♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Wow!

[ Cheering continues ] Whoo!

I can see what kind of night this is gonna be.

Hit it!

♪♪ ♪ I get this feeling that I can't explain ♪ [ Cheering ] ♪ Every time I see your face and hear your name ♪ ♪ I just go crazy ♪ ♪ Thinking maybe this may be my chance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ What would you say to me if I said ♪ ♪ "Baby, let's lay down and dance"?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ I got to tell you that you drive me wild ♪ ♪ Every time I see you dance and see you smile ♪ ♪ My world gets hazy ♪ ♪ And I'm walking like I'm in a trance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I know it's crazy ♪ ♪ But, baby, Let's lay down and dance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When it comes to love, my heart is black and it's blue ♪ ♪ Swore I was through with romance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But, boy, you're something and I'm counting on you ♪ ♪ You're my brand new second chance ♪ ♪ My friends all tell me that I'm not your kind ♪ ♪ They say I better pray that love is blind ♪ ♪ You've got to save me ♪ ♪ I'm a victim of your circumstance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ What would you say to me if I said ♪ ♪ "Baby, let's lay down and dance"?

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Great!

Man!

♪ When it comes to love, my heart is black and it's blue ♪ ♪ Swore I was through with romance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But, boy, you're something and I'm countin' on you ♪ ♪ You're my brand new second chance ♪ ♪ I got to tell you that you drive me wild ♪ ♪ I've never known someone with quite your style ♪ ♪ I'm going crazy ♪ ♪ Thinking, baby, this could be my chance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ What would you say to me if I said ♪ ♪ "Baby, let's lay down and dance"?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ I know it's crazy ♪ ♪ But, baby, let's lay down and dance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I know it's crazy ♪ [With audience] ♪ But, baby, let's lay down and dance ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Whoo!

[ Cheering continues ] Thank you so much!

Thank you.

Thank you too Cooper Alan for playing with me, thank you.

Google him.

His amazing.

Cooper Alan.

Thank you so much.

Welcome to "Songwriters Under the Covers" with me, Victoria Shaw.

I am your host.

I'm your taxi driver for the night.

It's gonna be a bumpy ride, it's gonna be a lot of fun because these nights are not supposed to be that rehearsed.

I think you guys can tell.

Because you want to see everything.

You want to see the real friends getting together and just kind of jamming and having fun.

This really would happen in our living room if you guys weren't here, but it's more fun that you are.

So basically how this show works is that I call my very talented, wonderful friends who are also incredible songwriters.

They share their wonderful songs that you're all gonna be like [gasping].

And then we go home.

It's very simple.

It's really fun.

And tonight is no exception when it comes to very special writers.

I met this man in Indonesia.

Okay, it's a very strange story that -- I mean, it really happened.

We met 20-some odd years ago in Bali for a songwriting retreat, and we've been friends ever since.

I mean, what can I tell you about him?

He's a killer songwriter.

He's a killer vocalist.

He's a killer musician.

And he has used all that talent for not just one amazing rock band, but two amazing, iconic rock bands.

[ Cheering ] If you've never heard of Styx, you have no pulse.

[ Laughter ] Styx is one of the most famous American rock bands in history.

They were the first band to release four consecutive platinum albums, triple platinum albums, sorry, triple platinum albums.

They have sold over 54 million records worldwide and they're still being blasted through every radio across the world.

Then in the early '90s, my friend Tommy took a break, did some solo stuff, and then got together with his friends Ted Nugent, Michael Cartell-eone?

Cartellone.

Cartellone.

And our friend Jack Blades to form Damn Yankees.

[ Cheering ] Yeah!

And made amazing music that way.

So a few years later, he rejoined Styx, which is what he's been touring with taking around the world.

I'm very fond of him, and I'm particularly fond of his last name.

Please welcome my friend Tommy Shaw.

[ Cheers and applause ] Thanks, everybody.

[ Cheering continues ] I'll let you introduce Will.

Yes.

And please say hello to my good friend, Styx's producer.

He also plays with a great band.

Who are they?

The Guess Who.

[ Laughs ] [ Cheers and applause ] He's a very busy man.

We haven't played a gig in front of people since February.

This is -- I haven't worn pants since February.

Seriously, it's been yoga pants or nothing.

I haven't had -- I haven't -- I've been barefoot so much that when I put shoes on, it feels funny.

Anyway... Perhaps a song.

A story and a song.

Yes.

I don't know if I can tell you the origin of this song, because it's... Nobody's here.

We're all among friends.

Just tell us.

All right.

Okay, so we're finishing a Styx tour -- you might have heard this before -- In the -- in the '80s.

And so I'm flying home, and a bunch of us decided, "Let's go somewhere.

Let's go to Hawaii."

We're like, "All right, let's go to Hawaii."

So somebody said, "Let's go deep sea fishing.

You know, let's just go out there and take a cooler and let's just, you know, let's -- let it, you know, let's really just go all crazy out on a fishing boat."

So we got the cooler, we got our drinks, and we all take this taxi from the hotel.

And this woman says on the way, she says, "You guys ever smoked any Maui Wowie?"

And we said, "No."

She said, "Would you like to?"

And we said, "Yes."

[ Laughter ] So before we got to the airport, we were all so high from that Maui Wowie, we were like... [ Laughter ] We were like that for about an hour when we got on the boat, and they were looking at us like... "This is them getting all wild and crazy?"

So we -- so we -- While we were sitting there like that -- and none of us could talk.

I heard the sound of the engines kind of going -- You know how boats, they kind of chug like that, and it was kind of going, mm, mm, rrr!

Mm, mm, mm, mm!

Mm, mm, mm!

Mm, rr, rrr -- for an hour.

[ Laughter ] And, you know, I'm a songwriter, so I'm going, "Hmm."

You know?

So, and I got my guitar.

Are you ready?

[ Plays "Blue Collar Man" intro ] [ Cheering ] That was from the boat?

