June 9, 2024 • 12 mins
iHeartCountry took over CMA Fest in Downtown Nashville with some special performances with some of the most exciting up and coming artists in Country Music! The guest included, Riley Green, Shaboozy, Dylan Scott & more. Couldn't make it or maybe just want to relive the once in a lifetime type excitment, here is your chance. ALL FOUR DAYS of interviews broken down into podcast form for you.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey, it's Wayne d and weare on to day two of CMA Fest
in downtown Nashville. As iHeart Countrytook over the heart of all things downtown
Nashville right there on Lower Broadway insideTequila Cowboy that's on the first floor Jason
Alban's kuston rooftop bar. Some amazingguests still coming up, including what you
get out of day two as wehang out with new artists Cassie Ashton and
(00:23):
John Morgan. Let's jump to thestage to catch up with Cassie Ashton.
Now CMA Fest, what's going on? My name is mckittie from the Big
ninety eight. Thank you guys somuch for coming out to iHeart Country house
party. Who who went to thestadium last night? How awesome was that?
If you don't have tickets, bythe way, we are giving away
tickets for the remainder of the nextcouple of nights, So scan this code
right here and you're automatically registered towin tickets to the stadium. Of course,
(00:46):
still a bunch of amazing nights ahead. Cassie Ashton is gonna be out
here in a second. We're gonnado a little Q and A and catch
up with her that you're gonna playa couple of songs. Also, by
the way, we're gonna be outhere the next couple of days and free
performances too. So later on thisafternoon at four we have John Moore performances
tomorrow and Sunday as well, socome on by enjoy the nice air conditioning
and free performances as well. Soyou guys ready for Cassie r. It's
(01:10):
give it out for Cassie Ashton.Hey, thanks for coming out hanging out
with for a little bit. Ohmy gosh, yeah, thank you for
having me. Uh so you've doneI mean a bunch of cmafest by now
you know when was like your firstone and like whether it was that your
fan or you know, as anartist. Yeah, I think my first
CMA fest was twenty eighteen. Ihad just signed my record deal. I
(01:36):
played inside the lobby of the BridgeStone. I was freaking out, but
we got it done and ever sincethen it gets better and better every year.
Well you know it's crazy too,because yeah, I know exactly what
stage you're talking about. Now youdo this and you have kind of a
busy next couple of days or busynext couple of days. Yeah, but
at least it's always like the hottestday, it's actually not that hot.
(01:57):
I feel like these next couple ofdays, it's always like super super humid.
It actually feels pretty good, Imean not cool. You know,
it feels pretty good though not bad. Until you're like running around the stage
throwing your hair around, and you'rejust like, I've never been hotter in
my life. But we're making ithugs. I can't relate it, so
tweaty hugs all around. We weretalking about this earlier when we were upstairs.
So you you make a lot ofyour own clothes? Or where did
(02:19):
you go recently? New York City? Oh? Yeah, so I went.
I just went to New York lastweekend. And did anyone in here
watch Project runway back in the day? No, that lady great. You
and me are friends and they usedto go to this fabric store called Mood
and it is like not your grandma'sfabric store, Like this is not quilting
material. There are three floors offabric and I just like walked around and
(02:43):
shocked. The entire bottom floor islike leather and fur, and I felt
like I was in game of Thrones. I had a great time. That's
awesome. You have a Brady songcountry radio I do called crazy, Call
Crazy. Talk about that. You'reobviously gonna be doing that here in a
little bit, but talk about thatsong and kind of the inspiration for it.
Is it a true story? Yeah? I mean it's always a true
(03:04):
story. I think for every singlegirl in here. You any man who
has ever called you crazy has calledyou again. It's not really like it's
not really like a poetic flip orlike a Nashville you know hook, It's
just this is hard earned life experience. You you have a pretty exciting summer.
