Backstage Notes: February 2016

Green River Ordinance returned to the BBT mainstage with friends (Grady Spencer & the Work and Sean McConnell) and the release of their new album “Fifteen”. After the excitement kicked off with Grady on our Honky Tonk Stage and a brief set by Sean on the Main Stage, GRO played for over ninety minutes and then went out to their merch table and signed for all the fans in attendance.

One of our favorite backstage guests Stoney Larue made a stop by the World’s Largest Honky Tonk and had a very jam packed day scheduled. After sound check Stoney had a work out scheduled, went up the bricks on Exchange and ate dinner at Grady Spear’s Horseshoe Hill Café, and did an M&G with around 75 fans and radio winners. You could tell Stoney was feeling the music as he then performed to an electrified audience for nearly two hours. Afterwards he entertained family & friends backstage until the doors closed at 2am.

A class act and who I consider to be the founder and father of the Texas Country Music Scene Robert Earl Keen made his return to the World’s Largest Honky Tonk and absolutely mesmerized the crowd for over ninety minutes.

Treating BBT as a home away from home, Turnpike Troubadours made their return and treated it much like a reunion of types catching up with their family and friends. After a day filled with their family they took their place along the legends that have graced our mainstage over the years here at BBT by signing their logo on the backstage wall and permanently concreting their place here as they set their hands in concrete to be placed on the walls for all to see. Then they entertained a sold out crowd for over ninety minutes.

Roger Creager brought a little bit of the Gulf Coast with him as he returned to BBT with his new album “Gulf Coast Time”. He had an eventful day here at the World’s Largest eating a quick bite over at Los Vaqueros, meeting his fans with a pre-show M&G, entertaining his good friend Tuff Hedeman, and signing autographs at the merch table after a ninety minute show.

Aaron Watson returned to Billy Bob’s after helping us out with a little thing called Billy Bob’s Country Fair in Padua, Italy. It was a day filled with great and professional people as everyone Aaron associates with is a class act. He saw around 60 people in a pre-show M&G, performed over ninety minutes on the mainstage, signed for all in attendance after the show, and entertained a special guest (New England Patriots Center David Andrews).

Tracy Lawrence made a stop here at the World’s Largest, but before sound check he had to get a round of golf in at Wildhorse Golf course on Robson Ranch. After sound check he enjoyed the steak special from the Honky Tonk Kitchen here inside BBT and concluded pre-show activities with a 50 person M&G. After such a hectic day one might think it would take a toll on you, but if it did you couldn’t tell as he electrified the crowd by playing all of his hits for over 75 minutes.

With only his sixth show of the year, Josh Turner took a break from working on a new album to play before a sold out show here at BBT. He had one of the largest M&G’s of the year as he saw over 75 people in a pre-show M&G prior to performing for over 90 minutes.