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪ Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, mm ♪ ♪ Give me a job, give me security ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Give me a chance to survive ♪ ♪ I'm just a poor soul in the unemployment line ♪ ♪ My God, I'm hardly alive ♪ ♪♪ ♪ My mother and father, my wife and my friends ♪ ♪ You've seen them laugh in my face ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I've got the power and I've got the will ♪ ♪ I'm not a charity case ♪ ♪ I'll take those long nights ♪ ♪ Impossible odds ♪ ♪ Keeping my eye to the keyhole ♪ ♪ And if it takes all that ♪ ♪ To be just what I am ♪ ♪ Well, I'm gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Make me an offer that I can't refuse ♪ ♪ Make me a respectable man ♪ ♪ This is my last time in the unemployment line ♪ ♪♪ ♪ So like it or not ♪ ♪ I'll take those long nights ♪ ♪ Impossible odds ♪ ♪ Keeping my back to the wall ♪ ♪ And if it takes all night ♪ ♪ To be just what I am ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪ Keeping my mind on a better life ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Where happiness ♪ ♪ Is only a heartbeat away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Paradise ♪ ♪ Can it be all I heard it was ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I close my eyes ♪ ♪ And maybe I'm already there ♪ [ Audience cheers ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'll take those long nights ♪ ♪ Impossible odds ♪ ♪ Keeping my back to the wall ♪ ♪ And if it takes all that ♪ ♪ To be just what I am ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be a blue collar man ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ Oh, yes, I am ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ Whoa, I'm gonna be ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ Whoo, I'm gonna be ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Just like my daddy was ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Blue collar man ♪ [ Vocalizing ] [ Vocalizing ] ♪ Blue collar man ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm gonna take the long nights ♪ ♪ Impossible odds ♪ ♪ Keeping my back to the wall ♪ ♪ And if it takes all that ♪ ♪ To be just what I am ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be a blue collar ♪ ♪ Gonna be a blue collar ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be a blue collar ♪ ♪ Man ♪ ♪ Mm-hmm ♪ ♪ I said, I'm gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I said, I'm gonna be a blue collar man ♪ You guys sing this.

Sing back.

♪ And I'm... ♪ Audience: ♪ Gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, I'm ♪ ♪ Gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪ Gonna work just like my daddy did ♪ Audience: ♪ Gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be, whoo ♪ ♪ Gonna be a blue collar ♪ ♪ Gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be a blue collar man ♪ ♪ Gonna be a blue collar man ♪ Here we say goodbye.

♪ Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Hey, hey!

♪ ♪ Yeah!

♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Whoo!

Good night, everybody!

Thank you so much!

[ Cheering continues ] Ah!

Holy cow!

I was gonna play along and then I got completely nervous.

They -- I couldn't.

I couldn't.

I got afraid.

That was unbelievable.

[ Cheers and applause ] Ah, we -- like I said, we haven't played in front of an audience since -- since February.

Oh, yeah, you could tell.

It was really bad, really.

[ Laughter ] So we've got to -- we got to get a lot of this out.

It's -- it's sitting in there going, "Let me out."

I'm going to follow it out with another one of your songs because I'm thinking, I have you here and I can sing one of your songs and maybe we can do it together.

Again, it'll be really interesting to see how this works.

You don't want rehearsals.

We'll rehearse in front of you.

But Damn Yankees, which was the other power group that you formed... [ Cheers and applause ] And actually when I met Tommy in Indonesia, I met Jack Blades, too, who's co-writer on this song.

Anyway, this was a big number-one smash on their platinum Damn Yankees album, and I think we should give it a shot.

What do you say?

Oh, actually, you can tell us what the stor-- I can't tell the story.

What's the story behind the song?

I have no idea.

Well, there was a big... some kind of business convention with all the record labels down in Miami Beach at the Fountainebleau Hotel.

I wind up sitting next to Nugent.

And these executives are up there going, "Oh, there's no way they're going to make a digital, you know, music player small enough to fit in the car.

Don't worry about your songs."

We're listening to them, we're going, "Oh, you putz," you know?

They were a little wrong about that.

Yeah, a little bit, little bit.

But that didn't matter.

It kind of did matter, but not at that moment.

Ted and I, we kind of reconnected.

We hadn't -- we'd run into each other over the years, but, um, there's a fellow by the name of John Kalodner.

And if you don't remember -- Do you remember "Dude Looks Like a Lady"?

Remember that video?

And there was this guy with a long beard in a wedding dress.

This is John Kalodner.

[ Laughter ] So Kalodner, he calls my manager and he said, "What if we put Tommy and Ted Nugent together?"

So Ted came to New York, and Jack wasn't in there yet.

It was just my solo band.

And Ted was all dressed up.

His hair was all looking good.

I expected to see him in his hunting clothes.

Well, it turns out he was -- he was courting Shemane, who he would eventually marry.

So he was like a different Ted.

He was -- you know, like -- like -- You when the turkeys, they go like that, and it's like, "Look at me!"

That was Ted.

And so we thought it was so cool to see him -- to see that side of him.

And so...

I was -- I thought, "We got to write a song about this," and so I... [ Playing "Come Again" intro ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Should I do a little bit of it?

[ Audience cheers ] ♪ I was a loner ♪ ♪ Cruisin' with the wind ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I wasn't looking ♪ ♪ When you pulled me in ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I had to leave you ♪ ♪ Like I always did ♪ ♪ You knew damn well I'd come again ♪ ♪♪ All right, so... Ted wrote those words.

Those romantic words -- Well, he kind of got it started like that.

And I picked up on it and just -- I said, "Let's just keep going."

And into -- well, by the time Damn Yankees got a hold of it, it was -- it -- it became a big, smokin' Ted Nugent song.

Right.

You know?

Jack Blades came along about a month later after we first got together.

John Kalodner brought him in, and I was living in New York, and Jack -- I had met Jack before.

He knocks on my door.

I lived on the Upper West Side.

And there was Jack.

He says, "Here I am."

Got two suitcases full of dirty clothes.

You know?

Where's your washer and dryer?

And so...it was downstairs.

And, you know, Jack's one of these guys who's always humming, something like that.

And I heard him downstairs going, ♪ I don't wanna hear about it anymore ♪ ♪ It's a shame I got to live without you anymore ♪ And I'm listening.

I'm going, "Yeah, and..." So I went out there and said -- Oh, no, what I went to next was I went to the piano and I went... [ Strumming ] I went... ♪ Can you take me higher?

♪ [ Cheering ] ♪ Fly me over ♪ ♪ Yesterday ♪ So I wrote that and I said, "Jack, come on up here.

Come on, come on."

And within, you know, 15 minutes we had that song.

But we didn't think that Ted -- It was going to have a keyboard in it.

I had a little keyboard player downstairs, and so it had keyboards on it.

Said, "We can't play that for Ted.

He will shoot the machine that the keyboard's on."

He was notorious for taking keyboards out in the yard and shooting them with his gun.

[ Laughs ] Among other things.

So we finally said, "We got to play it for him."

And he just said, "You know, all it needs is..." [ Plays guitar bend ] You know, but it was with his electric guitar.

And he was right.

That's all it needed.

And so that -- that's how it became that song.

Are we going to do that song?

We are.

I was just fascinated by that story.

After all that...

I was.

...disjointed story.

[ Cheers and applause ] Nice!

All right, let's give it a go, okay?

Okay.

I start this, right?

Yeah.

