#354 - Lesly Simon on How She Became the General Manager of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's Record Labels + Being Diagnosed with Breast Cancer + Taking Coldplay Out to a Bar Before They Were Famous

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Speaker 1: Alright, Episode three fifty four, Leslie Simon, the general manager of Garth Brooks and triciyar Wood's record labels. I mean, just a crazy story of how she got to where she yesterday, meaning she and we'll talk about this. She was working with Chingy for a while, which I thought a pretty good story, pretty funny story. Yeah, and you know, she did it all and at one point she moved off and just was like, I'm gonna like being nanny. It was it a nanny, yeah, and then she was like I got to get back. It's crazy, you know, the life of someone in the music industry. And then she talks about how she's been affected by cancer because in seventeen she was diagnosed with breast cancer. So right now, let me say this before this starts, because I hope you listen to the whole thing. It's it's a really fantastic hour here. Leslie's being honored by the American Cancer Society Hope gall in August, and it's currently raising money for cancer research and patient programs. You can find the link in the episode notes of this podcast, So if you hear this and you're so moved, click that to donate in her honor or, an honor or memory of a loved one that is also battled cancer. It's in separate parts, I mean individually, either one of the parts. We call them parts A and B. Although they're together individually, they're both a plus. Together it's just another level. And you know she doesn't have she's not famous, So I hope that doesn't discourage you from listening all the way through because it is great and you're gonna take a lot from this. So that's the deal. This is episode three four, and she does She talks about taking Coldplay to a bar. I just chilling, So it's all there. This is episode Leslie Simon on the Bobby catst As we get into a lot of your career, Leslie, what's interesting to me is that I wonder what you remember from the day Cam came to the studio. People bring that up to me as a part of my career, and you know, I have my story what I tell because it was my version in my life. And you come to the studio with Cam and you guys have a radio single. I don't even know what it was. Thinking back, I gotta be honest, I don't remember what it was. And it was like, hey, we're gonna come. And I liked Camp and so I didn't know where that well then, but I liked her from our limited time together. And Camp came in the studio and she played the song and I was like, man, your song I really like, I said, I just love Burning House as I would would you play it? And so she did? And that's a slow song and she's a new artist, and obviously that's not it wasn't a single. Oh no, I mean we were all so nervous about I loved that song, but I mean it was like, how can you put a four minute slow that? Like the slowest ballot? So slow? And when you were like, hey, I love this song, I was like, cool, let's yeah. So she played it and then I remember playing it all day. I played it every thirty minutes on the air for two reasons. One because I loved it, and too, I was kind of figuring out my place here and what kind of influence I head, Yeah, And it wasn't just play. And so this is download still six or seven years ago. And so you can watch the iTunes chart where now it takes longer because streaming numbers aren't immediate, and and we just skyrocketed and it and I was like, I remember, well, I remember walking out that day and she and I were both like, wow, that was really special. And it was weird because I was like, I didn't focus on the single. It wasn't planned, and we were fine with that. Were I always thought you guys were a little upset because you came in for something and I didn't give it to you. But not on purpose, No, no, no. What was so exciting when we walked out of the door was we felt this energy in that interview. We felt your excitement for the song. We love the song, but it was really everything that you're told you can't take to radio on a new artist. I mean, you're constantly told we want tempo, we want something short that you know it's going to be air candy, and this was slow and had a big, kind of powerful story behind it. So we walked out and we were both like, God, that felt so good, and we kind of went through this what if no, it would just never work. What if no? You know all of the things that were always listening to, which are the formula for what you're supposed to do, It didn't fall into any of those things. Well, and she's also a female artist, which is another layer, and it's still a layer now, but it was like back then, it was it was so hard. It was so hard, so everything was working against it, right, everything new female, slow, no reason that should have been radio song no Reason, and my version of the story from where I lived. I play it to play it. It's crushing, it's crushing. I talked to Rod, who runs the format and is also one of my dearest friends. We've been together for fifteen years, and I'm like, hey, I've only ever seen this, like one or two songs ever that we've done. Ever, I've never seen a reaction like this before. And it's easier to react to a slow song because you can actually hear the words, so I expect reaction from powerful songs. But I said, hey, this is a weird thing where and I thought you guys were upset. I was like, they didn't come in from a song, and I asked him to play it. But Rod wasn't in that role yet. He was partially he was getting involved, but he wasn't in the big role. But I called him because I was fighting for him to get that role. And I was like, hey, we did this and we were also and eventually I get to be on the verge part, but he was very much in that conversation upon the verge, and I was already positioning for it because not that I loved Cam and I later did, and not that I loved you, because I didn't really know you that well yet, but I saw that as if that was a hit and I did it, that people will be like, oh, that guy kind of knows what he's talking about. But I didn't know what I was talking about. But I was just I was just experimenting at the time. And you've always had an ear, and you had you had that ear. Then I remember sitting at my desk after we got back, Um, and you texted me and you texted me a screenshot of the Attunes chart and I was like, oh my gosh. And right within seconds of you texting me, we were at a time that we didn't have a chairman at Sony Nashville. Some dude call me named Dog or something. So Doug Morris, Doug Morris, who was the head of Sony in New York, called me and I answered the phone and I said, somebody from his office called because I guess right when you sent me that text. I sent it to somebody in New York and I'll even remember who. I just remember Dog's office immediately called me and Doug said what happened today? And I said, well, Bobby wanted to and Doug loved Burning House. And Doug was a huge part of signing CAM. I mean he actually I'm pretty sure he signed Camp. That's what he told me. Yes, when I started listened to I didn't really talk much. I listened a lot, That's what he said. I mean, I'm like, my key, my brain is like and so I have to go back. But he signed Cam. He called me and he said what happened today? And I said, Bobby loves Burning House and wanted to play Burning House. And when he played Burning House, there was this media reaction and this is where it is on iTunes, and so he obviously I saw the iTunes number and he was like, this has to be our single. That quickly made that decision. He was like, I think this has to be the single. And I was like, we're always looking for something that's reacting. We want something that's organic and that's real and that has an instant reaction, and this song is doing that. And from that conversation. I mean, then he and I started talking on a way more regular basis, and then On the Verge came together and that was really what jump started her career. That song. I mean, that was a number one record that had it not