Bailey Zimmerman Talks Stagecoach Plans and Building A Fanbase That Feels Like Family [Exclusive]
As he gears up for Stagecoach, Zimmerman opens up about teaming with SONIC, winning over festival crowds, and why his fans mean everything to him.
Bailey Zimmerman; Photo Provided
Bailey Zimmerman is in the midst of a season where everything seems to be clicking, from sold-out shows to a rapidly growing fanbase that feels more like family than anything else. But even with all the success, he’s still holding tight to the things that made him who he is in the first place… including a longtime love for SONIC.
The country hitmaker, who is gearing up for a performance at Stagecoach this weekend, has officially teamed up with SONIC Drive-In in honor of the new Refreshers. For Zimmerman, who grew up in rural Illinois, this isn’t some random brand deal: it’s personal.
A Full-Circle Partnership With SONIC
“It’s a pretty full circle moment. I grew up going to SONIC and I grew up pulling my truck in the stall. I still do it to this day.” Zimmerman revealed while chatting with Country Now from his bus in between shows on his Different Night Same Rodeo Tour. “I love SONIC. That’s why it was so cool when they reached out because I was like, ‘Dude, I actually love SONIC!’ I love going to SONIC. I love hitting the button. I love their corn dogs. I love the ranch. Their Refreshers are insane….And then they actually hit me about doing a thing for their Refreshers. And I’m like, bro, I already drank those. So this is perfect. Let’s go!”
He didn’t hesitate when asked what his go-to order looks like either.
“If I pull up the SONIC right now, I’m pulling in the stall, I’m hitting the button. I’m going. ‘Give me two corn dogs, give me two packets of ranch and give me a strawberry passion fruit refresher.”
Zimmerman has long been open about his hunt for a wife and says SONIC might even make the perfect date night.
“Honestly, it’s the most country way to do a date night. Pull it in, drop the tailgate, get your refreshers, get your corn dogs, and have a nice night at SONIC. Who needs a fancy steakhouse when you got SONIC Corn Dogs? I mean, come on, let’s be real with each other here.”
Heading Into Stagecoach Weekend
SONIC will also be along for the ride as the “Holy Smokes” singer heads to Stagecoach this weekend, where he’s set to perform between fellow superstars Cody Johnson and Ella Langley. Calling it an “honor” to share that slot, he also revealed he’s planning to catch both of their sets while he’s there.
“Ella, I’ve got to see her set. She texted me the other day and we were talking about hanging out at Stagecoach. So yeah, it’s going to be sick though. Got to make it happen…I’ve been jamming that record,” he shared. “I feel like Ella’s really, really crushing and she’s just killing the game and her voice is on point every single time and she’s just crushing it.”
Winning Over Every Crowd, Every Time
Whether he’s taking the stage at Stagecoach or one of the many festivals on his summer schedule, Zimmerman has one goal every time he steps out: to turn every person in the crowd into a fan.
“I would say honestly, that’s my goal every show. Even the ones I sell the tickets to, I’m still trying to get them locked in on me and really supporting me and be here for the rest of my life because I want to do this for the rest of my life. So I would say I’m always trying to win them over, but when I go to a festival, I don’t act like everybody knows who I am,” he explained. “Because when I sell a ticket, they must know who I am because they bought my ticket. But if you’re just coming to this festival, maybe you don’t know who I am or maybe you’ve never seen me before. So I usually just try to explain more about who I am. Not that I don’t do it at my shows, but I explain more about who I am, where I come from, my morals, my values.”
While he tries to “treat every show the same,” Zimmerman recognizes that performing at a festival allows him to get in front of a whole new audience.
“[I’m] definitely trying to get just the festival goers to buy a hard ticket for me and come to the arena to see me on my tour. I feel like when you headline a festival or even direct support or whatever, it’s just a huge opportunity to get a new fan that wants to come to your show.”
Turning Fans Into Family
Once you’re a Bailey Zimmerman fan, you’re basically family. That’s always been the goal for him.
“Honestly, I look around these arenas and I see people that I’ve known for the last five years, people that were at my 10th show, my 11th show all the way to the Morgan [Wallen] dates and then to festivals, I’d see them. And then we’d hang out afterwards,” he said. “Me and Stella did a cartwheel a long time ago…you kind of just start building a family out here. And then after the show, you want to go see those people because you know them and you know their mom and you know their grandma. And so you want to go see them. And I think that’s one of the coolest parts about my shows and my community of people is that it is a real family. And I really do come out and see everybody…and sign everything and say what up to everybody and take the videos. I love it.”
“It’s my favorite part of all this stuff. Other than blowing stuff up,” he added with a laugh.
Still, for him, it goes beyond just putting on a show.
“I love the family aspect of it and feeling like I say this every show, I’m like, man, when you come to a Bailey show, I want you to walk through the doors and feel like, man, I can finally take this mask off. I can finally be myself. I can finally just let loose for the next four hours with me and whoever’s on the tour, we can just let loose. And that’s what I feel like we’ve built here is just, like I said, a family and a community of safety and positivity..and blowing stuff up.”
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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