[ Playing "High Enough" intro ] [ Chuckles ] ♪♪ ♪ I don't want to hear about it ♪ ♪ Anymore ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ It's a shame I've got to live without you anymore ♪ ♪ There's a fire in my heart ♪ ♪ A pounding in my brain ♪ ♪ It's driving me crazy ♪ ♪♪ ♪ We don't need to talk about it ♪ ♪ Anymore ♪ ♪ Yesterday's just a memory ♪ ♪ Can we close the door?

♪ ♪ I just made one mistake ♪ ♪ I didn't know what to say ♪ ♪ When you called me baby ♪ [ Cheers ] ♪ Don't say good night ♪ ♪ Say you're gonna stay forever ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa, all the way ♪ ♪ Can you take me high enough ♪ ♪ To fly me over yesterday?

♪ ♪ Can you take me high enough?

♪ ♪ It's never over ♪ ♪ And yesterday's just a memory ♪ ♪ Yesterday's just a memory ♪ ♪ I don't want to live without you ♪ ♪ Anymore ♪ ♪ Can't you see I'm in misery?

♪ ♪ And you know for sure ♪ ♪ I would live and die for you ♪ ♪ And I'd know just what to do ♪ ♪ When you call me baby ♪ ♪♪ ♪ So don't say goodbye ♪ ♪ Say you're gonna stay forever ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa, all the way ♪ ♪ Can you take me high enough?

♪ ♪ Can you fly me over ♪ ♪ Fly me over ♪ ♪ Yesterday?

♪ ♪ Can you take me high enough?

♪ ♪ It's never over ♪ ♪ Till yesterday's just a memory ♪ ♪ I was running ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I was running for the door ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa ♪ ♪ The next thing I remember ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa ♪ ♪ I was running back for more ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Don't say goodbye ♪ ♪ Say you're gonna stay forever ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa, all the way ♪ ♪ All the way, all the way ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Can you take me high enough?

♪ ♪ Can you fly me over ♪ ♪ Fly me over ♪ ♪ Yesterday?

♪ ♪ Can you take me high enough?

♪ ♪ It's never over ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Ahh!

[ Laughter ] [ Cheering continues ] I mean, we could have -- we could have done one more repeat of the chorus.

Really?

You want to do it on sticking -- No.

Let's do it "Acapulco."

Okay.

Okay, 3, 4... ♪ Can you take me high enough?

♪ ♪ To fly me over ♪ ♪ Fly me over ♪ ♪ Yesterday?

♪ ♪ Can you take me high enough?

♪ ♪ It's never over ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughs ] [ Laughing ] Ah...

Okay, that is a memory for me.

Have you ever -- do you ever think of that as a duet with a woman?

No.

No, it was awesome like that.

I would give her my part.

I would take a more comfortable part... [ Deep voice ] down here low.

I always get stuck with high stuff.

Whoo!

All right, it's your turn again.

-It's all about Tommy, yeah.

-All right.

Okay.

You guys are going to help on this one.

Ready?

[ Playing "Too Much Time On My Hands" into ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm sittin' on this bar stool ♪ ♪ Talkin' like a damn fool ♪ ♪ Got the 12 o'clock news blues ♪ ♪ And I've given up hope for the afternoon soaps ♪ ♪ And a bottle of cold brew ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is it any wonder I'm not crazy?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is it any wonder I'm sane at all?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I'm so tired of losing I've got nothing to do ♪ ♪ And all day to do it ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I'd go out cruising, but I've no place to go ♪ ♪ And all night to get there ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is it any wonder I'm not a criminal?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is it any wonder I'm not in jail?

♪ ♪♪ Here we go!

♪ Is it any wonder I've got too much ♪ ♪ Time on my hands?

♪ ♪ It's ticking away with my sanity ♪ ♪ I got too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ It's hard to believe such a calamity ♪ ♪ I got too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ And it's ticking away, ticking away from me ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ It's tick tick tick tick ticking away ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ And I don't know what to do with myself ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I got too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪♪ All right!

♪♪ ♪ Well, I'm a jet fuel genius ♪ ♪ I can solve the world's problems ♪ ♪ Without even trying ♪ ♪ I got all kinds of friends ♪ ♪ And the fun never ends ♪ ♪ As long as Victoria Shaw's buyin'!

♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Is it any wonder ♪ ♪ I'm not the -- the governor of the great state of Tennessee?

♪ [ Laughter ] All right.

♪ Is it any wonder I'm still null and void?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is it any wonder I've got ♪ Audience: ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Oh, it's ticking away with my sanity ♪ ♪ I got... ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Oh, it's hard to believe such a calamity ♪ ♪ I got ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ And it's ticking away, it's ticking away from me ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ I don't know what to do with myself ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Too much time on my ♪ ♪ Too much time ♪ Keep singin', y'all.

♪ I got ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Ooh, keep singin' ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Oh, a little softer now ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Oh, a little softer now ♪ [Softer] ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ [ Whispers ] ♪ A little bit softer now ♪ [Whispering] ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ A little bit louder now ♪ [Louder] ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Ooh, a little bit louder now ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Ah, a little bit louder now ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Oh, louder now ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ Come on, y'all!

♪ A little louder now ♪ ♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ ♪ Here we go!

♪ All: ♪ I got too much time on my hands ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Ah!

Ah!

This is so much fun!

And it doesn't stop, 'cause I have more musically talented, fantastic friends.

This woman is one of my favorite people, actually one of Nashville's favorite people.

She is such a love and so talented.

She was born in Ghana but moved to Nashville at the age of 3, so she is really a Nashvillean.

She -- she really got to be in the music scene and kind of envelop every part of it and has had the most interesting career.

I had to -- I love when I get to Wikipedia, my friends, you know.

Because it's really hard to define her.

There's -- there's no box.

She's had the most diverse career and she has collaborated with people like Sara Bareilles and Norah Jones and Patti LaBelle and... Whoo!

Oh, yeah.

And the late, great John Prine.

And that's just a few.

[ Cheering ] She's released nine critically acclaimed solo projects.

And when she's not doing her own projects, she's still lending her voice to people like Beyoncé and Jack White, who used her on their wonderful albums.

And this past year, she and her equally talented husband, Sam Ashworth, wrote an amazing song called "Hard Place" for the New Artist called -- named H.E.R., which garnered them a Grammy nomination.

So -- yes.

[ Cheering ] It's not fair to have so much talent in one household.

She's a writer.

She's a singer.

She's an actress because she was on that "Nashville" show.

She's a model.

You've been modeling for Reese Witherspoon's clothing line.

Lord, you know so much.

I read up about you, my dear.

But I'll tell you what I really am in awe of her about, she's a food blogger and an amazing, truly professional chef.

And if you watch her on social media, and she puts all these amazing meals -- it's literally food porn, okay?

[ Laughter ] It's not even -- Shouldn't even be legal.

Which you are the one who coined that for me, for my -- for my food.

Food porn?

Oh, it is.

Food porn, that's you.

There it is.

