my paper. So when I graduated. high school at Dixon County High School, I went to work at Opryland USA, which is. where I met Dean Sams, who's the guy. that put Lonear together. All the boys from Texas. Happened from. that Opryland gig. >> Wow. >> That I would not have taken had my. friends not urged me to go do it because. it would be good-looking girls down. there. >> Wow. >> Ain't that crazy? >> That is wild. >> God moves you around in these crazy.

that was a horrible year, man. Your. parents get divorced. You got to go to a. brand new school. You don't know. anybody. It's like couldn't get a job. All the jobs were taken. >> How'd you deal with the divorce? >> I was glad it happened. >> You were glad. >> I was glad cuz I'd watched I'd watched. it my whole life on this is just I. couldn't wait to get out of there. >> Now, why why do you think that your. sisters and brother went with your mom?

>> Well, my brother was too young to have a. choice. >> Okay. Um, and I think my sisters wanted to be. with their mom, you know, but me and my. dad are like that. >> Gotcha. >> Yeah. So, I'm like, I'm with you. Wherever you're at, that's where I'm. going. >> Gotcha. >> Let me tell you how I made money my. senior year. >> Yeah. >> This will be high entertainment for. everybody watching right now, guys. all. you guys watching. What do you do, Sean, when you go to a. Tennessee town and your senior in high.

school and every single job in the town. has been taken because there are. thousands of thousands of teenagers and. all their parents own all the businesses. and they're all working. What do you do? >> I mean, you pick up a a guitar and go to. the honk. >> on the sidewalk. >> Yeah, I know. I grew up working at at car dealerships. when I was a teenager because my dad was. in the car business. He was preaching. all the time, but he he made his money. in the car car business. So, one of my. jobs on many different car dealerships.

where he was at was detailing cars, manual labor again. And that's like, "Hey, John, here's a 1969. uh uh you know, Plymouth New Yorker, which is longer than this room, and it's. red and it's oxidized paint. And we want. you to Here's a box of turtle wax and. some rags. We need this thing shining by. this time tomorrow. Oh, by the way, there's a bunch of tar down in the. carpet. You're going to want to take. some gasoline and scrub. Get that tar to.

break up. Get that out. Like that kind. of work. So, I was doing that kind of work. But, I got really good at detailing cars. Matter of fact, I can still detail a car. better be better than anybody, you know. >> Right. So across the way from the high. school at Dixon County High School, there was this. little used, it wasn't really a car lot, it had Peterbuilt sitting on it in. Kenworth. So it had like big rigs. sitting on it, but they look terrible. I. mean, they were like old, worn out, but he was selling them. He had white. shoe polish, you know, in the in the.

windshield. $3500. So I walk in that place and this old man. comes out and he said, "Can I help you, son?" I go I said, "Yes, sir." I said, "Uh, how much money would you pay me if. I can get that black Peter belt that's. all oxidized to shine?". He goes, "You can't make that shine." I. go, "What if I could?" He goes, "$25." I. went, "All right." I said, "You got any. rags? You got any turtle wax?" He goes, "Yeah." So hands me a box. Took me three.

afternoons after school to shine that. black Peter belt, but it was shiny. and. he erased the $3,500 off and put $4,500. on it. He goes, "You want to hit the. rest of them?" I said, "Not for $25.". He goes, "How much you want for him?" I. said, " $50." He goes, "That's fair." So. I did the rest of them, but he was out. of trucks. That was it. So one of the. kids I met at school had this derelict. older brother that was about like 21,

22. And you know, pot smoking guy. always. had a beer in his hand. And I told the. derelict older brother, I said, "Hey, how much beer can you buy with this $50. right here?" He goes, "Sends on what. kind of beer." I said, "The cheapest. beer you can get." He goes, "That's. probably natural light." I said, "Or. Bush Light.". I said, "Well, whatever it is, buy as. much beer as you can. Bring it to me and you can keep a.

six-pack for doing it for me." He goes, "You're serious?" I went, "Yeah." He. goes, "Okay." So, he goes down, he buys. like several cases of beer. I give him. his commission. I open up the trunk to. my 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger, baby blue. with a white hard top. I put that beer. in the trunk. I find out where the. bonfire party is going on that weekend. where all the other kids my age are. going to be hanging out. I put it on. ice. I show up out there and I sell. beers for $10 a piece. Damn. Now, I got.

money. I got money. And so I just keep. going back to the derelick brother and. and recirculating the money and. basically I am bootlegging beer but it's. not really illegal because I'm also. underage. So I I thought it through man like you. know can you really throw me in jail? Like the derelic brother could have. gotten in trouble but can I really get. in trouble for this? Uh maybe I could. have. I don't know but I didn't. You. could have because I used to do this. exact same thing except I would drink it.

all. You get a Turns out you get a minor. in possession. >> Well, I guess that's true. >> So, >> where did you get this? I don't know. >> Yeah. >> Found it in a ditch. >> So, I recycled that money and that's how. I did it. And that's how I did it. So, they knew if you wanted if you wanted a. cold beer, go find John. >> Entrepreneurial mind at a very young. age. >> That's what it was. >> Love it. Love it. >> Necessity. Well, John, let's take a quick break and. uh when we come back, we'll pick up with. Lonear. >> Sounds good.

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>> All right, John, we're back from the. break. We're getting ready to get into. your comeup in Lonear. >> Yep. So the the Lonear Band started from my. work at Opry Land where I I meet a guy. who's also working at Opryland about 10. years older than me. Been doing that job. for a while and he said hey you're from. Texas right? I said yeah I grew up in. Amarilla. He said well I got some. buddies. He said I'm from Garland Texas. and a couple of my buddies also from. Texas. They're here in Nashville now. We.

want to put a band together since we're. all from Texas. And he says uh would you. want to be in the band? I said I'd love. to be in the band. And he goes, "You. play bass, right?" I said, "I mean, sort. of. I mean, I mean, I can play one." He. goes, "Great. Learn these songs." And he. hands me a cassette um of the like top. 20 songs in country music that week. Tells me to learn these songs. We're. having a rehearsal on Saturday. You're. going to meet all the guys. Okay. So, I.

go call a friend of mine who is actually. a bass player. And I said, "Hey, um, I. don't have a bass amp. I don't have any. I don't have anything really, nor do I. really know how to play these songs. Can. you show me some stuff on the bass cuz. I've got a rehearsal in like 5 days. I. go get with this guy and he's showing me. how to play this bass and how to follow. it. So, I practice and practice and. practice. I go to the rehearsal. I walk. in with a with a pawn store level bass.

carrying my cable in my hand. No case, no nothing. And these are all like pro. guys out of Texas. They've been playing. the honky tonk cir circuits in Texas for. a decade. So they're legit musicians. down there. And they're looking at me. like looking at Dean going, "Who is this. guy walking in here?" Dean's like, "Just. wait till you hear him sing. Just wait. till you hear him sing." It's like, "Okay." And so I was terrible on the. bass, but I was the only guy in the band. that could sing higher than Richie. McDonald, who's the lead singer of.

Lonear. So songs like, "Baby, I'm amazed. by you." Songs like that, huge songs. That's Richie. Incredible singer and. he's high, but I could go even higher. than that. So, I could sing Harmony over. the top of Richie and nobody else could. So, they came to me and they said, "Okay, we'll let you be in the band, but. you have got to get better on the bass. You have got to get better or you can't. stay." I said, "I'll practice. I'll. practice my ass off, you know." So, I. did. And I planned on going to college.

at Belmont University. I had a 4-year. paid ride to Belmont on a vocal. scholarship. I actually was first chair, first tenor in the All South choir. So. my Dixon County High School year, the. one year I had they had they had a big. choir and I went there again to meet. girls, right? But I was good at it. And I'm. singing in Latin. I'm singing oporetic. things in Latin. I don't even know what. I'm saying, but I'm nailing it. and I.

get first chair, which means number one, first tenor, which is the highest male. voice all south. All south choir. So. Belmont gives me a four-year ride. So my. plan was I'll goof around with these. guys a little bit and then I'm going to. go go to college to do what? I don't. know, but I'm going to go. Dean comes to. me and he says, "Hey man, this booking. agent saw us play and he said he can. book us about 200 nights this next year. all over North America." I said, 'What.

kind of places?' He goes, 'Oh man, like. county rodeos, holiday in lounges, you. know, just wherever, all over the place. I said, 'Well, I'm going to college. I. said, how much money would I make doing. something like that? Dean says, "You'll. probably make like $500 or $600 a week.". I said, "Are you kidding?" I couldn't. believe it. Remember, I've been selling. beer out of the back of my trunk. I said, "And these guys are really good, too." So, I went back and told my dad, I.

said, "Instead of going to college on a. four-year paid ride, I'm going to climb. in a van pulling a trailer with guys I. barely know and play off-brand casinos, county fairs, holiday and lounges all. over North America." I remember my dad. saying, "Are you sure that's a good. idea?" I said, "Well, what I want to do. is I want to be on the radio. I want to. play the Grand Opry.". He goes, "Yes, I know that." I said, 'I. don't know how going to college is going. to make that happen. And these guys are.

really, really good. He said, ' Okay. He said, 'I guess you can always. go back. If it doesn't work out, you can. always go back to college. I said, that's what I'm thinking. He goes, okay. I can only imagine how my dad must have. felt with me telling him that at 18, barely 19 years old, preaching his whole. life. You know, my dad went to 30 Marty. Gro in 30 years singing at the in the. French Quarter with a guitar around his. neck as the parades would come by.

That's who my dad is. And so here's his. son telling him this. I have such. empathy for my dad now that I have my. own two sons. Such empathy for what that man must have. endured just with the thought process of. that. I'd never been anywhere. Speak up. and you're just going to take off and go. do this. But he said, "All right, well, give it your best, you know, go get. them." And we went from playing those. Holiday in Lounges and all that stuff to.

about less than two years later, landed. a major record deal. >> No kidding good. >> Yep. With RCA/BNA. Records, which Kenny Chesn had just been. signed to BNA. Got that record deal. That was my That was my I made it. moment. I got a record deal. How did. that. >> think about it was 20 when we signed. that deal. With the record deal, you. also get a publishing deal. So the. publishing deal is the songwriting side. and that's how they did it back in the. day where they'd have kind of both sides.

of the table, which is not a great business model, but. it did allow me to get in the room with. the absolute best songwriters of that. era of music because I have a record. deal. They'll write with the kid. songwriter because they think they might. get a cut. So, I get to sit in a room. with these monster songwriters and learn. how to write a hit song and just just. like a sponge just everything I could. get out of these guys I was writing. with. And that is where I really learned.

how to write. >> What goes into writing a hit song? >> It's a it's a mystery as to what makes a. song a hit, but ultimately it's fairly. simple. If you. can say something in your song and. create a feeling with that music that. connects with enough people, it's a hit. So, it's not like it has to be written. this way or it has to be written that. way. There's millions of different.

versions of songs that have all been. hits. Can you Can you say something that. penetrates Shawn Ryan's chest? Do he. feels it? Either it makes him feel great. every time he hears it, so he's cranking. it up. I want to hear that song 100. times or it makes him think or it's the. perfect song for however he's feeling. that day, but it says it so perfectly. It's it's a hit. And what you learn is. just because it rhymes doesn't mean it's. right. I get sent songs all the time.

from up and cominging songwriters and. they're convinced they've written a hit. This is a hit. Everybody in my hometown. says so. I say, "Okay, let me hear it." and. they'll send it to me and it's there's. elements in there that could be a hit, but it's not top down. It's not it's not. bulletproof, you know? It's it's right. So then I have to tear their song apart. and critique them and hopefully they. can. That's how it was done to me. I. would bring songs into. like a record producer.

and I was convinced this first song I'm. going to play him is a hit. I'm. convinced of it. And he go, "All right, let's" He'll hit play and sit there and. listen to the first verse and then just. turn it off and go, "What else you got?". I go, "You didn't even hear the chorus.". Goes, "Didn't need to hear the chorus. I. heard the verse." I go, "What does that. mean?" He goes, "It was a bunch of. cliches. It didn't mean anything. That. was like some of the most boring, watered down stuff I've ever like. They're brutal on Music Row.".

>> I go, "Well, what should I have done?". And he goes, "Well, I mean, what you're. talking about is cool, but I mean, I've. heard it said that way a million times. You have to say it in a way nobody's. ever said it before.". >> So, it's the it's it's the words. >> The lyrics are the in country music, the. lyrics are the thing. I'm what you would. call a snapshot writer. So, there's all different kinds of. writers. I would say I'm a snapshot. writer and I'm a voyer writer. And I. I'll explain those two things. So, a. snapshot songwriter is somebody if I'm.

sitting right here and I pull out an old. Polaroid camera and I go and I catch. whatever's in that frame. Everything I'm. going to write in this song does not. exit that frame. It's that. So, it is he. was wearing a black baseball cap and a. big old leather chair. Uh military stuff behind him, guns. hanging everywhere. American. flag on the wall and a soldier up in the.

air, man. Baa baba baba like he didn't have a. care. That's how I start the song. So, what. that's doing is that's taking the. listener and that is putting them in a. place. It's like a they can see it in. their head because you're so descriptive. with what you're saying. They can see. they have a mental image of what that. is. So they they they actually go into. that place and then you take them down. the road and I start telling your story. in the song and by the time the song is.

over it's stuck in their head and they. feel like they just experienced what. that snapshot was. That's snapshot. songwriting. >> Wow. >> Interesting. Right. >> That is. >> songwriting is when you step into. someone else's shoes and write the song. from their perspective. So, an example of that would be. there was a girl that was our bartender, me and Big Kenny. It was a blues bar. We. like to hang out back in the day. This. girl was a bartender.

And one night, the lead singer of the of. the band goes, "All right, it's last. call. Last call for alcohol. We're going. to we're going to call the bartender. down here, let her sing the last two. songs tonight." I went, "Oh, of course. the bartender sings. Every bartender. sings in Nashville. Here comes this. girl, hair up in a ponytail, tank top, got wine stains all over. She's coming down lighting a cigarette. and spitting in a cup and got a Miller. light in her hand. She's walking been. working a double. I went, "Okay." Gets.

up on the mic. This chick hits the mic. and I swear to you, it felt like. somebody had burned the oxygen out of. the room. I mean, it was so intense, so over the top. I'm looking at Kenny going, "Did you. just hear that?" I mean, I know it's. 2:00 in the morning, but my god. He. goes, "I think she's going to sing. another one. Let's listen closer." And. she sang another one. I said, "Okay, this is insane." Go up to her bar, introduce myself. She comes, does a. couple of demos for me. And I tell her, I say, "Hey, you should be on the radio.

You should have a record deal. Are you a. songwriter?" She goes, "No, I ain't a. songwriter." I said, "You don't have. anything you want to say?" She goes, "I. got plenty I want to say. I ain't no songwriter. like that. I said, "I'll tell you what. How about you and me get together and. let's see if we can write something.". She goes, "All right, fine. But I'm not. a songwriter." we get together and. as I got to know her better in 45. minutes understanding her story, I was.

able to. take her story and of course she's right. in the middle of it and we write a song. called Redneck Woman which wound up. being number one for four or five weeks. and she sold 13 million records on that. Her name's Gretchen Wilson. >> Wow. >> Gretchen Wilson. That's how that. started. >> Are you serious? >> I'm serious, man. >> Wow. >> Right. So Gretchen and I, now she's. first class songwriter now, but in the. very beginning, she didn't consider. herself that, but she had something to.

say. And so my job was step into her. shoes, see it from her perspective, and. help her get that story on paper and. make it rhyme and make it sound like a. hit. And so we did it. So that's that's. the voyer side of of writing a song. where it's you're you're it's almost. like acting where you become her for a. minute. Try to see it from her. perspective and turn that into a song. >> I mean, how does that feel to take. somebody that's working a Where was. this? Broadway.

>> Printers Alley. >> Printers Alley. I mean, what is it like. to take. >> It wasn't even Broadway. Yeah. >> Working a double, spitting, drinking, smoking. doesn't sound like she had a. whole hell of a lot going for her at the. time and in turning her into. a mega a mega star. >> Well, I didn't turn her into anything. She turned herself into that. But what I. what I got to do is be on the front end. >> and sit with her and become friends with. her.

>> and and tell her. >> like here here's probably the best thing. I ever told her. We were s before we. wrote Redneck Woman. We're sitting in. this little apartment that I could. barely afford. and CMT is on country music television. and Faith Hill's on there singing I can. feel you breathe which is this video. where Faith Hill is rolling around in. satin sheets with her hair all done up. and it's this real sllicked out video. and Gretchen's again smoking a cigarette. spitting in a cup. It's about 10:00 in.

the morning. She goes, "If I got to do. that kind of [ __ ] right there, I'm never. going to make it. I ain't I ain't got a chance in hell if. I got to do that [ __ ] right there like. that. I said you got to do what? You. ain't never going to make it. She goes. that. She goes I I ain't never going to. be that pretty or that pop or that. slick. And this is when it was Shaniah. Twain, Faith Hill, Martina McBride. Like. I mean that was the that was the girl. power groups. She said, "If I got to be that slick, I.

ain't never going to make it cuz I I. ain't nothing but a redneck woman.". And I said, 'Th that's exactly what you. are. I said, Gretchen, who is it that. you look up most to in country music and. the and the female side? She said, Loretta Lynn. I said, what is it you. like so much about Loretta Lynn? She by. God tells you tell it like it is. You. ain't woman enough to take my man. Like, I'll whip your ass to come here. Like, that's the red land. I went correct. I. said, "So, Gretchian, instead of sanding.

off your rough edges, what's rough about. you, put a magnifying glass on it. If. you got enough guts to say it, if you. got enough guts to tell everybody who. you really are in a song, there are 30. or 40 million women out there that are. going to go, "That's our girl.". And she goes, "Well, I ain't thought. about it like that." And less than an. hour later, we had written Redneck. Woman, >> man. So there's a psychology also that goes. into songwriting to make a hit. >> Do you know do you know what's going to.

be a hit when you come out with an. album? Do you know what's going to hit? >> Sometimes you do. Uh some and sometimes. they surprise you. The record label. thinks they always know what's going to. be a hit and they never know. The artist. is the is the one to ask because they're. the ones out playing all the time. Uh, an example of that would be Save a. Horse, Ride a Cowboy. So, record label said, "That's one of the. dumbest songs we've ever heard in our. lives." I said, "Oh, we know. Trust us,

we know.". But when we play this song, people lose. their minds. When we said play it like. in a bar somewhere or whatever, people. go crazy. Yes. But guys, nobody's going to take. you seriously with a song that is that. dumb. I mean, it's so stupid. The whole. song, I'm just telling you, people love. it. Ake Break Your Heart was pretty. stupid. I mean, they go, "Okay, we'll. let you put it on the record, but it's. never going to be a single. It's never. going to be on the radio." We said,

"Okay, well, you know the story. By the. time it's all said and done, people are. requesting this song, and it's not even. a single, and it it's our big the. biggest song we've ever had, >> man.". >> So, the answer is no, you don't. But. >> we knew that song was a hit because we. knew how people reacted to it. But. >> they still got to play it. You got to. get through the gatekeepers to get it on. the radio to find out for sure. >> Man. Man. All right. So, back to Lonear. So, you guys got your record deal. You. get into songwriting. Where does that. take you?