been for On the Verge, and the response that happened that day, Um, that instant reaction from fans, we never would have gotten enough exposure to have ever gotten the number one I mean, and then so many things, you know, opened up for her, So many doors opened up for her, and you know, Grammy nominations and performances on television and all of these things opened from the power of that song in that moment, And it was one of the most special things in my career because to have a new artist on a song like that that everybody says it's not gonna work work, Um, it was really really exciting and really one of the things I'm most proud of. But I mean, I still remember it pretty vividly, where she came in, she played it, I kept I played it a few times on the air, just being like, you guys, if you like you gotta do something because and then my goal was like, let's see if I can move a needle more than just downloads. And I'm one with Rod because we had just been talking about on the Bridge for another artist who didn't get it, so I don't want to say it is so and on the verge. For those that are listening, it's basically the biggest thing you can get as a new artist with a song, because you just automatically get a ton of play and automatically move up the charts and automatically get a good place to get research in a positive way because you have to have research and has to show up, but you get enough spins that it's real life research well, and most importantly, people hear it because you're getting those spins in the daytime. And the only way fans can react to music is if they can discover it and they have to hear it more than one time, and they have to hear it just over and over again in a in a regular rotation, and you get that and not at two in the morning. That happens a lot of time in new artists, like most of the play is in the overnight spot um and I remember getting home and it was a New York number and I was like, oh, I don't think it's spent. So my answer and he's like, hey, this is Doug some some name. I just am not connected, right, and so he probably has a lot of people who worship a door and respect what he's done. Later I learned it. I learned to, but I was like, what up, Doug. I didn't know who it was, and he's he starts to tell me a story about Cam coming into Sony and him signing her and how big of a deal. So I started to put it all together, like this is the guy that's because you were at Arista, that that that division of Sony. So in my head I'm figuring it out. As I'm talking to I'm like, oh, so Sony the big boss. He's like over over everything, all formats and so he was super sweet. He's like, I just want to say thanks, because in a way, we were gonna play this as a single because the team in Nashville had felt like we needed to give what radio usually wants. I'm like good, and we hang up and he's like, this is gonna be the song and I appreciate your support. He was also like, can I have your support more so? And I was like, I mean, I was like, yeah, I know, I don't know what to say, and so because it really had happened so quickly. So I'm talking to Rod and I'm like, hey, man, do we want a big win on this or do we want to grab an artist? It's probably gonna do pretty good anyway, because if we want a big win, this is the one because it wasn't single, it's female artist. It's such a good song, it's different. I said, if you want to win, we gotta give it a cam And I don't really get in those conversations a whole lot. I think I've only ever done it twice other when one was Christians and buy me a Boat, and I was like, you gotta do it because they just this was like right after like I'm hot. I'm like, I'm like, let's do it again. That's probably a little bit of why I kept doing the song too, because I was like, let's see if this is I just caught lightning in a bottle um and I did. Because those songs were lightning into bottles. It was just somebody had to put them on a platform, right. I didn't. I didn't do anything except go, hey, I'm my people, listen to this this? Yeah, you gave it the exposure that any artist needs. But when you have great songs like that and they get exposure, then they do what they're supposed to do, They do what they're meant to do. They react, and that's what happened. And I mean listen, there were some program directors who were not happy. They did not want to play it, and they were like, you know, why, why does it have to be this song? Why does it have to be a ballad? And we were like, you can't say it's me because other companies, especially then right now, it's a little okay because I've kind of established, but then if you were to say, Bobby did this, they just pe on it. Well, and I think too at the time. I mean, it was just there was so much A female cannot come out with a ballad and you need to listen to us. A female can't come out with a ballad. And you know, my thought at that time was like, hey, man, if you don't hear this and you don't want to do it, no worries. Let's see what happens in your market. Let's see what happens with the streaming numbers. Let's see what happens with the download numbers because like you said, I mean we people were still downloading it iTunes, and all of those things came together in such a real and passionate and big way that you really didn't have a choice. I mean, I guess you could be you know, you could have such an ego that you decided not to share it with your audience. But why would you do that, you know, because if the people are telling you they want something, why would anybody have such a big ego that they wouldn't give it to him. It was a great little snapshot of you know, those early years for me and nashvillists seeing that success, because I loved to see a song that was just real good, get it, even though it didn't match what the criteria supposedly was for a song to be real good, whatever that meant. And there have been a few of those, like Eric Passley, he Don't he don't love you, She don't love She don't love you. That was one too where I was like it was slow and like the song is just so good, like guys were, and so we played all the time and it was only like a top ten, but it was like it was nominated for big awards, and I was just so proud of like fighting for that song because it was just about the song and what That's one of the things I love that you did at that time, and you still do, but not not as much now, but yes, but you really at that time said, I don't care if this doesn't follow the formula of what we're supposed to be putting on the radio. This is an amazing song. And I'm seeing I mean, you're on the front lines. A lot of program directors are not on the front lines, but you're on the front lines because you're talking to people, You're connecting with fans, you're you know, you're communicating with listeners every day, and so you really see how they react, whether you're seeing it on socials or I mean, you still have people calling to the studio. I mean a lot of people don't even have phone lines to do that, but you do. And so you had the opportunity to see how the listeners and the fans reacted to Burning House into the other songs that you launched, but you were you were playing songs that no one else would play, and you were giving them exposure and letting the fans and the listeners decide. And at the end of the day. That's what it's all about, right, I mean like that discovery is what it's all about. And we kind of got to a place where we I felt like we were really struggling to get anything that was different, the opportunity to succeed, and you gave it the opportunity, and good gracious. There's a picture in the little waiting room here's Mass It was awesome. It was awesome, and it's an awesome song. There's a picture in the room here when you walk out, like the waiting room for the studio, and it's Cam and Kelsey because Kelsey's first song was going number one and Cam was in because she had just been announced on the Virgin and had him come in at the same time. And they don't I don't remember what they did, but I have a picture of that day because it was awesome to me because I used take Kelsey out on the