The queen of food porn -- You'll find Victoria's comments.

Ms. Ruby Amanfu.

[ Laughter ] Ruby Amanfu!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you, Vic, I love you.

[ Applause ] Hey, y'all.

I can say that.

I've been here for a long time.

-Longer than me.

-Hey, y'all.

I'll tell you what.

Victoria, Vic, as I daringly call you, thank you for having me here.

It's my pleasure.

And so, you know, we are -- we are told when you have a gift for songwriting or a gift for music, "Stay in your lane.

Just do that.

Stick to the music."

But Vic and I have done music but have also broken that mold.

And we have shared a board.

We've been on a governor's board together for the Recording Academy because we know what it feels like to not have your voice heard.

And we celebrate having your voice heard, so we don't just stick to the music.

[ Laughter ] Okay?

-That's right.

-So that's how I met this incredible soul right here.

So, gosh, I just -- I feel like I'm in such an encouraging state right now.

And...has anyone else been thinking a lot lately?

♪ Too much time on my hands ♪ Too much time!

I have been thinking a lot.

And in these times it's like, I've been thinking about myself, I've been thinking about other people, and I've been thinking about people... who feel less than.

And I've been thinking about people who feel less than walking into a cafeteria in the lunchroom and not knowing who to sit with, not having anybody to sit with, or I've been thinking about people who feel less than walking into a new job straight out of college, and they don't know if their talents are gonna stack up.

And I've just been thinking about people who feel less than [sighs] in terms of recognition and in terms of freedoms, and as I think about those people who have ever felt less than, I know we have all had moments of feeling less than.

And in those moments when I feel less than, I close my eyes and I daydream a bit.

I'm a big dreamer.

You got to dream, I say.

If you don't dream, you better take some Ambien or something... [ Laughter ] ...and start dreaming.

Start dreaming.

And when I close my eyes in those moments when I feel less than, I think of a place where I'm worthy.

I think of a place where I am seen.

I think of a place where I am known.

And that is what inspired this song, is stepping away from what is, and for me, personally, in my journey and in my walk, this is the place where I feel worthy.

[ Playing "Heaven's My Home" ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪ When I was born ♪ ♪ My daddy said I was broken ♪ ♪ The beginning of the end ♪ ♪ Of a life I hadn't chosen ♪ ♪ He taught me how to give up ♪ ♪♪ ♪ He taught me how to work the system ♪ ♪ But I never had the time ♪ ♪ I never had the luxury ♪ ♪ Life's hard I've always known that ♪ ♪ I've never been handed no welcome mat ♪ ♪ When I die ♪ ♪ Please don't cry ♪ ♪ 'Cause heaven's my home anyhow ♪ ♪ Hmm, mmm, mmm ♪ ♪ Hmm, hmm, hmm ♪ ♪ Hmm, mmm, mmm ♪ ♪ Hmm, hmm, hmm ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Shinin' my shoes ♪ ♪ Feels like time for wasting ♪ ♪ 'Cause this bright sun ♪ ♪ Is the only shine I need ♪ ♪ They say you only live once ♪ ♪ That the light you get's for keeping ♪ ♪ But glory's gonna come ♪ ♪ And make a new man outta me ♪ ♪ Life's hard, I've always known that ♪ ♪ I've never been handed no welcome mat ♪ ♪ When I die ♪ ♪ Please don't cry ♪ ♪ 'Cause heaven's my home anyhow ♪ ♪ Hmm, mmm, mmm ♪ ♪ Hmm, hmm, hmm ♪ ♪ Hmm, mmm, mmm ♪ ♪ Hmm, hmm, hmm ♪ ♪ When I was born ♪ ♪ My face was like the angels ♪ ♪ I took my father by the hand ♪ ♪ And said, "Life won't be hard now" ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Life's hard, I've always known that ♪ ♪ I've never been handed no welcome mat ♪ ♪ When I die ♪ ♪ Please don't cry ♪ ♪ 'Cause heaven's my home anyhow ♪ ♪ Gonna sing it again ♪ ♪ Life's hard, I've always known that ♪ ♪ I've never been handed no welcome mat ♪ ♪ When I die ♪ ♪ Please don't cry ♪ ♪ 'Cause heaven's my home ♪ ♪ Hmm, hmm, mmm ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Victoria: Ruby Amanfu!

Thank y'all.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Drew.

[ Cheering continues ] [ Cheering continues ] Ahh!

I have the most talented friends.

They just make me look good.

She's amazing.

So amazing.

That voice kills me.

Okay, Tommy.

Tommy Shaw.

Yes, ma'am?

It's your last song.

Your third song.

All right.

Help me out with it.

Okay.

♪ Whoa, Mama, I'm in fear ♪ ♪ For my life from ♪ [ Cheering ] ♪ The long arm of the law ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Lawman has put an end to my running ♪ ♪ And I'm so far from my home ♪ ♪♪ Together: ♪ Oh, Mama, I can hear you a-cryin' ♪ ♪ You're so scared and all alone ♪ [ Laughs ] ♪ Hangman is comin' down from the gallows ♪ ♪ And I don't have very long ♪ Tommy: ♪ Yeah!

♪ ♪ The jig is up, the news is out ♪ ♪ They finally found me ♪ ♪ The renegade who had it made ♪ ♪ Retrieved for a bounty ♪ ♪ Nevermore to go astray ♪ ♪ This'll be the end today ♪ ♪ Of the wanted man ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, Mama, I've been years on the lam ♪ ♪ And had a high price on my head ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Lawman said, "Get him dead or alive" ♪ ♪ I was for sure he'll see me dead ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Dear Mama, I can hear you a-cryin' ♪ ♪ You're so scared and all alone ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hangman is comin' down from the gallows ♪ ♪ And I don't have very long ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The jig is up, the news is out ♪ ♪ They finally found me ♪ ♪ The renegade who had it made ♪ ♪ Retrieved for a bounty ♪ ♪ Nevermore to go astray ♪ ♪ This will be the end today ♪ ♪ For the wanted man ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Favorite part!

Together: ♪ Whoa, Mama, I'm in fear for my life ♪ ♪ From the long arm of the law ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hangman is comin' down from the gallows ♪ ♪ And I don't have very long ♪ ♪♪ Tommy: ♪ The jig is up, the news is out ♪ ♪ They finally found me ♪ ♪ The renegade who had it made ♪ ♪ Retrieved for a bounty ♪ ♪ Nevermore to go astray ♪ ♪ This'll be the end today ♪ ♪ Of the wanted man ♪ ♪ The wanted man ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, no ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I don't wanna go ♪ ♪ No, no, ay, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mama, don't let 'em take me!

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, no, oh, no ♪ ♪ Oh, no, no, no, no, no ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, the wanted man ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna go ♪ ♪ I don't wanna go ♪ ♪ We gotta go ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheering ] Whoo!