>> That took us um all over the United. States. We we were winning Academy. Country Music Awards. I wrote my first. song in that first number one song in. that band called Come Crying to Me. That. was in 96. I remember my dad calling. I was still. living in his basement at that time. because why did I need any place to. live? Cuz I'm on the road 200 days a. year. My dad calls and he says, "Hey, uh, we got a we got a check in the mail. or got got a letter in the mail to you.

from BMI." Which so it's ASCAP and BMI. At that point, I was at BMI. They rep. all the songwriters and track down the. money on songs get played. I said, "Oh, yeah." You want me to open it up? I. went, "Yeah, open it up. I'm somewhere. on the road." He goes, "This can't be. right.". I said, "What's it say?" And he tells me. the number, and it's a six-f figureure. number on this check. He goes, "This. can't be right." I said, "Well, does it. have a song title next to it or.

anything?" And he said, "Yeah, it says. come crying to me." I said, "Well, that. that's the song I wrote that just went. number one.". He goes, "Well, you better take 30% of. this out for taxes. you don't even have. a business manager or anything. And I'm like, "Yeah, that's probably a. good idea." So, I couldn't believe it. So, >> that's his response. You better take 30%. out for taxes. >> or the IRS will come get you cuz I was. like 22. >> And I wouldn't have thought of that. I. would have just spent it all probably.

But um. that's where uh I was able to take that. money and I I did think about spending. it all and I did spend it all. But what. I wound up spending it all on was a. house for my granny Rich and my papa. Rich. My papa Rich, a World War II vet, um was what they now refer to as tunnel. rats. So he was a small framed American. nutcase with a rifle. He was so mad at.

the Japanese. He wanted He hated them. till the day he died. He would not eat. rice. He wouldn't do anything that was. anything Asian at all. And I'm sure you. met those old men like that. Fought. fought that war. >> But he's on social security. Granny's on. social security. And they're both still. working full-time trying to and paying. rent on a house. Didn't own their house. or anything. And I got that first check. and I went and bought this house and. moved out of my dad's house. We. remodeled the basement to this house I.

just bought. They lived in the top and I. lived in the bottom. And that went on. for about 7 years. >> No good. >> And that's where I really got to. understand the World War II generation. was during that lonear period that. allowed me to afford to purchase. something for them to basically retire. them if they wanted to. Um, how did they how did I mean. >> that has to feel amazing to be able to. do that for your family. >> They did. >> How did they receive it? >> They couldn't believe it. >> And I remember my pap was like, "I can't.

let you do that. I I can't let you do. that.". >> I said, "Well, I've already done it. I've already bought it." I said, "How many Japanese you think you killed, Pap?" He goes, "Hundreds. in the caves. I mean, you go down there, you're killing them all. Hundreds. I. said, I think it you earned a break some. point. I said, why don't you just I.

said, I tell you what, you keep the yard. mode, keep the place looking good, we'll. call it even. He goes, "All right, I can. do that." I said, "All right." Shook his. hand. Him and my granny moved into that. house and uh he lived there till he. died. when he died, we moved her her to. another spot. But uh we used to shoot. ski off that back porch, thousands of. clay pigeons off that back porch with my. pap. Got video of it. He was still. hitting them in his, you know, late 70s. He died at 80 of colon cancer. But, you.

know, country music has given me those. opportunities to do things like that. Um. going into those meetings where they. tell me, "Your song sucks." Well, they. were right. It did suck. And that pushed. me to go forward and write something. that didn't suck. Write something that. would be great. That could be a hit. Thank God for it. And then it was a hit. And then I got to do something like. that, which is I mean, that's just a. that's a lifelong memory. I mean, I got.

to live basically seven years with both. of those grandparents alive. >> Wow. That's amazing. >> Yeah. How's your dad handling your come. up with a with the with the rise in fame. and the money and. the girls? >> Yeah, it wasn't the Lonear phase that. got him. It was the big and rich phase. that really got my dad. >> Really? >> Yeah. That's that's when it went. So, let me let me I'll finish up on Lonear. So, Lonear,

I am in my early 20s. They're all in. their early 30s. They're all married. with kids. I've got nobody. I'm writing. number one songs and getting six figure. checks and they're not. I can barely. play a bass guitar. They're much more. talented than me, worked a lot longer. and harder than me, but I'm making the. money and I'm So, there was started to. be some of this this tension going on. And of course, I just exacerbated that. by being an absolute ass a lot of times.

to these guys and not respecting them. like I should. And it actually wound up. with me throwing a punch at the lead. singer on the tour bus one night and it. landed and it wasn't pretty at all. And. two weeks later they fired me from the. band. So my name went from John Rich of Lonear. to just back to John Rich, not of. Lonear. So there was no more notoriety. to my name. Phone stopped ringing. Whereas before.

you want to write, you want to produce, you want to do all this stuff. It was. constantly going forward. The second. they fired me, it was over. You lose. your record deal. You lose lose your. publishing deal. You lose all your. deals. Everything's over. Lose your road. income. It's just over like that. And. there's nothing else to fall back on. >> How'd you deal with that? >> Not well for a little while because the. very next round of music those boys put. out had a song called Amazed, which we. talked about, which still is one of the. biggest songs that's ever been in.

country music. And I remember watching. the CMA awards. thinking this last year at this time I. was on the stage with those guys and now. I'm in an apartment that I'm about to. lose cuz I can't afford it. And they're. singing Amazed on the CMA awards up for. song of the year. >> Wow. >> And I'm dog meat. Just dog meat. So didn't handle that well for a while. But a a good friend of mine in the.

industry said, "Listen, when things are out of your control, find something that you can still. control and control it well and start. over." He said, "That could be as simple. as how many push-ups am I going to do. today? How many phone calls am I going to make. today trying to get a job or whatever it. is?" Find something you can still. control and control it well. That that. is a life credo of mine.

So what I could control, Sean, was a. pencil and a piece of paper. I could. still control that. And so I pulled that guitar off the wall. every day and I started writing songs. Writing songs that nobody cared about. because I didn't have a publishing deal. And in the course of about four or five. years, I wrote 634 songs. Holy [ __ ] That nobody cared about. But then one day they did because me and. this long-haired country boy from.

Virginia hooked up, called it Big and. Rich, and our music hit, and now. everybody wants songs that sound like. that. Oh, I have 634 of those. And. that's what led to being songwriter of. the year for three years in a row and. all that. So in the downtime, that's. when you make your bones in the. downtime. When you've had when you've. had the snot kicked out of you and. everything's done, you give up or figure. out what you can control and still. control it. Well, some of the best. advice I ever got. >> So, you you did you say six or seven.

years. >> uh of without a record deal? >> Without a record deal. >> It was. 98 to. the end of 2003. It was the beginning of. 98 to the end of 2003. So, it's a full 5. years. Yeah. Wow. With really nothing going on. They. offered me a little solo deal. I'd sing. solo and I said, "I'll show Lonear. I'll. put out some hits on my own and that. neither one of them cracked the top 60. and I was dropped from that deal within.

6 months. So, failed in the band, failed. as a solo artist. I thought, well, what? There's nothing left. That's it. I mean, what else are you going to do? So, I. thought, I guess I'll just be a. full-time songwriter. I can still. control that. But I hadn't thought about. Duo. Duo never crossed my mind till I meet. the Universal Minister of Love, Big. Kenny. How did you guys meet? >> We met in a bar. Can you believe that? Shocking. [Laughter].

Uh. there was a girl is a girl named Cindy. Simmons and she was uh a rep for Fender. Guitars here in Nashville and her job. was to go out and find upand cominging. talent singers and offer them a Fender. guitar to have a Fender endorsement. hoping that maybe like venture cap with. with giving stuff away and maybe one of. these turns into Gar Brooks or something. and there they'll be a Fender guy. So. her job was to go listen to live music.

and the ones that she really liked, she. could offer him a a Fender guitar. Well, I knew her and this guy, Big Kenny, also. knew Cindy. And Cindy had been telling. both of us that we needed to meet each. other. I remember her coming to me and. she said, "You got to meet this guy, Big. Kenny." I said, "What is his name?". Big Kenny. I said, "Big and fat, big and. tall, big and loud. I mean, what kind of. name is that?" She goes, "Trust me, it. would make sense if you saw him. If you. saw him perform, it makes sense." I go,

"Okay, whatever." She goes, "You need to. come down with me and watch him sing one. night." I go, "I'm not interested." Did. not care. He also did not want to meet. me. But eventually, she got me to come see. one of his shows at a place called. Douglas Corner here in Nashville, which. is no longer called that. It's right. across from Zies on 8th Avenue. And Big. Kenny was playing a show. I only went. down because Cindy was gonna be there. and I was like, "Okay, I'll check this. guy out." Well, here he comes walking. out on stage with hair like a lion. coming down his back and like, you know,

walking all crazy and I mean, I'm like, "What is this psychedelic crap I'm. looking at here?" I mean, that's what it. looked like. A hippie psychedelic. What. is this? And the music was extremely. creative. And I went, "Well, the guy's got. talent." I mean, I mean, I've never. heard music like that before, but that. it takes talent to do what I just heard. I went, "Huh, that's interesting." At. the end of Kenny's show, he goes,

"Before everybody goes home, I just want. everybody to make sure they go home with. a little something." And he reaches down. into a big plastic bag full of those. hard, individually wrapped pieces of. bubble gum that are like pieces of. gravel. And he starts slinging them out. in the audience. And the first trunch of. that that comes out, I see one coming. and it goes wa bang. Hit me right up. underneath my hat right in the face. I. said, "This guy's an idiot. I'm out of. here." Said, he goes, "No, you can't. leave. You got to meet him. You got to.

meet him." I went, "He's hitting people. in the face with bubblegum. Come on. I. mean, this is ridiculous. Please, please." I said, "Okay, fine." So, I. stayed. Kenny goes, "Yes." And he says, "We, you know, she'd been want us to. meet." And I said, "Yeah." He goes, "She. says we ought to write a song together.". I go, "Yeah, I mean it's" He goes, "What. are you doing tomorrow?". I said, "I'm not doing anything. tomorrow." He goes, "You want to meet up. like 11:00? We'll try something." I. went, "Sure, I guess." It was like that. Like two like two hunting dogs sniffing. each other.

>> So I went over to his house, wrote wrote. a song with him. The next day we wrote. another one and then the next day and. the next day and the next day and on and. on and on and that became what is now a. 20 21-year career so far with Big and. Rich. >> Wow. So you started liking him right off. the bat otherwise you wouldn't. >> I sat in a room with him. >> What' you like about him? >> Uh he was very opposite of me. We've. been described as Kenny likes to smell. the roses and John likes to mow them.

down. And that's very true. But that was. interesting to me because he would say. things in a writing session that I'll go. say that one more time and he would he. would throw a line out. I would go, I think that actually might work. He. goes, I'm telling you, man, it'll work. And then you put it in the song and it. works. And it's something I never would. have thought of. But then my my ability. to construct and my my my discipline on. remember I'd gone through Lonear so I'd.

learned how to do this. I had this side. put together. He had this crazy X factor. stuff going on. You combine those two. things and you wind up with structured. craziness. which is what save a horse ride a cowboy. is. It's in completely insane but. somehow makes sense. Ain't that isn't that wild? >> Yeah. So, we recognize that in each. other that I had a skill set and he had. a skill set and you put them together, it's not addition, it's multiplication.

It's a force multiplier when you put us. together creatively. >> Damn. >> Yeah. >> What was uh what was the turning point? Was it save a horse, ride a cowboy? >> Nope. The turning point was um a thing. that Kenny and I put together called the. Music Mafia. Have you ever heard of the. Music Mafia? >> No. >> Oh, this gonna you're going to love. this. So, this is in that span of time. where Gretchen Wilson is the bartender. and, you know, we're making these. interesting friends that are all kind of.

oddball outcast kind of people. >> Underdogs, >> underdogs, rough, didn't too crazy, too. rough, two-time loser, like all kinds of. people. But there were rappers, there. were spoken word artists, there were. blues singers, there were bluegrass. guys. all this incredible talent in. Nashville around that period of time. Then we all knew each other. And so we. would go, if you want to hear the. bluegrass guy, our buddy, you know, Shannon Lawson, you got to go to the. place where they play bluegrass. If you.

want to hear the rock band that we're. friends with, or the blues guy, you got. to go to that bar. You want to hear. John, you got to go that bar. It was all. segregated out. And we thought, well, this sucks cuz we all want to sing. together. I mean, when we're writing. songs together, we're singing together, but no place, you can't book all those. various things on one stage. So, we. decided, well, we'll just start our own. thing. We'll call it the Music Mafia. Musically, Artistic Friends, and. Alliance Mafia. That's what we called. it. And so, we found the smallest place.

in Nashville called the Pub of Love, which no longer exists. It held about 45. to 50 people if you packed it. We picked. the worst night of the week, Tuesday. night. Went to the owner of the place. and said, "We think we can bring 30 or. 40 people in here on a Tuesday night.". He goes, "Well, you can just have it if. you can do that." I mean, okay, come on. So, for 72 Tuesdays in a row, we did. Music Mafia on Tuesday nights. By the. time it was over, everybody from Cheryl.

Crowe to Bon Joy to Salivo, which was a. massive rock band at the time, click. click, boom, that band, all those. artists had been in. And we're looking. out in this crowd and there are record. label executives sitting next to. homeless people watching us sing. >> Are you serious? >> I'm serious. And then we started getting. record deals. So what we did with Music. Mafia is we showed Nashville that there. was a change happening in country music. that you could take all different.

disciplines of music, blend them. together, and they actually worked. They. were cohesive. It's not the rappers are. against the country guys and the country. guys are against the blues guys and. bluegrass is over here. It was over cuz. we proved it and it was so entertaining. to everybody that they couldn't get. enough of it. And so we had to go to. bigger venues and bigger venues and then. Kid Rock found out about it and he said, "I want to come to a music mafia." We're. like, "Come on, Bob. Bob comes to one, then Bob has us come to Detroit and do a. music mafia in Detroit. Pack this place.

out and everybody gets record deals and. everybody gets their shot." And I would. argue that country music has not been. the same since Music Mafia showed up. Because if you'll notice, all your award. shows now in country music are what? Mashups. Mashups of all kinds of artists, mashups. Post Malone is singing with. Jason Aldine or whatever's going on. That was considered heresy back in the. day. >> Wow. >> Yeah. That was like taboo. Like you guys. are a bunch of idiots. But again, the.

artists knew where it was going, not the. industry. >> Wow. >> Pretty good story, huh? >> That's amazing. >> Yep. >> You engineered that with these people. Well, Big Kenny and myself and and a. couple other musicians that were just. great talents and we said, "This is. stupid. We can't all play together.". >> Simple as that. >> That is pretty damn. >> We didn't think we'd wind up anywhere. I. mean, who's going to sign that? Gretch. can get off of work from bartending for. eight hours, you know, smoking her.

cigarettes and spitting in a cup and. going, "Give me the microphone." Here's. one me and John wrote last week. Probably ain't no good, but anyway. I'm. a redneck woman. The place goes nuts. >> Wow. That ought to feel. >> How unlikely is all that? >> Amazing. >> Yeah. >> So, you got your record deal out of. that. >> We did. We got signed to Warner Brothers. Records. Guy named Paul Worly signed us. Paul is still in my mind one of the best. record producers that there ever was in.

Nashville. Big old lefty, you know, big. old liberal guy, but a monster talent. And he just loved big and rich. and he. got got the job where he could sign. artist at Warner Brothers Records. And. he told me and Kenny, "I want to sign. you guys." And we thought he was. kidding. He said, "I'm serious. I want. to do this right now." We went, "Okay.". He goes, "I'm serious. I want to sign. you guys." We said, "You're for real?". He goes, "Yes, I'll give you $150,000. record budget." What? Kenny goes, "Can.

you put a bar tab in that record. budget?". He goes, "I bet we could probably work. that out." We had a guy at the time. named Mark Oswald who actually still. manages us. And Mark told me and Big. Kenny a couple months prior to that. He. said, "I know you guys think Big and. Rich is a joke." Like that's what people. call y'all when you walk into a bar. Oh, look. Haha. It's Big Kenny and John. Rich. It's Big and Rich. It's a joke. I. know you guys think that's haha. He.

said, "I actually think that's a real. thing. I think you guys as a duo is. actually a country piece of business and. country music. And we both told him he. was out of his mind. I said I said, "Big. Kenny, what is that?" And I said, "And. I've already I've been fired from a. band, had a flop solo deal. Are you This. is That's crazy, Mark." He goes, "I'm. telling you, man, there's something to. it. Big and rich is a thing." We were. like, "Okay, well, we appreciate it, but. no thanks." And then Paul Worley said, "I want to sign you guys." And so we. call Mark and go, "Paul really just said.

he wants to sign us as Big and Rich." He. said, 'I told you. >> Wow. >> So Mark became our manager. Warner. Brothers signed us. And that's when we. made that first record. It was called. Horse of a Different Color. And it sold. many, many millions of records. And that. put us on the map. >> Man, that is cool. >> Yeah. >> And it was a hockey stick from there. >> It was a hockey stick from there. So again, I'll ask you, how did your. dad, you know, how how was your dad. handling your your all the fame that you.

had amassed? >> Well, that's when it went into rockstar. mode when Big and Rich hit. That that's. when I went into that's when I started. gambling. That's when I started fighting. people and staying up all night and. doing crazy stuff and uh getting thrown. off airplanes and I mean, just, you. know, all that stuff. And u I'm I'm sure. it disappointed him dramatically. I know. it did. And I have apologized to him. since. Oh, absolutely. Yes.

