Joe Nichols Tells Bobby Why He Left Nashville, the Story Behind “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” and Why He’s Excited About “Say La V”
Joe Nichols stopped by The Bobby Bones Show and covered a little bit of everything with Bobby—from life in Texas and touring nonstop to the stories behind some of his biggest hits and the early fan reaction to his new song, “Say La V.”
As always, Joe brought plenty of great stories, including how a New York City cab driver recognized him because of "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," why he still loves performing "Brokenheartsville," and the unusual chain of events that helped one of his biggest songs reach No. 1.
Why Joe Nichols Left Nashville for Texas
While catching up with Bobby, Joe talked about the major decision to leave Nashville after getting married.
His wife, a Texas native, never really felt at home in Nashville and eventually told him she wanted to move back. Joe agreed, and the family settled in Tyler, Texas—a move he says he's never regretted.
These days, Nichols still flies out for weekend shows and spends plenty of time in Nashville recording, but Texas is home.
In fact, he joked that by the time someone fights Nashville traffic, they could have already made it through an airport and halfway to their destination.
Joe Says Fans Still Know Him Best For One Song
Bobby asked Joe what song people bring up most often when they recognize him in public.
The answer? "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off."
Joe said he's recognized occasionally by country fans while out around Tyler, but one of his favorite stories came from a New York City cab driver who didn't seem like a country music fan at all.
The driver couldn't quite place Joe at first but eventually remembered him as the guy who sings "the tequila song." For Nichols, it was one of those moments that made him realize the song had reached far beyond country music audiences.
The Moment He Knew "Tequila" Might Be Huge
One of the best stories from Joe's visit came when he told Bobby about the first time he realized "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" might become a massive hit.
A friend called him early one morning after hearing Elvis Duran and the Morning Show talking about the song. The hosts initially planned to poke fun at it based on the title alone.
Then they actually played it.
Instead of laughing, they admitted they liked it.
Joe told Bobby that was the first sign the song might connect with people outside the country music world. It wasn't long before "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" became one of the biggest hits of his career and a song fans still associate him with today.
Why "Brokenheartsville" Never Gets Old
Some hit songs eventually become ones artists get tired of playing. Not "Brokenheartsville."
Joe told Bobby that even after all these years, it's still one of his favorite songs to perform live.
He said there are certain songs that can feel tied to a specific era, but "Brokenheartsville" has never felt that way to him. The combination of strong songwriting and simple production has helped it hold up over time.
Bobby agreed, pointing out that "cool and simple" rarely sounds dated.
Joe even shared a pretty incredible compliment he once received from Post Malone, who told him he considers "Brokenheartsville" one of the greatest country songs ever written and wishes he had written it himself.
Not bad praise to get.
Bobby and Joe Talked About Some of His Biggest Fan Favorites
The conversation also turned to several songs that have become staples of Nichols' career.
Bobby admitted he thinks of Joe every spring when the weather hits 75 degrees because of "Sunny and 75."
The two also talked about "Yeah," another fan favorite that still gets plenty of love from audiences.
Joe said some songs become connected to a specific moment in time, while others keep finding new fans year after year. For him, "Brokenheartsville" continues to feel as relevant as ever.
Joe Thinks "Say La V" Is Connecting With Fans Fast
Of course, Bobby also asked about the new music.
Joe's latest release, "Say La V," is getting a strong reaction at shows, and he's encouraged by what he's seeing so far.
He said crowds are already singing the big parts of the chorus back to him by the second chorus, which is usually a very good sign.
Joe described the song as fun and said he keeps hearing from friends and industry contacts who think it could become a major hit.
One thing that makes the song stand out is the use of horns, something Nichols hasn't really featured on his records before. He also revealed that one of the musicians involved had previously played with Prince.
Joe Is Playing More Guitar Than Ever
Another thing Bobby and Joe talked about was guitar.
Even though Nichols has spent decades on stage, he admitted he didn't take guitar that seriously early in his career. That's changed in recent years.
Now he's incorporating much more guitar into his live shows and says it's become one of the most enjoyable parts of performing.
Joe compared it to being a teenager again and wanting to show everyone what he's learned.
A Look Back At His Road To Nashville
Joe also reflected on his early days before the hits.
He told Bobby about making independent music while living in Arkansas and how a little bit of early success convinced him to move to Nashville in the late '90s and take a shot at country music full-time.
That gamble paid off.
After signing his first major-label deal, Nichols eventually broke through with "The Impossible," launching a career that has produced multiple No. 1 hits and some of the most recognizable songs in modern country music.
The Wild Story Behind One of His No. 1 Hits
During the conversation, Joe also shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about how "Brokenheartsville" reached the top of the charts.
At the time, the song was battling for the No. 1 spot against two major records. Nichols remembered watching the chart movement almost hour by hour as the race tightened.
He told Bobby that a series of unexpected events created a perfect opening for the song to sneak into the top position, and by the end of the tracking week, "Brokenheartsville" had narrowly captured the No. 1 spot.
Looking back, Joe admitted the timing couldn't have worked out any better.
Still Going Strong
Between a packed touring schedule, new music, and a catalog full of fan favorites, Joe Nichols isn't slowing down anytime soon.
Whether it's "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," "Brokenheartsville," "Sunny and 75," "Yeah," or the new "Say La V," Joe told Bobby he's grateful fans continue showing up and singing along.
And if you've seen him live lately, you already know you'll get a few guitar solos, too.
For more stories from Joe Nichols, listen to his full conversation with Bobby on The Bobby Bones Show.
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