Davis: Coming up on "Studio 3 Live," we welcome Katie and the Honky Tonks.

♪ 'Cause I would die before I ever act ♪ ♪ The way that you do ♪ I'll be at home listening to her write songs, and I'll be like, "Man, now we got to book studio time because you're writing really good songs.

When you show these to the band, they're gonna be a lot of fun."

♪ Once some time has passed ♪ ♪ And the vibes, they have changed ♪ ♪ I remember what it's like to live in a cohesive way ♪ Davis: Funding for "Studio 3 Live" is provided by... Woman: Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, where employees from over 20 countries speak over 20 languages, is committed to enriching the lives of all Iowans by funding strong communities and diverse cultural organizations.

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Announcer: Funding for this program was provided by friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.

[ Cheers and applause ] Good evening, and welcome to "Studio 3 Live."

I'm your host, Mickey Davis.

Tonight we welcome Katie and the Honky Tonks to the "Studio 3 Live" stage.

Hailing from Waterloo, Iowa, the band's music is steeped in the sound of the golden age of country, drawing inspiration from artists such as Loretta Lynn and Dwight Yoakam.

The band has performed at numerous festivals throughout the Midwest and shared the stage with artists including Jon Pardi, the Eli Young Band, and others.

Please give it up for Katie and the Honky Tonks.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Drumsticks tapping ] [ "Dancehall" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Well, last night at the dance hall ♪ ♪ Like any other day ♪ ♪ I busted out the old boots that I'll never throw away ♪ ♪ Got my tightest pair of blue jeans ♪ ♪ And my leather tooled belt ♪ ♪ Then walked in a cowboy who I had never met ♪ ♪ Then walked in a cowboy who she had never met ♪ ♪ Well, I couldn't help but notice he never left his seat ♪ ♪ He just sat there like a statue ♪ ♪ While still tapping his feet ♪ ♪ He walked up to a bar stool ♪ ♪ Grabbed a beer and swiveled 'round ♪ ♪ Checking out all the dancers and buying another round ♪ ♪ Checking out all the dancers ♪ ♪ And buying another round ♪ ♪ And I said, "Ooh, I think you're gonna like it ♪ ♪ Come on and step this way ♪ ♪ If the honkin' and the tonkin' don't come naturally ♪ ♪ Don't worry, daddy, hold on to me ♪ ♪ Two steps to the left ♪ ♪ One step to the right ♪ ♪ Spin me across the dance floor ♪ ♪ I could do this all night" ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I caught him staring at me out the corner of my eyes ♪ ♪ I got tired of waiting, so I thought I'd take a try ♪ ♪ I asked the man to dance and he acted kind of shy ♪ ♪ But two songs later, we were dancing through the night ♪ ♪ But two songs later ♪ ♪ We were dancing through the night ♪ ♪ And I said, "Ooh, I think you're gonna like it ♪ ♪ Come on and step this way ♪ ♪ If the honkin' and the tonkin' don't come naturally ♪ ♪ Don't worry, daddy, hold on to me ♪ ♪ Two steps to the left ♪ ♪ One step to the right ♪ ♪ Spin me across the dance floor ♪ ♪ I could do this all night" ♪ ♪ Yeah, spin me across the dance floor ♪ ♪ I could do this all night ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ "Ain't No Shame" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Neon in our eyes, shooting swell into our minds ♪ ♪ Flame of old times ♪ ♪ Burning a new night ♪ ♪ Girl's night together ♪ ♪ We gonna drink this dive dry ♪ ♪♪ ♪ With wits like old birds ♪ ♪ We're walking in like dames ♪ ♪ If ornery was our mission ♪ ♪ We'd be well on our way ♪ ♪ Girls night, be alright ♪ ♪ We gonna drink this dive dry ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Singing, drinking, dancing ladies ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Might be catching eyes, but we don't pay them any mind ♪ ♪ Don't buy me a drink ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're just wasting your damn time ♪ ♪ Girls night, we alright ♪ ♪ And we flippin' our own dimes ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Singing, drinking, dancing ladies ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Megan's drinking whiskey ♪ ♪ She's been sipping neat all night ♪ ♪ Beth's out on the dance floor ♪ ♪ She's stomping to the right ♪ ♪ And Stacy, she's our sweet girl now ♪ ♪ And she says ain't no shame ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪ Singing, drinking, dancing ladies ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪ Ain't no shame ♪ ♪ Ain't no sha-a-a-a-me ♪ ♪ Sha-a-a-a-me ♪ ♪ Sha-a-a-a-a-me ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Katie and the Honky Tonks, thank you so much for being here.