>> Yeah. Once I once I turned myself. around, got things straightened back out. with the boss. Um I went back to him and. apologized for all that. He deserved an apology for all that. He. deserved more than that. But I. apologized big time. Wrote him a letter. and apologized so he could read it. anytime he wanted to. >> Damn. >> Yep. That's what needed to happen. >> How bad did it get? Do you want to go. into that? >> Was it drinking?

>> I'm rattling them off right now. I mean, listen, you're talking early, big and. rich. We're pulling 200 dates a year. The first tour that we got literally out. of the gate was Tim Mcgra called us and. said, "I want you guys to be the opening. act for the middle act on my 85 city. tour.". We went, "What?" He goes, "I think your. music is going to explode." This is. before Save a Horse had come out. And so. we're like, "Let's go." I call up Cowboy. Troy, the big black rapping cowboy from. Dallas, Texas. 6'5", 260b, world's only.

black rapping cowboy. Call up Troy. He's. working at a Foot Locker down in Dallas, yet he's got a master's degree at. University of Texas, but at this point, he's struggling a little bit. I said, "Hey, man. You want to come on the bus. with Big and Rich in rap? Oh, by the. way, we want to put you on the record.". He goes, "Are you serious?" I went, "Yeah, put him on the record. We all go. out on the road." So, here's a black. rapping cowboy, big Kenny, John Rich, and a guy who's about this tall that we. call Two-Foot Fred. He's actually three. feet tall, but we call him Two-foot Fred.

to keep his ego under control. and I'd run into him years before and he. kept up with this guy and he's just this. crazy little guy that's like a rock. star. So, we took him on the road, too. And so, we're rolling down the road with. Tim McGra with this circus of people. going on. And you can just imagine the. atmosphere. I mean, it was bananas. It. was bonkers. And it wasn't because, you know, you.

were malicious with it. You're just We. can't believe what's going on right now. We're going to have as much fun as we. possibly can before this ends. >> Damn. >> Right. >> Damn. >> It would be hard to think anybody. wouldn't have that angle at it because. it did seem absolutely impossible. >> Wow. Did you meet your wife during the. comeup? >> I met my wife in the Lonear days. >> Oh, really? >> Yes, I did. 1996. >> How'd you guys meet? So, my wife has her. master's degree from Texas A&M in.

kinesiology, exercise physiology. She. grew up living in places like fish. camps. You ever been to a fish camp? South Texas? >> No. >> Well, whatever the picture you have in. your mind is probably what it is. And I. mean, put herself through college, worked at doughut shops. I mean, whatever. And when I met her in Lonear, um, we were playing a little rodeo and. she was a Budweiser girl. She was a. promotional model and that was part of. what she'd do to put herself through. cause. So, smoking hot cowboy hat, black.

leather chaps, bikini top, walking. around in a in a rodeo. I'm like, I'm. trying to play the bass going who is. that I mean, what in the world just. walked in front of the stage like and. the whole band was doing that like oh my. long dark hair like like Pocahontas, you. know what I mean? Like, oh my like I. don't know what to do. So, The show is over. Show's over. Uh, the. Budweiser girls want to get a picture.

with the band, you know, cuz it's after. the show. She'll get a picture and I. tried to get her phone number and she. wouldn't give it to me, which was very. smart on her part. But this is back when. we all had pagers, remember? On your belt. Oh, still had rolls of. quarters in your car in case you need to. make a phone call. So, I said, "Okay, you won't give me your phone number." I. said, "Let me put my pager number on the. inside of your belt." She goes, "You. want me to take my belt off?" I go, "Well, do you have anything else to. write on?" She goes, "No." I said, "If.

if you don't mind," she goes, "Okay, fine." So, she takes her belt off and I. take a Sharpie out or a marker and I put. my pager number on the side of her belt. She put it back on. Two weeks later, I. get a page from Houston, Texas, and it. was her. So, we didn't get married till. 2008. So, I knew her for a long time. through all that all that span and um. I've known her a long time and she has. uh you know been the counterbalance to. my posture uh towards the world and has.

probably kept me out of federal prison. to be honest with you. >> What was it that uh I mean if you. if you knew her for that long before you. know you popped the question what was. it? because I knew too many guys in. country music who got married when they. shouldn't have and they were all. divorced and if they had kids their kids. hated them because they never saw them. and it wrecked their lives and it was a. big mistake. And I thought about it and. I said when if I can ever get the music.

industry's hand off of my throat and put. my hand on their throat, meaning have. enough success where I can start telling. them what to do. If I can ever get to. that point, I'm going to ask that girl. to marry me. And I didn't really know. what that moment would be, but the. moment came when that 634 songs I told. you about that I wrote in the in the. downtime and I I had 218 songs recorded. >> Wow. >> Everybody was calling me for songs. Uh I.

had seven songs on Jason Aldine's first. record. >> No kidding. >> Hick Town, Emerless Sky, Johnny Cash, Why I had all these massive hits and Big. Kenny had written on some of those too. several of them and then all the Gretch. and Wilson hits and then all the Big and. Rich hits and then Faith writing songs. for Faith Hill and having Mississippi. Girl was a huge hit. Like all these. songs I wrote that catalog became very. valuable. And so I decided to sell that. catalog of songs and I sold my catalog.

And at that point I knew. I can now say no if I want to. I can say. no. I can take the leash off. And that's when I picked up the phone. and I and flew down to Texas and we got. married and 17 years in coming up uh. here in December. >> Congratulations. >> I'd rather be an older dad than to have. done it younger and exploded everything, you know, like I I was always very analytical.

about those types of things. Watching. guys that I respected a great deal look. like they were miserable because they. were. Even though they had a lot of hit. songs, all that stuff, they were. divorced and their kids didn't like. them. And who you going home to? Like, why you out here beating yourself up to. go home to what? Your dog or your. Ferrari or whatever it is you're going. home to? >> I don't want to live like that. >> Mhm. >> And I knew I'd mess it up. >> How'd you pop the question? How'd you. propose? >> Well, my wife will be real happy to hear.

that I'll tell this story cuz I don't. think it's ever nobody's ever asked me. that question in interview. So, congratulations. um got to that point where I got that. catalog sold and uh at that point she. was doing a lot of uh car shows. So she. was doing she was like the Infiniti XQ3. is a blah blah blah blah blah and she's. standing in Chicago and Houston and. Vegas and New York. She's like way up. the ranks with that company. And every. year I would call September 29th. I just.

picked the day out of thin air. One day. I was I was with her and I said, "What's. the day today?" And she goes, "September. 29th." That great. I go, "Well, today is. your day. Today's your day." She goes, "What does that mean?" I said, "Whatever. you want to do today, we're going to go. do that. Whatever." She goes, "What do. you mean whatever?" So, she don't like. to shop. She's like very frugal and I I. go, "Buy some clothes, take wherever you. want to go eat, whatever. Call your. girlfriends. I don't care. I'll I'll pay. for everything." We started It was kind. of became a a a thing. So, I flew down.

on September 29th when she was at a car. show in Dallas. I had called her boss. two weeks prior to that and told her. boss, she won't be working for you in. two weeks, so you need to find somebody. else. She goes, "Why won't she be. working for me?" I said, "Cuz I'm going. to ask her to marry me and I'm going to. retire her.". She goes, "Okay." I said, "I'm serious. Find somebody else." She goes, "Okay, I'll find somebody else." Flew down. there, got a key to her hotel room, packed up all of her bags, had. everything sitting by the door, was.

wearing a suit. I had uh two bottles of champagne. One. was for us and one was for me because I. was so I was so freaked out, nervous. I mean, just like, "Oh, I'm going to. die." And I had I had written a song for. her and I had it on my laptop ready for. her to hit play. Had the ring, had the. whole thing. She walked in the room. She. goes, "Hey, what's going on?" She goes, "Why is all my stuff back?" I go, "Just. sit down, drink this, and hit play. sit down, drink this, and hit play. She.

goes, "What is happening?" I go, "Just. please do it.". So, she sat down, took a sip and hit. play. And the song was the story. The. song was what I was there to do. And. then I gave her the ring, and she said. yes. And then we hopped on a plane, flew. down to Houston where she's from, and. all her friends, everybody was loaded up. in a steakhouse, and we went down there. and celebrated it. And uh, a year later, my first son was born. A year later.

>> A year later. >> You got to think, man, we had waited, you know, we'd waited a long time. She. had been I'd been seeing her at that. point for seven years. >> How old were you? >> 36. >> 36. So 17 years, you got people throwing. themselves at you. You're a. insanely famous musician. What's the secret to a successful. marriage? With all that going on, you've. kept it together. A lot of people don't.

>> Uh, it has to be your job, your. profession has to become uh just totally. secondary. And like for real, you mean. it like it actually is secondary. It's. like, well, if that went away, I'll just. figure out something else to do. To get. to the point I was at though required. everything I had every single day 247. You don't write 634 songs in five years.

if it's not what you were thinking about. literally every waking minute of your. day. >> There's no room for anything else. But. once I had accomplished that and got. over that hurdle I was like I said. you're never free until you can say no. Larry Gatlin told me that of the Gatlin. brothers. Larry Gatlin said, "John boy, you ain't ever free until you can say. no." And no is a complete sentence. You. need to start saying no to people, John. Just say no. I'm not going to do that. show. No, I'm not going to take that.

writing appointment. No, I'm not going. to produce that record. Just start. saying no. I said, "Well, Larry, I can't. say no." I said, "There's all kinds of. people depend on me saying yes to shows. and all that stuff." He goes, "Well, don't you hire talented people?" I go, "Yes, sir." He goes, "Well, if you start. saying no, you say no too many times and. they leave you, don't you think they'll. find somewhere else to work?" I said, "Yeah, yeah, they would. They're the. best." He goes, "Start saying no. You're. not free until you can say no.". It was those hurdles that I got over. that I knew it was time I could get.

married because I could I could say no. And I'm like, I felt like if I never did. anything else in the music industry, I. hit every mark I ever wanted to hit, plus a bunch of other marks I didn't. think were even possible. I'd smoked all. the marks. If it ended the day, I'm cool. with it. I can This now becomes my. professional hobby. Now, we're going to move into things. We're going to go from success to. significance. How do we make that. transition? Because they're not one and the same.

success to significance. Where I live. today and what I spend my time doing, what I am, what I am focused on is. significance, not success. That's when you become a dangerous. animal. >> Mhm. Mhm. How long did it take you to. implement the saying no factor? When did you develop the confidence to. say I'm not doing that? about a year.

because I knew it was going to impact a. lot of people financially to do that. >> You know, these days, me and Big Kenny, we pull around 40 to 50 cities a year. and back then we were pulling 150. >> Wow. >> So, think about cutting your income. stream by 2/3. And you've got bus drivers and tour. managers and band and crew and your. singing partner. And that's a lot of. people. That was a big decision.

>> Yep. >> You guys made that together. >> Nope. >> No, you made it. >> Unilateral decision. She would never ask. me to do that. >> I didn't mean you and your wife. I meant. >> Kenny. No. >> That was you. >> That was me. >> How'd he take it? >> It worried him, you know. Um, I told. Kenny, "Well, maybe if there's fewer Big. and Rich shows, the price will go up.". >> Did it? >> He goes, "Let's hope to God.

it did." Currently, Big and Rich in 2025. is booking for I I'm not going to go. into numbers, but it is significantly. more than what it was when Save a Horse. Ride a Cowboy was the biggest song in. the United States of America. >> No kidding. >> Yeah. We have moved into that realm of. nostalgic. big and rich rock and roll country music. that people remember and love and they. want to hear it and you can only get it. there. We're still the only act that.

does that. There's not another version. of us. I kind of tell people we're like. the country version of Parliament. Funkadelic like George Clinton. We want. the funk. Got to had that funk. Well, if. you want to hear that song and feel that. energy, you got to go see P Funk. Well, if you want to feel the energy that Big. and Rich and Cowboy Troy do, you got to. come to our show. And so when we limited. the amount of shows, everything went up and nobody got hurt. And that was just him taking care of all. that because I knew he he was telling.

me, "You cannot work that hard and and. be a successful husband and f and daddy. Can't do it. You just can't.". And I let you accomplish all that and. you hit your marks. So. now go over here, right? So that's what I did. Wow. I'm learning. from you right now. >> Are you? >> Yeah, I'm learning. >> And I'm new at this whole damn thing. Real new. I mean, I just started this 5.

years ago. And it's. >> it's 5 years ago when you got down on. your knees. >> It's 5 years ago that I started the. podcast. It's about two years that I got. down. >> Two years. Two years. Yeah. It takes It takes years to. You'll never You'll never fully. understand how this is supposed to work. ever. >> Mhm. >> But it takes as as each year clicks by, if you're serious about figuring it out. and hanging around people that have done.

it longer than you, which is what I. continue to do, you'll start learning. more and more about it, man. Life starts. making a lot more sense. A lot more. And it's interesting, too, when things. happen out of out of nowhere, out of. left field that used to just absolutely. send you into a tail spin, you're able. to go, why'd you just let that happen? Like, what was the point of that? Not. what the is going on. It's like, really, what was that about?

>> Mhm. >> Cuz I know there's a reason why you let. that happen. And then you go on here a. little bit down the road and you go, "Oh, that's why that happened." Because. this couldn't happen if that was still. in place. He has to tear a piece off to. be able to add the new piece on. Nobody. likes to get their arm ripped off. Unless he's going to replace it with a. bionic arm that can pick up 10 times the. weight. Then I might take that arm. That. might be kind of cool. But it hurts to. get your arm ripped off. >> Yes, it does. >> Yeah. I mean, I always keep him at the.

forefront, you know. I always do. Even. before I came, I came too. I mean, my. intentions were always. were always to help and to to make it. about the person sitting across from me, not about me. And and um and it's, you know, because of him, you know, it. served me well. And. >> yeah, >> well, that's actually in the spirit of. who Jesus was. Jesus was not about him.

He was about us. He was about everybody. else. He allowed his own creation to. torture him to death. He allowed He allowed human beings that. he created to torture him to death. He. could have went it's over and just. erased the entire thing and started. over. >> Mhm. >> He didn't he didn't do that. He said, "If I don't do this, it's all it's all lost. They're all. they're all lost. I have to do it. I. have to let my own creation murder me.".

You know, Jesus wasn't murdered for. something that he did. He was murdered. for things that he said. He never hurt anybody. Isn't that wild? >> It is. >> I mean, that's how you know he was God. Because any human that had the ability. to stop something like that would have. >> It's a damn good point. It's a damn good point. >> Yeah. When did you start? You know, we we kind of touched on this.

at the very beginning, but you know, I. think. everybody. noticed how. the country music scene kind of started. to change. When did you start to see the. change? >> When they brought out the drag queens. >> When was that? Late 201. They started dragging out. You. know, you turn on an awards show and you. go, "Why are there drag queens on the. CMT Awards?

What is going on right now?" I mean, like, what? Because country music is is. family oriented. It's like mom and dad. and the kids and everybody gets around, they go, "Hey, the CM CMA awards are on. or ACM awards on what's and then they. started dragging in all this cultural. stuff that you're going what is. happening right now? What about the. country music and who was who was the. best singer this year?" and they got. away from that and went straight into. woke culture. And that came from the top. down. Now, that came from those record.

execs that were coming in from other. places. And part of the war that they. were waging on culture through the. through the woke side of it was to use. music as part of the war. >> Cuz what will penetrate a human being. faster than a than a really good song? Nothing. I mean, music just goes right. through you. It's just way better than a. book, way better than a podcast, way. better than a singer, way better than a. movie. Music is like, we know what music. is. It's powerful. And so they use the.

music industry, all genres, including. country music, to try to press that. uh down on people and and shut everybody. up that wouldn't go along with it. They. shut up a whole bunch of them. >> They did. >> Yeah. >> Did. It's sad to see. >> It backfired on them in country music. >> It did. >> Yes. big time. So there is no such thing. as the CMT Awards anymore. That used to. be a huge deal. Country Music Television. was like like MTV Awards. CMT Awards. And when they drug out when the drag.

queens came out on CMT awards at the end. of the show, I think the next year they had to have. it as a streaming show and the and now. there's not even a CMT awards. >> It affected it within one year. >> Nobody watch it again. They got Dixie. They got Budlighted. They People had enough of it. They went, "Well, last time we're watching that. click.". >> What was the I mean, what was the. conversation behind the scenes with with.

fellow artists? There had to be a lot of. talk about what the hell is going on. here. >> Like, dude, I don't know how much longer. I can keep. I mean, have you seen what. they're doing? I mean, like everybody's. hush- hush talking about it in green. rooms and tour buses and just horrified. at the stuff that is being pushed on. them and how the how the the image of. country music was being pushed hard in. that direction like that. And they're. like, "What are you going to do about. it?" I mean, if you say anything about. it, they're going to drop you.

like, yeah, but I I was in the position. at that point that. I had already stepped away from record. labels and he can't drop me cuz I don't. have a contract. Like I told you early. on, I don't have any contracts. So, I. was kind of an outlier that I could. actually come and say things and nobody. can really hurt me with it because I. don't work with you people anymore. That's really where Aldine, I think, is. head and shoulders up because he does. still have a record deal. He is still. part of that music industry complex.

that's out there, but he just still does. it like he wants to do it. I mean, mad. respect for Jason Aline. >> Have you seen a Have you seen a shift. back to the core of what it was? >> You have. When did that start? >> About a year ago. >> Do you think you started that? I mean you you that's another thing when. I when I noticed and I can't remember. what the first um solo I'm not a country. I'm not a music guy so excuse the.

verbiage here but when you started to go. solo and you started speaking out and. writing stuff like revelation I mean. yeah. >> did you do you think you had a major. impact in that shift. Um, I don't think so. I do know that the. industry was watching what I was doing. and that my songs like, yes, Revelation. was one. There was one called Progress. where the the line of the song said,

"Stick your progress where the sun don't. shine." Ode to Joe Biden. Had another. one called Earth to God. That was during. the pandemic. I mean, I had songs like. that that were that were becoming the. number one most downloaded songs, not in. country, but all genres. >> in all genres. >> All genres. So, like if you go to. iTunes, you go to Apple Music, there's. John Rich, Rich Records, which is a PO. box, and Earth to God or Progress or.

