Country Thunder — the largest Country music festival brand in North America — drops the next must-listen episode of its fan-favorite podcast, “On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer,” today (5/29). In the latest installment, chart-dominating and arena-filling MULTI-PLATINUM genre-smasher HARDY engages in a no holds barred conversation about his incredible ascent to the forefront of Country and Rock. Speaking to host Troy Vollhoffer, he gets real, discussing the scene and hinting at what’s to come as he continues breaking all the rules.

HARDY has landed a slew of RIAA certifications, notched a staggering 16 #1 hits to date, and continued his prolific run with last year’s Quit!! Right now, he’s also headlining the massive JIM BOB World Tour joined by special guests Koe Wetzel, Stephen Wilson Jr., McCoy Moore, and Sikarus.

In the midst of his unprecedented rise, the superstar humbly touches on gaining “the courage to really dive into the whole Rock thing with the mockingbird & THE CROW,” going on to admit, “Of all the things I do, I hope that I have some [new things] that blow [the mockingbird & THE CROW] out of the water as far as sales and stuff, but that’s such a cornerstone defining who I am.” 

He also surveys the state of Country music at the moment, giving props to the next vanguard and ruminating on how far he and his contemporaries have come over the last few years.

HARDY observes, “Our tight crew of people who were the new guard are now a little bit seasoned for the first time, and we’re seeing the Gavin Adcocks, Ella Langley, and just Zach Top who’s on fire. It’s like the moment you wake up and you ache, and you realize you’re starting to get old for the first time,” he laughs. “Your hangover lasts two days or some shit like that!”

Plus, he muses on his signature boundary-breaking style. “We’re going to do it tonight straight from something insane straight into a Country song and it works,” he smiles.

WATCH THE EPISODE HERE

Season two of “On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer,” has effectively cemented Vollhoffer as a major voice in the world of podcasting. So far this year, he has spoken to MULTI-PLATINUM artist Justin Moore, award-winning PLATINUM superstar Jordan Davis, rising Georgia Country star Gavin Adcock, ACM award-winning North Dakota-born duo Tigirlily Gold — sisters Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh, and more.

Simultaneously, Country Thunder has shined on both coasts this year. Country Thunder Arizona hosted the biggest, brightest, and boldest west coast iteration of the festival in April, while Country Thunder Florida lit up the Sunshine State this month. 

This year, “On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer” expanded to include video as season two gains traction, landing at #1 in Music among Apple Podcasts in the U.S. with already featured episodes including MULTI-PLATINUM rising star Koe Wetzel, top booking agents Rod Essig, Curt Motley, and Nick Meinema, and MULTI-PLATINUM Country superstar Dustin Lynch – whose episode launched in the Top 1% of all podcasts. Making waves, MusicRow touted the podcast and Amazon Music has included it in their Featured Podcasts.

The show is hosted by Country Thunder owner and founder Vollhoffer. With cameras rolling and tape running, he engages in funny and freewheeling discourse with A-list Country talent as well as buzzing acts. The episodes are filmed from Vollhoffer’s tour bus and home studio, providing an unfiltered vignette into the lives of artists as they tell stories, recall memories, and share unwavering passion for music.

During season one, Vollhoffer played host to Country music royalty with a string of fascinating, funny, and enlightening conversations. The roster included Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Bailey Zimmerman, Ashley McBryde, Nate Smith, Marty Stuart, Parker McCollum, Terri Clark, and Big Kenny, among others. 

The podcast stands out as a must-listen for Country aficionados and music fans at large. Boasting an intimate format, exclusive content, and an elite lineup of all-star guests, there’s nothing quite like it.

ABOUT COUNTRY THUNDER:
Attracting nearly 625,000+ fans to its six multi-day events, Country Thunder Music Festivals boast unparalleled reach with a diverse demographic profile spanning the USA and Canada. Featuring top-tier Country artists, Country Thunder Festivals draw diverse crowds, fostering a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates the essence of Country music. The Country Thunder Music Festivals organization has a 21-year history which boasts five other major multi-day events in North America, including Wisconsin, Florida, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

ABOUT TROY VOLLHOFFER:
Troy Vollhoffer is an American entrepreneur from Nashville, TN and currently serves as the President of Country Thunder Music Festivals, Big Valley Jamboree, and Premier Global Production Company. One of the most beloved festival brands in the world, Country Thunder has seen tremendous success, receiving numerous awards including the ACM Festival of the Year for Country Thunder Arizona, Wisconsin, and most recently, Bristol in 2023. For his transformation of the festival, Vollhoffer was honored with the Academy of Country Music Lifting Lives Award and the Don Romero Talent Buyer of the Year Award at the ACM Honors in 2023.
 
Vollhoffer played professional ice hockey from 1982-1992 and has served on the boards of the T.J. Martell Foundation, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, ACM Lifting Lives, ACM and CMA. His dedicated philanthropic commitment was recognized at the 2018 CCMA Awards, where he received the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award.

ABOUT ON THE BUS WITH TROY VOLLHOFFER:
Troy Vollhoffer, owner and founder of Country Thunder Music Festival, invites the biggest Country artists and industry giants to join him for a one-on-one celebrity interview “On the Bus.”  As Troy opens his home, his tour bus, and festival venues to his audience for behind the scenes conversations, he asks exclusive questions, discusses festival do’s and don'ts, and highlights the tracks fans will hear on stage at Country Thunder this summer. Guests include Dustin Lynch, Koe Wetzel, Tigirlily Gold, Dierks Bentley, Bailey Zimmerman, Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde and countless other music industry legends, taking you backstage to share stories of their concerts, their careers, and their entertainment industry journeys. Be ready to be thunderstruck, "On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer."

ABOUT HARDY:
Big Loud Records/Big Loud Rock heavy hitter HARDY—crowned “Nashville’s nü-metal king” by the Los Angeles Times—continues his breathtaking ascent with a new EP, COUNTRY!. To follow it up, he's set off on the JIM BOB World Tour across North America and Europe, including headline dates at New York's Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles' The Forum, London's O2 Academy Brixton and many more. HARDY ruled 2024 with his much-lauded LP Quit!! and an eponymous, sold out North American tour. His first full-album embrace of his rock sound topped the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart and features standouts "PSYCHO," "SIX FEET UNDER (Caleigh's Song)" and "ROCKSTAR," as well as collaborations with heros like RHCP's Chad Smith and Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst. Quit!! follows HARDY's critically acclaimed sophomore album the mockingbird & THE CROW, adding to 6 billion career streams. The pride of Philadelphia, Mississippi has earned his reputation as "one of Nashville’s most reliable and successful” (Billboard), with 16 #1s under his belt, multiple CMA and ACM awards and one of the most-lauded live shows in the business.  

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