road and open for us. She didn't have a song or anything yet, and I was so proud of her and she was getting her first number one and I was so pumped for that song and Cam and I didn't have the relationship with Cam, but I just loved this song and the idea of someone doing something that wasn't really being done, which is taking a big by the label had to take a chance money and I was so proud of her in that song. So there's a picture of us, and I was like, this is such an awesome day for all of us, and there's women in country music. It's really cool. And I don't do this. It's funny. I don't do it as much anymore for a couple of reasons. One because you don't really get the instant because it takes a while for streaming to actually show up. Um, three reasons too. I just try to be funny at this point, right, you know, I don't have a lot of time to listen to a bunch of new music. And it got to the point where I was getting people all the time begging me to play new music or listen to new music, and I didn't have time to be fair, and if I couldn't be fair, I didn't really want to do it. And then it got to and you'll know this because you've been in this industry for a while, it got really bad with because I had had a bit of success in a non traditional way of breaking music and artists that other we'll call them gatekeepers or other places started to get competitive with it and then hold people back. That I was like, this is good. So I was like, they're gonna hold people back, come out because I'm not gonna do anything and have somebody penalize something I think is great because I don't work with that streaming service. I don't work at that, And so that started to happen and I was like, all right, I'm out. I'm gonna be out for a while until it chills. And then so now I do it in a way of I love this artist and if they're coming to town, you should go see them, because that's how you can directly affect an artist well. And you put the gold stage the other night. Yes, I love and I still love the same thing. It's the same, but now if I just find different ways to do it. Are a waiter at a place weet all the time? Never told me that story. I loved seeing that story, and I was like, hey, come on, so I put them up on stage. You played it was awesome. So yes, I just have to have to find a different way to do it. But I love it. I love people that are good and work hard and are trying every way to get some sort of exposure and then if I can, if I have a path for them to walk down, let's go. I'll take you and we'll go. Using your platform for that is it's exciting that that still can happen different, Yes, in a different way. I mean whatever way you're doing it, you're using your platform to expose music that you think is great, and I think that's really important. I appreciate that. It's a big deal to me. It's a big deal to take somebody's working hard and give a shot. Yeah, and I think that's probably I got a therapy. That's my aunts, all that therapy part of stuff. But uh so I was interested to hear your take on that because that was a really cool part of my Nashville time. I'm telling you, it was one of the most and and then in the end when it came full circle and it was the number one record it in all of my career, it's one of the most um special moments in time. It is one of the things that I'm most proud to have been a part of. And um, I mean it's just so many great memories that that, Yeah, I just not shooting on for Grammy for that song. That's um. So you had Brad Paisley, And I don't remember the first time I met you. It had to be in studio because you you had oh you know, I do. The first time I met you was when we had when y'all were announced here and we had Brad do an interview, and do you remember that? It was right when you was like was it the press conference? There was a there was a really dumb press conference. I'm embarrassed that we had. But and I didn't have I didn't know what was going on. I was a wide eyed, like what's happening? But a Brad there for that maybe or he was the first interview. There was something that Brad did at the very beginning. And you and I met right at that time, and um, I mean we just didn't we connected. YEA well, because you want like a car salesman, honestly, I mean, and that's a that's it. In this town. It's like trying to figure out who's a car salesman, who's not or who you like. You know, you can have a friend's car salesmanvie, but you gotta be like, hey, you gotta turn that crap off. Around me, right, And that's cool too, as long as they turn it off around you. I've got that relationship with a few people now where it's like I get it, but don't do that here, don't do that with me. We're all this is life, life, life, um. But you know it's interesting with Brad. Early on, I went to Brad. I wrote about this my first book. I went to Brad's house and he was like, hey, come outside for a minute. And I was like, what are you gonna shoot me? What's happening with these country country music people? And so I was walking with them and it was cool to me because I grew up listening obviously to a lot of country music in Arkansas, like it was the central part of my music until I got to be a teenager and it turned a little more alternative and and hip hop. But I remember Brad because I remember his early early part right before I checked out for a little bit, and that that part of country music, and so I thought it was real cool that he was walking on and he was like, hey, man, think I like you here? And a little bit. I was taken aback because I thought he was maybe agreeing with them or maybe secretly like, I don't know, as showing his how dominant he was. I don't know, I didn't know, but it was weird and I was like, what do you mean and he goes, I'll tell you from experience, and that's when I knew he was kind of giving me some advice. He was like, they didn't like me here for a long time because I was a quirky and I did some funny stuff and I he goes, listen, I love country music. Nobody doubts that, but there are a lot of people here that was like that guy ain't for here. And he said, you're gonna get that a lot. And I remember going and this is before I really got that. I did. Boy did I for two or three years and I remember going really but I always held that like it's very precious to me because yeah, people, yeah, he didn't have to do that. And he was like, they're gonna like you, and it's gonna stuck for you for a little bit. And he was right, Walter. I mean, like, he's one of my favorite humans in the world. I mean, he's a dear friend and I loved working with him. But you know, one thing that I always felt about Brad is when he wanted to sit down and have a conversation with you, it was a person a person conversation. He wasn't there wasn't some other intention that you didn't know about. I mean, he really wanted to have a conversation with you about you know, whatever it is you were talking about. And so him having you out there and having that discussion with you was a real moment of connection. And there was something that obviously you guys connected on very early, that you had a lot in common, and I think it was it was really cool to watch relationships. It's very special in you know, I got really isolated myself a lot for a few years because I just felt like people were just taking their shots. But I always remember that and really appreciated that from Brad because he superstar. You have to do that superstar to do anything, and you know what, people did that for him when he started and then he has I watched him do that with other artists and other people in this industry, and it's um, it's really special. I mean, it's one of the things in this industry that I love so much is that there are these real people who want to connect with real people. And then also want to help grow these relationships in this industry together. And it's really fun when it's a partnership and we all work together. Um. And I think he really all made that connection early and and I loved watching that relationship. I was talking to Amy today and yeah, I mean we're you know, for those if you Leslie and are we're