Healing Through Music: Scotty Hastings’ Inspiring Story of Transformation and Resilience After Trauma-Encore Episode

transformative power of music and the stories behind the artists who inspire us. And if

“you're in stories of inspiration and resilience, which I suspect you might be, please check”

out our sister podcast comedy saved me hosted by yours truly wherever you get your podcasts. I'm your host Lynn Hoffman and today's episode is a story of extraordinary resilience, courage and the pursuit of purpose. Joining us, rising country star Scotty Hasting an army veteran and singer songwriter who is a living testament to the human spirit. Scotty's journey from active military service on the battlefields of Afghanistan to surviving being shot

10 times surviving and confronting PTSD is nothing short of remarkable. But it's what happened after all of that that marks his deepest transformation. Picking up a guitar during the darkest days of the pandemic to combat PTSD and discovering that music wouldn't just be a lifeline, it would be a new path forward. Since his first record deal in 23, he shared the stage with country giants like Tanya Tucker, Jelly Roll and Chris Johnson and he's also become a proud advocate for

organizations like Creative Vets and Guitars for Vets. And as a purple heart recipient himself, his music carries the weight of his story and the hope of his message that no matter how tough

things get, there's always a light on the other side. Today's conversation Scotty opens up

about songwriting, how it became his saving grace, how sharing his story helped his fellow veterans, and what it feels like to connect with his audiences from stage to stage. Reminding us all that sometimes music truly does save us. So wherever you're listening, settle in for an honest and inspiring and unforgettable episode with Scotty Hasting right here on music saved me, Scotty, welcome to the show. It is so wonderful to have you here.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. Thanks for having me. Well first and foremost, thank you for your service and for joining us today. And you're incredible journey. I have goosebumps just thinking about it. And I know it didn't plan this and it's not like this won't live on forever, but today just happens to be the day. I get to talk to you on national purple heart day. Oh, wow. I didn't even know that.

I didn't even notice that. It's incredible. Well, I can't wait to talk to you all about

your incredible story starting with how you survived and how that survival shaped your music. But first we got to take a quick break and have a word from our wonderful sponsors who paved for all of this to be able to happen. So we'll be right back with Scotty Hasting. This is an eye-heart podcast, guaranteed human. In 2023, bachelor star Clayton Eckard was accused of fathering twins, but the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax.

“You doctor this particular test twice in silence, correct?”

I doctor the test once. It took an army of internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Regulaspianth, I command you. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. Laura Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Listen to the Love Trapped podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Lori Siegel, and on my new podcast mostly human, I'll take you to some wild corners of the tech world. I'm about to go on a date with an AI companion at a real world cafe right here in New York City. There's no playbook for what to do when an AI model hallucinates a story about you. Mostly human is your playbook for how tech can work for you. Anyone can now be an entrepreneur, anyone can build an app, and it's very empowering.

Listen to mostly human on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. If you're trying to keep up with everything happening on and off the court, we've got you covered on the podcast, Blagrant and Funny. You want to start with the first version from the big kid coach of the year? Oh, what do you like to get? Yeah, you're a Spartan. Is that what I'm

getting thinkly? So whether you're a bracket is busted, or you just want the real talk on what's happening during the tournament, open your free iHeart Radio app, search Flagrant and funny with Kary Champion and Jamel Hill, and listen now. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Cleaning Sports. I'm Monster, and I'm Grana Stewart, and our podcast game recognized game

has never been done before. Two active players giving you a real look at our lives and what we

actually think on and off the court. Nothing's off looks. We talk tanking. I'm not going to

“trouble for this answer, but I think it's like definitely happening in the WWE. We talk about”

on mistakes too. They pulled me to the side and was like, hey man, we got to call last night and you can't be rolled around the city like this tonight before games. Check out game recognized

On the Steena Show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations

“about recovery, resilience, and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor,”

cultural icon Danny Trell talked about addiction, transformation in the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to bench, featuring powerful conversations with the guest like Tiffany Attich, Johnny Knoxville, and more. I'm an alcoholic, and without disprove, I'm a diet. Listen to Steena Show on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Music saved me. Welcome back to Music saved me, my guest Scotty Hasting.