Tommy Shaw!

Thank you so much!

He's my friend!

Thank you!

Unbelievable.

Unbelievable.

Still singing in the original key.

I can't even do that.

So my next guest, let's see.

I usually write the intros, okay, but I didn't write an intro for him because I don't even know what to say.

First of all, I met him even longer than -- I've known him longer than I've known Tommy.

I met him in -- I think it was 1942.

[ Laughter ] I'm telling you, it was a long time ago -- when he was just a guy with a funny name.

I had never heard the name Garth.

I thought that was funny.

And now I don't think it's funny.

And it rhymes with -- you know, not funny at all.

But it's -- we became friends.

We had a lot in common.

He went on to do a lot of things.

Do I really need to tell you?

Ladies and gentlemen, my friend, Garth Brooks.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughs ] [ Cheering continues ] ...like that?

[ Laughs ] [ Cheering continues ] [ Cheering louder ] That's very sweet.

That's so kind of you.

Thank you so much.

Oh, it's for you.

Sorry.

Very sweet.

'42 was a very good year for me.

[ Laughter ] It was long time ago.

We met at the Opryland Hotel.

Sure did.

CRS.

CRS.

And people say we met in the bathroom.

But the real story is, we were talking and we wanted to -- you said, "Let's write."

And I was going to give you my number.

But it was so crowded and so noisy that we stepped into the bathroom with the door open and I was able to write down my number.

But it makes it sound fun that we met in the bathroom.

Man: Whoo!

Is that the way you remember it?

No.

[ Laughter ] Wasn't even in Nashville?

Uh, yeah, it was in a bathroom.

It was, yeah.

No.

So sweet.

It's fun.

I'd never -- You know what?

I love the whole thing, too.

We had so much in common.

I -- I had never met anybody from New York before, ever.

That's true.

I had never heard the F-bomb come out of a woman's mouth before.

That's true.

[ Laughter ] I was instantly in love.

It was like, "Wow."

But we had a lot of musical things in common, we found out.

Tons.

Like, Elton John and Queen and James Taylor and all that.

Yes.

Yeah.

So musically, we had a lot in common.

[ Tuning guitar ] Yeah, we just -- I think you were the first "Oklahomean" and I had ever met.

I would think so.

[ Laughter ] -Man: Go, Cowboys!

-She -- [ Laughs ] I remember you looking at my hat, going, "Well, I've never seen one of those."

No, I remember meeting -- when we met, you said -- I said, "Your managers think we should write."

And you -- "Yes, ma'am," and you said, "Yes, ma'am," and I said, "And just stop calling me 'ma'am' because I think I'm younger than you and we'll get along just fine," right?

Yes, and I've been doing everything you've said since, and it's worked out great for me.

[ Laughter ] We were at your house.

It was -- can I ask you some questions?

They won't use this, but I have some questions.

You're gonna interview me?

Go ahead.

Yes.

So was your roommate Jess... Jess Leary.

Okay, so you guys -- Who actually is on Season 2.

Oh, very good.

So, fabulous musician herself.

Yes.

In her own right.

I just remember she was always... every time that we would start to write, she'd go outside and sit on the porch... [ Strumming ] And we would just talk about James Taylor pretty much.

And we would just play James Taylor records.

You know... ♪ In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Can't you see the sunshine?

♪ ♪ Can't you just feel the moonshine?

♪ ♪ Ain't it just like a friend of mine ♪ ♪ To hit me from behind?

♪ ♪ Yes, I'm gone to Carolina ♪ ♪ In my mind ♪ Yeah, it's... [ Laughs ] [ Cheers and applause ] So that real easy kind of feel.

And as songwriters go, you have different songwriters for different fields.

And the crazy thing about Victoria, and I'm sure everybody that's up here has said this, it's one of the most comfortable feelings on the planet.

She just -- she's very educated in her music, much more than me.

She knows the black keys on a piano.

[ Laughter ] Remember, people, square, white.

[ Laughter ] So... We...

I'm trying to think even how we started... We were -- we did this at Major Bob's office, upstairs, with... What are we doing?

♪ She's sun and rain ♪ ♪ She's fire and ice ♪ Right?

Beautiful lyric, just beautiful lyric.

Was it up at Bob?

Yes, it was.

Thank you.

Because you had said something.

We had taken a walk once on Music Row and you were saying something, and you said something close to that line.

"Every something I never had."

And I stopped in the middle of the conversation and said, "We need to write that."

And we did.

Yeah, we did.

It's beautiful.

So there's great lines, just... Why don't we do that?

I would love to do that.

What key do you do that in?

Whatever key you do it in.

No way.

Of course.

I might just let you play.

What key do you do it in?

I do it in, I think, E. Yeah, that doesn't work for me.

Go ahead.

But it might be D. I might play it in E and sing it in D. I might try that.

[ Laughter ] If you do it in D, I might be able to sing a little bit, I don't know.

♪ She's sun and rain, she's fire and ice ♪ ♪ A little crazy but it's nice ♪ ♪ And when she gets mad ♪ ♪ You best leave her alone ♪ ♪♪ Together: ♪ 'Cause she'll rage just like a river ♪ ♪ Then she'll beg you to forgive her ♪ ♪ Oh, she's every woman ♪ ♪ That I've ever known ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She's so New York and then L.A. ♪ Brooks: ♪ And every town along the way ♪ ♪ And she's every place ♪ ♪ That I've never been ♪ ♪♪ Together: ♪ She's making love on rainy nights ♪ ♪ She's a stroll through Christmas lights ♪ ♪ And she's everything I want to do again ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And it needs no explanation ♪ ♪♪ ♪ 'Cause it all makes perfect sense ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When it comes down to temptation ♪ ♪ She's on both sides of the fence ♪ Brooks: ♪ She's anything but typical ♪ ♪ She's so unpredictable ♪ ♪ Oh, but even at her worst ♪ ♪ She ain't that bad ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She's as real as real can be ♪ ♪ And she's every fantasy ♪ ♪ Lord, she's every lover ♪ ♪ That I've ever had ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And she's every lover ♪ ♪ That I've never had ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Kisses and laughs ] Victoria Shaw!

Oh, my gosh.

That was a first.

[ Cheering continues ] It's so hard not to be able to hug my guests, my friends, but I did like the booty bump.

I think that's the thing we should start.

[ Laughter and cheers ] The quarantine booty bump.

Oh, there you go.

Be careful.

You got half a song written there already.

I think so.

Garth, that was so -- We've never done that, ever.

What?

Just -- that's -- I mean, there was no rehearsal for that.

That was fun.

Well, yeah.

Was it not?

Yeah, it was -- it was -- This is what I do, Victoria.

I've never seen you play.

You're very good.