friends like real life friends. Um. But we met through a professional environment and we kind of, you know, morphed into that and you and Amy your clothes, Amy and I are closed, So you know, I just gets a love triangle, I'll say it. Um. So, I mean it was like, she said something about Cheney this morning, and I was like, where did Chinney come from? Because I know Chingie holiday in right there all the and she was like, well, Leslie Monday night, Yeah, and she said, Leslie's to work Cheney Records or something. I was like, what did you work in hip hopera Pop? I worked in Pop. I was at Capital Pop before I came to Aristile what where? And I was based on Atlanta, so I was at the time, I was a Southeastern regional. So you know, back in the day there were ten and twelve fourteen locals that worked records across the country for one imprint. And by that, you mean, if we simplified a little bit, you had an area and you stayed close with all the radio stations in your in your localish area. Correct. And so I covered the southeast out of Atlanta, UM, which was basically Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, UM, Louisiana, Mississippi was basically my territory. And I mean, when you're in pop, you work every pop format. So you're working hip hop, alternative, rock, pott A C. Pop. I mean, I want to say I had seven formats and I mean fifteen records at a time, very different than and this is you know, this is how I kind of was growing up in the promotion world before I came back into country. And um, my very first artists that ever worked to radio, My very first song was Coldplay in My Place. That was my first day of work, was the add day for cold Play in My Place. Um, you know, I didn't really know hip hop music, but I lived in Atlanta, which is like the center of hip hop music, and and I had to represent those artists, and so I really started to learn the music. But I mean, I'm from Montgomery, Alabama, and I'm you know, most of the one syllable words I say come out, and especially you know twenty years ago, years ago, they came out into three four syllables. So, um, I worked Cheney right there. But obviously there does not even sound normal coming out of my mouth. So when I would call my program directors to talk to them about this new artist, Cheney and y'all, that song was such an infectious record. I mean, I hear it once, It's in my head all days, still still this long. So I would call to work the record and I'd say, hey, you know, this is Leslie with capital calling to talk to you about Cheney right there. And they were like, Leslie, the song is right there. I'm like, I know that the song is called right there. But if I said right there, don't you actually think it's ridiculous and you don't really take me seriously? I mean, let me just call it right there. And then I'm a huge numbers geek. Um. So I always have like the stats and the numbers and all the things that were going on with this song. But I had it in my Southern accent, in my searsucker pants, with my bows in my hair, working right there, and these people thought. They all thought I was hysterical because well, the record mass if you did It made it a hit. The first time Jenny I took changing to radio, it was to the Beat, which was the huge hip hop station in Atlanta, And we met outside of the radio station and he gets out of the car and he's got like this posse of like twelve people, and I'm like, Cheney, Like, the studio where you're gonna go cut these liners is the size of a closet. We cannot take ten people downstairs. You get to pick one person to come downstairs with you. And he's like, no, they're all coming. I was like, they can't fit in the closet. Everybody's gonna sit upstairs. We're taking one person. They all thought I was so funny because they were not used to having this like really southern, strong, Southern woman who you know, if you thought that you could tell me how it was going to go, then I was going to stand up and go hum, and I'd get my little southern accent on and kind of slow it down, and um, they all thought I was hysterical. And I also wore so Chiney gave us all these belts that literally the belt buckle was this big and it said Chiney on it. So when I took him to the radio station, I had on my cute little seven jeans with my Serier sucker top and my bows and my hair and my chinny belt and Rich Money, who was one of the guys in his group that would was, would be on stage with him when he performed. He was like, Cheney, she is representing. And I was like, um what. I had never heard that word before. I was like, what does that mean? And I didn't see him pointing to my belt. I was like, and I'm, you know, sitting there and thinking he's talking about something that I'm wearying or whatever, but not thinking it's the belt forgot to have the belt on. He's like, look, she's representing. And I was like, what does that mean? And they all started laughing and they're like, she's representing. And I looked down. I was like, oh, my belt, I'm representing you. I'm representing you, and they were like, oh my gosh. But I loved him and that these guys were great, and it was super fun to work two songs from a brand new artist that were so massive. I mean I still like you said about right there with Holiday Inn. When that's when I hear the word holiday Inn, I go straight to what you're doing nothing chilling at the Holiday Inn. So you worked in we'll call it pop. There's a lot of little formats. How long did you do that in Atlanta? I was only in Atlanta for two years, and then I came back here to do country again. So I started in country. Um actually started as a temp at r C, a label group, like a like an administration, yeah, like an assistant. Were you doing that because you knew you wanted to get into it or you're just looking for a job. At that time, I knew I wanted to get into the music business, So as I started, I was living in Nashville and I actually worked for the temp company doing marketing. And my first year old of college. I'll move through this really quickly. It's just kind of funny. My dad I was like, okay, you got four years in a day. Your four years is about up, and then that means you have to have a job. And I was like, well, okay, and he's like, if you don't have a job by the time you graduate, you're moving back to Montgomery and I'm gonna help you find a job. And all I could think is, I don't want to move back to Montgomery, Alabama. I mean I want to go spread my wings and figure out who I am. And so, um, long story short, ended up getting a job as a live in nanny for a race car driver. UM, a famous one. He's a top fuel driver, great top fuel driver's name was Jim Head. So I moved to Columbus, Ohio. Oh he didn't live here. No. My dad was like, you're I'm gonna go live with some family we don't know. And long story short, his uncle happened to live in Montgomery, Alabama and was in the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club and did all of this philanthropic stuff with my dad, and so my dad knew him, and he was like, Okay, well he's a great man, and this is his nephew. Then he's a great man too, and yes, you can take the job. I was like, well, and I'm also two years old, and so I can kind of take the job if I want to. So, long story short, I went to go live on this racing circuit and living in that I mean, so we were racist every weekend. I think we had thirty two races in that year. Living in that sports world, I kind of knew I wanted to be in sports and and or entertainment. Um. I grew up in Montgomery, but my family is from Nashville. My mother grew up in Nashville. I had all these aunts and uncles in Nashville. So I called my aunt uncle and I was like, can I come live with y'all and can you help me find a job when I finished the year with as an annie and so I came here and went to work for a temp agency and when they were r C A was one of our clients. And so I actually went to the owner of the company after you know, six or eight months, and I said, I really want to work in the music business, and I just wanted to see if y'all would consider placing me if there's an opening at r C A. And he was like, of