All right, let's talk about your journey from serving in the army to becoming a musical artist. A country music artist, can you describe what role music played for you before your time in Afghanistan, and then after? Yeah, you know, it's funny when I was, I grew up

listening to music. I grew up singing it, but music was never a thought as like a career or

something that I ever thought that I could do. You know, music was just, for me it was just a hobby. I just I sang songs in the car or in the shower. I never lit anyone ever hear me saying it was just something for me. It was my happy place. Did you, did you know that you were a good singer or was it just in the bathroom in the shower? Like good acoustic. Yeah, I mean, my mom told me I was good once. But no, I mean, I would sing like karaoke and stuff. Like, as I got older,

I started singing karaoke because my dad was a karaoke DJ for a while. And yeah, I mean, I would always told that I was, you know, good, but, you know, it's hard to be like, well, thanks. You know, some drunk guy at a bar thought I was good at karaoke, like he'd probably be like, yeah, I'm good, you know. But now it was for me, it was just,

it was my happy place was what I did for me. And yeah, I never thought in a million years.

I'd be doing what I'm doing now. Wow. It's pretty incredible. And it's, it's only been a few short years. I know that you've spoken openly and in vivid detail about surviving being shot and not just shot, but like 10 times at point blank range. I mean, you were looking into your shooters eyes. And you also dealt a lot with PTSD, which, which followed. And I'm very familiar with that. My dad was in the military as well. So he suffered greatly with that.

“How, how did those experience shape your musical voice? And basically your purpose moving forward?”

Yeah, you know, I think it shaped my musical voice in the sense that it was therapy for me. You know, I started all of this as just a form of therapy. You know, learning how to play the guitar, learn how to write music. And in the music that came out, it was just therapeutic. It was what I needed

before the cup of a float. And it's amazing because I remember going to my first show ever. And I played

the first song I've learned how to play, which I should have been a cowboy. And I, I was at an open mic night and couldn't real tendency out in the middle of nowhere. It read Celibre and Company. And I was just like, you know, I'm just going to go up there and play and see what happens. And I, and I remember playing that song. And I remember feeling like this is what I need to do forever. It was like in that moment, like the stage became my sanctuary. And it was, it was my place where I could

escape and live in a moment away from the PTSD, the depression, the anxiety, all of that stuff. And it was, and for me, that's all it was. That's all, that's all I wanted music for. It was to be therapy, that was it. And, and then I started writing songs for myself as therapy. And then I started playing those songs out. And I started realizing that veterans were, and other people who were struggling were connecting with these songs. And I was like, well, hold on. Like, I might be able to do

super good with this. Like, let me hold on. So like, let me, let me do it. Like, I'm not recording. I played one of the first shows I've played for a veteran nonprofit. It was for creativets. And it was in Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona before the Super Bowl. And I was opening for Dave Grohl. And there was like 200 veterans in this room. And I was like, I, I was so scared. I was nervous. I wasn't, it was like the first time I'd ever truly been by myself in a big show. And

“I remember playing a song about my survivors' guilt. It's called How Do You Choose? It's a song”

about my best friend being killed. And then it's something that I struggled with every day. Still to this day. It's something I struggled with. Survivor's guilt is there. It's always going to be there. And I remember playing it. And it was the first time that I ever played a song and no one clapped after. And I was like, oh my God, they hated it. Like, I just poured my heart. My soul into this, they hated this song. And then I looked around the room and I realized that everyone was kind

of consoling each other. And they were consoling each other. And then after that, I started getting messages from all these people. And then they came up to me and they started talking to me. And talking about how, like, how I was giving them a voice when they didn't know what to say. And all this, and I was like, like, oh, like, I could help people with what I'm doing. Like, I want to do that.

that's what this is all about. I never came into music thinking, you know, this is going to be

a career for me. And I'm going to make a buttload of money. And I'm going to be super famous. Like, no, for me, it was, it became a mission. And it became a way for me to help people. And that's, and I know we're from you to help myself honestly as well. And that's all it will ever be for me. I find it hard to believe that you are scared of anything after everything that you went through. Well, you know, it's fun. It's fun. I get that question all the time about, man, are you nervous?