(03:28):
You're playing Red Rocks with Parker McCollum. I am, yeah, I'm
super excited. Parker is a greatfriend of mine, So to be able
to play such an iconic venue withlike someone that I love dearly, it's
gonna be a blast. And whenyou are on the do you have like,
what are like your road trip essentials, whether it's when you're on the
bus or just even when you're justlike on a road trip, what are
there certain things like you have tohave or else everything's all messed up,
(03:51):
So definitely road trip essential, likefor working on the road are snacks I
have to eat all day long,Like it's just a a thing that keeps
me going. I have to haveall my jewelry or else I feel naked
on stage. And I have tohave when we're on the bus an aerobic
trampoline, you know, like fromthe eighties that you would watch on the
(04:14):
infomercials. I take one of thosewith me on the road and like sing
and jump as exercise and all thatgets me through the Yeah, yeah,
like the little ones they fold up. It's great. That's awesome. So
US is going. Obviously you're obviouslywriting and stuff. Where's kind of random?
But where is the most like randomplace you've ever written a song or
the most random idea that's ever poppedup? Oh? I get most of
(04:36):
my song ideas like either at oneam when I can't sleep, or in
my car in Nashville traffic. Youhit a pothole and just like an idea
pops in your head, you know, as the frame of your car gets
dented from how deep the potholes are. I think, I think we don't
ever say no to any song ideabecause we need so many of week that
(04:59):
we just we keep it rolling.And if you're a good songwriter, you
can write a song about toilet paperand it'd be good. And who are
like your top I would say topthree or top five? Like dream collabs,
Well, it could be any formattoo, oh dream collabs. Well,
I don't know, because I feellike all of my dream artists,
I would never want to sing besidebecause I just would not be worthy.
Like if Chris Stapleton asked me todo a duet, I think I would
(05:21):
just faint on the floor instead ofremembering my part, you know. Or
if Eric Church was like, hey, Cas, come sing with me.
I would have to have like threetimes the wheedies I normally do in the
morning. And then also, sinceBeyonce has dipped her big toe into country,
if she wanted me to like holdher purse while she saying I could
do it, you wouldn't. Youwouldn't say no to Beyonce no, But
(05:43):
I would probably go mute after that. Kind of a couple of random rapid
fire questions. If you could compareyour music to any animal, what would
it be? Any animal? Oh? Well, my friend asked me the
other day what our band was comingup with? Who my spirit animal is?
And we said a raven because they'redark and they hang out in cemeteries
(06:05):
and they collect shiny things. Somaybe that. And by the way,
a raven and a crow are notthe same thing. We had to google
that crows are small and ravens areterrifying. So I'm a raven hopefully.
What your first ever concert? Whatwas it? Oh? My first concert
was Rascal Flats. Yeah, lifeis a highway, you know what I'm
(06:29):
saying. Yeah, that's awesome.Well, Cassie, thank you again for
coming about you guys ready to hearCassie do a couple of songs? All
right, well'mna hop out of theway. Give it up one more time
for Cassie Ashton. A little laterthat day, John Morgan stopped. I
had to be our special guest indowntown Nashville. All right, y'all,
welcome to this stage. Right herenext to me, John Morgan's in the
house. What's up, y'all.I'm gonna stand up because I'm pregnant and
(06:51):
sitting down is not comfortable right now. But John, we're so excited for
you to be a part of ouriHeart Country House party today and we just
kind of like to take a momentwith the artists, because I feel like
cmafes is such a cool way forfans to get up close and to say
hi and to just get to knowyou a little better. So here in
(07:11):
the front. If you guys haveany questions, think of them. I'm
gonna ask you here in just aminute as well. All right. Also,
this QR code I almost forgot totell you Nissan Stadium passes for tonight,
Kelsey Ballerini, Luke, Bryan Parker, McCollum, so many more.
Scan that QR code, get yourselfenter to win. We'll announce the winner
after john'stun performing. Sound good,Sound good? Here we go. All
(07:38):
right, John, let's talk alittle bit about you, because I feel
like the last like six months orso have just been so exciting. How
are you feeling on the inside justkind of I don't know. I feel
like that one little blip in theradar that you just shoot up. Jason
Alding had it taken you under hiswing. What's it been like for you
the last couple of months. Oh, it's been super busy, you know.