I get to come out and play.

Thank you.

I think you have a future.

[ Laughter ] You see what it's like writing with her.

Let me tell you what it's like writing with him.

-He paces.

-Oh, my God.

Like, up and down and up and down.

He pace-- he's a pacer.

And it's -- [ Tapping ] And he's -- I'm standing right here.

And he's a tapper.

I am.

Yeah.

And Miss Victoria wants to know what every chord is right then.

"I don't know."

"How can you not know?"

Yeah, guitar players sometimes don't know what chords they're playing.

That's weird.

Now, we don't know what chords we're playing a lot.

[ Laughter ] I got totally intimidated playing with Tommy and Will.

I just all of a sudden felt my hands... Well, how could you not?

...go of the thing, I was like, ah, forget it.

Jiminy Christmas.

It's still -- it's like -- it's like -- How do they sing that high?

You know?

Tight pants.

[ Laughter ] You see what it's like writing with her.

[ Laughter ] Now I can't -- Do you remember one of the first songs we wrote -- it had never been recorded, that we wrote with Pat Alger?

No.

What was it?

"She Changed My Mind."

No, I don't remember it at all.

♪♪ ♪ I remember coming 'cross that bridge at night ♪ ♪ To a carnival of city light ♪ ♪♪ ♪ In on business, soon I'll be gone ♪ How do you remember this?

♪ But two weeks in New York is two weeks too long ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Then I met her in a small cafe ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Down on Bleecker Street on my last day ♪ ♪ Thought I couldn't wait to leave New York behind ♪ ♪ But she changed my mind ♪ ♪♪ Ha!

[ Cheers and applause ] I do remember that.

Holy cow, I just remember the title.

[ Laughter ] [ Cheers and applause ] Yeah, it's fun, it's fun to write with you because everything you write is, it's just solid, man.

It's just really good.

You're very kind.

You're just not gonna let it go, you know?

How about "A Friend to Me"?

Oh, hmm.

Or, you know what, whatever you want to do.

What do you do it out of?

You know what?

What do I do it out of?

Yes.

B-flat, and I forgot how to play it.

You do what out of what?

[ Laughter ] I think I play... [ Plays note ] Um... Did you say E-flat?

B-flat, but you know what?

B-flat.

Let's not do it 'cause I'm not sure I can remember the words.

[ Strumming ] We -- wait, no.

♪ We've always been buddies ♪ Yeah.

[ Vocalizes ] What key is that?

Um, I don't know.

[ Laughter ] ♪ Always been buddies ♪ It's B-flat.

Is it?

Yeah.

Yeah, I still wouldn't know B-flat, sorry.

What's the -- what's the great story of, um, who was the guy?

James Brown looking at his band going, "Hey, what key is this?

Ow!

What's that?

Ow!

What is that?

[ Laughter ] ♪♪ I can't believe I'm doing this in front of people.

[ Laughter ] What song would you like to play?

♪ Well, you and I, we're buddies ♪ ♪ And we've been since we first met ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Me and you, well, we've sure been through ♪ ♪ Our share of laughter and regret ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Lord knows we've had our bad days ♪ ♪ And more than once we've disagreed ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But you've always been ♪ ♪ A friend to me ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Ha!

♪ You can be so stubborn ♪ I wrote that line.

♪ Sometimes I think you just like to fight ♪ I wrote that line too.

♪ And I hope and pray I live to see the day ♪ Oh!

♪ When you say I might be right ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And there's times I'd rather kill you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Than listen to your honesty ♪ ♪ But you've ♪ I miss you.

I'm right here.

♪ But you've always been ♪ ♪ A friend to me ♪ ♪♪ [ Whistling ] ♪ Yes, you've always been ♪ ♪ And you will till God knows when ♪ ♪ Yes, you've always been ♪ ♪ A friend ♪ ♪ To me ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughter ] [ Cheering continues ] I owe all you people, all my friends, like a million hugs when this thing is over.

I'm coming for you.

True story.

Careful.

[ Laughter ] One of the true stories.

[ Laughs ] So we're writing this song together.

This song?

This song that we're about to do in your key.

-I can't wait.

-I hope.

Okay.

Yes.

And I look at her and, you know, I try to remember -- we've -- one of the first things we ever wrote together was a song called "The River."

So that's kind of always been our thing.

[ Cheering ] So we're writing "The River" in the house that you and Jess are in.

It's about this big.

Yeah.

I don't have a record deal yet.

And I'm telling her, "Oh, this is going to be huge.

There's going to be thousands of people with their lighters going on like this, singing, you know, ♪ I will sail... ♪ Right?

I didn't hear from you for about four months after that.

I thought, "This guy is so delusional.

What is up with him?

Nobody plays arenas and country music.

That's never going to happen."

And it was crazy because then about -- about eight years later, we had this little gig in your hometown at a place called Central Park.

Little gig.

Right?

So I asked Victoria if she would come up, open the show.

And you were very sweet and said, "Well, yeah, I'd love to, but --" I looked at my calendar to see if I was busy.

She didn't know the real reason why I brought her up there.

Because when it came time for "The River," I walked over and I grabbed one of my greatest friends' hands.

And I said, "You got to see this."

Came out.

What'd they do?

They were waving their -- they were waving their lighters.

Not even their -- It was amazing.

There was a million people waving their lighters... [ Cheers and applause ] And singing every word... Every word.

Of the song you wrote.

That's cool.

And that was back when they did lighters and they actually risked burning themselves.

No phones.

You know, I remember about the day of writing that, too, you came over, and at first we were blank.

Nothing was coming.

Sometimes it happens in the room and other times it just was -- just a lot of false starts.

And you said, "Let's just take a break.

Let's just, you know, shake it up.

What are you listening to?"

And I said I had just bought the new James Taylor album called "That's Why I'm Here."

And you said, "Play it."

And you know, sometimes when you listen to music, it takes you out of your head and you actually start thinking other things.

And after a couple of songs, you went, "I got it," and turned it off, and you literally just took the guitar and started playing the first few lines and singing the lyrics to "The River."

Yeah.

And what it was, was it's just James Taylor -- and I've met James several times.

Every time I see him, I say, "Man, I can't thank you for all the stuff I've ripped off from you."

Just a -- he's sweet.

Sweet, and he looks at you and goes, "We all borrow from each other."

We just did a song called "What I'm Thankful For," and he came in and played on it.

And I said, "It should -- it should sound -- You should know all the lyrics on this."

And he was sweet.

He looked and he goes, "It sounds familiar."

You know, in his sweet way.

But before we move on, because I noticed you moved on really quick, I need to know, who was right?

Say it, just once.

I can't, it's too hard.

Come on.

Okay, you were... You weren't incorrect.

[ Laughter ] Ah!

I'll take that.