About to go on stage, you nervous? And I'm like, well, no one's shooting at me today. You know, I'll look right. But no, I mean, I think a little bit of nerves is good. I think it means that

“it means something to you. You know, I think that it's important. But yeah, it was, it was the first”

like the stage I've ever been on. And it was just me by myself with my guitar. So it was,

it was definitely nerve wracking for sure. I bet it was. You know, I want to, I want to start this

next question off with one of your quotes. You were quoted as saying, for me, the demons of PTSD knocked the loudest when it's quiet. And when I have my guitar in my hands, I find peace. At what point, did you realize the music was more than a hobby and therapy? And, and if you already said that for giving me for asking again, but can you also describe that moment when you picked up the guitar during the pandemic and how that changed your whole path of existence? Yeah, 100%. So before the

pandemic, I was shooting archery with the US Paralympic Program, a childhood all over the country. I represented the United States. For me, shooting archery seven seconds before I released that arrow, nothing in the world matter. PTSD depression had all disappeared for those seven seconds. And I lived for those seven seconds. And then COVID happened in the world shut down. And my escape

“in my way to deal got taken away. And I, I was struggling. I was struggling really bad. I started”

going into a very dark place. And yeah, and, you know, like I said, the demons knocked the loudest when it gets quiet and COVID was very quiet. And, and I needed something. I needed something to focus on and it did something to get out of my head. And I had to get to on a corner of my room and one day I was like, I'm just going, I'm going to learn how to do this. Like, I'm going to figure

out how to play this thing. Like, I've, you know, ever since Walter Reed, I've never lived anything

stopped me from doing something, no matter my injury or whatever. Like, I'm just going to try it. Who knows? And I jumped on YouTube and I started learning how to play a guitar and it was like that escape was back again. You know, I was able to, I was able to just focus on one thing. And, and I spent every day playing that and learning how to play the guitar. And, and then I went from there to, okay, when all I have this escape and I have this ability to get away from everything,

but I still have all these feelings and emotions that are bottled up. Like, I need to, I need to find a way to get these out, put them somewhere. I need to figure out a way to do this. And so then I started learning how to write songs. I jumped on YouTube and I started learning how songs are structured and I started learning how it goes from a verse to a chorus to a bridge to how it all comes together and becomes one thing. And, and then I started writing songs for myself just so I

could get the things that I was dealing with out of myself and put them somewhere else. And, and then,

“you know, that's what I did for the longest time while COVID was happening. That was my, my way of”

dealing with the demons that I was dealing with. And, and then, you know, slowly the world started opening up again. And that's when I went out to Cookville, Tennessee, the Red Seller Brewing Company. And, I, the moment that I knew that I was that I wanted to do this was forever was that day. I, I went and I put my name on a list of the open mic night. Just said, why not? It's funny. I went out there. I was, I put my name on the list and I was like, man, I don't know if I'm

going to do this. Like, there shouldn't be a lot of people there, whatever. And I got up on stage and there were four people up there. There were four people out in the audience. Yeah, I was like, good for you. It was during COVID. So, like, everyone was like six, and I was like, man, I've made a fool of myself in front of way more than four people. So, like, why not? Why not? Go for it. Yeah, so I went. I played should have been a coward.

And in that moment, it was like that escape, that that purpose, that that drive, it was there, but it was magnified a hundred times. And I knew that that's that this is what I need to do forever. In that moment, the stage truly became my sanctuary. And, and, you know, for, I went from seven seconds at a time to be able to nothing else matter in the world to now three minutes at a time. We're nothing else in the world mattered. To then, you know, slowly the world started opening up.

And I went down to Nashville and Broadway and learned that you can play three or four hours of the time while you're down on Broadway. And I was like, well, you're telling me three or four hours a day. I can disappear from all of the stuff that I do with, like, I want to do that. You're like, hello, I could you put a, can you put an apartment in the back of this place and I'm going to learn here. There's any work I can stay like in the room for something.

Yeah. But yeah, so I went, you know, I went and played at one point in time I was playing six

but the therapy that I got from it was more than anything I'd ever experienced. And, you know,

it has since grown into so much more than I ever thought possible. And now I have a platform work to try to help people find something the way that I was able to find music. Wow, YouTube

“and focus. Yes. And I guess the only thing you didn't look up was was how not to fry your vocal”

cords. No, no, I didn't. I just went forward. Wow. But that's determination. And that has to come from somewhere deep within, and especially when you're going down a dark path, I mean, it's a slippery slope. So, yeah, you know, I've just lost a lot of friends that have struggled and I have kids and I didn't want to be, I didn't want to be that. I didn't want to just leave early. I wanted to be able to experience my kids and watch them grow up and be there for them

when they needed me. So, I needed to find something. So, you became a country superstar.