(07:59):
I've been been traveling on the road, you know, playing shows,
and in the middle of that tryingto cut new songs, and yeah,
it's been a lot, but Ilove it. I'm finally getting to,
you know, do what I movedhere to do. So it's awesome.
Yeah, when you had that dreamto move to Nashville and to kind of
do this as a career, didyou ever think you get to this moment
right now? We're like, I'mat CMA best, I'm doing fun things.
(08:22):
I get to actually do this.Yeah, I mean I was always
hopeful, you know what I mean, But it's one of those things.
It's just it's not real until it'sreal, you know. And so yeah,
I'm super thankful to be able todo this and it's gonna be a
good weekend. Man. So talkto us about this song that happened with
Jason Aldie and I feel like alot of people were introduced to you from
that song. Those who were youknow, forever fans obviously were all huge
(08:46):
fans of him before that, butthe ones who just have found you and
just have to come to know you. Working with Jason Aldean on a song
that, I mean, you'll hearit once and you know every word.
So working on a song like thatwith Jason's gonna be pretty cool. It's
really cool. I mean, youknow, kind of the last two years
of me being in Nashville was reallyheavily focused on songwriting, and so I
(09:07):
was fortunate enough to get a coupleof cuts with him over the last couple
of years, which I'll be playingsoon. But yeah, it's cool to
you know, to have that andthen now have him jump in on one
of my songs. It is kindof returning the favor. It's pretty cool.
If you could rewind back to say, like ten year old you and
give yourself some advice to what you'reexperiencing now, would you have any advice
(09:31):
to give yourself back then? Alot of advice? Yeah, I don't
know. Probably, Honestly, Iwouldn't change my story moving here. I
feel like I moved here when Iwas I guess I was twenty four or
twenty five, and I don't evenknow how old I am, But yeah,
I think it was a good agefor me, you know, I
(09:52):
kind of I kind of went throughsome stuff that made me realize what I
didn't want to do as a career, and so gave me a little drive
to move here and actually, youknow, pursue it full time. So
I'm very thankful for that. Besidesthe heat, because I know that's everybody's
favorite part of CMA Pest. Whatis your favorite part of CMA Pest?
(10:15):
He said, the alcohol here.That's here all the time, buddy,
I promise. Uh no. Ijust love getting to getting to play new
music, getting to play songs thatyou know have been released already that you
hopefully you guys will know, andI don't know. It's just super fun
to have such a large but yetsmall community, you know here in Nashville
(10:37):
one time, it's really cool.Well, you're about to go on tour
later in September with Nate Smith.That's exciting. How did you get that
phone call? Whoa, we gotsome Nate Smith fans in the house.
Let's go, Yeah, let's go. When you got that phone call,
was that was that just a casualconversation? Yeah? Yeah, it was
funny because I actually met him forthe first time, what was it two
(10:58):
weeks ago, and uh, justthe nicest guy ever. Everybody told me,
oh, he's the nicest guy inthe industry, is the nicest guy,
And I'm like, that guy betterbe nice to be I'm gonna be
pissed you know so he was.He's awesome guy. I'm very thankful I
have that tour. It's gonna befun. All right, y all,
we got any fan questions here inthe front. Anybody have a burning question
for John It's okay if you don't. You got one right here? Who
(11:24):
would you like to collaborate with?Dream collab? Like a current artist right
now? I don't know if we'reif we're going country Cody Johnson for sure?
Yeah, yeah, y'all know,y'all know John and Cody collab.
Hello, somebody put this on TikTok. Let's get it going. Okay,
did you have a question over here? I thought I heard somebody raise your
(11:46):
hand? You got one? Yeah? What whiskey do your drink? Is
the question? It's a great question. I don't know. I usually uh
yeah, I'm a tequila guy.He's right, he got me paid.