Revelation. And it wasn't in the country. chart. It was the all genre chart. So I. remember progress for instance sat there. for two weeks. Number two was Beyonce. and number three was Lizo. and I'm at one. >> Holy [ __ ]. >> Right. So. >> you don't think you had a shift went. there's an appetite for this. We didn't. realize the appetite was that big. Maybe. they looked at it. I don't know. I don't. talk to these people but I know they saw. it. Everybody's everybody looks at those. charts. So maybe they went, "Oh, the.

appetite." Probably a combination of. knowing their audience was starved for. that type of content and that people. were changing the channel and changing. the radio station in mass. They were. getting budlighted. The fans were responding. There's a. difference in being cancelled and what. capitalism is. Being cancelled means. that a small group of people tell Shawn. Ryan, "You're done. Click." and they. just cancel you and your audience never. had a say. When the audience decides.

that they're going to turn you off, that's capitalism. We don't want to drink Bud Light anymore. because they stuck a dude on the can. So, we're going to start drinking. something else. I'm going to now I'm a Kur guy. Now I'm. a Miller guy and I'm whatever. That's. not cancellation. That's capitalism. That's you guys made a marketing move. It didn't work and here's your backlash. That's how music works a lot of the. times that the audience I think the. audiences revolt against country music.

and maybe them seeing some some of what. I was doing and how that was hitting as. big as it was. Maybe it was a. combination of several of those things. Can't really be sure. >> Did you start getting calls from other. artists other than Jason. >> from other artists? Yeah. >> Oh yeah. A bunch of them. >> You started doing that. >> Dude, you're sitting at number one on. the all genre chart right now. I said I. know it's crazy, right? They go, how did. you do that? >> What did you say? I say I call friends. of mine who have podcasts and you know. people that you know social media people. that I'm friends with you know there's.

everybody from Benny Johnson to Cat. Turd. I mean, I got friends and so if I. if I record a really good song and I and. it's compelling and I call up all my. friends and they're they'd be a good. friend back and say, "Yeah, man. We'll. hit we'll hit the repost on that," then. it's up to the music if the music will. go cuz they can watch it on social. media. But downloading it, that's on. them. And so when enough people download. that thing and it becomes the number one. most downloaded song in Progress case. for 2 weeks, that was substantial. That.

was a big That was actually a really big. win, >> man. >> It was shocking to me. I was astonished by that to be honest. with you. But it but it it it told me, "Oh yeah, there's a lot of people feel. exactly like I feel out there." And. country music is not delivering them the. music they want to hear. Cuz if you put. Progress on country radio nationwide, God only knows how big that song gets. But it was never played on any. terrestrial radio stations. Man, that's. >> They wouldn't touch it, but it's number.

one. >> That is wild. >> I know. >> And none of the uh none of none of the. the record labels reached out about any. of them. >> Oh, god. No. Are you kidding me? What would they say? Congratulations. You're sitting at number one without us. No. >> I would think they're greedy minds. Don't I I I just I think that people. like that don't have a soul. >> Some of them don't. There's definitely. some that don't for real. Um, and then.

the rest of them are are just. uh trying to trying to play the game. within the industry. It's kind of like. look at what Hollywood's doing. They're. starting to change their their. programming. They're starting to move. towards content that Americans actually. want to see instead of, you know, the. Snow White remake that nobody cares. about or the the the crazy new version. of Star Wars that you're going, I don't. want my kids watching that. >> Mhm. >> You know what I mean? People just once.

they flop enough times in a row, business, capitalism kicks back in and. they go, you know what? This is not. working. >> Man, I hope Hollywood doesn't revive. itself. I think I think I think they are. so lost they don't know what the hell to. do anymore and people boycotted it. They've quit they've they've let go of. their streaming services and they all. come. >> dropping like flies. >> I bet Kimmel's next. >> Yeah. >> I mean Kimmel ain't any different than. Cobar. That's same that's same deal.

>> I think that's why Fallon had Greg. Gutell come on. >> Oh, really? >> I know Fallon. I've known Fallon for a. long time. long time and. Fallon has never struck me as whack job. like Cobar was dancing around with the. needle on his head and all that. Fallon. would never do that. I still think. Fallon's a lefty. Yeah, but he ain't. that. And so for him to bring Gutfeld. onto his show kind of broke the wall. It. like ripped the veil for a minute. And.

um it was the biggest ratings he had had. in years just by having Greg Gutfeld on. the show. Yeah. Yeah. They're starting. to bend. >> I just wish they'd just keep going down. the same damn road they're going on. >> Most of them are going to. >> It's disgusting. It's disgusting. >> And as artist, you don't need them. Do. you need Hollywood Sean Ryan? >> You know, I thought I did it. When I. started this, I couldn't get anybody to. pay attention. The first podcast I ever. did, we hit the top 100 on the Apple.

charts, released at Christmas of 2019. still couldn't get any like I I guess of. course still because it just it was. brand new but it it's been a hockey. stick ever since and I couldn't get an. agent. I couldn't get a manager. They. couldn't get an advertiser. Nothing. would happen. And then about the time everybody. started paying attention it was too. late. I didn't realize it was too late. It took me about 6 months to yeah. >> realize this entertainment industry is a. [ __ ] joke. People just they just talk.

to you. They call you, they waste your. [ __ ] time. They talk about all this. [ __ ]. >> They want to pace your action for doing. nothing. >> Yeah. And nothing happens. So, I fired. everybody. Fired all the managers, fired. all the agents. Get the [ __ ] out of. here. Don't want to work with you. I'll. make contact with whoever I want to make. contact with on my show. >> And uh and we've been doing that. I. guess. I came to that realization last year. And I I guess never say never, right?

But I don't think I'm ever going back. >> Why would you give up anything that. you've got right now? Do you like the. way things are today? >> You didn't [ __ ] bring anything to the. table. >> That's what I'm saying. Otherwise, I. wouldn't be sitting here. >> But. >> you get to invite guys like me and I. call up. >> They all call up and like, "We're the. best. We're the best. We're the best at. what we do. This is the best agency.". >> And it just got to the point where I was. like, "Cool. You know what? All of you. guys say, every single one of you, all. the top, you know, what is WME, CNA,

UTA, all those, it just got to the point. where I was like, cool. All you. [ __ ] say the exact same damn. thing. How about you put something in my. lap and say this is why we're the best. rather than this [ __ ] USAR salesman. [ __ ] If you don't have anything, get. out. >> What' they say to that? >> Well, then it was talk to this person, talk to this person, we'll get the CEO. I'm like, I don't give a [ __ ] about the. CEO. I don't [ __ ] care about any of. you. Present me with something or get. the [ __ ] out of here.

>> They weren't used to talking to a. military man. >> So, >> so and uh and then, you know, back I. mean, just going back to, you know, you're talking about being. being a father and a husband and being a. good husband and a good father and how. you have to say no to stuff. I I learned. that fairly early on. And uh I don't do. I'll do a speaking event here and there, but all these people want me to do the. speaking circuit. I'm like, I'm not. doing it, man. That's just more time.

You are you are going to starve me of my. time with my wife and my kids by with. with with dangling money in front of me. that I won't even have [ __ ] time to. spend because you've got me so damn. busy. So, I'm not doing it. >> There you go. You you bring it here to. to the Nashville, Middle Tennessee area. and I'll think about doing it. But I'm. not I am not [ __ ] going on the road. Not doing it. >> You are. Yeah. You're so far ahead of. the game to understand that. A lot of.

people can't ever get to that point. >> You got one shot to raise good kids, be. a good husband, and uh I do not want to. [ __ ] that one up. And uh and so when I. when you know and it was me I mean when. I first started it it was just me and my. wife and the attic of my house. And then. along came uh three guys that I call my. the the the OG crowd. And it was just us. three for years just [ __ ] grinding.

grinding grinding. And. >> and I started to feel like I was. starving my wife and my kids. And I I. still feel like that a little bit to. this day. But so I started building it. out and started I'm still learning how. to relinquish a little bit of control. But when I put my team together, I I. said no entertainment people. I don't. need bookers for my podcast. I don't. need agents. I don't need any of this. [ __ ] Uh hired a COO that's.

>> been [ __ ] amazing. producer Jeremy, you know, we went to your house and uh. >> and you know, those two are both academy. grads and and and uh every all my. friends like, "You need you need the. right manager. You need this." I was. like, "No, if you've touched. entertainment, don't even [ __ ]. apply.". >> So, I don't want the I don't want the. typical podcast road map. I don't want. any of that stuff. I want a total I just. want a unique business. We we make our.

own whatever. You get what I'm saying? >> If I if I had a record deal, Sean, the. last five songs I put out would have. never been heard. and they all were at number one. They. would have never been heard. They would. be turned in to the label and they would. go, "That's nice." and stick it on the. shelf and that's it. You would never. hear it. And and for me, music is my. weapon of choice. That's my weapon of. choice. Music. what I can say in a song, how many millions of people I can get to. understand something or think about.

something. That that's mine. That guitar. is like how how you handle a pistol and. a rifle. That's mine. That guitar, that pencil and that paper, you know, it's crazy how powerful a pencil and a. piece of paper is. It's the most. limitless thing probably God ever. created. If you think about the Constitution. of the United States started out as. blank paper until someone picked up a. pen and began to write. Now we have a.

country. You think about the Bible. Men and women inspired by God picked up. something to write with and began to. write down what they were being told to. write down. And now we have the Bible. you come to me as like just a a. songwriter guy, but I'm looking at a. blank piece of paper and I can put. whatever I want to put on that or. wherever I feel moved to put on that and. then we'll see what happens. But it is. the most wide openen thing ever. And to. ever allow the industry to tell to take. that freedom and that limitlessness away.

from you is a crime. If you can afford. to say no, you got to say no. Even if. you can't afford to say no, if they go. too far with it, you have to say no. anyway. Because you can't live to your. full potential if the things that you're. coming up with are never going to be. heard. >> Mhm. >> Right. >> Oh yeah. >> Like all the great thoughts you may. have, all the things you have to offer, if somebody's over your head going, I'm. not going to let you go past this mark. Well, then what's the point? What's the. point in even being here? I love I love.

how you've done it. >> Thank you. >> That's why I was pumped to come on here. cuz I'm like I'm proud of you. I've been. watching it and you've done it your way. It's about as American as it gets. That's why people like to watch you. >> That means a hell of a lot, man. >> Yeah, that's just the truth. >> Especially coming from you. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> So, what what was the first what do you. call it? Solo. Am I saying it? When you. What's the first. what you solo stuff that you're doing? Yeah,

>> it's it's passionate. topics that you're writing and singing. about. >> Yeah, I'm not really writing party. songs. >> No, >> got a bunch of those. You can hear them. at the Big and Rich show. >> So, how did these come to you? >> Um, Earth to God came to me because it was. 2020. Um, this is when the riots are all. happening. They've got everybody locked. down. All the concerts got stopped. My. kids are trying to learn virtually. They're telling us to get keep your mask.

on to go on the all that crap's going. on. The world's on fire. It looks. apocalyptic. And one morning I woke up like the fifth. day in a row. I hadn't taken my pajamas. off cuz why? No, you can't go anywhere. anyway. I'm like th this is this is not. right at all. And I had this image that. popped into my head of like an old man, like a World War II guy, sitting in. front of one of them old CB radios where.

the microphone comes up like this like. like uh like on MASH. Remember that show. that old CB and they're they're pressing. the button. like a guy hailing God through a CB. radio. That's what was in my head going. press the button, Earth to God. Come in. God. Boop. Earth to God, come in, God. That's what was in my head when I woke. up. And I went, Earth to God, come in, God.

And I thought, well, he's right there. I'm like, I talk to you all the time. I. know you're right there. Like, he's. literally right there. You just have to. s you have to reach out to him. SOS him. He and he will respond. He'll go, "This. is God. Come back, Earth.". And I thought, "Wow, what a thing." And. I just went, "Okay, I got to grab a. guitar." And that one felt like I had. been hit on the back of the head with a. hammer. Like bang, right? And so I just. went and grabbed a guitar. I told my. wife, I'm going to be upstairs for a.

minute. And about an hour later, I had. Earth to God. And I put that one out. And the whole place just went, "Yes, that's the that's the lyric we needed to. hear." And I'm not putting them out to. get another plaque on the wall. I got. that doesn't really mean anything to me. at this point. It's how many millions of. people can I get to hear something that. I think they should hear. Earth to God. was the first strike on that one. Like. bam, it hit. And then the second one was. progress. And that's when Biden's in the.

White House and gasoline's going through. the roof and I don't remember lumber. like a 2x4 cost $24 or whatever it was. And I went, man, if this is progress, they can stick their progress with the. sun don't shine. As I'm walking around. the Home Depot talking, mumbling to. myself and went sat in my truck and I. went, "Oh, that's a song. Stick your. progress where the sun don't shine. Keep. your big mess away from me and mine. If. you leave us alone, well, we'd all be. just fine. So stick your progress where. the sun don't shine." I wrote that down. on a piece of paper in my truck, went.

home, called a couple of songwriting. buddies, still during co got on the. computer and we wrote the verses and I. put it out and it was number one for two. weeks and knocked Lizo and Beyonce out. Then came. Revelation, which is the I think maybe when you. really probably saw. >> what I was swinging at. >> And. this song. is not even a song. Yes, it has music.

and yes, I'm singing it, but what the. lyrics of that song are are taken. directly from the pages of the Bible. itself. I just figured out how to make. them rhyme. That's all it is. It is this is what it. says. Make that into a song where people. can absorb what this is saying through. music. man, as I as as you watch. very wicked people,

extremely vile, wicked. human beings that. carry out the devil's mission on this. planet cuz that's their daddy. That's their father, the father of lies. is what he's called. But they believe. that he's going to win in the end. That's why they serve him. And they are. more devout than almost any Christian. you will ever meet. The real the real. McCoy Satan worshippers are so devout.

I mean, it'd put a Christian to shame. their level of devoutness. Most. Christians, they are dead serious about it and they. believe they're going to win. And so the. battle of good and evil, when you start. talking about is that real, it ain't. like the battle of good and evil like in. Star Wars. It's legit. good and evil and evil believes it will. win. And so that spiritual warfare that the. Bible talks about in many, many, many. places is as serious as a heart attack.

We are only separated, it says, from the. spirit by what's referred to as the. veil. There's a thin veil between you and I. sitting here right now physically. looking and speaking to each other and. literally whatever else is standing in. this room that has been assigned to you. and I to make sure we accomplish what it. is we're supposed to accomplish. There's. some big old muscled up whatevers angels. standing around us because we belong to. him and we're doing what he tells us to.

do. So we got a security team, right? We can't see them, but you can. see the results of what happens. So. things that happen in the spirit then. manifest into the flesh. Like wars in. heaven, wars in the spirit, struggles. that are going on that are just on the. other side of that veil manifest himself. in culture and and in and in war and in. all kinds of things that happen on the. earth. Well, I had never heard that. talked about in a song. How do you even. make a song about that?

>> Where do you begin? Right. But I. thought, I've got a I've got a chorus rolling in. my head and I know where that came from. So, I'm gonna sit down and see what. happens. And again, it was less than two. hours and I had this song Revelation. written. You wrote that in less than two. hours. >> I mean, you talk about Bolt of. Lightning. Yes, sir. And then I pulled out my. iPhone and sang it into my voice notes.

and then put my earbuds in and walked. around the house for over an hour with. it on repeat just listening to it over. and over and over and chill bumps are. coming up on my arms and that's my. voice. I don't give myself chill bumps. So wasn't about me singing it. It was. like that's it. Like it was like. it was him putting it through me onto. that page and go I want people to hear. this. I want you to say that. I can read you the lyrics. You want to. hear the lyrics? Absolutely. For people.

that haven't heard it. And if anybody. wants to go, just go on YouTube and look. up John Rich Revelation. Says, "Dancing in the flames, the people. cursed his name, bowed at the altar of. the father of lies. But there's a number. to their days and all their evil ways. The Lord's going to turn away from all. their cries. Oh, revelation. I can feel. it coming like a dark train running. Oh, get ready cuz the king is coming. The. king is coming back again. Brimstone.

upon their heads, millstones around. their necks. They'll feel the shaking. when the trumpet sounds. And no matter. where they hide, there'll be nowhere to. run when Jesus puts his mighty foot on. the ground. Oh, revelation, I can feel. it coming like a dark train running. Oh, get ready cuz the king is coming. The. king is coming back again. And then it. tags a song with, "So wrote the prophet. John, who wrote Revelation." So wrote. the prophet John before his days were.

done. The king is coming and it won't be. long. >> I love it. >> That's the lyrics of Revelation. So all of that is what it says, what the. Bible says. It says that. they will be utterly and completely. destroyed in the end. But up until that. point, they're running ravenous and. loose all over this earth. Says that. says the devil roams around as a. ravenous beast seeking who he may.

destroy. Who he may devour is what it. says. He roams around like a ravenous. lion seeking who he may devour. That's what you're seeing in culture, Sean. That's what you're seeing when you. turn on the TV. That's what you're. seeing when you see these maniacs out in. the street and people doing things that. seem impossible that a human could even. conceptualize what that is. What they're. doing to kids, what they're doing to fellow human. beings, it seems impossible. And it is.

impossible because a human being was not. meant meant to do that. They're only. doing that because they are possessed by. the spirit of their father. Just like I. am possessed by the spirit of mine. So I am capable of doing things that a. human being is not capable of doing. because it's not me doing it. It's his. power and authority if I'm willing to. let him exert himself through me that. big things can happen. On the flip side, the ones that are devoted to their. daddy, Satan, the devil himself,

Lucifer, the dragon, when they devote their lives to him, he's able to accomplish things through. them. He can dwell within them. He can. make things happen outside of their own. ability, too. >> Mhm. >> Yes. That's what I mean. Like things. that happen in the spirit manifest in. the flesh. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Yep. >> God and the devil are fighting and they. possess their own people and the people. are us. And so our spirits are now. working at the behest of whoever it is. you're with. And that plays out out here.

in the street. Now, when you're talking. about. the Satan Worsh verse that you're that. you're that you had mentioned earlier. that that that are so devout it would it. would it more devout than than than the. everyday Christian. >> Mhm. >> I mean, have you I've heard about this. I've talked about it. I know that there are people that.

trade things for power, sacrifices, child sacrifices, all that kind of. stuff, but but I've never really I've. never really seen it. You I've heard. about Bohemian Grove, >> right? >> I know this runs rampant in Hollywood, the Pittdy [ __ ] music industry. Have. you seen it? >> No, not with my physical eyes. I have. not. >> Have you ever been approached? I've been. approached and invited to everything you. can think of. >> How do how does the approach happen? Do. you know what it's going to be?