It's just incredible to me. I started, I just started singing songs. I started, yeah,

but it all starts somewhere. You know, and in this songwriting process for you, can you share how writing a song helps you process these difficult emotions? Yeah, you know, when I first started, it was just a way for me to get emotions and feelings out and put them somewhere else. You know, it was, it was, you know, a lot of their songs don't make any sense and they're not even really songs. It was just like word vomit that I needed to get out. And now they live in this notebook

and that's where they stay. They live here. Like, that's, that's, this is where they belong now. And, you know, that, for me, that was, that was huge. You know, I was able to take, to take all the things that were eaten here alive and put them somewhere else. And, and, you know, now that I've gotten a little bit better or songwriting, I, you know, now I can kind of make sense more of the emotions.

“And, and honestly, like, the songwriting has given me the opportunity to really, to really”

focus on the emotions that I'm feeling and to really think about them and talk about them. And, you know, before I'm just putting them in a box and just hope that that box doesn't ever bust open. And now I'm able to talk about them and think about them and put them somewhere and find a way to make it connect with people. And, and it's, it's, it's truly taking, you know, the trauma and the things that I do with and flipping it and trying to make it something that

means something will be right back with more of the music safety podcast. In 2023, former Bachelor Star Clayton Eckard found himself at the center of a paternity scandal. The family court hearings that followed revealed glaring inconsistencies in her story. This began a years-long court battle to prove the truth. "You doctor this particular test twice in selling, correct?"

"I doctor the test once." "It took an army of internet detectives to crack the case." "I wanted people to be able to see what their tax dollars were being used for." "Some like the greatest disinfectant." They would uncover a disturbing pattern, two more men who'd been through the same thing. "Break a lesbian and I can imagine it."

"My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is LoveTrap."

"As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences."

"Ladies and gentlemen, breaking news out of Maricopa County as Laura Owens has been indicted on fraud charges." "This isn't over until justice has served in Arizona." "Listen to LoveTrap podcast on the iHeart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts." I'm Laura Siegel, a longtime tech journalist, and consider my new podcast mostly human, your bridge to the future. "Anyone can now be an entrepreneur, anyone can build an app,

and it's very empowering." "Each week, I'll speak to the people building that future, and we're going to break down what all of this innovation actually means for you." "What I come to realize is that when people think that they're dating these AI companion, they're actually dating the companies that create this." "We're experiencing one of the greatest tech accelerations in human history." "And let's be honest, that can be messy."

"There's no playbook for what to do when an AI model hallucinates a story about you." "But it's my belief that we should all benefit from this moment." "Mostly human will show you how." "My goal is to give you the playbook, so you can benefit." "The reason I say agency is because, like, if you can give power back to people,

“then I think that's probably the best thing we can do for your mental health."”

"Listen to mostly human on the iHeart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows." "If you're trying to keep up with everything happening on and off the court,

"You look at the top four number one thieves. What do you think UCLA is going to do?

Break down that for me, my friend." "Obviously, you kind of see

“overwhelmed the favorite in this tournament, but I, the honest, I think people are kind of”

sleeping on Texas." Experts are suggesting that UCLA is the number one challenger to you con and that right after that would be Texas. SNC is so deep and so they can just about everything. I really is annoying. So it's UCLA, Texas, South Carolina, LSU. Only once I could possibly upset you con. On Flagrant and Funny, we're giving our unfiltered takes on the biggest moments, the conversations everyone's having, so whether you're bracket is busted or you just want the

latest on the tournament. We got you. Listen to Flagrant and Funny with Kiri Champion and Jamel Hill on the iHeart Radio App, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. I went and sat on the little ottoman in front of him and I said, "Hi Dad!" And just when I said that, my mom comes out of the kitchen and she says, "I haven't cooked these in milk, these have bad ass

convict, you're right. Just finish five years. I haven't have cooked these in milk at all. On the Steena Show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor, cultural icon Danny Treo talked about addiction, transformation in the power of second chances.