I am a tequila but I don'tknow. Woodford is pretty good. I
like Woodford. Yeah, yeah,that's good stuff. All right, say
(12:09):
y'all. Well, I'm gonna getoff the stage so he can do his
thing. But make sure you tagat iaheard Country House Party on Instagram,
Tequila, cowboy, all the thingswe want to repost all your videos from
today and of course tag John Morgantoo. We all make some noise for
John and that wraps Day two ofiHeart Country House Party taking over CMA Fest
in downtown Nashville. Some more guestscoming up on day three. Make sure
you click subscribe so you don't missthat podcast
Hey, it's Wayne d and weare on to day two of CMA Fest
in downtown Nashville. As iHeart Countrytook over the heart of all things downtown
Nashville right there on Lower Broadway insideTequila Cowboy that's on the first floor Jason
Alban's kuston rooftop bar. Some amazingguests still coming up, including what you
get out of day two as wehang out with new artists Cassie Ashton and
(00:23):
John Morgan. Let's jump to thestage to catch up with Cassie Ashton.
Now CMA Fest, what's going on? My name is mckittie from the Big
ninety eight. Thank you guys somuch for coming out to iHeart Country house
party. Who who went to thestadium last night? How awesome was that?
If you don't have tickets, bythe way, we are giving away
tickets for the remainder of the nextcouple of nights, So scan this code
right here and you're automatically registered towin tickets to the stadium. Of course,
(00:46):
still a bunch of amazing nights ahead. Cassie Ashton is gonna be out
here in a second. We're gonnado a little Q and A and catch
up with her that you're gonna playa couple of songs. Also, by
the way, we're gonna be outhere the next couple of days and free
performances too. So later on thisafternoon at four we have John Moore performances
tomorrow and Sunday as well, socome on by enjoy the nice air conditioning
and free performances as well. Soyou guys ready for Cassie r. It's
(01:10):
give it out for Cassie Ashton.Hey, thanks for coming out hanging out
with for a little bit. Ohmy gosh, yeah, thank you for
having me. Uh so you've doneI mean a bunch of cmafest by now
you know when was like your firstone and like whether it was that your
fan or you know, as anartist. Yeah, I think my first
CMA fest was twenty eighteen. Ihad just signed my record deal. I
(01:36):
played inside the lobby of the BridgeStone. I was freaking out, but
we got it done and ever sincethen it gets better and better every year.
Well you know it's crazy too,because yeah, I know exactly what
stage you're talking about. Now youdo this and you have kind of a
busy next couple of days or busynext couple of days. Yeah, but
at least it's always like the hottestday, it's actually not that hot.
(01:57):
I feel like these next couple ofdays, it's always like super super humid.
It actually feels pretty good, Imean not cool. You know,
it feels pretty good though not bad. Until you're like running around the stage
throwing your hair around, and you'rejust like, I've never been hotter in
my life. But we're making ithugs. I can't relate it, so
tweaty hugs all around. We weretalking about this earlier when we were upstairs.
So you you make a lot ofyour own clothes? Or where did
(02:19):
you go recently? New York City? Oh? Yeah, so I went.
I just went to New York lastweekend. And did anyone in here
watch Project runway back in the day? No, that lady great. You
and me are friends and they usedto go to this fabric store called Mood
and it is like not your grandma'sfabric store, Like this is not quilting
material. There are three floors offabric and I just like walked around and
(02:43):
shocked. The entire bottom floor islike leather and fur, and I felt
like I was in game of Thrones. I had a great time. That's
awesome. You have a Brady songcountry radio I do called crazy, Call
Crazy. Talk about that. You'reobviously gonna be doing that here in a
little bit, but talk about thatsong and kind of the inspiration for it.
Is it a true story? Yeah? I mean it's always a true
(03:04):
story. I think for every singlegirl in here. You any man who
has ever called you crazy has calledyou again. It's not really like it's
not really like a poetic flip orlike a Nashville you know hook, It's
just this is hard earned life experience. You you have a pretty exciting summer.