>> Most people don't. And that's why they go the first time. cuz they it's pitched to you like this. Hey man, congratulations on the career. You're doing great. Your song of the. year three years in a row. You guys just. sold seven million records. Um, hey, I'd like I'd like for you to be. my guest. My personal guest. And this is. like a head of a record label or the. head of some big company or another. really famous famous person like some. big time guy.

and they will come to you with that and. go you be my guest. I'm going to take. you there. I'm going to introduce you to. everybody. It's going to be the greatest. networking you've ever done in your. life. It's going to your career is going. to explode. You're going to have. opportunities you never even thought. were possible because the people you're. going to meet and I'm going to make sure. that they know how great you are. So. what are you doing? you know, the second weekend of October. That's the pitch. So, how in the hell is. anybody supposed to know there's a. problem with that?

>> Doesn't sound like there's a problem. with that at all. It sounds like, wow, what an opportunity. And then they'll. get them into those places. And from. from what I've heard from people who. have been in those places, they say all. manner of horrible things start breaking. out in there and you're going, "What am. I what is going on?" But now you're in. it. Now you're standing there. Now it's. happening and I think it's a I think. it's a control mechanism. >> Now you're on video. >> They got you on video. Control. mechanism. It's a way to co-opt people. that they think um you know have sway.

and have sw and you know have popularity. or whatever. Um and then I guess. ultimately it can be a a way to. blackmail people, get them to do things. they want them to do. And when I was. teenager, I remember my dad preaching. about the importance of discernment. That discernment. is a very serious thing to ask for, to. pray for, to discern things. Because the.

devil is so slick, he is literally one. degree off of perfection with the way he. presents things. Like he's the greatest. counterfeit. of all time. He's the greatest. It's like almost. indistinguishable from the real thing. And so the question is, how do I know. what I'm looking at? The answer is you. don't know what you're looking at. You. don't have the capacity as a human being. to understand what you're looking at. You don't possess that.

But the Holy Spirit does. And so if. you've given your life to Jesus Christ. and the Holy Spirit enters your life, the Holy Spirit is repulsed by those. things. Whereas your physical being may. not even know there's anything to be. repulsed about. The Holy Spirit is. absolutely not only repulsed but. enraged. Like that's the enemy. So I've. I have asked for that. I have prayed for. that since I was a late teen. Even in my. crazy years and all that, I would still.

when I would pray, I would pray for that. discernment. And I pray for it all the time now. But you tell me this. Let me ask you a. question. And have you ever walked into. a room of people and these are all. upstanding upstanding people and. everybody in the room is supposed to be. there and you shake maybe 30 or 40 hands. that night and out of the 30 or 40. hands, two or three of them just make. your skin crawl when you shook their. hand and looked in their eyes. You ever. had that happen? >> Oh yeah. >> And you don't know why cuz they look. just like everybody else you just shook.

hands with. But there's something about. that one I just went. You can feel it. Well, I bet especially. in the last two years since you got. saved, gave your life to Jesus, and he. he's in you now, I bet it's it's just to. the max. But especially if you ask for. discernment, he will grant you that. And then you'll be able to. stay stay away from those landmines. I mean, you will, but you got to ask for. it. >> Oh, I do. I've turned a lot of things.

down. I can't imagine who comes up to. you looking like they're perfect. >> The perfect handshake and you're going, "Ah, something ain't right about that.". >> Yep. Happens a lot. >> Yeah. >> And and also the the I've learned to. look out for the favors. I want to help. you. >> Uh-huh. >> Why do you want to help me? >> Right. >> What do I owe you after you do this? I. mean, I don't ask that anymore. I just I.

don't need any favors. Right. So, and I. think that's how I think that's I think. that's how it works. I think. you get introduced, you get some favors. and then those favors need to be repaid. later on and then you're [ __ ]. trapped. Sometimes even the association. with someone whether they did you a. favor or not the fact that they're able. to say he came and did this for me or he. came and did that for me or whatever and.

then people that know that that's a bad. guy now associate you with a bad person. even though you have no idea that's a. bad person. You see what I mean? >> Yeah. >> And so if you get that feeling your skin. starts to crawl around somebody you're. correct. You may never know the reason. why your skin crawled, but you can trust. that it's real. >> I mean, I see it in politics. I see it. in politics. >> The worst, >> you know, the favor brokering that goes. on behind the scenes. I mean, through. through through the.

>> I mean, just just the come up. before the election, interviewed a lot. of people that wound up in the. administration or close to the. administration or whatever, a lot of. them. And. I could see some of the favors that are. going on behind the scenes now, things. that they want me to do for them. >> And I'm like, I. I'm the one that did you a [ __ ]. favor. >> I put you in front of millions of.

people. I don't need to give you any. more [ __ ] favors. >> Right. And and I can see like some of. the favors, man, that that it's it's. like. because somebody voted for you. Somebody. got you confirmed. Somebody got you in. the administration. Now you're they. should just be doing that [ __ ] anyways. >> Now I got my leash on you. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Yep. And that's minuscule [ __ ] I can't. even imagine.

how big the favors get. Look at the Epstein stuff. >> Oh god, there's no telling. There's no telling. I mean, it's rampant. is. And you know, Epstein's one of them. And there's thousands of Epstein types. out there. They're everywhere. And. that's that's the thing about think. about God, how he thinks. You know, if. you go you're reading, I love the verse. that says, "I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. My will, my word. does not change.".

He's the So meaning however he dealt. with stuff at the very beginning of what. we know to be the beginning until today, he does not care that we all now have. iPads. He doesn't care now that we all have AI. or that we all have whatever. He is. going to deal with you the same way he. dealt with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Pharaoh, Daniel, all the way down. through all the way up to John and Sean. He will not treat it any differently. than he ever has. So ask yourself this.

question then how has he treated. countries or let's call them empires. back in the day who mass abuse children. What's the one thing Jesus said that I. said earlier in this interview that's. the most aggressive thing at least. written down that the man ever said? You'd be better off to die than to mess. with one of these kids. You'd be better. off dead. Well that's what the son of. God said. and what are we doing in this. country and what's been going on for a.

very very long time concerning kids, unborn kids and kids that are born and. what do they do to those kids and we. know it's it's at levels that nobody can. even comprehend and that's just what we. know about. That's that's Lord knows. what we don't know about. And so I. wonder, you know, everybody's got their. plans on. we're going to beat the Democrats and. we're going to change this and we're. going to fix this and we're going to. stop, you know, we're going to we're. going to write the ship and all that. Okay?

If he lets you, you will. because he can flip this table upside. down anytime he wants to. Ask Noah. He. can flip it upside down. without with a thought. He can flip it upside down the whole. thing. And he has a propensity to do. things like that. When you go back in. the Old Testament and look at Moses and. Pharaoh, Moses goes to Pharaoh and he says, "Let. my people go." We all know the story.

And Pharaoh and Pharaoh says, "No." And. then a plague hits. Something bad. happens. Noah goes back. Noah, Moses. goes back and says, "Let my people go.". And then it says, "But God hardened. Pharaoh's heart.". Which tells me Pharaoh might have been. of the mind. You know what? I've had. enough. Fine, you guys go on and get. out. No, it says God hardened his heart. Hardened Pharaoh's heart so he wouldn't. let him go. Why? So God could bring the.

next one and the next one and the next. one and the next one to show his people. and the Egyptians that I am real. I am. God. Only I can make these things. happen, not you. You're not going to go. in here and work out a deal in the back. room and and your people get let go. No, I'm going to make Pharaoh say no. So. then I can show you guys who I am again. because you forgot who I am. I'm going. to remind you who I am. So where my head. goes with all this is when is God going. to remind America who he is?

When is that going to happen? >> I feel like it's coming. >> I feel like it's coming, too. And I feel. like we've earned it. When is God going to remind America who. he is? The most blessed nation in the history. of nations, the freest nation, the. richest nation. And look what we've done with it and. allowed to go on in this country. I mean, it back in the old back in the.

old books, Old Testament, they didn't do. anything near what we're pulling off. So, if he's the same yesterday, today, and forever, and his word does not. change, it's coming, my man. It's coming. at some point. You better make sure. you're hooked up with him when it does. That's where my head's at these days. I. watch all the stuff on TV like everybody. else. I'm like, "Well, maybe they can maybe they can figure. something out. We don't have mushroom. clouds, you know, over our heads here, but I'm going, it's really just going to. depend on what he allows to happen.".

Mhm. >> Right. Mhm. I mean, the stuff with the kids, I know. that's. very important to you and me as well. I've covered it several times on the. show. We just had Tim Tibo on not too. long ago. >> Oh, I love Tim. >> Amazing. >> Tim and I are some of the conversations. I've had with him. >> The stuff that that guy, >> you ball your eyes out what that man. knows about. >> Yep. Yep. >> He's a saint. >> Yes, he is. my friend Ryan Montgomery,

Jared, Victor Marx, had a lot of guys on. to discuss child child abuse, sexual. exploitation, rape. >> I mean, child sacrifice, all that kind of stuff. And this is one of your next things, right? One of your next solos. >> Yeah. So, I Well, I've got a song that's. been written now for about 6 months. called The Righteous Hunter. This happened because I saw a video clip.

of Shawn Kongs. on camera on an award show somewhere and. he looked right into the camera with all. the spotlights going on and he said, "I own your kids. I own their souls.". And he's looking into, "I own their. souls. I determine what they listen to. I determine what clothes they wear. I. own their souls.". >> He said that. >> Yes, he did. I'll send you the clip. And. you're looking right at the devil. I. mean, his eyes are just like.

And I saw that and went, "Oh, is that. right? Is that right, Diddy? You own my. kid's souls, huh?" And I thought to. myself, is anybody going to say. something about that? Anybody in the. news? Any any preachers? Hello? Any any. of the big preachers? Joe Ostein, where. you at? Anybody going to stand up and. say, "Hey, you're a child of the devil. and you don't own you don't own any of. our kids' souls and I hope God takes you. to hell sooner than later." Is anybody. going to say that? No. No. Just going to.

roll on down the road. Well, buy my book. Buy my book. Put more money. in the plate. No. No preachers. No. preachers calling that out. And it made me so furious to hear him. say that. I go, "So music is his weapon. of choice?" Well, me too, big boy. And I. ain't I ain't near as well known as. Shawn Combmes. Not by a long stretch, but my daddy can beat up his daddy. And it ain't even a fair fight. It ain't. even a fight.

And so that led to a song called The. Righteous Hunter. And I started thinking. about and I would ask you to think about. this and every dad or mother watching. this right now. Is there anything you would not do to. keep another adult from putting their. hands on your kids? Anything? Anything out of bounds? Nothing. Right. But they are their their. arrogance and their level of wic.

wickedness and devoutness to their. father has got them to a point where. they'll just stand right out there in. broad daylight and tell you I own your. souls. I own your kids' souls and. there's nothing you can do about it. So that led to the writing of of a song. that has a lyric that is uh it's. it hits so hard I haven't put it out. Put it to you that way. haven't put it. out yet. I gotta figure out what the. video is to this song. And matter of.

fact, when I wrote it, I was thinking. about it's talking from a dad's. perspective. I thought, who would be a good dad in. the video, The Righteous Hunter? And you. know who came to mind? You. You came to. mind. You came to mind. You popped in my. head. I went, "He's a dad. He's a. Christian. And he's a lethal individual. if you mess with his family." I went, but I haven't released it, so we can. talk about that at some other time. But.

I think you would be absolutely colossal. as the dad uh in a video like that. >> Well, that's an honor to hear you say. that. Thank you. >> See that look on your face right now? That's the look. >> They don't I don't think they. understand. I don't think the people. that talk about our kids like that and. that do horrible things to kids, I don't. think they have any touchstone. whatsoever to what an actual mom or dad. that loves their kids will do to them. And you know why I don't think they have. a touchstone to that reality? Because.

they hate kids. They try to kill them. all before they're born. That's number. one. If they are born, they try to. co-opt them, twist them, break them, move them, abuse them, sexualize them, whatever they do. They that is their way. of hurting God. When Jesus Christ said, "This is what I love the most. These. these children, how then how can they hurt Jesus the. most?" How can the devil inflict the. most pain possible?

How can he make Jesus cry the most? hurt. the kids. That's why they're doing it. Damn. That's why they're doing it. And so here we are in our little short. lifespans watching this go down. And we. know one from the other. What are we supposed to do about it? Well, I can't go out and round up.

3.2 two million pedophiles in the United. States. But I can write a song that hopefully. get hopefully parents hear that and go, you know what, that's exactly how I. feel. And they start to bow up and. stiffen their backs up a little bit and. go, yeah, come on and try it one time. Like parents need to be coming out in. full force against this stuff and go, you try that on my kids and I'll kill. you in the front yard. Now, I've seen Trump say uh. anybody that sexually abuses a child.

should receive the death penalty. Now, he said that in the campaign that he was. going to make that a federal statute. that they received the death penalty. It. hadn't happened yet, but it should. >> Yes, it should have happened a long time. ago. >> Should have always been. >> Yeah. >> I know that's a heavy subject, but we're. surrounded with it. Oh yeah, we are. >> is everywhere. And a lot of times it's people you never. suspect. It might be that preacher that.

didn't seem quite right. It might be. that school teacher that's uh that. sheriff, that judge, that whoever. I. mean, a lot of times it's people in. places of authority that are running. these things that have this cover of a. life that seemed like, well, that person. would never do that. It's not the scuzz. bucket guy you see sitting on the. sidewalk. Most of the time. >> the US is the top country that uses we. have the most.

>> sexual exploitation cases, kitty porn, all of that stuff. We are the we are the. world leader in it. >> And you think he ain't going to smack us. over that? You think he's just going to. let us? >> I think he's already smacking us over. that. I think that's some of what. beginning to. >> Our country is crumbling. It's divided in just about every subject. that you can. bring up. Politics, race, gender, everything. >> Yeah.

>> Religion. >> Divide it. Divide that. >> That. in a bad spot. >> Subsets of subsets of subsets. >> Mhm. >> Has anybody ever sang a song on your. show before? >> No. I brought a guitar if I could be so. bold. >> I would love it. >> to make because I've never sang the. Righteous Hunter to anybody. other than family members and people. that are around me that I know well, but. I've never like sat on a camera and ever.

sang this song. It's not out. You can't. download it. There's no nothing. But I. would be really curious what your. audience especially would think of this. song. And now, you know, I ain't got no. band or nothing, but if I you mind if I. play it, I would like to play it. >> I'd be honored. >> Okay, cool. >> Let's do it. You want to hear it? >> Yes. >> It's called The Righteous Hunter. [Music].

Evil runs around this town undercover. looking for a soul to take. But they better stay away from the. righteous hunter. Or hell is all they'll. pay. Cuz I can see around the corner. And I. know you're coming. If you had any. sense, you'd run. But you ain't got a clue what a daddy.

will do. Better give your soul to Jesus. while I get my gun. You better give your soul to Jesus while. I get my gun. They try to steal away our sons and. daughters shrouded in the shadow of. night, but we fight with protection of the. heavenly father.

And we ain't scared to die. And I can see around the corner. And I. know you're coming. If you had any. sense, you'd run. But you ain't got a clue what a daddy. will do. Better give your soul to Jesus. while I get my gun. Better give your soul to Jesus while I. get my gun.

[Music]. Recall the words that Jesus said. Better. off with mel stones around their necks. And we pray. not our will but thine be done. Bringing. it to the reign of the wicked oneness we. claim in your name.

And I can see you around the corner. And. I know you're coming. If you had any. sense, you'd run. But you ain't got a clue what a daddy. will do. Better give your soul to Jesus. while I get my gun. You better give your soul to Jesus while. I get my gun.

Evil runs around this town undercover. looking for a soul to take. But they better stay away from the. righteous hunter. For hell is all they'll pay. [Music]. [Applause]. That's it.

>> That is amazing. >> You know what I think? >> What do you think? >> I think that's going to be the biggest. thing you've ever done. >> That's awesome. Congratulations. >> Well, it's unreleased. It's just in my. head and now on your show. But I would. like to hear what people think about. that because. just hearing what you have to say about. it means something. And you know, when. you sit on a song like that, banging. around in your own head going, "Do I. need to put that out or not? And if so,

when and how, and all of that, you don't. write that song twice.". You know, that's a that's a one shot. I've never heard a song written about. what's happening to our kids or what. parents would actually do to somebody. that tried to an actual real mom or dad. But I I think it needs to be said. I. think the bad guys need to need to know. where we stand with them. That's really. what my problem is is that. nobody has clearly enough stated to.

them, you come for my kids and you're. going to die. And that's it. They shouldn't be able to. walk out on stage and say, I own your. kids' souls. And we just walk on by, right? Forget about even being an American for. a minute. What about just being a dad or. a mom? We let people talk like that. about our kids with no rebuttal. No, I don't. And you don't. And I bet.

there's millions of I know there's tens. of millions of us that won't. So yeah, that's what that song is. If you want to. be the dad in the video, man, can you. imagine that song and you're in your. house and they're trying to find your. kid and you're praying all night long, man. That's that's what I that's those. are the kind of things, Sean, I am. grateful that God took away my record. deals, my publishing deals, that he cut. my arms and legs and almost cut my head. off. so he could rebuild me without my former.

attachments and problems and habits and. alliances and loyalties and all of that. and rebuild me without those things, but. with the same skill set intact, which is what I just did for you right. there, and be able to go out here with. however many years I got left in my life. to cause as much utter damage as I. possibly can to the wicked people in. this world. It's it tells us in the.

Bible, God says, I will use you as a. battle axe to tear down the strongholds. of hell itself. meaning he views some of us as weaponry. The axe cannot swing itself. It could cut that tree down, but. somebody's going to have to pick it up. and swing it. Well, if I'm an axe, my. job is to make sure I'm the sharpest, fastest axe on the block. I'm as sharp. as fast as I can possibly be, so I'm.

prepared. So, when the boss decides, I'm. ready to I'm ready to pick that axe up. and and I'm gonna tear that thing down. and I'm going, I'm here. He picks it up. and here we go. Like, that is that is my. mindset as a Christian these days. It's. not it's not to uh. say pretty nice things that make other. Christians happy and feel good all over. and feel good inside. That's not my job. Now, everybody's job is not my job. That's a really interesting thing, too. Paul talks about Christians as the body.

is the church. He says, uh, "What good. is the eye if it doesn't have a foot? What good is the hand if it doesn't have. an eye?" Like, somebody's an eye, somebody's a foot, somebody's a hand. Somebody's a pinky, somebody's an. somebody's an eyelash, somebody's. fine-tuning, and somebody's blunt force. trauma. Like, it takes it's a toolbox of. humanity that belong to him that he uses. as a unit and as a team. That's why. we're supposed to know each other and. supposed to identify in each other. What.

