Mornings With Doc

Some weekends just hit different. Some trips remind you exactly why you do what you do, why you get up before dawn, why you chase these crazy radio dreams, why you fight for artists, and why you believe in music the way you do. This CMA weekend was one of those trips for me—and I want to start it the same way it started: with gratitude.

Thank You, Contour Airlines – My Favorite Way to Fly

First off, huge thanks to Contour Airlines. Flying from Tupelo to Nashville on a small plane is one of my absolute favorite parts of these broadcast weekends. The flights both ways were smooth, comfortable, and flat-out enjoyable. There’s just something about those smaller jets that feels personal—like they’re rooting for you to have a good weekend.

Placemakr Hotel – Our Home Base in Nashville

Next up, Placemakr Hotel. Let me tell you… they did not have to go that hard, but they absolutely did. They put us up in a beautiful two-room suite, clean, quiet, and right where we needed to be. The kind of place you walk into and immediately think, “Oh yeah… we’re gonna be alright this weekend.”

Gone Country Hat Company – Keeping Me Styled & Profiled

A massive thank you to Gone Country Hat Company for keeping me looking sharper than I had any business looking. I walked into the CMAs styling and profiling, and I heard about that hat all weekend. It’s amazing what a great hat will do for your confidence—and your photo ops.

BMG, Brantley Gilbert & a Pre-Party to Remember

Speaking of big moments… thank you to BMG and Brantley Gilbert for having us at their CMA pre-party. From the moment we walked in, it felt like home. Great people, great music, and Brantley was as genuine and welcoming as they come. Those are the nights you remember.

Sharla McCoy, Belmont University & 33 Years of Broadcast Magic

I want to take a second to thank Mrs. Sharla McCoy and the entire crew at Belmont Chapel for putting on Sharla McCoy’s 33rd Annual Live from Music Row Broadcast.

What an honor to be part of that legacy.
What a privilege to be one of the stations invited.
What a blessing to be surrounded by people who truly love this industry.

From the setup crew to the chapel staff to our wrangler Ms. Hailey, everyone was incredible. The way they kept things flowing smoothly—especially during those hectic morning hours—deserves a standing ovation.

Artists, Interviews & Incredible Moments

To every single artist who took time to stop, sign, talk, laugh, and record liners with us—thank you. That kind of kindness sticks with you.

Some of the highlights for me:

• Randy Travis – a moment I’ll carry with me forever.
• Bernie Leadon of the Eagles – meeting him was monumental. A true bucket-list moment in my career.
• Mitchell Tenpenny – always a good hang.
• Brantley Gilbert, again—solid dude, every time.
• HARDY – a writer’s writer and one of the sharpest dudes in the business.
• Cody Johnson – the real deal, no explanation needed.
• Shane Profitt, Hudson Westbrook, and so many more who came through with great energy.
• Bailey Zimmerman singing Tesla with me—because that’s his favorite hair band and he just rolled right into it. Those are the moments you can’t plan, can’t script, and can’t forget.

The Birth of Stray Dog Entertainment

One of the biggest, most unexpected blessings of the entire weekend came from the conversations happening between the big moments.

I want to give a special thank-you to Robert Allsup, who set up some incredible meetings for me throughout the trip. Those conversations opened doors I didn’t even know were waiting for me. Robert has a gift for connecting people who need to be in the same room, and he proved that again and again this past week.

But beyond the meetings, it was the heart-to-heart talks with artists—the real talk—about what they truly want from a label, what they’re tired of dealing with, and what they wish the industry would finally get right.

And somewhere in those conversations…
somewhere between the frustration, the hope, and the dreams we all share…

Stray Dog Entertainment was born.

A label built on honesty.
A label built on fairness.
A label built for the artists who actually give a damn.

It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t drafted months ago. It wasn’t something I walked in expecting to launch.
It came from the energy of the weekend.
It came from the people.
It came from the realization that we can do better—and we will.

The Food (Because Radio Runs on Protein & Coffee)

Let me talk about the food for a second…

Outback Steakhouse

They supplied the meals for the broadcast, and buddy… they brought the heat.

• Burgers 🔥
• Chicken 🔥
• Protein bowls 🔥🔥

Everything was on point.

Breakfast was handled by the chapel staff, and when I say cathead biscuits, I mean CATHEAD BISCUITS. Soft, huge, buttery, heavenly—everything a Southern boy needs at 6 AM.

And the best part?

They kept the coffee flowing 24/7.
If you know radio people, you know that’s not just thoughtful—that’s life support.

Radio Folks: The Good, the Great & the… Well…

I also met a ton of my fellow radio family.

Some were genuinely wonderful people—like Ms. Sarah Lee, who is honestly a treasure and made my morning so much better just being around her.

And then… well… there was the other kind.

There’s always that one guy, right?
Big, bearded, bald-headed, tall, loud, and apparently allergic to patience or manners.

Cut in front of me twice.
Lied three times.
Acted like he owned the place.

And yes, I told him exactly what I thought of it—and no, I don’t regret it. You act like a dickhole, you get treated like a dickhole. I’m not the type to play pretend, and if he’d shoved past me one more time I might’ve slapped the beard clean off his face.

But hey—99% of the people there were absolute gems. And I’m grateful for every single real one I met.

Gratitude to the Labels

Big thanks to everyone from Triple Tigers, BMG, and all the label folks who showed up, shook hands, shared stories, and made us feel welcome. These are the relationships that keep our little corner of the music world alive.

Final Thoughts

This weekend reminded me why I do radio.
Why I get on those small planes.
Why I put in the hours no one sees.
Why I chase good music, real artists, and genuine connections.

It was a weekend of memories, laughter, music, early mornings, late nights, great people, great food, the birth of Stray Dog Entertainment, and moments I’ll be talking about for years.

To everyone who made it possible—thank you.
To everyone I met—much love.
And to Nashville—until next time.