ACM Nominations, Morgan Wallen Snubs & A Small Town Hero :: Ep 105

The Guys are back in the Patriot Mobile studio powered by E|Spaces for another spicy round of Try That In A Small Town.

They kick off with the ACM Award nominations: who deserves to be there, who doesn’t, and why the politics behind awards still drive them crazy. From Songwriter of the Year to Entertainer of the Year, they break down names like Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, and more. They also question why groups and duos some of them they’ve never even heard of are on the list while acts like Alabama, Zac Brown Band, and Parmalee get overlooked.

Kelly shares a huge personal win: after interning for Reba’s company in the 90s, he finally lands his first Reba cut on a song written back in 2005. He talks about praying for a little career encouragement, getting a text from Connie Harrington three days later, and how persistence, faith, and old songs can suddenly pay off. That leads into a deeper talk: should Christians pray about career and business, or just leave it all in God’s hands?

They revisit the story behind “If I Didn’t Love You” with Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood losing a duet slot, praying through the frustration, and somehow writing exactly the right song on a deadline, cutting a late-night demo, and getting an instant yes.

In the beloved Dip Shitty-its segment, they unload on:

– The Masters Par 3 “pond jumpers” and why Augusta should never feel like the Waste Management Open
– Public bathroom pee etiquette and why cleaning up after yourself matters
– People clapping when a server drops a tray in a restaurant
– Gum and trash in urinals and the “it’s not my problem” attitude
– Rental car abusers vs people who actually return a car in decent shape

They also shout out a Small Town Hero story from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where a principal charged an armed student, took a bullet to the leg, and stopped what could have been a tragedy. The guys highlight why “just do something” matters and why these are exactly the kinds of small town stories they want to feature more often.

Along the way, you’ll hear about:

– E|Spaces expansion and the Patriot Mobile studio
– A Brad Paisley cut that probably wouldn’t get greenlit in 2026
– Corporate shows, comedy songs, and who gets offended
– John Morgan playing a benefit for Bethel Bible Village in Chattanooga
– The guy in the truck with “Caution: Mowers Ahead” who might have the best job for podcast listening on earth

Hit play for country music industry real talk, songwriting war stories, small town courage, and plenty of DipShidiots.

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