The entire season two is now available to bench, featuring powerful conversations

of the guests like Tiffany Attich, Johnny Knoxville and more. Hi everyone, I'm Cheryl Strade, author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things. I'm excited to share that I have a new podcast called Mind Over Mountain. In each episode, I interview athletes, adventurers and adrenaline seekers to discuss the inner landscapes and life experiences that informed and inspired their extraordinary feeds. I also bring a bit of advice into the mix, so we too can better understand how to face

our own seemingly insurmountable challenges. Do you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to pull out what you already have inside. We come into this world, fighting for our lives. All I'm going to do is pull out what you already got inside. We're there to support and celebrate each other, and that's not like a your story versus my story. You're going to walk up and over that dang mountain. You're not just going to put your mind over it. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And if I can't walk

up and over it, I'm going to go through it. Listen to mind over Mountain every Thursday on the I-Heart Radio App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I don't know how deeply you are able to speak of the situation you came out of. I have seen you speak of it, but I just I can't stress enough to to our listeners what it turn around

“your life is because literally you were pretty much gone. And I was wondering if you could”

in a short amount of time kind of give an example of work. And then yeah. Also, can you just tell me, did you ever find out who that woman was that whispered to you in? I have no idea. Okay, no one knows what I'm talking about, but I figured I'd leave you in one. But yeah, I'll talk a little bit for sure. I have no problem talking about it. I think it's important for people here because it's easy to help somebody. It was 21st, 2011. I was shot ten times in Afghanistan.

Everyone always asked, so I got to say five times I was shorter four times in a hit once in a

thigh. And I had lost so much blood at one point in time that my eyes sat shut down. You know, for me, I think that that's, you know, it was kind of like a white film. And for me, the way that I think about it now is like when people say, man, I see the light, like that's what I associate with

“that. But somehow I pushed and I pushed and I didn't give up it. I remember feeling how easy it”

would have been to just kind of slip off and just let go. But I was not going to do that. I pushed and pushed and fought. Until I got the cannerier field, when we got into the cannerier field, that's when they started, they hooked me up to blood immediately and started pumping blood into my system while they're trying to patch up holes and stuff like that. And yeah, like you said, my eyes started coming back and I heard a lady bend down and say, hey, it's okay for you to

let go. It's okay for you to go to sleep. It's okay. It will be fine. We have you. And I passed out, I woke up a couple of days later and yeah, you know, it's crazy because like you said,

were initially doing the trauma on like the, when they were initially doing the emergency trauma procedures on me. There was not a woman in that room. So whoever that was, I have no idea. But it's crazy and it still gives me goosebumps to think about how you, when I heard about it the first time I was like, I have to share this because I mean, it truly, it's, you know, to go from that, to battle just to get your life normal again, just to walk and I mean, I don't even know how you

hold a guitar being shot that many times in your own. Yeah, yeah, you know, thank God for guitar

“straps because it was hard. I mean, it was a crazy hard ride. And honestly, it's still kind of”

is, you know, I mean, you never, you know, you never stop trying to heal, you know, and I think

that that's the most important part of all of it is that you never stop trying to heal. You know, I feel like when you stop trying, that's when the bad things went when that went. And, you know, it was, you know, learning kind of walk again, learning how to write and do everything left handed because I was originally right handed. Like, oh, I didn't know that. Wow, that was, that was, that was rough. You're incredible, Scottie. Well, thank you. Yeah, it was, it was so, I felt,

it was crazy in the moment because I remember my, my son at the time had a children's book where he was learning how to write like he had to like outline like letters and stuff and I had to do that with my left hand. So we were both working on the same children's book trying to learn how to write. It was crazy. That's a great bonding moment, though, for sure. Absolutely. But it was, you know, it was, it was rough. It was hard and it still is. I mean, I still have days where, you know,

that are so much harder than others. And, and a lot of times, that's where I'm able to just grab a guitar and kind of escape for a second. And, you know, and I'm blessed that I have that outlet. You know, I've, I've been lucky enough in blessing off my whole time ever since getting injured, that I've had some type of outlet. There's a lot of people who don't, and that's, that's terrifying. Well, and that's where music comes in, which is why we're even talking about this right now, because

it is so powerful. It allows you to focus and there's so many aspects of why it can be helpful to pull us out of those moments where we could just, you know, hit the checkout and say goodbye. And, and it's, you've become really active also in supporting fellow veterans dealing with mental health struggles. I understand. And, and I want to know why this mission for you is so important and so personal, obviously. Like I said, I've lost too many friends. I've lost too many of the greatest

people I've ever known. And, and just with something that, you know, with the struggles that we do with here, I've lost more people here than I ever did in Afghanistan. And that's, that's awful.