Oh, I've watched -- I went -- in Ireland, I got to see him play at Croke Park.

Is that how you say it?

Croke Park, yeah.

Just -- I mean, three nights for -- No, a week?

What was it?

It was crazy.

Just -- everybody, you know, waving their lighters and singing my song.

[ Laughs ] But you also sang Texas Stadium.

From "Three Nights at Texas Stadium."

Oh, yeah, I was background on his TV special, so if you -- I was singing background with it, my big, big -- I made Reba look like she had a pixie.

Yes, you did.

I had such -- My big '90s hair.

That was me, you know?

Trust me... [ Laughter ] That big hair scared me to death because I'm standing outside the fire.

We lit the whole stage up, so we had her hair kind of put up...

It was scary.

...in a bun.

You remember that?

Totally, too, yes.

Totally.

But yeah, when you talk about James and you talk about that record, you know... ♪ Summer like summer ♪ ♪ Coming back every year ♪ ♪ Got your baby, got you blanket ♪ ♪ Got your bucket of beer ♪ Oh, my God.

What -- Just cool stuff that just kind of rolls.

I still listen to that album.

Oh, how could you not?

"New Moon Shine" might be one of his greatest albums 30 years into his career, it's fabulous.

Are we doing this?

Yeah, it's in your key.

I ain't scared.

I always say this song really wrapped up where we were at the time -- two very wide-eyed dreamers.

You know?

We were dreaming big.

And I mean, this song just summed up where we were.

That still fought tooth and nail over one frickin' word in this.

Oh, that's true.

I tried to talk him out of the word "vessel."

I was like, "vessel"?

That's a weird word.

Vessel.

Think about it.

How well does, ♪ I will sail my boat... ♪ [ Laughter ] It just doesn't work.

Think about it.

It's true, it's true.

We can go through the whole list if you want.

It's true.

I mean, we really did fight about that word.

It was like, "vessel"?

But now I admit, vessel is my favorite word.

Vessel to put my kids through school.

I actually -- I try to use the word vessel -- You know -- are you going to have that vessel of beer right there?

Because it looks really good.

I use the word pretty much every time I can.

[ Laughs ] [ Playing intro ] -Wait -- -You in A?

Oh, but I was gonna give a big fancy thing.

Can you do it in A?

Yeah.

Oh, I'm sorry, do you do it in A?

I do.

Okay, but you do the fancy -- [ Intro playing ] [ Laughs ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ You know a dream is like a river ♪ ♪ Ever changin' as it flows ♪ ♪ And a dreamer's just a vessel ♪ ♪ That must follow where it goes ♪ ♪ Trying to learn from what's behind you ♪ ♪ Never knowing what's in store ♪ ♪ Makes each day a constant battle ♪ ♪ Just to stay between the shores ♪ ♪♪ Together: ♪ And I will sail my vessel ♪ ♪ Till the river runs dry ♪ Yeah, sing it... ♪ Like a bird upon the wind ♪ ♪ These waters are my sky ♪ ♪ I'll never reach my destination ♪ ♪ If I never try ♪ ♪ So I will sail my vessel ♪ ♪ Till the river runs dry ♪ You can't sing in this key, right?

You can't sing this in this key.

Let's find out.

♪ Too many times we stand aside ♪ ♪ Let the waters slip away ♪ Eat your heart out, Tommy.

♪ Put off till tomorrow ♪ ♪ It has now become today ♪ ♪ So don't you sit upon the shoreline ♪ ♪ And say you're satisfied ♪ [ Cheering ] ♪ Choose to chance the rapids ♪ I better pull these up.

♪ And dare to dance that tide ♪ Take it ♪ I will sail my vessel ♪ ♪ Till the river runs dry ♪ ♪ Like a bird upon the wind ♪ ♪ These waters are my sky ♪ ♪ I'll never reach my destination ♪ ♪ If I never try ♪ ♪ So I will sail my vessel ♪ ♪ Till the river runs dry ♪ ♪ And there's bound to be rough waters ♪ ♪ And I know I'll take some falls ♪ ♪ But with the good Lord as my captain ♪ ♪ I can make it through them all ♪ Help us out here.

♪ And I will... ♪ ♪ Sail my vessel ♪ ♪ Till the river runs dry ♪ ♪ Like a bird upon the wind ♪ ♪ These waters are my sky ♪ ♪ I'll never reach my destination ♪ ♪ If I never try ♪ ♪ So I will sail my vessel ♪ ♪ Till the river runs dry ♪ ♪ Yes, I will sail my vessel ♪ ♪ Till the river runs dry ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Until the river runs dry ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

[ Laughs ] That was some high notes there, Garth.

It was.

[ Clears throat ] I will never be the same.

[ Laughter ] Why would you ever want to go home from this gig?

You don't.

This is awesome.

It's going to turn into break-- we're gonna serve breakfast soon.

Let's do more.

What do I want to do?

What do you feel like?

So you were telling Tommy backstage that your first concert was... Styx.

Was Styx.

My brother -- I was the youngest of six.

My brother was the next youngest.

So my brother got stuck with carrying me everywhere because the other four were old enough to be out of the house.

So it was just me and Kelly, and Kelly, unfortunately... Had to take you everywhere.

Yeah, had to take little brother everywhere.

But that was -- man, that was that era, that age, so it was Styx, it was Kansas.

Oh, my gosh.

All the -- all the -- all the -- Maybe, you know, arguably, the greatest groups in music history at that time.

Just -- and I was lucky enough to get to go see all of them.

I got to see Queen when I was 17, and then -- I saw them three times.

-Did you really?

-I did.

It's cool to look at your kids and go -- Because they love Freddie and they love Queen -- and go, "Yeah, I saw them."

"No, Dad!

Really?

"Yeah."

It was awesome.

And then I fell in love.

I went to see George Strait at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds.

[ Cheers ] And went, "God that's what I want to be the rest of my life right there."

And it was really cool.

So it was fun to get to bring the influences of Styx, Kansas, all the fun they did at the shows into country music.

'Cause your arena shows are a rock show with country music.

Yeah, undeniable country music hopefully, just steels and fiddles and just having fun, but I got to tell you, you know, people go, "What do you want to be remembered for?"

I want to be remembered for having the most fun on the planet.

And that's what we get to do when get to playing.

[ Cheers and applause ] It's fun.

What's your guilty pleasure musically?

Keith Whitley.

That's just -- that's it.

But that's not a guilty pleasure.

That, like, makes sense.

What's your guilty pleasure?

Well, guilty pleasure is, like, something that you wouldn't -- let me think, who's my guilty pleasure musically?

Um... What do you mean, "something you wouldn't"?

Excuse me?

What do you mean, "something you wouldn't"?

Meaning, like, you don't really admit it, but you really love it.