First, tell me a little bit about the band.

How did you first come together and kind of how did this current lineup of the band come together?

Well, we started, uh, Luke and I are married, and we just knew another couple that, uh, played bass and pedal steel.

So we just decided to jam one day and sounded really good right away.

And it was super fun.

So we just started learning a bunch of songs and were only doing covers at that time.

And then, you know, the COVID pandemic started and we just kind of took a really long break, I would say almost a year without doing anything.

And somehow we managed to get, uh -- Book the Gallagher Bluedorn.

Local Legends, was it called?

Local Legends.

They just live-stream it, so there was no audience or there was a really small audience.

And that just kind of I would say is what really helped us get our name out there and get discovered.

And, you know, years went by and there was a few member changes, and Brian's been with us the longest.

He's the next -- the next OG in the band.

Um... I came in as a guitar player originally.

Yeah.

Originally he came in as a guitar player.

And, uh, then when our lead guitar player left, um, then we were without a guitar player for a while, so we messaged our friend Elza here, who is an incredible guitar player from Columbia, Missouri, and, uh, he blew us away at the Octopus at our last show, and we asked him to play this show, too, with us.

And then Jesse here -- [ Laughs ] Me and Jesse went to high school together.

Middle school and high school.

I didn't know that.

Oh, yeah.

We did.

Cool.

And, uh, so that's kind of how we know each other.

But I knew that he, uh, he played in a country band, so we just, um, hit him up and asked him if he'd be interested in doing a show, and he said yes.

So he came and practiced with us, and it went so well that he is now an official Honky Tonk.

Stepping in full time.

[ "Slowdown Honey" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ You'll never even know it when I'm low ♪ ♪ I've never been good at lettin' it show ♪ ♪ You say that you're my friend ♪ ♪ But don't love me for who I am ♪ ♪ Well, that was never part of the plan ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ Think it through ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ Is that the right thing to do?

♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ It ain't about you ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ You got a lot to lose ♪ ♪ Well, I trusted you with all of my heart ♪ ♪ Sharing every single ugly part ♪ ♪ Revealing all my hard times ♪ ♪ To get kicked in the backside ♪ ♪ Well, that was never part of the plan ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ Think it through ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ Is that the right thing to do?

♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ It ain't about you ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ You got a lot to lose ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ Think it through ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ Is that the right thing to do?

♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ It ain't about you ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ You got a lot to lose ♪ ♪ Slow down, honey ♪ ♪ You got a lot to lose ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Davis: You talk about evolution.

You know, you also mentioned that, as a band, you first started playing covers, and now I know, uh, you know, you're releasing original music that started in 2024 with the EP.

That was all original music.

What prompted you to kind of make that switch to say like -- Was it like, "We're ready, we can do this"?

Or did you kind of creatively feel like you had something to -- something to talk about?

Well, I'm my own worst critic and I have been writing songs for years, but I hate them.

I'm kind of just embarrassed about them, and the band kind of swayed my opinion on them after I showed a few of them and, uh, we ended up honky-tonkin' them out.

And that's what was on the EP with two new songs.

So we have two songs that I wrote probably 15 years ago on the EP, and then two new songs on the EP, and it just kind of brought writing back out in me that I kind of suppressed for a while, because I just thought I was garbage at writing.

But I don't know, I guess I feel like I'm a little better now.

I don't hate my songs as much as I used to.

I'll be at home listening to her write songs, and I'll be like, "Man, now we got to book studio time because you're writing really good songs.

When you show these to the band, they're gonna be a lot of fun."

And, uh, she just kept writing songs, and I kept being like, "Oh, yeah.

We've really got to get into the studio now."