What are you built for? What am I built. for? What is she built for? And who's. the enemy? Them. And so, how do we all. put our armaments together and our. talents together and move as a unit. against these people? >> Man, I never really thought of it like. that to be honest with you. >> Paul laid the whole thing out in New. Testament. Yeah, go read that. He he. refers to the body of Christ as. literally a body, eye, hand, foot. And. think about it. What good is an eye if. the eye goes, I want to walk through. that door, but I don't have a foot. I.

can't walk. I can see it, but I and the. foot goes, "Well, I can walk there, but. I'm blind. I can't see where I'm going.". It all has to work together. So, Christians, real Christians, all have. different skill sets. We're all. different. We're in categories. Mine. is songs like that where I get to swing. a gigantic sledgehammer. I hope people. cry. I hope other people get I hope. their back stiffens up and they go, "You.

know what? Enough." And I don't know if. that song will do that or not. I know it. makes me feel that way. I. >> mean, you feel that you're being. utilized to do this. I feel that he he. took all those years of my life allowing. me to get really good at what it is I'm. good at. And back then it was used to. make money and get famous and do a bunch. of things like that. That is no longer.

the point of why I have that skill set. Now I have that skill set to do what it. is I feel like he wants me to do and. say. And you go back to how I was. raised, you know, growing up in an. environment where it was, you know, we. talked about how I was raised around my. mother and stuff and it made me it was. like dukes up all the time. And I don't. mean physically, she wasn't slapping me. around, but it was just it was a very. very tenuous environment, but it it gave. me that posture, I think, just in my.

spirit as a person. And so now as a. grown man and I've got a wife and kids. and I hear some jackass demoniac like. Shawn Combmes saying he owns my my kid's. soul. and I know who that is speaking. That. ain't even Shawn. That's whatever demon. lives inside of Shawn Combmes speaking. through his eyes and through that camera. and right to me and I'm going, "Oh, I. know who you are. You're the one that's. already been defeated. You work for the. loser. That's who you work for. We work.

for the one that created all you all you. monsters and will ultimately destroy you. all. But God's interesting because he. likes to see his people put themselves. in harm's way for him or be willing to. be put in harm's way. Be willing to be. put in positions that they are not. comfortable being put in. Why? Because. it shows that they have faith. I walk up to this chair before I sat. down in it. I looked at the chair and I. went, "That's a really nice leather. chair. I'm 100% sure that chair will.

hold me up when I sit down in it. That. means I believe the chair will hold me. up. I believe it 100%. I believe that. until I sit down in the leather chair in. your studio, I don't have faith that the. chair will hold me up. When I sit down in the chair and no. longer am I holding up my own weight, everything I have is resting on this. And guess what? It hasn't dumped me out. in the floor yet. So, I was correct. I. have faith the chair will hold me up. Believing and having faith are two. completely different things.

>> If you think that you were chosen to do. this, why do you think you're the one? >> I don't think I'm the one. I think I'm. one of many probably out there right now. that are that are from their own angles. are coming. But I do think it's very. important that we find each other, have. conversations like this. No more messing around. Let's call it. what it is. What are you good at? Well, well, you're a military guy. Is.

everybody in the unit all good at just. one job? No. You've got all different. kinds of guys that do all different. kinds of things. I mean, I know for a. fact and some of the special for forces. units guys I know, some of them are. chemists. Chemists. I meet the one guy, he goes, "Yeah, I'm a chemist." I go, "A chemist? Can I ask what the reason is behind. that?" He goes, "Yeah." So, if I walk. into a building, uh, I can scan the room. very rapidly and even if it's household. items, I can see that if there.

components are in a certain room that. they could have made a a gas bomb or. explosive or something out of what I see. in the room, I'll know how to tell the. guys, "Put on your mask or step out of. the building or all kinds of things. If. I don't see it, then I don't see it." He. said, "But I know that that fast what. I'm looking at. I'm that's on top of I. do this. I'm also a chemist." I went, "That's really interesting." So. if it's spiritual warfare, that's the. words we use and it calls it that. spiritual warfare. That means that the.

devil has his ranks. He's got generals. and he's got he's got all the way down. to privates. He's got the whole thing. He's got specialists. They're really good at this. They're. really good at that. He's got his ranks. And then God has his ranks. He has his, too. And then there's us. And we're in. the middle. And so God's army and the. devil's army, what are they fighting. over? us. The devil wants us. The devil. wants us. He wants to get every last one. of us so there's no reason for Jesus to. come back. He's trying to get every last one of us.

I feel like there are opportunities that. are presented, but there's only so many people that are. paying attention and you're paying. attention. But I think the opportunities are. everywhere and you just have to be. paying attention, know when the doors. open and have the courage to walk in. I. don't I don't necessarily.

think that people are chosen for. specific tasks. I think the tasks are. always there. and it just takes that person that that. is really paying attention that's that's. that's. operating slow enough to pay attention. to the details and what's going on. around them, not just people and. everything. And you know, I'm sure I've. missed more of them than I've ever. captured, but I think that's how it.

happens. >> Yeah. I mean, it's a until he comes. back, it's an it's not it's not going to. stop. It's going to ramp and ramp and. ramp and ramp. And so, I mean, back in. scripture, it says uh as it were in the. days of Noah, so shall it be in in the. end times at the coming of the son of. man, meaning Jesus. You go look back in. the days of Noah, what was going on. And. I know you've covered this on your show. I've seen it, but people talking about. how fallen angels came to the earth and. they bred basically made babies with.

human women. And and the point of that. was that they that if the devil could. pollute the entire human race, Jesus. could never be born. So he wins. The devil gets to win. He. got to pollute them all where they're. not fully human anymore. That was the. point of Genesis 6 was to try to knock. them all out. And God says, "It grieves. me that I made mankind in the first. place." Like, you know what? I'm sorry I. even made you rascals down there. I'm. going to wipe the whole thing out. This.

is horrible. He grieved him. That's back. to created in the image of God. God. experiences grief. Yes, he does. He was grieved. And it says, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the. Lord. There's one guy left in his family. that had stayed intact." And so he told. Noah, "Build the boat. I'm going to. destroy this whole place." He goes, "Build a what?" They mocked Noah. incessantly for 100 plus years or. whatever. He's building this boat. And.

they're going, "What an idiot. Look at. Noah." But it also says they were they. were eating and drinking and marrying. and giving in marriage during the days. of Noah. So it was not apocalyptic. before the flood. Everything was rolling. on pretty normal other than the whole. place was just completely devoured with. wickedness. But daily life was going on, which is very interesting because when. you think about the end times, you think. apocalypse. You think, you know, some Hollywood. movie. It's it's the you know the the. zombies and it's like everybody's living.

in a cave or whatever. That's not what. it's going to be. If it as it was in the. days of Noah, so shall it be at the sign. of the coming of the son of man. So that. means right before he comes back, people. are going to be eating and drinking and. marrying and giving in marriage and. going on about life. They're just going. to be completely wicked. the vast. majority other than what he refers to as. the remnant, which is the Christians. that have managed to stay alive that. haven't been killed in this period of. time in in the great tribulation and. then he comes back.

That's a lot to think about because if. you don't read it and and read exactly. what it says, if you only lean on the. preacher to tell you what it means, you're going to have to assume that he's. just got it down and cross your fingers. that he didn't miss anything. But if you. go read it yourself and think logically. for a minute, you'll come to the. conclusion I just came to. As it was in. the days of Noah. Well, how was it in. the days of Noah? Let's go read it. Oh, all these.

Well, I always figured that before Jesus. came back, it'd be an apocalypse. Wasn't that apocalypse before the flood? Is that not a wild thought? >> That is. >> Yeah. I remember realizing that one day. and went, "Huh, well, that's interesting because you. think, well, I know Jesus is about to. come back because that's when all the. mushroom clouds will be floating around. and we're all barely getting by and. living like, you know, the walking dead. out here." That's not it's not what it. says. There's so many things in the.

Bible like that that have just been. skewed, tilted a little bit, not just. read clearly and put together that that. even a lot of Christians have a lot of. cloudiness about what they're really. looking at. >> Do you feel there is a. resurgence of Christianity happening. right now? >> I do feel like that. >> I do too. >> Yeah, I've seen it. Uh my son went to a. Wednesday night get together with kids. his age uh at a Christian parents house.

They have this thing on Wednesday. nights. And eight teenage girls got. baptized in the swimming pool that. night. Eight. >> Are you serious? >> Eight 10th grade girls. Eight of them one night. >> Wow. >> Yes. And then I've seen I've seen videos. of these college campuses where they're. pulling in pickup trucks and putting. tarps on them, filling them up full of. water, and they're out there baptizing. each other. >> Thousands. >> Thousands of them. So yeah, I think.

there's no doubt about it. You're seeing. it happen. And you know what brings that. on, Sean, is the more pain and the more. wickedness comes into the world, the. more people start to become aware that. it's there. And if wickedness is real, then so is righteousness. If the devil. is real and we see him for real, there. he is. This is what he does. This is the. devil. Then Jesus is real. He's also real. And. I think that that realization is hitting. people that this is not a game. This is. not a fairy tale. This is actually real.

I can see it. I can feel it. And then. they got a choice to make at that point. And you're right. A lot of people are a. lot of people are giving life to God. right now. >> They are, man. I see it more and more. every day. all the time. >> Yeah. >> And I also see the other side growing. too. I mean, you know, one of what two. Easterers ago, I got baptized and um. >> Y.

>> man, that was awesome. That was awesome. >> The old man passes away. The old Shawn. is dead. The new Shawn comes out of the water. What? What if? Right. I mean, what's. what is more epic than that? >> Nothing. >> Nothing. Nothing. >> I love that song, man. >> I appreciate it. The Righteous Hunter.

Maybe Mel Gibson will do a movie called. The Righteous Hunter. Maybe he will. >> I would like to see a movie about that, actually. Me too. You know, the biggest interview I've. ever done. was about that. Not about that, but it was about child. exploitation and and sex trafficking. And um it was this kid, Brian. Montgomery, really good friend of mine now. But. nobody had ever heard of this guy. I.

just I was scrolling doom scrolling. Instagram one day and I saw this guy and. he was talking about how he had cracked. into this pedophile website to download. the user base to get it. >> to authorities. When I was doing it, there was a guy. holding up a phone with his 12-year-old. daughter in a bathtub that said, "Wait, do you see what me and my friends will. do to her?" And he got that to he he he. took that got it to the FBI and the FBI.

said, "We ought to arrest you for. cracking into that." He said, "Great. Come arrest me, but maybe go save that. 12-year-old first.". >> Yeah. >> Never heard it from him again. Two years. later, the same guy gets arrested in. Denver airport with another 12-year-old. >> Are you kid? So he never went and got. him. And it was on some very small MMA. podcast cuz he had a sidekick with him. This guy that he would corner people, he. would bait people into coming uh.

thinking they were going to meet up with. a 11-year-old girl or something and he. would video him at Walmart and he would. be the guy, you know, and then he'd have. his MMA buddy there to whip it whip. their ass if they if they did anything. >> And I was just like, "How the [ __ ] is. nobody giving this kid any attention? And uh so I got in touch with him and I. was like, "Hey, come on here. It'll probably get shut down and I might. ruin my entire career over this.". Because, you know, at the time I knew,

you know, YouTube, Facebook, any social. media outlet that you don't talk about. It's like the forbidden topic. >> And I was like, I don't care. I'm going. to put it on the line. And if it all. gets taken away from me, I know I did. it, you know, that it happened for a. good cause. And uh he came he came out. We did the interview, demonetized it, didn't want to I was. like, "Anything that we can do to get.

big tech off of this, >> you know, not dive in and look at it, but we'll do." So demonetized it. No. money, nothing. Biggest interview I ever did. It's got. like 10 million views when you look at. all the clips and everything else. Hundreds of millions of views. And. you know what I love about Ryan is he. didn't come here to get exposure. He. didn't come here to sell anything. He. just came here to talk about what was.

going on. And you know, and at the time. I was uh very naive about how prevalent. this was in the world, but not just the. world, in the United States. And so I said, "All right, I want to see how long this. takes." So I said, "You got your laptop. here. You're a hacker.". >> Mhm. >> Get in any any any website, social media. form. I don't care. I want to see how. long this [ __ ] takes. It's. >> like a live hacking.

>> It It wasn't even hacking. He just made. a screen name Ash. He is a hacker. See. how fast he could get into the mix. He. goes, "All right, I'm making the screen. name Ashley 13 New Jersey. 5 seconds. We had a 40-some year old. dude wanting to [ __ ] a 13-year-old girl. at a Walmart in New Jersey. >> And we we I had him screen record it and. we played it live on the show. And. >> so in that interview, I mean, we had. exposed how this was happening. We had.

scared the [ __ ] out of pedophiles. We. had got the FBI's attention. They. started stalking him afterwards and. and educated parents, you know, on how. this and kids on how this it was like. the perfect storm of all these things. that converged. >> And the interest was I mean, he's still. like it's still just going. and. that's what I think that song's gonna.

do, man. Good for you for writing. Well, we. should make it, you know, we should make every penny of every. download that comes in go to somebody. like TBO, somebody that's actually. busting these animals. I don't want to. make nothing on it, like do something. huge. uh with that thing. I did a uh live. stream with Homeland Security earlier. this year um about their uh education. program they have for parents and teens.

about online being online because my. wife and son had been to a uh like a. mother son meeting and they had a DHS. agent come into the school and he's. showing them here's how predators get. you guys on Instagram and Facebook and. Roblox and video all these video games, all this stuff. And my wife was so rattled by that. And. my son came home and started changing. settings on his phone. I mean, it like. had immediate impact. I said, "My god,

what did he tell you?" And so, she. starts walking me through it and I said, "You get a phone on this guy. I can find. it." So, she did. I called him. I said, "Hey, uh, it's John Rich. I'm the. country singer guy." And I said, "What. you told my wife and son needs to be. heard by millions of people." He said, 'I agree. We just don't know how to do. that. We go to schools, churches, you. know, nickel and dime. He said, ' But. Mr. Rich, here's the thing. Last year, we had 36 million.

reports. of kids being targeted online. That's 3. million a month. And that's just who had. enough sense to report it, he said. So, yes, we'll take you up on that. So, I. had the DHS come to my house and we set. up a live stream and President Trump. retweeted it, reposted it, and it it. wound up racking up many millions of. views, but I basically had the DHS agent. just sit there and had parents and. teenagers all looking at their laptops. going through this 1hour thing. But when.

you start hearing numbers like 36. million, that's what I'm telling you, man. I. mean, you better make sure you're fighting. tooth and nail against these bastards. I. mean, every single day, there better not. be a shy bone in your body. If you're a. Christian, you I don't care if you play. the piano at church. I don't care if. you're the the nicest lady in town that. brings cookies to the kids. That's fine. But on this subject, you better be as. vicious as a Wolverine. You better come.

at them with everything you've got and. make sure everybody knows that's how you. feel about it. because it really sickens. my stomach to know that there's tens of. millions of Christians in this country. who are not screaming about it. >> Yeah. I think that. >> I think that this stuff has been so in. the shadows for so long that people just. didn't realize how prevalent it. >> but it's not now. It's not now. Everybody's paying attention at all. You. know it's you know it's real now. >> Yep. >> It's it's it's uncomfortable for people. to look at it. They want to act like I.

don't want to I don't want to think. about that. The police will handle that. The FBI will handle that. There's too. many of them. 36 million approaches on. social media in one year. I mean, there ain't enough cops in the. world. It's going to take the general. public deciding that they're going to. make moves like Ryan, like the guy. you're talking about. I'm sick of it. I'm going to do what I can do, >> right? >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Sorry to get wound up about that. Again, music is my weapon of choice and we'll.

see what that thing does. Uh, your your. reaction to it helps me to understand. maybe what I should do with it. >> Well, I think you're going to get a. bigger reaction when this releases, but. nice work, man. >> Give your soul to Jesus while I get my. gun. >> Love it. >> Yeah. >> Let's take a break. >> All right, sounds good. >> Do you ever want to just turn off the. news and ignore politics? I know I do,

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more. These statements and products have. not been evaluated by the FDA. These. products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or. condition. All right, John, we're back from the. break. Got heavy there, but uh I want to. talk. >> that was heavy stuff. >> I want to talk about TVA and what's. going on with that. >> So, I know I know you got involved in. that. We had a discussion at your place.

a couple weeks ago about it. >> and uh. >> what is going on there? the Tennessee. Valley Authority. So, a lot of people may not know what. that is, but TVA um is basically. controls the power grid in all of. Tennessee, but in in big sections of. seven different states. It was started. in 1933 by FDR, the famous socialist. president of the United States. And FDR. set up the TVA in such a way that they.

only answer to the president of the. United States. So, they're a federal. entity. that answers to the president and. they're able to take private money from. like when you pay your electric bill. here in Tennessee, part of that money is. going to the TVA even though they're a. federal entity. So, it's this hybrid. monster of a. I guess you could call it a company, but. it's federal. I mean, that that's the.

problem. And. it's the same way today that it has been. since 1933. And they are absolutely um. vicious when it comes to dealing with. American citizens. So when they want to do a project, they. will show up in force. And when I say. force, I mean bulletproof vest, loaded. weapons, the whole nine yards. and show. up in somebody's yard and say, "We're.

coming on your property to do. destructive testing. and the land owner's going, "No, you're. not." And they go, "Yeah, we are." And. if you say no again, here's a here's a. lawsuit and we're going to basically. bankrupt you in court and we're going to. come on your land anyway. So, it's like imminent domain, but done. in in in a brutal brutal manner. And so. this um I I knew those kinds of stories, but I never dealt with them. Never had.

anything come close enough to me where. I'd actually seen it myself. There's a. little county in Middle Tennessee called. Cheetum County. C H E A T H A M. Cheetum. It's like Chitham. And it's a rural county, lower to middle. income. My dad lives there. My brother. has a farm there. My granny Rich ran her. business there. Died Chetm County. Um, I. went to high school out in Chetum County. for three years, 9, 10th, and 11th. So, I know those people. And my brother, the.

farmer, says, "Have you heard what TVA. is doing around here in Chetm County?" I. said, "No, what are they doing?" He. said, "They're wanting to drop a 900. megawatt methane gas plant with 10 acres. of lithium batteries storage.". And he told me the address. I said, "Do. what? They're putting it there?" He. goes, "Yeah." I said, "How many houses. are over there?" He said about 500. He said, "And also five schools are. within 5 miles of this place and also. it's right on top of the main water.

supply for Ashlin City and Pleasant. View, Tennessee." I said, "How can they. do that?" He goes, "I don't know, but. they're doing it. Like they're taking. people's land. They're showing up like. they're showing up full force.". I said, "Okay, let me dig into this.". So, I start digging around and I find. one of the locals there who was dealing. with him. And sure enough, man, uh this. lady. was next is next door neighbors to this. really old lady um named Mrs. Nicholson.