Like, if you really loved -- Garth Brooks, then, for me, yeah.

[ Laughter ] No, like Cooper -- Cooper, the artist that I work with, you know, he grew up on all the great -- and he loves, you know, all the stuff that you love.

But I said, "So what else did you like?"

And he goes, "Well, when I was little kid, I really liked ABBA."

You wouldn't expect -- you know, that's like a guilty pleasure -- ABBA.

So you have something like that?

Yeah.

Some of the greatest singers -- George Michael was... Oh, yeah.

...one of the most fabulous singers ever.

So I love the big singers, I love the voice.

What's your favorite George Michael song?

Oh, I don't know.

I mean, geez, I wouldn't know.

♪ Freedom ♪ "Freedom" is so great, but he's just -- I don't know, man.

The stuff he did with Wham!

was fabulous as well, so I just love how -- I just like to think of little Garth Brooks in his room... ♪ Wake me up before you go, go ♪ [ Laughter ] Yep.

And it's weird because you were raised with that and at the same time you were raised with "Mama Tried" from Haggard.

And then here would come Mahalia Jackson from Mom.

And here would come Sam Cooke from Jerry.

And here would come -- here would come -- Betsy would come with Rita Coolidge, Janis Ian, all of the -- Joplin.

I mean, she did all the female acts.

Peter, Paul and the Raiders were, you know -- was in -- I mean, what is it?

Was it?

No, it was Paul Revere & the Raiders, Thank you very -- Peter, Paul and Mary, Paul Revere & the Raiders.

They were all in our house.

Tom Rush was in our house.

The Byrds, "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" record was in our house, but at the same time, so was Jack Green, Cash... You know, George Jones was the man in the house.

So it was -- it was cool.

It was cool to get to be in the house.

You got to hear everything.

My sister turned me on to -- I was into rock and Queen everything, but my sister had Linda Ronstadt and all the J.D.

Souther and all that stuff.

And I didn't listen to it as much, and as I got older, I was like, oh, it's beautiful stuff.

Oh, it's gorgeous stuff.

And you talk about great melodies -- and the crazy thing about '70s kind of rock... ♪♪ It became '90s country.

Yeah, very much so.

You know?

You think about Linda Ronstadt.

What is that?

♪ There you go, baby ♪ ♪ Here am I, well ♪ ♪ Gone and left so I can ♪ ♪ Sit and cry ♪ ♪ Golly gee, what have you ♪ ♪ Done to me?

♪ ♪ Well, I guess it doesn't matter anymore ♪ ♪♪ And I am a sucker for female songs, female songwriters, because they write in a way that guys don't write and they bring an opinion or a thing to something.

Oh, we got opinions.

Yes.

Yeah, I have three daughters.

They've got opinions.

And, you know, they do that -- I don't know, it just -- it just -- I enjoy that whole -- I just enjoy that whole thought.

So I was always thinking about making a record called "Feminine Sides," and it's just all...

I love that.

...all female songs.

I mean, you know, see, you have... ♪ He was working through college ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ On her grandpa's farm ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She was thirsting for knowledge ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And he had a car ♪ ♪ Oh, she was caught somewhere between a woman and a child ♪ ♪ One reckless summer they found love growing wild ♪ ♪ On the banks of the river, on a well-beaten path ♪ ♪ Ain't it funny how those memories, they last ♪ ♪ Like strawberry wine ♪ ♪ Seventeen ♪ ♪ The hot July moon, it saw everything ♪ ♪ The first taste of love ♪ ♪ Whoa, bittersweet ♪ ♪ Green on the vine ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Like strawberry wine ♪ ♪♪ That has one of the most perfect bridges ever written.

Oh, beautiful bridge.

Beautiful.

So your first album, okay?

I'm not going to be like Oprah right now, but your first album got me through a really hard period -- even though we were friends.

I was going through a really hard period in my life, and I listened to that album over and over and over again, and it really soothed my soul.

That's very sweet.

Seriously, every song on that album.

What's your favorite song on that album?

Because I don't have a song -- I don't have a dog in that hunt.

So you can just tell me.

I don't know how you how you had the first album if you know it and not -- "The Dance" has to be -- just -- it's just... [ Cheering ] It's a beautiful song.

"The Dance" changed my life.

I mean, just -- just it... [ Cheers and applause ] [ Playing intro ] You try and live this life as a reporter.

It's not you who does it.

You just get to go along for the ride.

It's a sweet ride.

But life is funny.

First time I heard this song -- It was written by a guy named Tony Arata.

[ Cheering ] -Oh, good.

We got some Tony fans, so you'll be able to back me up on this.

First time I heard it, it sounded like this.

♪♪ [ Deep voice ] ♪ Looking back ♪ [ Laughter ] ♪ On the memory of ♪ That sounds just like him!

♪ The dance we shared ♪ ♪ Beneath the stars ♪ Like, what the hell is this guy saying?

[ Laughter ] So it was a thing around town that they'd always send lyrics with Tony's stuff.

But I'm sitting at the Bluebird one night.

There's a guy named Tony Arata at the mic, I'd never met him.

And he started singing this song, and for some reason, that night, that moment, it was crystal clear to me, man.

♪ Looking back ♪ [ Cheering ] ♪ On the memory of ♪ ♪ The dance we shared ♪ ♪ Beneath the stars above ♪ ♪ For a moment ♪ ♪ All the world was right ♪ ♪ How could I have known ♪ ♪ You'd ever say goodbye?

♪ ♪ And now ♪ ♪ I'm glad I didn't know ♪ ♪ The way it all would end ♪ ♪ The way it all would go ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Our lives ♪ ♪ Are better left to chance ♪ ♪ I could have missed the pain ♪ ♪ But I'd have to miss ♪ ♪ The dance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yes, our lives ♪ ♪ They're better left to chance ♪ ♪ I could have missed the pain ♪ ♪ But I'd have to miss ♪ ♪ The ♪ ♪ Dance ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Tony Arata.

[ Cheering continues ] That's very sweet.

Thanks a lot.

Very sweet.

[ Cheering continues ] That's my friend Garth Brooks.

[ Cheers and applause ] I love you.

I love you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Garth.

Thank you, Tommy Shaw.

Thank you, Ruby Amanfu.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

You the man!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪ You'd ever say goodbye?

♪ ♪ And now ♪ ♪ I'm glad I didn't know ♪ ♪ The way it all would end ♪ ♪ The way it all would go ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Our lives ♪ ♪ Are better left to chance ♪ ♪ I could have missed the pain ♪ ♪ But I'd have had to miss ♪ ♪ The dance ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yes, our lives ♪ ♪ They're better left to chance ♪ ♪ I could have missed the pain ♪ ♪ But I'd have to miss ♪ ♪ The ♪ ♪ Dance ♪ [ Cheers and applause ]