And then, uh, Brian, really -- When he joined the band, he really encouraged songwriting and, uh, took that to another level.

And all of his ideas are great.

And then we get asked to do -- We get asked to do, uh, festivals and a lot of opening slots when country bands come through town.

We did a tour with one of our friends, and, uh, we're like, "Yeah, we need to have a whole bunch of original stuff if we're gonna go out and do these cool festivals and play with our friends' bands when they come through town."

Yeah, that's just kind of how everything evolved.

Katie would write a so-- Katie would show me a song at home, and I'd be like, "Okay, we got to make some money because we gotta record."

Alright, we're gonna -- This is actually the very first song I ever wrote, so... It's called "Bye-Bye Birdie."

[ "Bye-Bye Birdie" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, it was bye bye birdie ♪ ♪ As soon as things went dirty ♪ ♪ Now we're alone ♪ ♪ All alone ♪ ♪ But we could make it better ♪ ♪ If we just stay together ♪ ♪ But I'm not fooled, you fool ♪ ♪ Oh, I ♪ ♪ I will get over you ♪ ♪ But now ♪ ♪ I'm just searching for someone new ♪ ♪ Someone new who's not you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The road ahead was narrow ♪ ♪ There was no warning signs or arrows ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ Oh, I ♪ ♪ Somehow I'll make it through ♪ ♪ But now ♪ ♪ I'm just searching for someone new ♪ ♪ Someone new who's not you ♪ ♪ Someone new who's not you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Get out of my head!

♪ ♪ Get out of my head!

♪ ♪ Get out of my head!

♪ ♪ Get out of my head!

♪ ♪ Get out of my head!

♪ ♪ Get out of my head!

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, it was bye bye birdie ♪ ♪ As soon as things went dirty ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you guys so much.

[ Drumsticks tapping ] [ "Boo Hoo" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Well, at first I was shocked ♪ ♪ Caught a bit off guard ♪ ♪ I never thought that you would take it quite this far ♪ ♪ Sure I'll take the blame ♪ ♪ That ain't no new thing ♪ ♪ Since the victim is a role that you were born to play ♪ ♪ So you hurt me, you hurt me ♪ ♪ We all know it's true ♪ ♪ Don't you worry, no, don't worry ♪ ♪ 'Cause I would die before I ever act ♪ ♪ The way that you do ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ But once some time has passed ♪ ♪ And the vibes, they have changed ♪ ♪ I remember what it's like to live in a cohesive way ♪ ♪ So go and talk your talk ♪ ♪ Go and spread your lies ♪ ♪ Do whatever you can do ♪ ♪ To talk yourself in to the cruel things ♪ ♪ You do ♪ ♪ So you hurt me, you hurt me ♪ ♪ We all know it's true ♪ ♪ Don't you worry, no, don't worry ♪ ♪ 'Cause I would die before I ever act ♪ ♪ The way that you do ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Go on, girl, go out and do your thing ♪ ♪ You won't find me hanging my head in shame ♪ ♪ So, you hurt me, you hurt me ♪ ♪ We all know it's true ♪ ♪ Don't you worry, no, don't worry ♪ ♪ 'Cause I would die before I ever act ♪ ♪ The way that you do ♪ ♪ You hurt me, oh, you hurt me ♪ ♪ We all know it's true ♪ ♪ Don't you worry, no, don't worry ♪ ♪ 'Cause I would die before I ever act ♪ ♪ The way that you do ♪ ♪ Well, boo hoo hoo!

♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

That song was called "Boo Hoo," and we released that on our EP last year, and we're re-releasing it on our album with some, uh, revamped guitar work on it, so you'll have to check that out.

And then this next song I just learned tonight is Elza's favorite song that we do, and it's my least favorite, so... [ Laughter ] Man: Let's do it.

Let's see who's right.

[ Laughter ] [ "No Clue" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ I'm feeling weak like I'm skinny ♪ ♪ Even though my clothes fit tight ♪ ♪ I'm always keeping myself up ♪ ♪ Thinking about you in the night ♪ ♪ While all the time I'm thinking ♪ ♪ Can I just do one thing right?

