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Have you seen the guy on TikTok dancing in his yard while his neighbor plays drums across the street? Meet Ben Guidry — and trust us, there's a whole lot more to this Nashville musician than his viral dance moves!

We're coming to you LIVE from Nashville! In this special episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, we sit down with Ben for one of our funniest, most honest, and surprisingly heartfelt conversations yet!

After spending roughly 25 years in Nashville, including more than two decades playing bass behind other artists, Ben is finally stepping into the spotlight with his own music. And his journey has been anything but ordinary!

We talk about the accidental viral videos that brought him a whole new audience, the realities of making a living in Music City, and the unexpected phone call from Wynonna Judd that helped set his recording journey in motion.

But there's so much more to Ben's story. He opens up about divorce, therapy, losing his father, raising three boys, and how songwriting became a way to process life's hardest moments. We also get the hilarious stories that could only come from a musician who's spent decades playing Nashville honky-tonks, including one particularly unfortunate incident involving a tip jar at Tootsie's!

And yes, Ben treats us to two live acoustic performances of "Dance Slow" and "These Two Hands!"

With more singles on the way and a full album planned for February 2027, Ben is proving that sometimes the best things happen when you stop trying to be who everyone expects and just start being yourself.

This is one of our special Live from Nashville episodes, and you won't want to miss it!

Follow Ben Gidry:

TikTok, Instagram & Facebook: @BonafideBenGidry

Find Ben's original music on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms by searching Ben Gidry.

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Thanks for getting hooked with Johni & Jess!

The Hook is where music, art, and passion come together! We go beyond the spotlight to share the real stories behind musicians, artists, and creators — the moments that hooked them, the journeys that shaped them, and everything in between.

We're passionate about giving independent artists a voice and introducing you to incredible talent you might not have discovered yet!

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Visit www.johniandjess.com for guest features, episode highlights, and more. Have a story worth sharing? We'd love to hear from you!

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The Hook with Johni & Jess — Where passion begins with a moment.

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Virginia roots. Nashville dreams. And a bass-baritone voice made for country music.

At just 26, Grayson Walsh is building his place in Nashville with a sound that blends traditional country storytelling, neon-bar energy and a little cinematic heartbreak. Raised in Glen Allen, Virginia, Grayson went from singing in choir to performing with JMU’s Exit 245, studying opera, writing his own music and eventually packing up for Music City to chase the career he knew he wanted.

Grayson joins Johni and Jess to talk about finding his sound, why heartbreak has been pretty good for his songwriting career, and the reality of trying to stand out in a city overflowing with talent. He takes us behind songs including “Fall In Fall Out,” “I-81” and “New Pontoon,” shares how an unexpected connection landed him an opportunity to perform at a VIP pre-show event for Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour, and gives us a preview of what he's working toward next.

He also gets very real about what it actually takes to make it in Nashville: showing up, staying determined and refusing to change your musical identity just to please someone else. And, because this is The Hook, we also uncover the important stuff — including his Diet Dr. Pepper obsession, inability to throw a football, and a level of Marvel fandom that includes Captain America pajamas.

And when you hear what Grayson considers the ultimate sign that he's finally “made it,” you might understand exactly why we're excited to see where this story goes next.

Find & Follow Grayson Walsh

Instagram & TikTok: @GraysonWalshOfficial

Listen to Grayson Walsh on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music.

Grayson says to start with “New Pontoon” — then, after you “run through a wall,” follow it up with “Fall In Fall Out.”

Support the show

Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess. This is where music, art, and passion come together. We sit down with musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries to discover the moment they got hooked, the stories that shaped them, and the journeys that followed. Our mission is to give independent artists a voice.

Stay Connected & Get Hooked!

Visit our website to learn more about our guests, watch episode highlights, and discover more stories.

🌐 Website: www.johniandjess.com

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The Hook with Johni & Jess — Where passion begins with a moment.