course, and so you know, you've got to do the work when you get in there, but we'll we'll if you want to be a temp we'll get you in the door. And so I went to be a tempt for the head of sales at r C A. And they had had a lot of different assistants kind of come through that desk, and I was there for two weeks as a temp and they hired me full time. And that and Joe Belt I was not wearing the changing belt that was preaching here yesterday. No, I actually, um, I just had coffee with a friend and she was telling me that Joe was over here. So I can't wait to hear that podcast. He's one of my mentors and one of my favorite human things um on the planet. And I mean, he really taught me so much about this business. UM. So did whomever you were with talked to him after he was here? I wonder how people feeling, Do you have good experience here? Do we know? I don't know if she talked to him after. She just said, oh, because I said, I'm I'm headed over to do Bobby's podcast, and she goes, oh, my gosh, Joe just did it yesterday. And I was like, that's so cool. He's amazing, just done everything and he's done. He's been so influential in country music, I mean, and he really has been so important in so many different executives and artist careers. I mean, he really was is still one of the greatest mentors um that that you could have did he move you up? Like? How did that? Well? I mean I worked for people under him who moved me up. But I mean, you know, I've always had a really strong work ethic, and I'm very driven, and I'm also insanely organized and so kind of don't end my day until everything is done. And so when I was at it's so at r c A, it ended up becoming Sony. But when I was at r c A at the time, I worked in the sales department and I ran all of the sales reports. Well, I mean, y'all, back then, we barely had email. I mean we didn't have cell phones really, so I would have to get in on Wednesday morning, which was when all the sales numbers came out. I would show up to the office at like four in the morning because I'd have to run all these programs out of doss. Do you'll even even, y'all, you do not know what DOSses. So I'd have to like run these all of sound scan out of DOSS and then move it into an Excel spreadsheet. And literally, I mean it's a lot of and I don't want to say labor intensive, but I mean, it just takes time. Um, So I did that, and I put the reports together for all of the executives, and so to get everybody's report together for their meeting at nine am, I mean I'd get into the office at four or four thirty in the morning, so that when they all got into the office US at you know, eight thirty for their nanny and meeting, all of their reports, their sales reports were there. And my degree was in accounting, so I was always just a numbers person and I would dig through all of the numbers because I was just interested. I wanted to know what made things sell, why did certain things sell when other things weren't selling, how was it marketed? And so I just started really paying attention to all of the reports. I was focused on to try to understand, not just to give them the report, to understand the why behind it. So when you move from being attempted, what was the job he took or they they offered you. I was the assistant to the head of sales, So what do you Okay, that's still a numbers very numbers oriented Yeah, So from that, then what did you do? So then I actually ended up leaving and I went to work for Mindy McCready, who was one of our artists, and what did you do for her? Um? I started as a personal assistant and then became her tour manager. You were a tour manager. I was like twenty five years old. That's a difficult, stressful it is, and we were a baby act. We're we open for at the time. We were going back and forth between to mcgrawl, George Straight and Allan Jackson and I literally like showed up that. I was like, how did I come this rough? I think the tour manager quit and then she was like, oh, Leslie is going to be the tour manager. And then her manager called and said, this is a terrible idea. You are basically a child and you have no idea what you're doing. And I was like, I completely agree with you. I have no idea what I'm doing. And he was like, well, I'm gonna go out on the road with you for a weekend and I'm going to teach you and and so he, you know, taught me what he could literally on the bus, and then I remember getting to UM. The first show was Allan Jackson and Tony Stevens was Allen's tour manager. At the time, and I walked into the production office and I was like, Hi, my name is Leslie and I'm Mindy's tom manager and I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing, and so if you would just teach me, I promise I will make this as easy on you as possible. And I did the same with Tim's t manager, and they were just so gracious and wonderful and kind of taught me the road side of the business and the touring side of the business, which is very different than the label side. Yeah, and it's interesting. What's really cool is you had I mean you had to learn a skill and at the time it's probably difficult and like is this really hard? But then you had an element that you knew with your artists that other people do in your position. I didn't know because they hadn't probably been on the ground in that in that form. I was with, um my booking agent is Brad Bissel. It's Cia and his wife Sally. He's run the opry and I was with them, but they came out to my show that I did at a theater and afterwards, Brad, it was like, it was really interesting about your career is like you can relate to people on so many levels. He said, you know, you've you tour, you know how hard it is and how and when you get an artist, it's coming into your show to do an interview, and most people are like, oh well, it's like you can talk about catering or what it's like to be in a different hotel and wake up and not know what city you're in and what, but a promoter is or not getting your merch money or you know all this and he's like, that's cool. And I was like, it was hard. I didn't want to do it, Like I had to learn because I wasn't I wasn't good at other stuff, so I had to find a different way to actually get to where I was, which is doing all these crazy things. But now it's like a superpower I have. Same for you. You were a tour manager for an artist, but you understood how hard it was to travel and we had to sleeping always difficult. Comfortablity not a thing, especially the baby artists. No money, no money, you're living on. It's so to have that skill that you earned, I just think that would be so valuable. It was like, it was a really wonderful experience and it's all very humbling. I mean anytime you whatever you start doing in this business is humbling because there's so many people who have come before you that no more than you know. And so I just always felt like instead of walking in and pretending like I knew something that I didn't. Um. And and also there are a lot of people like they need you to be efficient and to not get in the way of their job. And so what I wanted to know is how do I come in and be the tour manager for the Support Act and do what y'all need us to do out here and not get in your way and also look out for my artists at the same time. And so and I was young. I mean, you know, I didn't have a lot of world experience, much less working experience. UM. But it was a great opportunity. I mean i'd suck. I know what suck had to suck. That's a hard, sucky job. And I mean that it was also fun because I was a kid and I was seeing the world. When I say valuable, I don't mean valuable like it was the most amazing thing. I feel bad for my tour manager and you know what, I pay them pretty good and but I also know they're dealing with me and my schedule and I might need a lemon before my throat sore. They not only have to deal with Okay, here's just the person doing the merch. Okay, this is the promoter. We're gonna meet with them after the show to clear this. I gotta get Bobby a freaking lemon. I gotta make sure the lights and make sure people don't have their salt. It's everything, and you've