♪ ♪ I'll keep staring at the ceiling ♪ ♪ Dreaming about the morning in sight ♪ ♪ The phone calls from my father ♪ ♪ And the shaking in his voice ♪ ♪ Pleading and repeating ♪ ♪ Daddy, I know it's my choice ♪ ♪ And living with the feeling I'll keep pining with regret ♪ ♪ I'll keep staring at the ceiling ♪ ♪ Hoping my life turns out fine ♪ ♪ Oh, if only we trusted ourselves ♪ ♪ If only we would have loved someone else ♪ ♪ Oh, what do we do ♪ ♪ No clue ♪ ♪ Yeah, if only we trusted ourselves ♪ ♪ If only we would have loved someone else ♪ ♪ Oh, what do we do ♪ ♪ No clue ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ My friend is slowly dying ♪ ♪ I see it with my own two eyes ♪ ♪ When every day I see her underneath all of his lies ♪ ♪ And looking at us, knowing she won't ever feel this good ♪ ♪ I'll keep staring at the ceiling ♪ ♪ Knowing I did all I could ♪ ♪ Oh, if only we trusted ourselves ♪ ♪ If only we would have loved someone else ♪ ♪ Oh, what do we do ♪ ♪ No clue ♪ ♪ Yeah, if only we trusted ourselves ♪ ♪ If only we would have loved someone else ♪ ♪ Oh, what do we do ♪ ♪ No clue ♪ ♪ Oh, what do we do?

♪ ♪ Oh, what do we do?

♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] The style of music you play, I think -- I think honky tonk as a genre is so, um, maybe universally understood.

Maybe they don't know the history of it or, you know, they can't name the Loretta Lynns of the world or whatever, but I think anyone who hears it can picture, like, a dim bar where you're hearing it or people dancing.

It's very, um, uh, timeless almost, right?

That's the goal.

What about this music do you think allows, like, so many different types of people to enjoy it or latch onto it?

Oh, that's a good question.

I mean, it's... I feel like it's so universal.

Like, yeah, people have their idea of what they think country music is.

And I myself did.

Before I was ever in this band, I was not a country fan.

Who got you into country music?

You did.

Or honky tonk.

Yeah.

But then I realized there's this whole underground scene of amazing songwriters, and they're not just overproduced backtracking.

Like, they're multi-instrumentalists.

And the vocals and the lyrics, everything is -- was so good.

And just seeing these, especially seeing these women that were, like, coming out of Texas and Nashville and, um, going to one of their shows in Iowa and just seeing no one was there.

But then knowing that the next night they were playing in Minneapolis and it's a sold-out show.

Yeah.

Like, I'm just like these -- I can do this.

These -- These women are amazing.

And I think that just the mix of the classic sound, I guess there's maybe a little bit of modern country sound to it.

But just then there's the Americana sound to it.

Blues, rock.

I mean, it's really universal, and I think country gets a bad rap, but there is some good country out there if people just give it a chance.

Yeah.

I'd be interested to know who are some of your biggest influences for this band.

Uh, both maybe kind of more classic country or -- or kind of folks that have been around for a long time.

And then, as you mentioned, some of those more contemporary artists as well.

Well, for me, I would say Margo Price and Nikki Lane were who really got me into the genre, um, to the point where I became obsessed.

And then, uh, I would say, uh, Emily Nenni is huge because, um, we brought her to Cedar Falls and she actually opened for us, which is insane.

And, um, after that show, I'm just -- That's when I really knew that this is -- I got to start writing songs, and I want to open for Emily Nenni and more bands like her when they come through Iowa.

So we had to throw in an Emily Nenni song tonight.

If you haven't heard Emily Nenni, she is, uh, my celebrity crush.

And, uh, we have played with her, I would say five times, maybe now.

And it was a dream come true.

And this song is dedicated to her.