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40 gallons of whiskey
Merle Haggard made the Guinness Book of World Records for buying the largest round of drinks when he bought 5,095 drinks of Canadian Club for the entire club. The bill totaled $12,737.50 and equaled 40 gallons of whiskey.
Billy Bob’s Doors since 1981
More Than 17 Million Visitors have come through Billy Bob’s Doors since 1981. With it's international notoriety, the club sees visitors from around the world. Billy Bob's truly has carved a niche in the world of country music and entertainment.
47,500 Bucking Bulls
Over the past 30 years, more than 47, 500 bulls have bucked in Billy Bob’s arena. World Champions including Tuff Hedeman, Ty Murray, and Adriano Moraes have all tested their skills in Billy Bob’s arena. Bull riding at Billy Bob’s is often the focus of movie and TV shoots, including specials on Comed...Read more
Billy Bob’s launched own recording
In 1998, Billy Bob’s launched its own recording label - Live at Billy Bob's Texas - to capture the magic of the club's famous live shows. Now totaling over 47 full concert recordings spread out over 3 decades, Live at Billy Bob's Texas, is one of Country Music's most extensive catalogs, featuring ...Read more
Lights, Camera, Honky Tonk
Billy Bob’s Texas has been featured on several TV and Movie screens and has served as the location for several music videos for country’s biggest stars. A number of episodes of the original television series “Dallas” were shot on location. Other shows include “Walker Texas Ranger”, CBS’s “Happy New...Read more
Movies filmed at Billy Bob’s
Movies filmed at Billy Bob’s include: “Over The Top”, starring Sylvester Stallone in 1987, “Baja Oklahoma”, with Lesley Ann Warren, Peter Coyote & Willie Nelson in 1988, “Necessary Roughness”, with Scott Bakula, Sinbad, Robert Loggia & Kathy Ireland in 1991, and “Pure Country” in 1992, starring Ge...Read more
Garth Brooks pointed an arrow
When Garth Brooks signed the famous backstage wall, he also drew the words 'the King' and an arrow pointing to the ceiling. What was up there? A cardboard cut out of none other than ‘the King’ George Strait. That cardboard version of the 'King of Country' is still there today.
Pat Green sold out 15 times
Pat Green has sold out Billy Bob’s 15 times. Pat's first sell out performance occurred in September of 2000. His most recent sell out happened in January of 2015. Pat was also the first artist to record on our Live at Billy Bob's Texas label - his recording was a test for Merle Haggard on New Yea...Read more
The bronze statue of Billy Bob Barnett’s mentor
The bronze statue of Billy Bob Barnett’s mentor, Benny Binion, disappeared during the night after Billy Bob’s closed in 1998. It is now on display at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas.
Filming of Pure Country
During the filming of Pure Country, a disguised George Strait and his wife Norma, came to Billy Bob’s with members of the film crew. They celebrated in Billy Bob’s VIP room. Billy Bob's bathroom was used for a small scene in the movie.
Billy Bob’s is known for discovering new talent
Billy Bob’s is known for discovering new talent. In one weekend in 1982, it paid Reba McEntire $3,500 on a Friday, and George Strait $4,500 on a Saturday – a fraction of what those performers command today.
Willie Nelson played over 50 times
Willie Nelson has played over 50 times at Billy Bob’s Texas. One of his fondest memories is riding a horse into the showroom. In 2004, Willie brought his 4th of July picnic to Cowtown, drawing an estimated crowd of 10,000.
Tanya Tucker
When Tanya Tucker was asked what she wanted on her tombstone, she replied “She’s not here, she’s playing at Billy Bob’s." Tanya has been a 30-year friend of the club, delivering dynamic performances every time she stops by.
Chris LeDoux at his first Billy Bob’s show
LeDoux, a former rodeo cowboy who had worked on the labor list for Billy Minick, said at a CMA Event "My name is Chris LeDoux and someday I'm going to get to play Billy Bob's". In January of 1992, he arrived to play his first Billy Bob’s show in a motor home with a small equipment trailer.
Martina McBride first came to Billy Bob's
Martina McBride first came to Billy Bob’s as a t-shirt sales person for Garth Brooks. Her husband was in Brooks’ production crew.
Troy Aikman on-stage with Shenandoah
Troy Aikman once jumped on-stage with Shenandoah in the 90’s to sing a version of ‘Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys’. Troy was a regular fixture backstage and a good friend of the club.
“Black & Black, Back to Back”
Clink Black played the Tarrant County Convention Center and Billy Bob’s booked his brother, Kevin Black. The show drew a large crowd suspecting Clint might show up at his brother’s performance. He didn’t, and the next day’s paper read “Black & Black, Back to Back."
Shooter Jennings
Shooter Jennings used to attend the club with his father, Waylon Jennings and his mother, Jessi Colter, as a child. Shooter has since become an American singer songwriter active in the country music and Southern rock genres.
Vanna White plays with Blain Gray Band
While in town for a taping of Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White stopped in to play tambourine on a few numbers with the Blain Gray Band on the honky tonk stage.
The Dancing Machine
Wendell Nelson started giving dance lessons at Billy Bob's at the end of 1981. He's taught more than 100,000 people - including Julia Roberts and Paula Zahn. Wendell can still be found teaching couples dance lessons on Sunday and Monday nights, as well as leading the line dance lessons every Thurs...Read more
Rock the house
Billy Bob's has long been home to many kinds of music. From rock to rhythm and blues, it's more than just country and western acts that perform on our famous stage. Past artists include Roy Orbison, The Temptations, James Brown, B.B King, Ray Charles, Ringo Starr, Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye and many,...Read more
Farewell to Nolan Ryan
One of the greatest pitchers of all time - Nolan Ryan - developed a long time relationship with the club. On September 12th, 1993, Ryan's 'Farewell to a Legend" retirement party was held at Billy Bob's. Film star, and Angels' owner Gene Autry - attended the event.
Guinness Book World's Largest Belt Buckle
The largest belt buckle is 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) tall, 2.59 m (8 ft 6 in) wide, achieved by ESPN in partnership with Kelly Graham (Both USA) at “ESPN The Magazine’s NEXT BIG Weekend” in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, on 3 February 2011. According to event organizers, the facade of the aluminum buckle paid h...Read more