got the band and you've got to help. You're you're also representing the band, and so they have knees as well. I mean, um it's my only point experience. Yes, it's a great experience, but it's very difficult, and that is like to have empathy, Yeah for that, Like that's that's awesome, that's what. So you do that? Where do you do you get back in the label business after that? Yeah? I ended up getting back. I mean, it did some other things and kind of stepped away, and then I came back in it, and then um I started. So the next thing I did in the industry was promotion for Capital and um I was hired but um our president was in l A, so it was hired out of the l A office and for the Atlanta job because the regional again where you're representing area of stay. Yeah, so that's where I where I represented Coldplay. And yes, that was my first promotion job and I didn't know anything about promotion at the time. By the way, I didn't know. I didn't even really know that record reps called a radio station to ask the program Drift to play the music. And so, you know, I believe it or not, there's a lot of numbers that go into promotion as well. And you're looking at um, not only we're a song is on the charts, but you know which markets generate more audience and how to drive listenership, Um, how to drive people to play the song. Laura sat that you have more people listening to the song, and then when you're going into a market, you obviously want that song to be really exposed in a in a very strong way so that when the artists are on stage, the fans a or the round the tickets and then they're singing along. So UM just really learned that side of the business and it really fit my person aldi. I loved it. I mean, it was a lot of fun and it was fun to work. You know, this variety of artists and Kylie Minogue, Um, Coldplay adored Coldplay. It was there, really, I mean, so I worked Russia Blood. Yeah, and in My Place was the first single off of that, and then they came in for the tour. It wasn't the first one yellow that record before that was that was the album for I didn't work that album. So I worked Russia Blood and Um, I mean I feel like they started the US tour, I mean pretty close to the beginning. They did Atlanta and Elton John came out and played with them in Atlanta, and then they did um the Raemen, and so I brought him to the Raemen and they wanted to go out after y'all and nobody knew who they were, so well, literally we walked across the street from the Raemen to this bar called Rippies, and the guy that owned the bar shut it down and let them in. The band. The music was the opening act. Just play all night long. We had the best time, and they love music so much that they wanted to stay another night before they went on to the next venue. And so they were like, take us out to hear bluegrass, and so we took him to the station in and they got to hear Sam Bush play, and um, the you know, these were just young guys from them, but knew them to look because you knew their music the music, but didn't I mean people, They weren't as recognizable when they walked off of the stage. But that I mean now they can't walk outside, but um, they weren't as recognizable then because Chris Martin was when you remember the Yellow video. I shook my whole world when I saw him walking on the beach and I was like, this is the great song and the video IVE ever seen. And he's not doing the thing but walking and being sad, and I was like, this is changing, this is it, And so I was still. I love cold Play. I like their piano slow stuff more than their I like the version of the instrument. Some people like the new version, but I love cold Play. But it's cool that they I just wanted to hang. They just wanted to and I mean they were just great people. They're great guys. I mean, you know the that album. I mean, think about the great songs on that album. Clocks the Scientist, what a brilliant song, I mean, And then Willie Nelson covers the Scientist and Chris's version of the scientists and Willie's version of the scientists are so different, but bos so poignant. I mean that's just love of music. So you were I also remembered you with Carrie. Yeah, right, you're with Kry right Arista. Is Theresa still a thing? Yeah it is. Yeah. I have no connection to labels at all. Yeah, so old dominion is on Arista. Um, and I gotta be honest, I can't remember. Yeah, I mean I don't I don't know who's on labels either. I was talking to you before labels will come in to the studio anymore. They're in the green room, because it was just a mess, and I was like, I want to do a show and have connection me in the artist, and but if the labels in there, it's just like it's sometimes yeah, it's a little different. Oh you're an Arista. And I remember there was like a big layoff or something like some people left and so I was there for thirteen years. Um, and then one time I started as a regional and then you know, became the national and then became the baby and um, I mean gosh, when I started, I mean it was head Brooks and Done and Alan Jackson and Brad and Um Keith Anderson Filvasser then carry um Lanco at the beginning maybe we had the beginning of Laco and then you know, as happens in UM this world when you have changes at the top, chairman changes, that's what. It was a big change, and they brought in their own people. Remember being like what and I hated her after that, I was like, no more. Well, I mean, listen, when when I left, we were the number two label, the number two in print and country music. So I mean we had a ton of success and it was a lot of fun. But then everything in life happens for a reason. I'm a huge believer in that. And I'm also a huge believer in one door closing is just making room in your life and space for another door opening. And right when I I so I left Sony in Arista in February of two thousand and sixteen, and I mean, I want to say it was like either right before that or right after Garth announced he was staffing the imprint and Um said I'm looking for Garth. Yeah. I was like Brooks, You're like yeah, and so how does that happen? You're still with Garth and Tricia. Yeah, so how does how does that conversation? Does he call you? Does? So? Mandy McCormick um was working, was the first person that went over to work directly with he and Trisha, and so she was really helping him staff it. She called me and we had a couple of conversations and then she said, Um, he's playing the show with the Rheman and we want you to come up and see it. And it was his first time to play the Rahman yall, which I did not ever. Yeah, however, I thought it was like a first time to played Ryan and he gets too big, he quick, I think he did. He all of a sudden he had not played the Rheman and then he went out and was playing these huge shows. And I don't actually remember the exact story of why he didn't play it until that moment, but it was when I say it was one of the most special music experiences in my life. My husband came up here with me. We went to the show and at one point in the show, I had tears coming down my face and my husband looked at me and he's like, that's a visceral reaction to music and if you are emotional in a happy way, not a sad way. I mean, it was just so it was such a beautiful performance. I mean, here he's playing these covers at the beginning with the with the curtains closed on the stage of the Rheman and he's playing George Jane and Johnny Cash and just you're like, oh my gosh. I mean, you're listening to this amazing music and from him, and then he and Trisha come on stage together. It was just it was really a powerful night. And Um, the next day, I remember my husband looking at Mandy and was like, she's going to do this. And then he called me that night the next night and we just had a conversation about, you know, kind of where I was in my life and what I wanted to do and what he wanted to do with the label and you know where he was, and UM, at that point, I was like, I'm in It's weird when Garth calls on the phone. It's weird because you're just like, that's crazy voices coming out of a little phone right there, and he's just this kindest that's