[ Drumsticks tapping ] [ "Get To Know Ya" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Well, I clocked out about a quarter after ♪ ♪ I had mostly checked out mentally ♪ ♪ Spent the bulk of the daylight dreaming in delight ♪ ♪ Finally kicking up my feet ♪ ♪ Bust out my biggest hoops ♪ ♪ Jumped into my jeans I can really only stand up in ♪ ♪ Find a fella wearin' denim tight as they can fit 'em ♪ ♪ See if he can keep up past ten ♪ ♪ Hey, I want to get to know ya ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ Have a little fun when the work is done ♪ ♪ Honey, sit down by my side ♪ ♪ Hey, I want to get to know ya ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ Play till the sun'll come when the daylight's done ♪ ♪ Save me from my troubled mind ♪ ♪ Well, I'm drawn to jokers ♪ ♪ For some godforsaken reason, smokers ♪ ♪ Or they're just at the bars I'm in ♪ ♪ Men who love their women ♪ ♪ Who will laugh and stand up with 'em ♪ ♪ But know when to bow out again ♪ ♪ Don't push past me at my waist ♪ ♪ Say excuse me to my face ♪ ♪ I can shuffle out the way all night ♪ ♪ Respect your bartenders ♪ ♪ If you tip 'em, do be generous ♪ ♪ It don't cost none to be polite ♪ ♪ Hey, I want to get to know ya ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ Have a little fun when the work is done ♪ ♪ Honey, sit down by my side ♪ ♪ Hey, I want to get to know ya ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ Play till the sun'll come when the work is done ♪ ♪ Save me from my troubled mind ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hey, I want to get to know ya ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ Have a little fun when the work is done ♪ ♪ Honey, sit down by my side ♪ ♪ Hey, I want to get to know ya ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ Play till the sun'll come when the daylight's done ♪ ♪ Save me from my troubled mind ♪ ♪ Until the sun'll come when the daylight's done ♪ ♪ Save me from my troubled mind ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Emily Nenni, everybody.

Alright.

This next song is another one that we just released off of our album "Ain't No Shame."

It's called "Women of Country Music," and that's who I dedicate this song to.

[ "Women of Country Music" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Well, I'm awful damn tired of always opening for the men ♪ ♪ Listening to them sing about their troubles ♪ ♪ It's another sad song again ♪ ♪ Act like women don't feel no pain ♪ ♪ And that we're only doing wrong ♪ ♪ Well, I'll show you crazy ♪ ♪ If I have to sit through one more cheating song ♪ ♪ Now, I may be a lady ♪ ♪ But I can sure as hell sing a country song ♪ ♪ Like the women who came before me ♪ ♪ Singing 'bout the men who done them wrong ♪ ♪ Now, if you call me a honky tonk angel ♪ ♪ Well, I'm damn sure gonna lose it ♪ ♪ Here's to the women of country music ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I was born and raised ♪ ♪ On my traditional small-town roots ♪ ♪ I'm real proud of my Midwestern ways ♪ ♪ And all the scuff marks on my boots ♪ ♪ I'm more than just a pretty face ♪ ♪ Yeah, I got me a song to sing ♪ ♪ So look out, boys, make way for your honky tonk queen ♪ ♪ Now, I may be a lady ♪ ♪ But I can sure as hell sing a country song ♪ ♪ Like the women who came before me ♪ ♪ Singing 'bout the men who done them wrong ♪ ♪ Now, if you call me a honky tonk angel ♪ ♪ Well, I'm damn sure gonna lose it ♪ ♪ Here's to the women of country music ♪ ♪ Yeah, here's to the women of country music ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

You, uh -- This past summer, you released a new album called "Ain't No Shame."

Uh, tell me a little bit about the kind of writing and recording process for that album.

How did that album come together for you all?

Um, well, back when we were doing the residency at the DanceMor Ballroom, that's when we wrote and rehearsed -- Goodlow: Flushed out the songs.

But really the whole album and, you know, we found out what works, what doesn't work.

And we did have a little bit of an audience that also gave us some input.

McCarty: Some feedback.

Yeah, yeah.

This next one is also off of our album, and it was our first single off of the album.

It's called "Mind Your Business."

Something we all could do.

Right?

Me too.

