Bailey Zimmerman stopped by The Bobby Bones Show today to celebrate the release of his brand new album Different Night Same Rodeo.
From battling the effects of childhood medication to swinging across stages mid-performance, Zimmerman’s journey is anything but ordinary. He opened up about how certain medications made him feel like a “zombie” growing up, even sleepwalking into a pond at one point. These days, he says he's choosing to “raw dog it” (go without meds) and just be himself, a decision he credits as a major factor in getting him to where he is today. That authenticity is reflected in his live performances, where he’s developed a signature stage move: getting launched into the air. He practiced the stunt 30 to 40 times before ever attempting it live. Now, it's become a challenge to top the previous night’s jump, with St. Louis currently holding the record for his highest leap.
Another big milestone? His collaboration with Luke Combs being chosen as the new SEC song. Zimmerman admitted he didn’t even know it had happened until a friend mentioned it in passing. “It’s still pretty new to me,” he said with a laugh. Manifestation is a recurring theme in Zimmerman’s career. One standout story involves a dream collaboration with BigXthaPlug. While scrolling through Instagram, Zimmerman casually thought about how cool it would be to work with him. They’d never met or spoken, but two months later, he got a text out of the blue—BigXthaPlug wanted to cut a song with him. Zimmerman recorded his part in 10 minutes and just like that, they had a track together.
His approach to manifestation doesn’t involve timelines or pressure. The same laid-back philosophy led to his meeting with Morgan Wallen. Zimmerman had hoped to meet him, and sure enough, they crossed paths in the Big Loud parking lot. Wallen complimented his song "Fall In Love,” and before long, they were sharing a tour.
The new album features more than 20 songs, but Zimmerman says Chevy Silverado is his favorite. It’s a deeply personal track that started as a solo project while he was still learning how to write both lyrics and melody. Inspired by his 16-year-old self and the memory of borrowing money to buy his grandpa’s truck, the song is a proud accomplishment two years in the making. “Don’t get a girlfriend,” he joked, “buy a Chevy Silverado.”
Other highlights from his rising career include meeting country legends Billy Currington and Tyler Hubbard. In a surreal moment, Zimmerman found himself headlining a festival with Hubbard opening, something he never thought would happen so soon. Despite the fame and financial success, Zimmerman says what he values most is freedom. After years of being told what to do, especially working on the pipeline, music gave him control over his time and direction. For him, time is more valuable than money, and the chance to meet people from all over the world has been the most rewarding part of it all. Case in point: a fan he met at a show in Wales is now moving to Illinois to be closer to Zimmerman's family because of how cool they were.
He’s thrilled to be headlining his own tour and joining Lainey Wilson as direct support next year. While the tour is named New To Country, after one of his songs, it’s not the name of the record. Originally, Zimmerman planned to release the album last year and call it When It Was (also a track on the record). But something didn’t sit right. “I’m so glad I waited,” he said.