(03:28):
You're playing Red Rocks with Parker McCollum. I am, yeah, I'm
super excited. Parker is a greatfriend of mine, So to be able
to play such an iconic venue withlike someone that I love dearly, it's
gonna be a blast. And whenyou are on the do you have like,
what are like your road trip essentials, whether it's when you're on the
bus or just even when you're justlike on a road trip, what are
there certain things like you have tohave or else everything's all messed up,
(03:51):
So definitely road trip essential, likefor working on the road are snacks I
have to eat all day long,Like it's just a a thing that keeps
me going. I have to haveall my jewelry or else I feel naked
on stage. And I have tohave when we're on the bus an aerobic
trampoline, you know, like fromthe eighties that you would watch on the
(04:14):
infomercials. I take one of thosewith me on the road and like sing
and jump as exercise and all thatgets me through the Yeah, yeah,
like the little ones they fold up. It's great. That's awesome. So
US is going. Obviously you're obviouslywriting and stuff. Where's kind of random?
But where is the most like randomplace you've ever written a song or
the most random idea that's ever poppedup? Oh? I get most of
(04:36):
my song ideas like either at oneam when I can't sleep, or in
my car in Nashville traffic. Youhit a pothole and just like an idea
pops in your head, you know, as the frame of your car gets
dented from how deep the potholes are. I think, I think we don't
ever say no to any song ideabecause we need so many of week that
(04:59):
we just we keep it rolling.And if you're a good songwriter, you
can write a song about toilet paperand it'd be good. And who are
like your top I would say topthree or top five? Like dream collabs,
Well, it could be any formattoo, oh dream collabs. Well,
I don't know, because I feellike all of my dream artists,
I would never want to sing besidebecause I just would not be worthy.
Like if Chris Stapleton asked me todo a duet, I think I would
(05:21):
just faint on the floor instead ofremembering my part, you know. Or
if Eric Church was like, hey, Cas, come sing with me.
I would have to have like threetimes the wheedies I normally do in the
morning. And then also, sinceBeyonce has dipped her big toe into country,
if she wanted me to like holdher purse while she saying I could
do it, you wouldn't. Youwouldn't say no to Beyonce no, But
(05:43):
I would probably go mute after that. Kind of a couple of random rapid
fire questions. If you could compareyour music to any animal, what would
it be? Any animal? Oh? Well, my friend asked me the
other day what our band was comingup with? Who my spirit animal is?
And we said a raven because they'redark and they hang out in cemeteries
(06:05):
and they collect shiny things. Somaybe that. And by the way,
a raven and a crow are notthe same thing. We had to google
that crows are small and ravens areterrifying. So I'm a raven hopefully.
What your first ever concert? Whatwas it? Oh? My first concert
was Rascal Flats. Yeah, lifeis a highway, you know what I'm
(06:29):
saying. Yeah, that's awesome.Well, Cassie, thank you again for
coming about you guys ready to hearCassie do a couple of songs? All
right, well'mna hop out of theway. Give it up one more time
for Cassie Ashton. A little laterthat day, John Morgan stopped. I
had to be our special guest indowntown Nashville. All right, y'all,
welcome to this stage. Right herenext to me, John Morgan's in the
house. What's up, y'all.I'm gonna stand up because I'm pregnant and
(06:51):
sitting down is not comfortable right now. But John, we're so excited for
you to be a part of ouriHeart Country House party today and we just
kind of like to take a momentwith the artists, because I feel like
cmafes is such a cool way forfans to get up close and to say
hi and to just get to knowyou a little better. So here in
(07:11):
the front. If you guys haveany questions, think of them. I'm
gonna ask you here in just aminute as well. All right. Also,
this QR code I almost forgot totell you Nissan Stadium passes for tonight,
Kelsey Ballerini, Luke, Bryan Parker, McCollum, so many more.
Scan that QR code, get yourselfenter to win. We'll announce the winner
after john'stun performing. Sound good,Sound good? Here we go. All
(07:38):
right, John, let's talk alittle bit about you, because I feel
like the last like six months orso have just been so exciting. How
are you feeling on the inside justkind of I don't know. I feel
like that one little blip in theradar that you just shoot up. Jason
Alding had it taken you under hiswing. What's it been like for you
the last couple of months. Oh, it's been super busy, you know.
(07:59):
I've been been traveling on the road, you know, playing shows,
and in the middle of that tryingto cut new songs, and yeah,
it's been a lot, but Ilove it. I'm finally getting to,
you know, do what I movedhere to do. So it's awesome.