She's about 88 years old and has. dementia. And she lives on a family farm. that's been in their family for more. than a century. So they refer to that as. a sentry farm. And the lady that ran. over there when TVA showed up, grabbed. her GoPro, her camera, and filmed the TVA marching across this. woman's field, walking up into her yard. I counted at least 10 vehicles. It. looked like an ATF raid. And here's. these guys standing out there all tough. with their bulletproof vest and their.

loaded guns standing there. And this. guy's going, "Now we're gonna have to. come on your property now." Da da da da. And the old lady looks into the camera. and says, "You think you own something? You don't own nothing." She snapped out. of her dementia for about 10 seconds and. said that into the camera. Well, this. lady I found and was talking to showed. me that footage and I'm telling you, my. blood ran cold. It ran like ice. I got so mad that in America this can.

happen. And when I saw that old lady, I. thought about my granny rich cuz she. kind of had that look, that country. born, hardworking old lady look. And I. said, "Hm, well, wonder if we could shove them out of. this county." They go, "You don't shove. TVA out of nothing." And they were. right. The attorneys that I talked to. said TVA's never lost a battle against. citizens in court, ever.

>> We'll roll that clip right now. They're talking about putting those up. >> Oh, I know what they are up here. >> Yes. >> You think you own something and you. don't own nothing. I'm the only child. and I forget how many acres I got. I go. to Spring Creek. >> Do you have somebody who takes care of. it for you. >> and farms it? >> Okay. >> Has the tobacco and things like that. >> Cuz obviously they clean up and made. themselves at home.

>> Yeah. they don't they don't lose. I. said, "Well, let's see how they deal. with public shame and humiliation and. scrutiny." She goes, "What are you going. to do?" I said, "Can you introduce me to. some of these other neighbors that have. experienced this?" She goes, "Yeah, George Wade's right down the road." I. said, "Great. I'll go grab my iPhone and. my selfie stick." And so I did. Went out. and met Mr. Wade and his wife. He's. close to 80 years old. And he looks like. Wilfred Brimley, but with red hair. Remember Wilfr Brimley? No. Big old. He.

looked like a walrus. Like just gruff. looking guy. I sat down with Mr. Wade. Turn that thing on and let him tell the. story. And then I started commenting and. I posted that on X just on my ex channel. there. And in three days it had like 4. million views just on that. I went, "Oh, okay." And I'm tagging TVA and. everything. I'm I'm do another. interview. So I went out and interviewed. another person. Then I interviewed. another one and then another one. And. then I interviewed the mayor of the. county. And then I interviewed the mayor.

of Pleasant View, Tennessee. And I start. posting these videos. Local news starts. picking up on it. Next thing you know, I get a unknown. caller coming in on my phone and I. answer it and it is Secretary Rollins, head of the USDA, Department of. Agriculture. I'm like, "Well, hello." She goes, "I. hope you don't mind. I got your number. from somebody else." I said, "That's. fine." She said, "Let me ask you. something. I'm watching this TVA fight. How much farmland is involved with this? Cuz they're running pipelines, transmission lines. I said, "Yes, ma'am.

How much farmland?" I said, "It's a. little over 6,000 acres.". >> 6,000 acres. >> that it was going to tear up. She goes, "Yeah, that's not that's not. okay.". She said, "Uh, tell you what, let me let. me dig into this further." Well, the. next day you see her commenting on one. of my ex posts. on it. She just puts all caps on it at. SEC Rollins. I said, "Okay, well that. got everybody." That got local news,

local radio, everybody's talking about. it. And then. I get a visit from the um head of the. senior vice president of government. relations for the TVA. So he's the. mouthpiece for the TVA. He's a good old. country boy. Talks like this, Sean. Now. you know we're we're all good around. here. like that. That's how he talks. Came to my house. I knew he was coming. I said, "Bring him. Let's go. I can't. wait to talk to this guy." So, I sat him. down there at my house right where you.

were not long ago when we first met. And. I looked at him and I said, "Explain to. me why in America you can bring. bulletproof vests and guns and 10 to 12. vehicles on an old lady's property and. demand access to her century old farm. when you don't have a warrant or. probable cause.". That's my first question for you. Now, John, I mean, we we do have a force. out there because sometimes, as you can. imagine, we run into resistance. So, I. said, "Oh, I bet you do run into.

resistance. I bet you do." And you know, you just never know. So, we got to make. sure we're protected. I said, "Well, I tell you what, you've. got two weeks to get out of Chetm County. >> from an 88-year-old woman.". >> Yeah. I said, "You got two weeks. >> with dementia. You got two weeks. to get out of Chetum County. I said, or. I'm going to rebrand the TVA to the. United States of America. I'm going to. rebrand you. to what you actually are. And I said,

every time your name is Googled for the. next 20 years, TVA, horrible press is. going to come up on the TVA. Page after. page after page. You will never get out. from under it. You got two weeks. And I said, "And at. the end of the day, if if we can't push. you out on our own, I'll have to call. this number." And then I showed him. President Trump's number because that's. who you answer to. I said, "What do you. think President Trump would say to you. or anybody else at the TVA if I showed. him the video of you on that old lady's.

property with guns and bulletproof vest. demanding access with no warrant, no. probable cause?" What do you think. President would say? You think he'd fire. every last one of you, starting with. you? I think he probably would. Maybe we. should call him right now. Let's just. call him right now. Huh? He No, no, no. I said, "Oh, I bet." I said, "You got. two weeks." And then he left. They left. He left. He No, he left my house. He. left my house. Two weeks tricked by.

lawsuits coming in left and right on all. these farmers, all these old people, all. these just 70, 80 lawsuits. Half the. people being sued didn't even have. enough income to to provide counsel for. themselves. So they were walking into. the courtroom with no attorney against a. $500,000 a year retained attorney for. the TVA trying to argue their case just. slaughtering these people. I said, "Okay, well that's it. I'm going to have. to write a song about it.".

And I told him I would. I said, "If you. don't get out of Chetm County in two. weeks," his name's Justin Meerhoffer. I. said, Justin, if you're not out of Chie. County in two weeks, I'm going to write. a song and I'm going to put it out and. I'm going to have millions of Americans. singing TVA next to the word devil. I'm going to have millions of people. comparing you to the devil in a song and. video. I don't think he believed I'd do it. I.

think he thought, "Oh, John will be on. tour. He'll get busy. He'll forget. whatever." Uh-uh. Two weeks click by. They didn't get out. Lawsuits keep. piling up. they're charging forward. So, I wrote the song, went in the studio and. recorded it, shot the video to it, went. out in that neighborhood of those farms, shot it on those farms where that dirt. was. And it's so beautiful out there, where it was all going to take place. And as I'm working on all that, I get a. text from the president of United States. and he says basically, "We're killing.

the project. The project's not going to. happen." Then, Secretary Rollins, the. project's not going to happen. So, I'm. seeing these texts and I went, "Okay, when's TVA going to say the project's. not happening?" And the very next day, they put out a post on X and says, "Due. due to the due to listening to our uh. customers uh in Chetm County, uh we've. heard you and we're abandoning the. project in Chetam County, looking for. more suitable place to put it." And what. really happened is the president of. United States and Brook Rollins kicked.

their ass is what happened. And so this. week that song hits. It's called The. Devil in the TVA. And the song was. inspired by Mrs. Nicholson's statement. of you think you own something but you. don't own nothing. I took what she said. and that's the first line of the chorus. Man, you think you own something but you. don't own nothing. When the government. man comes around, puts his dirty old. boots on your ground and laughs at your. protest with a gun and a bulletproof. vest. He don't care what you have to.

say. He's just going to do it anyway. and he'll smile and grin and then take. your farm away. He'll tear it all to. hell right in your face. No, the devil. ain't got nothing on the TVA. That's the. chorus. So, anybody watching that wants. to go check that one out, go get it. >> Go get it. It's it's it is a populist. song that unfortunately too many. Americans have had to survive and and. some of them didn't. this onslaught of.

the TVA, I find them to be. unconstitutional. I I wish something would happen. >> I mean, there's more to this, too, cuz. if I remember correctly, you reached out. to a mayor in another part of Tennessee. that had a abandoned power plant or. something, right? >> Yeah. So, in West Tennessee, as I start. this. >> with the lines already, >> right? So, as I start popping TVA in the. nose over and over and everybody's. seeing this, I start getting phone calls.

from people I've never met. And one guy. goes, "Hey, about 90 minutes from here, uh, in. Humphre County, there is over a square mile of land. that's already owned by the TVA that. already has pipelines running under it, transmission lines running over it. Used. to be a giant coal plant there that. Obama tore down. Obama tore it down and. they never put anything there and they. don't have to touch Chetum County. Please come back to our county. We lost. so many jobs when that thing went away.

We lost our grocery stores. We had to. consolidate our schools. We gas stations. like just it just gutted our county. You. tell TVA we'd welcome them back with. open arms. And I did tell them that and. they didn't care. And so I told uh Brook. Rollins about that and she said, "You. know what? You need to speak to uh the. energy department." So, put me on an. interview with the energy department. with the mayors of those two rural. counties and now they're talking and I. think they're probably going to develop. get TVA to develop something out there.

Trump wants power. You got places to put. it, but TVA has stood in the way. Uh. they'd rather tear up brand new ground. than use ground they've already got, which begs the question, why? They won't. answer that question. But again, it's. one of those things that if. I guess if I ain't going to stand up and. do it, it ain't going to happen. I mean, the neighbors are screaming bloody. murder, but they don't have a platform. where anybody can hear them screaming. You know, you you've run across lots of.

situations like that. You've got a big. platform. You can. >> you got them to stop spending money on. the Taliban. >> Mhm. >> Right. >> We're close. >> You're close. >> Still sitting on the Senate floor. >> I mean, so I think you and I have that. in common. We we see something and we're. like, I can't believe I'm the guy that's. I can't believe I'm the guy that's going. to swing at him, but here we go. >> Yep. >> And you and you swing. So, they have now. abandoned the project. We beat him. The. song is out. The devil in the TVA. And. uh in the video, I use the actual. neighbors and farmers and everybody that.

lives in that area. They're in the video. >> with me. I love that. >> So, it's it's really cool. >> I love that. Why Why do you think that. they didn't just utilize the old plant? Because. >> because there's more to it. I remember. you were telling me that all the power. lines were already running out of there. They didn't have to do any of that, >> right? >> They just needed to reout. the abandoned project. >> All the infrastructure was there. Probably why anybody does anything. Sean. money. I mean, you know, you're going to build. billion dollar project.

There's And my brother-in-law owns a. concrete company. Oh, yeah. Well, my. sister works for a pipeline company. And. oh yeah, my like that it's that it's. that good old boy behind the scenes. Everybody sitting around figuring out. how we can all make a bunch of money on. the government. It's really on the. customers cuz that's how weird that. thing is. But when it got to Trump, he. was like mm- that's not good. So, I've. actually petitioned the president. um to give me a an appointment of a.

citizen advocate. where I don't work for any I would. answer to him. And so when these. situations come up, I can be eyes and. ears and go report to him. Hey, here's. what's really going on down here that. you're not hearing about. and make sure. he understands what's happening and try. to try to put a shield up in front of. your basic American citizen out there. No money, no nothing. I just think that. that's something that invigorates me to.

be able to go out there and and help. people. You got to remember I'm, you. know, panhandle, Texas, grew up, you know, out there in the. dirt. Those are my people. I have a high. school diploma. That's the extent of my. education. Well, that's that's the kind. of people you're talking about. They're. getting steamrolled by these trillion. dollar companies. T TVA last year. profited over 13 billion dollars in one. year. >> Wow. But they're going to tell the old. lady to get the hell off her farm.

How about you pay the old lady two or. 300% of what her farm's worth if you. have to have it. instead of taking it? >> That would be the right thing to do, >> wouldn't it? That's what I would like. >> So they can just take your They don't. have to pay for it. So, here's here's. the TVA charter. Okay, they have a. charter that was written in 1933. TVA can come to your land and they can. say, "Sean, look at my bulletproof vest.

Look at my pistol. We're going to come. on your land, tear your land up." And. you're going to go, "No, you're not.". Well, we'll see you in court. Fine, I'll. see you in court. You go into court, then you lose. Then they they get a. court order to enter your land. They. tear your land up and then they condemn. your land. and then TVA determines what the value. of the land is now worth as it's. condemned and had destructive testing. done. Then they make you an offer on. what they think the land is now worth as.

condemned land. And it winds up being. around 10 cents on the dollar of what. market value is for your land. >> So you've got old people whose whole. life is tied up in this land. literally everything. And so they take it on 10 cents on now. where they're going to go live in a. going to live in a low rent rest home. the rest of their life. They're going to. move in the basement of their kids'. house. Yeah. Something. people don't even know about this.

That's I'm glad you brought it up cuz. it's that should not exist in America. like that. I asked him if Xi Jinping was a secret. board member. That's what I asked the. the. uh. the uh uh the uh uh uh fog horn leg horn. of the TVA sitting at my house. I said, "Let me ask you a question, Justin. Is. Xi Jinping a silent member of the TVA. board?". I go, "Cuz this is the most communistic. stuff I've ever seen in my life." That's.

straight up communist. Take somebody's. land. As Americans, being a land owner. is what makes you an that's why people. came here because they were promised. they could homestead land and that's why. they came because they weren't allowed. to own land where they came from. That's a basic tenant of being an. American is land ownership. I hate the government, man. It's so. twisted. >> [ __ ] hate the government. But you got a long history of standing. up for the underdog, man. What What's.

the bank that you opened? There's a bank called Old Glory Bank. And this started, it was Dr. Ben Carson, Larry Elder, me, Governor Mary Fallon of. Oklahoma, and a bunch of other bunch of. other patriots out there. And a lot of. them from the banking world. So, we all. know how woke the bank system is now. But we all know about debanking. Even. President Trump was debanked. Melania. Trump debanked. They they they will. either cancel all your accounts or they.

won't let you open one in the first. place or they'll shut your credit cards. down like Destuza. They killed Chase. killed all his credit cards while he was. overseas cuz they didn't like what he. was talking about. So we knew all that was going on and. something needed to be done. But what. what sent it all the way over the edge. was do you remember when the trucker. protest was going on in Canada? All the trucks pulled up into town and. wouldn't leave. Well, the way Justin. Trudeau finally broke that was he called.

the banks and he said, "Find out who that trucker drives for. and freeze all of their bank accounts. And if the trucker's an independent. trucker, freeze all his personal bank. accounts. And if the tow trucks refuse. to pull him out, freeze the bank. accounts of the tow truck companies.". So they started mass freezing bank. accounts and that's what broke it. They. couldn't access their money and it broke.

it up and that was it. And we looked at. that and went there are people in high. places in America right now that. fantasize about that about being able to. freeze Shawn Ryan's bank account or John. Rich's bank account. Oh, they can't they. can't wait. to do that. And so we realized. at some point that could happen in our. country. We need we need to start a new. bank. Think parallel economy kind of. thing. We need to start our own thing.

run by patriots where decisions are made. by patriots. And the whole credo of the. bank is you will never be cancelled for. exercising your constitutional rights. That's the whole premise. of the bank. Well, it's we've been up. and running about two and a half, three. years now and it's in all 50 states now. There's people every small business. loans, mortgages, and I'm not a banker, so it it gets up out in the weeds with. me a little bit on on all of that. But. the premise of the bank being that it.

won't cancel you for exercising your. constitutional rights, I'm like, we have. to have this cuz it doesn't currently. exist. And God forbid Camala Harris. would have won. Can you imagine? >> No. right now you'd be seeing probably. the whole entire center machine would go. into overdrive and you would probably. see things like bank accounts being. frozen in mass and all that. So that's o. glory bank. It's o glorybank.com and. what's cool about it is when people open. up an account there's a 1-800 number and.

an actual American answers the phone. that speaks legible English. >> That's it. >> Hello. How may I help you? Oh yeah. Oh. hey Sean. Yes. So what are you having. trouble with? Oh yeah, all you got to do. is click this and do this and is that. did that fix it for you? Well, great. Well, call me right back. My extension. is 110. If you need any more help, thank. you. Appreciate your business. Tell me another It's all AI now. Everything's AI. AI or or they're. talking to you from India or somewhere. else. We've actually got American people.

sitting behind the phones. What a. concept. >> Damn, I love that. I love How fast does. that take off? >> It's up 2,000% right now. It's just. screaming. A lot of people are like they. well all my business is at Bank of. America but I'm going to take a big. piece of that as a firewall and set it. into old glory. And so that's happening. a lot. There was one company, a gun. company, a big one, um that a a shooter,

a mass shooter in Texas was using one of. their rifles to carry out that shooting. And so the bank that they were at froze. all their transactions overnight. all over the United States, all over the. world. So all their transactions were. just frozen. And so they had to go find. another bank and it took them almost 3. months to get everything moved over to. another bank and they lost untold. amounts of of income. I was horrible on.

their company and they came to me and. said, "O Glory Bank's up and running. and we moved to Old Glory Bank. And I. said, "Uh, what kind of money are you. rolling?" You know, like what's your. forward rolling money? And they told me. the number. I said, "We ain't that big. yet. If we were, we'd take it. We ain't. that big yet. We're getting close to. being that big now." So, I think you'll. see bigger companies coming on board. And it really bothers the Moahanss of. the world, the Bank of America president. types. They really don't like Old Glory.