weird too. He's so kind and he's so gracious and he's so he listens better than anybody I know. I mean, like literally listens to the words coming out of your mouth and what you're saying. And some people are thinking about what they're going to say next when they're talking to somebody. He doesn't agree. It's again, I keep using the word weird, because you just don't expect a massive start, the big star in the world. And he all that, he makes the time, and he cares, he really cares about human beings. And I mean Tricia is the same. She's one of my very best friends. I just absolutely adore them. And I have to say, I mean, you know, I started in September of two thousand and sixteen, and you know, here I was the GM of their labels and we're launching this new team and this new music and and six months after I started, I was diagnosed with cancer. And both of them immediately went into whatever you need every single time that I called him, and I was like, Okay, I want to really not focus on the answer wonderful normal and focus on work. And so you know, after I had the surgery and and i'd kind of get over the hump of chemo, I would call him to talk about work, and he'd answer the phone and he'd stopped me. I mean, I'd go, hey, how you doing. I want to talk to you about and I'd just like dive in and he's like, whoa, hey doing and I'm like, I'm good. How are you feeling? And he would always stop and want to talk about how I was. And I felt like with both he a tricia my health and where I was, not just physically, but I mean, you know, this kind of a disease is it's emotionally trying as well. And they were always so concerned about me and my family and how we were doing in the juggle and I and I remember saying to him, I need to work. I need to feel normal, and working makes me feel normal. And he was like, you know, you can work as much as you want to, but you also need to take care of yourself. You felt supported personally and professionally, which makes you feel even more supported personally exactly, I mean, and I don't I think it's really difficult in a corporate environment, even though a lot of corporations are very supportive, especially of people with you know, health situations, but in this industry, it's really hard to have that much love and support around you. I mean, I remember after we kind of got over the hump, and it was now it's two thousand and eighteen, and I was up at the house one day and UM, and I said to him, you know, we were just talking about the whole journey. And I said, and you know, here him on the other side of it, I have no cancer my body. UM, my hair's growing back. And and he was like, so, how you know, You've have been through a lot, and you've been so strong through all of it. And I remember saying to him, as difficult as this diagnosis is and going through all of this, it's the greatest thing that's ever happened in my life. And UM, I thought that then in two thousand and eighteen, and then as you know, it came back. Um. Actually right after your wedding. I remember you told me the wedding was like one of the last time you didn't know it was the last celebration I had that I didn't know. UM. I went, I had my doctor's wom on Tuesday after your wedding, and UM, and we found out that it's metastatic stage four. You know, this is the rest of my life and it has been the is trying and and difficult as it is, it's been the greatest thing to happen in my life because of the perspective shift that happens when your mortality is staring you in the face. Um. You just you have a choice to make and you can either be a victim or you can live really intentionally and you can really celebrate your life and the people in your life, and you can really decide what what matters now, Like what am I going to do that's gonna matter because you know, my life expectancy is not the same as any of y'alls. And UM, I've come to terms with that. I've processed that, and so what you know what I told my doctors, it's just recently we found out a couple of weeks ago that is metastasised into my brain, which is the worst possible news that you can get. Um. But at the same time, this new drug was just released that is really you know, this could be a game changer for me. You could take my life expectancy from two years to you know, we don't know how long because it's a new drug. Um. So it it makes you look at life in a completely different way. It makes you every decision you make, every what you do when you wake up in the morning. Um, you know, kindness and love and joy. I've been so overwhelmed with this just gratitude, the number of people that have reached out. I mean the first time around, you guys sent me this toll box full of Pimp and Joy stuff, and all I wanted to do during the first battle was to run this race. That was like the one thing that I was like, if I can just run this tin k on Thanksgiving Day, Um, while I'm going through chemo, it's proving to me that I'm still physically able. And so my sister and um, my stepchildren's mom, um and her wife, we all went out and ran this together. And we all I've had everybody in Pimp and Joy, So everybody on our career was in like a Pimp and Joy shirt or a Pimp and Joy sweatshirt, Pimp and Joy hat, and we all went out and you know, we were in our Pimp and Joy And so you feel this love and gratitude that actually is out there for all of us to feel. You don't have to just have a disease to feel that. But a lot of times we get caught up in negativity and just stuff and worry in the world. And UM, when you kind of let those things go and you focus on UM, spending really good quality time with people and sharing love and receiving love. And and then also you know, right now we're in this phase of bucket list as I told you earlier, and you know, Robert and I are let's do everything that that we ever wanted to do, and you know, spend quality time with people. And you know, I'm I'm sitting here with two bosses that not only helped me do that, but UM, there's not just bosses, they're my friends and they're a real part of UM helping me have these experiences that there's nothing there's no for me to even you. I don't have the words to express the gratitude for that kind of love and um compassion. I remember at the wedding and you know, things are running ten thousand miles an hour to wedding because it's just everybody that you care about, and everybody wants to hang out and stay a few things. And remember and I love your husband too, just just the best. And you know, one of the only people that I've let dominate me in the fight for the check, which and something like, all right, you can have it. I get it. I mean your hometown, you can pay it for it went with Alabama, we had and so I remember spending time there, and um, I guess you had spent some time with Gary the Box of my wedding. Yes, oh my god, we had so much fun. We sat next to each other at dinner and I remember him calling and somehow he had heard your story or I don't know how he caught it somewhere us because obviously at the wedding you didn't even know the cancer come back. And so you're with Gary Gary the Box. I was fleecing a rascal flats and uh, Gary's just lovely and it's like a ball of energy and just yes, on, He's just on. And it's so. I remember he called me and he was like, hey, so your friend lately. I spent a lot of time we were at the wedding. Um, I don't know if he knew you had cancer. I just want to reach out to you. I don't remember what version it was, but I remember reaching out just like, hey, can I give Gary your you know your number? And Gary called you and I think you told me that you guys had just prayed just about you know, what you were going through. And I thought one the fact that he had such a a night, you know, this this gathering of moments with you through one night, that he was like, I need to get in touch with her because that needs to be my friend. First of all, I was like, I get it, like that she's my friend, Like I understand why. And then secondly, because I think he said, you care if I call her and just pray with her. Yeah, that's when you when you called me, That's what you said. He just