[ Laughter ] [ "Mind Your Business" plays ] ♪ It ain't hurting anyone ♪ ♪ So why don't you just let me have my fun?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, go ahead and spend all of your money ♪ ♪ You can move away and you can marry a honey ♪ ♪ You don't have to explain yourself to me ♪ ♪ Or maybe you're the type to save up all of his cash ♪ ♪ To buy the perfect house down to each blade of grass ♪ ♪ You don't have to explain yourself to me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can mind ♪ ♪ My own business ♪ ♪ It ain't hurting anyone ♪ ♪ Why don't you just let me have my fun?

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, there's doomsday preppers ♪ ♪ Backwoods homesteaders ♪ ♪ Cork-sniffers, bootlickers ♪ ♪ And train-hopping drifters ♪ ♪ You don't have to explain yourself to me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can mind ♪ ♪ My own business ♪ ♪ It ain't hurting anyone ♪ ♪ Why don't you just let me have my fun?

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ 'Cause I can mind ♪ ♪ My own business ♪ ♪ It ain't hurting anyone ♪ ♪ Why don't you just let me have my fun?

♪ ♪ And you should mind ♪ ♪ Your own business ♪ ♪ It ain't hurting anyone ♪ ♪ Why don't you just let me have my fun?

♪ ♪ If it ain't hurting anyone ♪ ♪ Why don't you just let me have my fun?

♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

What is the song "I Want You So Bad" based on?

Um, I think I was kind of... I don't know if I was mad at Luke or what.

I can't really remember.

Pretty sure that's what you told us.

You showed up at rehearsal to show us the song.

You're like, "I wrote this because I was mad at Luke."

I think that might have been a different song.

Maybe it was, maybe it was, but it was definitely one.

But this was basically, you know, another -- Like, I was thinking women empowerment.

I remember really distinctively when I was talking to Emily Nenni about her songs, um, she mentioned that some girls came up to her at a show and just thanked her for writing such positive songs.

Not -- I guess -- Not that there's a lot of negative songs out there, but, you know, a lot of country songs can be, like, you know, keying your boyfriend's car.

Revenge.

Yeah.

Revenge.

And, uh, yeah, she just -- She was like, "That meant so much to me."

And I'm like, "You know, I need to write more songs about women and, you know, promote that."

And this song kind of started as, you know, I love my husband very much, but I don't need him.

Oh.

That took a turn.

Yeah.

I want him.

I don't need him.

That's kind of basically where I was going with that.

Davis: Which feels like a theme and a storyline that you can connect to the Loretta Lynns of the world.

Right?

Exactly.

Uh, you know, maybe tongue in cheek, a little bit of revenge, a little bit of retribution every once in a while.

But at the end of the day, I stand on my own two feet.

Female empowerment.

As much as you hear the honky tonk in your music, I think you hear that -- that through line just as strong.

And I love a good revenge song as well.

And another side -- another fun side note of this song is, uh, the album was recorded and we were going in to do -- We had one last day to do some vocal stuff, and I hit up the producer.

I was like, "Oh, we have another song."

I was like, "Katie showed me this song."

I was like, "Oh, this song's so good.

We're gonna have to add it to the album and we're gonna have to add it to the last day we're in the studio doing vocals."

So then we set everything up, tracked that live again quick, and then did vocals.

So yeah, she did it to me again during the recording process of showing me a song, and I'm like, "Oh.

We got to go add this to the album."

And that was "I Want You So Bad."

"I Want You So Bad."

And here it is.

Katie and the Honky Tonks, thank you so much for being here on "Studio 3 Live."

Thank you so much.

[ "I Want You So Bad" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ I don't need you ♪ ♪ But I want you ♪ ♪ And that's what this all comes down to ♪ ♪ I don't need you, honey ♪ ♪ But I want you so bad ♪ ♪ No, it's not just your lips that I'm missing ♪ ♪ Every time I think about us kissing ♪ ♪ It's not just your arms that I long for ♪ ♪ I think about you ♪ ♪ And I want more ♪ ♪ I don't need you ♪ ♪ But I want you ♪ ♪ And that's what this all comes down to ♪ ♪ I don't need you, honey ♪ ♪ But I want you so bad ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I miss the way ♪ ♪ He'd hold me ♪ ♪ In the middle of the night ♪ ♪ No, I never met a man ♪ ♪ With such a healthy appetite ♪ ♪ I don't need you ♪ ♪ But I want you ♪ ♪ And that's what this all comes down to ♪ ♪ I don't need you, honey ♪ ♪ But I want you so bad ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Oh, my gosh, thank you guys so much.