Bank, which is how you know it's good. >> I bet they don't. >> Yeah. You've done some awesome stuff, man. >> Well, I'm an American. I got X amount of. heartbeats. Let's go. What do we got? Exhaust your potential. Let's go. Again, there's It's like you. said earlier, you never think you'd have. this gigantic podcast. You never thought. that. >> I never thought I'd be doing half the. stuff I'm doing either. But. God opens that door. And if you got.

enough nerve to run through it, he'll. probably open the second door. You got a lot of courage, man. >> Well, I appreciate it. You, too. We're. half crazy. You got to enjoy the taste. of your own blood in your mouth. >> A little bit. >> I just don't know any other way to live. >> It's like, did you just bust my lip? Oh, okay. Let's go. >> That's right. >> That's how I looked at the TVA deal. >> I love it, man. I mean, do you I I just.

do you feel like you have a tremendous. amount of courage or does it just come. naturally to you? >> Um. I don't know how a person knows if they. have a tremendous amount of courage or. not. How I don't know how you'd know. that. I know that um. >> you know that from looking in from. looking at the out from looking at it. from the outside. I know that if I see. people being harmed and they can't. defend themselves,

I have no fear of taking on the. aggressor. Even if I know there's very. likely I'm going to lose, I have no fear. of the loss. If if if it's an old lady. on a farm, if it's a kid being abused, whatever it may be, a defenseless person. being being hurt by a superior. entity. that's way bigger than I am, but I know. at least I can take a couple of chunks.

out of them. At least I can. You You got to try. And. so here we go. And here you go cutting. and slicing and you try to and you know. if you're if it if it's like the song. the righteous hunter. It's called the. righteous hunter because he's on the. right side of the fight. Well, you're on if you're if it's the. fight you're waging is a righteous. fight. Even if you don't win it, you're. doing what you're supposed to do because. that's what you're supposed to do. And then I've got two sons growing up. watching everything I do and say. And I.

when they become young men and move out. of my house, I want them to be able to look back and. go, "Well, how did dad do it? What did. dad do when when something big and boat. up like that, but you're on the right. side of that fight? We did dad roll. over? Could you buy dad out? Could you. leverage dad around? Could you offer dad. something and get him to back up or. whatever?" "No, I never saw him do. that." I go, "Good. I hope that's how my. boys are." We need people like that in. the world. We need young people coming.

up when when me and you are old guys. We. need young men and women who have seen. that and know what it means in case our. country ever really comes under serious. threat. We need young Americans that. understand that. >> Set the example. >> You got to set the example. Yeah. It's. why I'm not in the music industry. anymore because I could have shut up and. kept having hit songs on the radio. might have been songwriter of the year. again, you know, but just I thought my boys,

yeah, daddy daddy will yell at the TV. and he'll scream and holler about those. degenerates in the music industry, but. then when it's time to go, he'll suit. back up and walk that red carpet with. him, get up there and pat him on the. back and accept his award. Gross, >> man. Good for you for saying hypocrite. >> Good for you for saying that. That's. >> We all see it, man. We all see it on the. sidelines. What's happening? >> Yeah. >> It's [ __ ] pathetic.

>> Yeah. It's just It's gross. Yeah. I value good sleep. We talked. about that. >> Yeah. >> You sleep better. You know, another. check ain't going to make you sleep. better, but even if you lost and you. come home beat up, but you took a good. swing at them, that counts. At least it. does to me. I feel better about it. You. know, I remember talking to uh Jim. Cavisel about this uh a couple years. ago. He, you know, he did that movie and. um I can't remember the name of the.

movie. What the what was the name of. that movie? It was about trafficking. >> Yeah. They went out to the island and. the whole thing. >> Yeah. >> Y. >> and um we had got into a similar. conversation. And I just asked him how. he did it. And he said, "Man," he goes, "I got a lot of you." Basically, he. said, "I got a lot of cool stuff, cool. cars, live in a beautiful house, lots of. possessions, whatever." But he said, "On. a moment's notice, I'm ready to give it. all back cuz none of it really means. anything.".

>> Mhm. >> And I took that and I, you know, I. thought about it and I was like, "That's. the [ __ ] way to live, man.". >> Mhm. Just know there may come a point in. time where you got to give it all back. and you got to be okay with it. And at. the end of the day, it's all just [ __ ]. The watches, cars, this studio. >> Mhm. >> Ready to give it all back. And that's. just how I live, man. And. >> And the fact that you're willing and. ready to give it all back is probably.

why he allows you to keep it. >> I think so. I mean that that verse that. says the love of money is the root of. all evil. A lot of people skip the word. love, they just say money is the root of. all evil. The love of money is the root. of all evil. People that love. possessions and love money, they worship. it. That's what their their their life's. mission is to rack as much of it up as I. can. He does he does not like that.

And they may die with it all intact, but. what good is that to them? The second. they step right in front of him, they're. going to go, "But but Lord, I had $3. billion in the bank down there.". He'll go, "And what'd you do for me? Did you do what I told you to do when I. told you to do that with that $3. billion?". Well, I had it invested. And he's not. going to even have that conversation. with you. This is how it went with.

Jordan Peterson and I when we had our. conversation was Jordan selling all. these books about things in the, you. know, Moses and Jesus and all these. volumes of books speaking about biblical. characters and and stories, passages. from the Bible spoken about in a. psychologically analyzed way where the. the tenants of Jesus Christ, the laws of. Jesus Christ, if you live by those laws, you will have a better life and that's.

the basis of western civilization. Okay. So when I had a chance to talk to him, I. said, "Do you think Jesus Christ is the son of. God? Do you think he is who he said he. was? Because I've got a video of you and. I quoted it to him where you said if he. was actually who he said he would be, it. would be the most terrifying thing you'd. ever heard in your life." I said, "You. were crying when you said that, so I. know you meant it." and he goes, "Well, well," and he and he kind of and. honestly to this day, I still don't know.

exactly where he stands with it, but the. fact that I don't know where he stands. with it kind of tells me something. There's another passage which I told. him. I said, "Jesus said, if if you deny. me before men, I will deny you before my. father. You don't recognize me, I don't I will. not recognize you either." And that's. the Pharisees, the Sadducees, all the. people in the temple, the holy people, the educated holy people. And they were, you know, they would go, "Look at all.

the tithe money I'm giving. Look at all. these gold coins. I am so generous. Look. at me. Look at me." And then the poor. widow lady comes up and drops in a half. a shekele. That's all she had. And Jesus. pointed at her and said, "That's what. I'm talking about. That's like all she. had to give." And she gave it. You guys. are out here throwing your gold coins. around. He said, "You're a bunch of. vipers, a brood of vipers." And then he. pulled out a whip and flipped over. tables and ran them out. I mean, Jesus. did that. People think Jesus was like.

some weak, you know, this he was a. carpenter. He was a Hebrew carpenter who said, "You'd be better off dead than to hurt. kids." And you bunch of preachers in. this temple are a bunch of snakes. Get. out. and flipped the tables over on him. and said the poor ladies who I'm here to. talk to. Isn't that incredible? >> It is. It is. >> Just to know who he was. I mean, that's. him.

>> Let's talk about the Scoffield Bible. This is the last thing I wanted to bring. up with you. I don't know much about it. We had a little bit of a conversation. Light the fuse because you're going to. make a lot of preachers mad with this. one. >> I don't care. >> I know. I don't either. What do you want? What. do you What do you want to know about. it? Have you dug into it at all? >> No. I've been waiting for this. conversation to dive into it. >> Okay. So, there is a um a term called. dispensationalism.

Dispensationalists. believe in dispensationalism. Um it's basically dealing with. uh the end time. So, it's dealing with. Jesus coming back, what's going to be. happening before he comes back, after he. comes back. Um, and before I get into. this, I would like to say that any any. Christian listening to this, it doesn't matter if you think I'm right. about what I'm about to say or you think.

you're right about what you say as far. as your salvation is concerned. You're. not going to go to heaven or hell based. on if you are right or wrong on this. subject. Let's start with that. There was a preacher named John Derby. few hundred years ago and he came with. the angle at the end times that the. rapture would happen. The rapture.

meaning when whoever's left here on. earth that are still actually real. Christians will be pulled up off this. earth before God completely destroys it. with fire, with wrath. He said, "I. destroyed it the first time with water. The last time I'll destroy it with. fire." So be before he brings his wrath. down to that level, he will pull. whoever's left, the remnant as they're. referred to, out of here. dispensationalism comes in and says that. the that rapture that we referred to.

will happen prior to. all the really really traumatic things. are going to happen in the earth during. the during the great tribulation that. has been laid out in Daniel and Matthew. 24 and 2 Thessalonians 2 and a lot of. other places it's been talked about. They say John Darby and then Scoffield. wrote the Bible that backed it up, backed up Darby's angle at this, the. rapture could happen at any second. The. rapture, they would go to the churches. and they would say the rapture could. happen before this church service is.

over. So, you better get right right now. because you it could happen like that. In the blink of an eye, which is what it. says. It does say in the blink of an. eye. Boom. Just like that. So what that. led to was mass revival. How many people. were like I don't want to get left. behind. Remember the left behind books. and so a lot of people got saved and. a lot of things happened uh that were. actually positive things. A lot of. people got saved. But when you when you.

start reading about Matthew 24 to me is. the one I've told most people to read. Matthew 24 is where Jesus is sitting. with his disciples. and the disciples ask him Lord what what. will be the sign of your coming meaning. what's going to be going on on the earth. before you are about ready to come back. and then Jesus takes the next about 27. verses of Matthew 24 and he says okay.

this will happen and then this will. happen and then that and then that and. then this and then this and it's in it's. in order just like this all the way down. through. And the further it goes into. Matthew 24, the harder it gets. It gets. to one point where it's it talks about. the son of predition will arrive. The. son of predition is who we would refer. to as who's going to be the antichrist. The son of predition will show up. And.

it says uh when he when he stands in the. in the holy place when he stands in the. holy place basically pronounces himself. to be God. I am Jesus. I am God. I am. whatever he's going to say. It tells the. Christians that are still alive at that. point to run. Run. Don't fight him. Run. Get out. It says run to the mountains. It says woe to the women who were who. were with child or or in labor. uh the. to the farmer in the field, do not.

return to your house to grab your cloak. Run, get out. Well, that ain't the end. And then it continues and it goes on and. on and on. And after it gets way deep. into that chapter, it says, "And then. you will see the sign of the coming of. the son of man." Meaning, that's when. you'll see me coming back after all this. has happened. Then you will see me. The reason they. stopped preaching that is because it's. very uncomfortable for Christians to. have to think about that. You mean I'm.

going to have to go through that if I'm. still here based on what that says? Yeah, that's what it says. And then I've heard some Christians say. and even some preachers that have. attacked me online. have said, "God wouldn't put make us go through. something like that. God wouldn't do that to us. And to them, I say, really? Why don't you go tell. that to the underground Christians in. communist China right now who are being. killed by the thousands? Why don't you.

go tell that to the Christians in Syria. right now who are being chopped up into. pieces in the streets? Do you think fat, lazy American. Christians are better than them? No. They are superior to us. they are. willing to worship God and be a. Christian when it means they could die. for doing it. And we don't have that. problem in the United States. So to say that God would never make his. people go through something like that is.

one of the most. ignorant, spiritually ignorant things a. person could say. That's number one. Number two is. in modern churches even today, they. still don't want there's a few but not. many. They don't want to preach that. Joel Olstein is never going to preach. that. Joel Ostein is never going to say. anything that's going to make anybody.

uncomfortable ever on any level ever. He's never gonna say anything that would. prick the heart or conscience of his. congregation and then offer an altar. call like Billy Graham did. when he speaks the truth about what. Jesus said and and what happens if you. decide to go the other way and lays out. what hell is and lays out what heaven is. and lays out what this is and then. offers an altar call in those stadiums. of people that will come out to see. Billy Graham. thousands of people coming.

down there uh to to pray and and give. their life to Jesus. You're not going to. see Joel Ostein do that and there's a. bunch of other preachers like that. Here's the risk. The risk in. dispensationalism and what I am saying. the difference in the two and again this. is not a you're not going to go to. heaven or hell based on which one you. think is right. The risk is. when the Antichrist shows up and I'm. still here and I go, "That's the.

Antichrist.". When the mark of the beast shows up and. they're telling everybody, "You got to. put this chip in your wrist or you can't. buy or sell.". When those things happen and Christians. are still here, they're not going to. believe that's the Antichrist. And. they're not going to believe that's the. mark of the beast. And they're not going. to believe any of this stuff because. we're still here. Because if that's. really what that was, he would have already pulled me out of. here. That's the risk. That was part of. the point of revelation was to bring on.

that conversation. And I had it with. Tucker Carlson to begin with. And that. is a real risk. So I ask Christians to. go read Matthew 24. Go read 2. Thessalonians 2 for yourself. Read it. slowly and read it a few times by. yourself. Just read it and word by word. and see what I am saying in these. And. then you're going to hear preachers go, he was talking about 70 AD when bliss. happened and that and they try to twist. this thing all the way back to Darby and.

Scoffield and all that. But just read it. for yourself. because. everything that needs to be in place for. the tribulation to happen is now here. My dad's been preaching since the late. 1970s. And he said, "John, myself, other preachers, ministers that. I knew, none of us could understand. how a lot of the things in Daniel and. Revelation and 2 Thessalonians 2 could. even take place." Like it was like.

science fiction. He said, like for. instance, it says you can't buy or sell. anywhere on the earth unless you bear. the mark of the beast. He goes, "Well, how in the world we're thinking, would. you be able to monitor every single. person on the face of the earth? That's. impossible.". That sounds funny to us now, right? Cuz. of course you can monitor every single. human being on the face of the earth. Of. course you can. They're doing it right. now. They just haven't weaponized it to. that point yet. He said, "This is my.

dad." He goes, "We didn't have satellites all the way. around the Earth back then. I mean, you. can get a cell signal in Uganda in the. middle of nowhere now, right? I mean, you can talk to anybody anywhere. >> It talks about how the Antichrist can. project his message onto the entire. earth at the same time. He can basically. communicate to the whole planet. And. it's like, well, how in the world? He. said, we're all going, how in the maybe. he's telepathic. My dad said that. We. all thought maybe the Antichrist is. telepathic. Maybe he can like get in.

your head and put thoughts in your head. and communicate that way. We just. couldn't figure it out. He goes, "Now. we've all got these.". We talked earlier about the days of Noah. and that's the way it's going to be in. the end. And we talked about in the days. of Noah where fallen angels thrown down. to the earth polluted the human race. Everybody except Noah and his family. God flooded the earth. And the point of. the devil doing that was to try to. derail the birth of Christ. That was the.

point. If we can pollute the entire. human race, we messed up the the. bloodline that will eventually have. Jesus Christ being born. That was the. plan. God saved Noah. They failed. Noah. starts it over. Here we go again. You go. to the beginning of the New Testament, shows the entire bloodline of Noah all. the way through Jesus Christ. All the. way through the end, beginning of. Matthew, shows the whole thing. So the. question is if in the day if it's going. to be like it was in the days of Noah. and the devil tried to pollute the whole. human race, how's he going to try to do.

it this time? What's he going to try to. do to keep Jesus from coming back where. he ultimately loses? What's he going to. do? Is he going to try to pollute the human. race again? Maybe. How would you do. that? I don't know. Tech, maybe. Again, nobody really knows. These. are question marks, but you can read it. for yourself and start to put things.

together. My whole goal is not to. convince anybody of anything. My whole goal is to make you think for a. minute. Go read it for yourself because. if you're alive on this earth when this. starts happening and you're a Christian, you need to be able to identify what it. is you are seeing. You need to know that's what that is. So, are you saying if you don't know. what it is, >> you will step in the hole, everybody line up and get your chip? Well, this can't be the mark of the. beast. We're all still here. Okay, I'll.

take my chip. And what does it say about. people that take the mark of the beast? If you take anyone who takes the the. mark of the beast, their name is not. written in the lamb's book of life. That's the book. That's everybody that. belongs to Jesus that's going to heaven. is in the book. The lamb's book of life. If you take that, you were not written. in the lamb's book of life. I'd say that's a pretty final move. So,

can you imagine if you didn't recognize. that for what it was because you didn't. have the discernment in you? And where. does discernment come from? Does it come. from you? Where's it come from? The Holy Spirit. Right? So, if he's not. in you and you're not able to discern. that and you walk right into that wood. chipper, well, there you go. People need. to think about that because I mean, I'm. telling you, with AI coming on board. like it is right now, we're not that old. Very good chance we.

live out our years like we're supposed. to, I think we see it. >> I think about it all the time. >> I think we're going to see it. And I think that's why you're seeing a. revival happen amongst people. I think. that's why on my little tiny scale I get. hit with particular songs which allow. certain conversations to happen. I get. to sit with guys like you and talk about. it in front of millions of people. Get. them to think about it. That's my little. role.

because I think it's I think it's upon. us. I think it's coming. I mean there is. I think about it a lot with a lot of. things with social media neural link. I. thought about with the vaccine. >> Yeah. How about that? What do you think. that was? >> I took it. I took it. >> That was I think that was See how far. you can push people. >> I didn't want to take it.

>> Yeah. But my my uh my first born. was coming right at that time and I was. like, man, I can't [ __ ] miss this on. the vaccine. There was no way you could. know. But wish I would have never done. it. >> Well, thank you. Thank you for the. education. I got one one more question for you. >> Okay. >> I know your sons are you're very close. with them. You care for them a lot.

What do you have to say to them? What. advice do you have for your sons? >> My main thing for them is. there is only one true answer and it is. not it does not come from yourself and. it does not come from any other human. being. It comes from the one that. created you and what words have been. written in that book in the Bible. As. you're going through your life, I would. tell my sons, you're going to hear all kinds of. opinions. You're going to have your own.

opinions. You're going to, the Bible. tells us to test the spirits. Meaning, you may really think that's the real. McCoy giving you that idea. But before. you move on that, you pray about that. and go, "Am I hearing that correctly? Is. that correct?" Because it may not be. If you lean on the word and you stay. connected to him and and I mean really. connected, you you will live your life out as he. wanted you to live it out, which will be. above and beyond anything you could ever. put together yourself. And then when you.

die, I get to see you again. I love that. >> I look I look forward to seeing you. again. Yeah. Well, John, it's been an honor to interview you and. get to know you and and get your story. and opinions and the things that you've. done. And. >> it's an honor to sit in this chair where. I've I've seen so many incredible people. sit and uh thanks for giving me that. honor just to just to even sit here. I I. I watch your show. I know the kind of.

incredible men and women that have been. in this room. So, thank you for that. >> You're wonderful. >> Yes, I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it, sir. Thank you. [Music]. No matter where you're watching Shawn. Ryan Show from, if you get anything out. of this, please like, comment, subscribe, and most importantly, share.

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