“Like, that is, that's, that shouldn't, it shouldn't be that way. And, honestly, my mission,”

my purpose is to try to get rid of that number as much as possible. I mean, if I can, if I can help one person decide to try tomorrow, then I've done more in this industry than I could have ever imagined. Like, that's, that's all I care about. What message do you hope other veterans at? And listeners who are struggling, who aren't veterans, just with, with mental health, what do you hope that they take away from your story and your journey? You know, I hope that they

see that there's hope that that you don't have to be defined by what happened, but you don't have to be

defined by the bad, but rather be defined by what you do with it. You know, I, I never, you know,

there's, there were so many times when I could have just given up and I could have just said, I don't, I don't want to do this. I could, I could be sitting on my couch right now feeling sorry for myself and, and just in a really bad place. But, you know, I think it's important to, to push forward and keep going, you know, there's, there's so much to live for and there's so, so many incredible things out here. And, and, yeah, and the, the world is, is better with them,

“and it, it was you and it, and, and I think that that's, hopefully that that's what people take”

from me and from my story is that, you know, some type of hope, you know, I mean, I never in a million years thought that I would be where I am and I hope that that shows and other people that they can literally do anything. If I can be up there playing guitar and singing songs,

and on some of these stages that I'm on, literally anyone can do anything. Well, there's always,

you can find it on YouTube, you can figure it out. Yeah, there's, you know, that's changed come true every day and there's, and if you, if you work hard enough and you push hard enough, you can make anything happen. You know, considering your journey and your recovery and battling back, all of the issues, mentally that come along with it, can you describe what it feels like to you when you hit the stage performing? Oh, that's the same story. What's the same story?

insane. So there's only, you know, for someone who suffers from PTSD depression and anxiety,

“like it's, it's really hard to live in a moment and not be over there and not think about my friends”

that are, that got killed and not think about, you know, all the bad. It's, it's, it's very hard to find a place where you can just be there. For me, there's only two places that I can find that. When I'm on my motorcycle, and as soon as I step on stage, the stage has become a sanctuary for me. It is the place where I can truly live in a moment and enjoy that moment and just be there

with whoever else is there. It is, it is truly one of the most magical, most incredible places

that I can be and I live for every moment that I need to be on a stage. Well, we're grateful that you are. I'm curious. Can you share a moment that maybe stands out in your mind when you've maybe had a conversation with a fellow veteran who's told you that your music has helped them. Oh, man, there's been so many. But the one that really sticks with me is the one that made me realize that I needed to keep doing what I was doing. So it was when I opened for Dave Grill in Phoenix, Arizona,

“there was a guy who came to the show who reached out to one of my buddies. We didn't really”

like, we didn't know that we knew each other. But I played, how do you choose the song about my survivor skill and everything that I'm dealing with? And he texted one of my buddies and he was like, he's I didn't. Like, there's this guy that was in Phoenix that played and he played this song called How do you choose? And he said, I'm gonna be 100% honest with you, man, like, I was going to this show because I wanted to see Dave Grill go before I killed myself. And he's like, but listening

to Scotty, like, he showed me that there's so much more. And that song made me understand that that I'm not the only one who suffers from this, that I'm not the only one who's dealing with this. And that moment will forever, forever live in my heart and in my soul. And that is, that's the one thing that as soon as I saw that, as soon as I heard that, I was like, I have to open my chest and let people see who I am. And I have to show them that I struggle and that I'm still

“successful and that I have been through the worst of the worst and I'm still here. And and I have”

to write music and I have to perform music that means something to not only myself, but other people. Well, that, that was meant to be. I mean, you were supposed to be there that day with Dave Grill. And after you have that conversation. Yeah, man, it was, it was insane. That moment will truly live with me forever. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Well, you know, something that really

tickled me was that you got to recently work with, I mean, this incredible to me are rise,

but not incredible because of your incredible skill and talent. Sorry, I keep using the word incredible all the time, but you've got to work with one of my favorite people in the planet Dolly Parton and Lee Bryce for your rendition of that song till the last shots fired. I'm curious, what was it like working with them? And are there any new projects or songs or collaborations like that in the horizon that you're excited about? That song changed my life.

