Exclusive Interview with Neal McCoy

Hey guys, it's Gail with Neil McCoy. Yes

And we are backstage at the Country Music Cruise. He's so kind to speak to everything that is for just a few minutes

You have been on this cruise year after year after year. Tell me why

Well, they just keep inviting us back. And it really comes in handy because a lot of times we don't have a lot of work in the wintertime

And we've worked it to where my family gets to come and I pay them

So it serves as a family vacation. And then there's just a lot of great people on here

The interview we just did with Daryl Worley, what a prince of a man

That needs to be, I don't know what they'll do with that. Hopefully they can box that up, maybe we can sell it

But we love being on here. They're just, Star Vista has got it figured out

They know how to get everybody in and off really quick. And they bring so much talent that it's almost hard for you to refuse

And no matter what they charge, I don't even know what they charge, but whatever, it's worth it

Because you get to see all kinds of acts, from baby acts to middle acts to people that are still doing good on the radio right now

And you've been around. You go out and see the other acts too, which I think is so cool

And such a testament to how you support country music. Yes, ma'am

And we'll watch. It's fun for me, though, to watch everybody. Because if they're doing something or if they tell a joke or something that I think would work in my show, then I steal it

But I'm sure they've stolen some stuff from me too. As you should. And you're coming back next year again

We already will. And you're coming back next year because you love it so much? Yes, ma'am

Oh, yeah. I love it. And just the opportunity it gives to us as a family to come out, even though we still have a son-in-law and three grandkids

we still come out and still get to spend some family time with the core four of us

My wife and I, both are two kids. So it's really worth it. And the other thing I love that you do, which you do every morning, is the Pledge of Allegiance

Yes, ma'am. Eight years now? A little over eight years. What's today, the 23rd

Eight years. And tomorrow would be 14 days. Eight years and 14 days. I say the Pledge of Allegiance live on my Facebook page, at Neal McCoy Music

You can follow us there and come say the pledge. If you love your country, still love your God and love you and respect your flag, then come on

Is that why you do it? Yes, ma'am. I started it in 2016

And both my parents were sick. And then shortly after I started, my dad died

And then the next year, my mom died. And I just kind of have been doing it kind of in their honor

And I don't know how I've been able to do it. I don't know how I haven't been sick, so sick that I couldn't do it

But somehow we've gotten through eight years of it. So we're going for eight more? Well, we're going to start with 3,000. Okay

And that's coming up in two months. Okay. I have to let you go soon because I know you're super busy today

But you have been in country music for... A long time. For 30 years

I mean, I know you started when you were 10. Yeah, that's right. But you've been 34 years, I think, about

Well, yeah, I guess from a national recording standpoint. Right. Does it feel like that long? No

And I feel – I still feel great. I mean, I know I'm 65, but I don't feel like it at all

And it has been a wonderful career. I'm at a great spot in my life that we don't play the radio games anymore

because they're not playing us. So we get to go, and if we want somebody to come back and say hello

then we just invite them back. And bringing joy to people, and that is what we get a chance to do

I'm sure Daryl would tell you the same thing. It's a big deal. It is wonderful for our psyche and for the audience also

If they feel like they're getting great entertainment, then when they leave and we load up and go somewhere else

it will be like we just came together for a family reunion, and now we've moved on

So just trying to get them to feel special and bring them good stuff every night

It does the same thing for us. You're fantastic. Thank you, friend. All right, sweetheart. Bye

Hey, can you get a picture