wants to pray with you. So he must like, honey, I got I'm taking all of the prayers and anybody wants to pray with me. I mean, I'm in So he must have known somehow. Yeah, But I I just thought, man, like Gary, that's awesome, you know, And you know what I think happened. I think when I started, I'm so you know, I'm like the worst person at social media. Um a, I'm just not good at it and be um pretty private, so I don't share a whole lot. But I had this moment sitting in the chemo chair on October one and starting this horrific adrianas and which is red Devil Chemo, and I was like, this is I have to tell people what's happening because people need to be self aware and do self checks. There are things that can save your life if you find cancer early. And so I just felt really compelled to write my story in a social media post which is about is not me is? I mean, it was kind of shocking, and I think that somehow he saw that, whether it was through a mutual friend or UM, but it was really sweet. I mean, to me, somebody offering to come and pray with you and take It's one of the just the most beautiful things that happens when you're going through something traumatic. If you take a step back and you just look at what is happening in the moment. People wanting to take time out of their schedule to pray for you, to check on you, to um just let you know that they're sending love. I mean, those little things are huge, and it's really how we should all try to live our lives. I mean, one thing that I try to do now is when somebody comes to my mind's a reason that person came to my mind, Send them a text or a note and just say you know, I love you, I'm thinking about you. You just came to my mind. I just wanted to say hey. And I used to like I don't want to bother people. I think that now honestly, I mean I don't want somebody, but I have this experience has made me go when when I feel that way, I look at my phone and you know, yesterday, out of the blue, I had six or seven friends just reach out that I'm not talking to on a daily basis. Hey, I just want you to I'm thinking about you today, how's it going, when's your next treatment? And it's just fills you, fills you with love and joy. And and then, as you guys always say, with pimp and joy what joy forces? Joy enforces joy enforces joy. And the more that we spread that, um, I mean, listen, there's enough bad news on the television and then the news that if we just started all trying to do our little part to spread kind of joy love, UM, it's really life changing. The last thing I want to ask you about is bay Laura later Ray Ray, my producer, my friend's wife. How because she got diagnosed breast cancers were as well, and obviously she loves you. But you guys, I don't know if you knew each other before. We did not. So Tricia called me and said, I have a friend who was just diagnosed and she's really young, and she said, would you talk to her? And I was like, absolutely, Well, I had my wig made at this fabulous place here because the first time I went through it, losing my hair was incredibly traumatic. And so Tricia introduced me to this company here who made wigs, and and Tricia found them when they made her mom's wig when her mom had had cancer. So I had gone there and they made the score just wait from me, and so um, they was going to have an appointment at this place, and so I flew up here and met her and went to her appointment with her, and then we just sat down afterwards and I talked to her about my experience and all the things that I've been through, the good, the bad, the ugly, but really the good and the love and the joy that you have to keep going while you're going, you have to keep perpetuating while you're in this process. And we instantly connected and then she what a rock star, I mean, she shared her journey to so many people and has had such a great impact on the women who are going through this. So it started, you know, with her sharing on social media, and then she started a blog and she really has been so impactful and so many women's treatment and discovery of the disease. And then she actually asked me to write my story UM in her blog, and I was like, oh my gosh, like I don't really do this. I'm super private, and then I was like, no, I need to do this. So this was before mine came back, and so UM I wrote for her for her blog. She's the only person I think that at the time could have gotten me to do that. UM. And you know, we've just been friends ever since since she's followed my journey and I've followed hers, and we're you know, we've just been friends. There's It's a really interesting thing was when this happens, there's a lot of women who have been through it. There's a lot of people that have cancer. But you all of a sudden, you're in the club that nobody wants to be in. And when you get invited into this club that nobody wants to be in, you really want to help love and nurture the other people in it um. And so I mean, right now, I have my friend Clea from the Home Edit. She's going through it as well. And you know, we have houses in Florida that in the same community. And we're sitting at the pool one day and she's sitting next to me and I was like, I'm Leslie, I'm going through the same thing you're going through. And we sat and talked for you three hours, and we just you really try to love and support people through it and be there because there's, like anything, you can't really understand what it's like. As much as I mean, my husband is my rock, my family, my friends, you know, there's so many people that are here to support me. But the women who are going through it, there's just a different reality that we know that you can't know unless you're going through it. And so there's something super special about the relationships that form because of this, and it's one of the things that I'm forever grateful for. And Bay and I have that, and I'm really grateful for it. And she is just y'all know, this ball of energy and light and fun and funny, and I'm super grateful for her and just so much, you know, just well, I'm glad you stop lying. And I was gonna to you anyway because you text your like ham in town and I was like, wow, I'm going to the aiming one days. You're aiming the girls and I was like, well, I can't do that on Tuesday, I'm here. I was like, it's so last minute, but I gotta find some space. And so I literally had two hours to open this afternoon, and I was like, I was like, can't you come there? It's all I got and said, obviously I want to see her, talk to her, but I also want to talk with her because I think your career itself is very interesting. I think your story and your journey through cancer is um extremely compelling, but it's also encouragement to others and the fact that you remain this positive force and it's not always positive, honestly, nothing right, but you still remain you know this, but then your overall story of all of it, Like, I just think people are gonna take so much from this in so many ways. I'm grateful that you did it, and you did this. I'm just so thankful, and you know, I love you, and and same with Robert AND's awesome has been Uh, you know, I didn't used to talk about this stuff so openly, but I think it's important, and I think it's important, especially in the world and all the craziness that's happening in our world, you know, to use whatever platform we have to share love and joy and commis and compassion and um. Everybody's going through something and they just need there's a little kindness. Well, thank you for your time. It's been awesome. All right, there she is Leslie Simon. Everybody, thank you to Leslie for coming by. That was an amazing episode. Again, let me remind you Leslie's being an honored by the American Cancer Society Hope Gala in August and she's currently writing money for cancer research and patient programs. You can find that link in the episode notes of this podcast. Five bucks, tin bucks, whatever you can that would be awesome. Hopefully you removed by this click that to donate her honor or an honor or memory of a loved one that is also a battle cancer. Thank you, guys. The student Active pol