Yeah, when you had that dreamto move to Nashville and to kind of
do this as a career, didyou ever think you get to this moment
right now? We're like, I'mat CMA best, I'm doing fun things.
(08:22):
I get to actually do this.Yeah, I mean I was always
hopeful, you know what I mean, But it's one of those things.
It's just it's not real until it'sreal, you know. And so yeah,
I'm super thankful to be able todo this and it's gonna be a
good weekend. Man. So talkto us about this song that happened with
Jason Aldie and I feel like alot of people were introduced to you from
that song. Those who were youknow, forever fans obviously were all huge
(08:46):
fans of him before that, butthe ones who just have found you and
just have to come to know you. Working with Jason Aldean on a song
that, I mean, you'll hearit once and you know every word.
So working on a song like thatwith Jason's gonna be pretty cool. It's
really cool. I mean, youknow, kind of the last two years
of me being in Nashville was reallyheavily focused on songwriting, and so I
(09:07):
was fortunate enough to get a coupleof cuts with him over the last couple
of years, which I'll be playingsoon. But yeah, it's cool to
you know, to have that andthen now have him jump in on one
of my songs. It is kindof returning the favor. It's pretty cool.
If you could rewind back to say, like ten year old you and
give yourself some advice to what you'reexperiencing now, would you have any advice
(09:31):
to give yourself back then? Alot of advice? Yeah, I don't
know. Probably, Honestly, Iwouldn't change my story moving here. I
feel like I moved here when Iwas I guess I was twenty four or
twenty five, and I don't evenknow how old I am, But yeah,
I think it was a good agefor me, you know, I
(09:52):
kind of I kind of went throughsome stuff that made me realize what I
didn't want to do as a career, and so gave me a little drive
to move here and actually, youknow, pursue it full time. So
I'm very thankful for that. Besidesthe heat, because I know that's everybody's
favorite part of CMA Pest. Whatis your favorite part of CMA Pest?
(10:15):
He said, the alcohol here.That's here all the time, buddy,
I promise. Uh no. Ijust love getting to getting to play new
music, getting to play songs thatyou know have been released already that you
hopefully you guys will know, andI don't know. It's just super fun
to have such a large but yetsmall community, you know here in Nashville
(10:37):
one time, it's really cool.Well, you're about to go on tour
later in September with Nate Smith.That's exciting. How did you get that
phone call? Whoa, we gotsome Nate Smith fans in the house.
Let's go, Yeah, let's go. When you got that phone call,
was that was that just a casualconversation? Yeah? Yeah, it was
funny because I actually met him forthe first time, what was it two
(10:58):
weeks ago, and uh, justthe nicest guy ever. Everybody told me,
oh, he's the nicest guy inthe industry, is the nicest guy,
And I'm like, that guy betterbe nice to be I'm gonna be
pissed you know so he was.He's awesome guy. I'm very thankful I
have that tour. It's gonna befun. All right, y all,
we got any fan questions here inthe front. Anybody have a burning question
for John It's okay if you don't. You got one right here? Who
(11:24):
would you like to collaborate with?Dream collab? Like a current artist right
now? I don't know if we'reif we're going country Cody Johnson for sure?
Yeah, yeah, y'all know,y'all know John and Cody collab.
Hello, somebody put this on TikTok. Let's get it going. Okay,
did you have a question over here? I thought I heard somebody raise your
(11:46):
hand? You got one? Yeah? What whiskey do your drink? Is
the question? It's a great question. I don't know. I usually uh
yeah, I'm a tequila guy.He's right, he got me paid.
I am a tequila but I don'tknow. Woodford is pretty good. I
like Woodford. Yeah, yeah,that's good stuff. All right, say
(12:09):
y'all. Well, I'm gonna getoff the stage so he can do his
thing. But make sure you tagat iaheard Country House Party on Instagram,
Tequila, cowboy, all the thingswe want to repost all your videos from
today and of course tag John Morgantoo. We all make some noise for
John and that wraps Day two ofiHeart Country House Party taking over CMA Fest
in downtown Nashville. Some more guestscoming up on day three. Make sure
you click subscribe so you don't missthat podcast
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