I just want to take a minute to introduce the rest of the band behind me.

We have the Honky Tonks.

Everybody, to my left, Elza Goodlow.

[ Cheers and applause ] He came all the way from Columbia, Missouri.

Super talented.

To my right, Brian McCarty.

[ Cheers and applause ] He came all the way from Cedar Falls, Iowa.

[ Laughter ] Behind me, who I'm always blocking, is Luke Sires from Waterloo, Iowa.

[ Cheers and applause ] Alright, alright, Luke.

And a special guest tonight.

We are introducing our new guitar player.

His name is Jesse Cotton.

Jesse, come on out.

[ Cheers and applause ] Where did he come from?

And ladies and gentlemen, the woman who needs no introduction, singing for you tonight, Mrs.

Katie Sires.

[ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

Thank you, Brian.

And while I have your attention and Jesse's getting set up, I'm gonna share with you that our next song, I'm gonna need a little participation.

So... And I can see every one of you.

So if you don't participate, I'm gonna give you the eye.

All you have to do is be able to spell Iowa.

If you can't, uh, sit this one out.

I won't stare you down.

So I'm gonna say the words, uh, jukebox playing Hank.

And when you hear that, that's your cue to go... I-O-W-A.

That's it.

But you're gonna do it a few times in the song.

And then -- And then celebrate right after that, too.

Yeah.

I-O-W-A.

Whoo!

Whoo!

Yeah.

[ Laughter ] [ Drumsticks tapping ] [ "A Honky Tonk in Iowa" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Well, all the good ole boys at the local dive ♪ ♪ Have seem to all gone away ♪ ♪ Sitting at the bar, drinkin' PBR ♪ ♪ Is how they seem to spend their day ♪ ♪ With all of the empty stages ♪ ♪ Just waiting for a band to come and play ♪ ♪ Either way, how we gonna ♪ ♪ Dance with all of these tables in the way?

♪ ♪ So tell me, where can I find a honky tonk in Iowa?

♪ ♪ A place to stay, drown your blues away ♪ ♪ To a jukebox playing Hank ♪ ♪ I-O-W-A ♪ ♪ You know I'm here to stay ♪ ♪ But I pray you'll have a honky tonk someday ♪ ♪ Well, I ain't got the time to cross state lines ♪ ♪ Just any old night of the week ♪ ♪ And even if I did, I ain't got the money ♪ ♪ Or vacation time to take ♪ ♪ It takes five hours to Chicago ♪ ♪ Nebraska's four the other way ♪ ♪ Oh, what's a honky-tonker to do?

♪ ♪ Living in a drive-through state ♪ ♪ Tell me, where can I find a honky tonk in Iowa?

♪ ♪ A place to stay, drown your blues away ♪ ♪ To a jukebox playing Hank ♪ ♪ I-O-W-A ♪ ♪ You know I'm here to stay ♪ ♪ But I pray you'll have a honky tonk someday ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Can you tell me, where can I find a honky tonk in Iowa?

♪ ♪ A place to stay, drown your blues away ♪ ♪ To a jukebox playing Hank ♪ ♪ I-O-W-A ♪ ♪ You know I'm here to stay ♪ ♪ But I pray you'll have a honky tonk someday ♪ ♪ Tell me, where can I find a honky tonk in Iowa?

♪ ♪ A place to stay, drown your blues away ♪ ♪ To a jukebox playing Hank ♪ ♪ I-O-W-A ♪ ♪ You know I'm here to stay ♪ ♪ But I pray you'll have a honky tonk someday ♪ ♪ I said I-O-W-A ♪ You know I'm here to stay ♪ But I pray you'll have a honky tonk somewhere someday ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

We are Katie and the Honky Tonks.

♪♪ Davis: "Studio 3 Live" is also available as a podcast.

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