That song, the first time I heard that song, I was at Walter Reed and we read an event and the original version, trace seconds version came on. It was the first time I'd ever heard that song. And it touched a part of my soul and it grabbed me and I cried like a baby for two hours and I couldn't stop. And in those two hours, I made the decision that I was going to live my life to the fullest that I wasn't going to let my injury dictate my life. And fast forward 10 years and I'm

sitting in the office of one of the guys who wrote the song talking about signing a record deal. And he's like, hey, like, I put out the song with trace seconds. I don't know if you've ever heard it, like it's, you know, it's a song called to the left shots fired. Like, and I was like, yeah, I've heard it. Like, I love that song. Like, that song changed my life and he was like, he said, what do you want to do a version of it? And I was like, yeah, man, absolutely. I want to

do a version of it. So we went into the studio and we had an idea to version of it. It was just me on it and I put every emotion and every feeling that I originally felt when I heard the song into that song and I thought it was perfect. I thought it was exactly what I needed when I needed it. And then Doug Johnson, who was one of the writers who was also my producer, is Friends with Libreys. And he's like, hey, we're going to reach out to some other artists and see

if they want to be a part of this, like, what do you think? And I said, man, send it to everybody. Like, let's see what happens. Yeah. And Libreys was the first one to jump on it. He was

he was an testament to who Libreys is the person he's an incredible person. He's become a very

dear friend of mine now, which is crazy to say. But he was like, man, I don't care what part, I play in the song. I just want to be a part of what you're doing with this. This is incredible. I want to be a part of this. And so we, then we had me and Lee's version. Then I thought it was perfect. I was like, dude, this is all like, like, this is more than I could have ever imagined.

hey, Dolly Parton wants to be on this song. Like, what do you think? And I was like,

“dolly, dude, whatever she wants. Like, what are you talking about? What do I say? Why are you talking?”

Oh, my God. But yeah. And, you know, that that song, that song changed my life when I was at what's read. It made me decide that I wanted to live my life to the fullest. It's the reason why I'm doing music now. And, and, you know, a song that changed my life that I thought was perfect. Truly became perfect when I heard Dolly's voice on it. It was, it's so angelic. And it's absolutely beautiful. And still, I've probably seen that that song thousands times at this point. And I still get chills

every time she comes on. It's is unbelievable. And it's more than I could have ever imagined. And as far as stuff in the works, we have some stuff in the works. I can't really say too much. But we have some stuff in the works with some other artists and stuff. So, okay. Well, I mean, gosh, I have so many more questions for you. But I, I, you know, sitting here with you thinking that I introduced you as a rising country star. I mean, when you're on a song with Dolly Parton,

you've achieved, you know, success in music. I still don't know how that happened. What a success look like to you personally and beyond. Success to me is it's not wealth. It's not fame. Success to me is making one person decide that they want to continue tomorrow. Success to me is being able to make some headway in the 22 a day for our veterans. And success to me is being able to help somebody, anybody is much as possible. That is success. Well, that's the whole reason why we do this

podcast. So it makes total sense that we would have you on today. And I'm so grateful. I don't want to let you go, but Scotty A'sding. Thank you so much for your service again to this country for all of these people that you're helping every day with your music, your story, and your passion to to help and inspire others. We're so grateful to have the opportunity to have you on today. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me.

In 2023, Bachelor Star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins. But the pregnancy

“appeared to be a hoax. You doctor this particular test twice in silence, correct?”

I doctor the test once. It took an army of internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Regal S. B. Anne, I command you any. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. Laura, Scarfsdale Police.

As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Listen to Love Trapped podcast

on the I-Hart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Laurie Siegel, and on my new podcast Mostly Human, I'll take you to some wild corners of the tech world. I'm about to go on a date with an AI companion at a real world cafe right here in New York City. There's no playbook for what to do when an AI model hallucinates a story about you. Mostly human is your playbook for how tech can

work for you. Anyone can now be an entrepreneur, anyone can build an app, and it's very empowering. Listen to Mostly Human on the I-Hart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

“We talk tanking, or I might get in trouble for this answer, but I think it's like definitely”

happening in the WWE. We talked about on mistakes too. They pulled me to the side and was like, "Hey man, we got a call last night, and you can't be rolled around the city like this tonight before games." Check out Game Recognized Game with Stewie and Miles on the I-Hart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Steena Show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations

about recovery, resilience, and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor, cultural icon Danny Trail, talk about addiction, transformation, and the power of second chances.

The entire season too is now available to bench, featuring powerful conversations with the

guest like Tiffany Addish, Johnny Knoxville, and more. I'm an alcohol, and I'll just prove I'm a diet. Listen to the Steena Show on the I-Hart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.