On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer

Multiplatinum singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw sits down with Troy Vollhoffer for an at-home episode of "On the Bus" for an in-depth conversation about growing up in the Catskills, his family’s passion for music, and how Patrick Swayze’s character in Dirty Dancing was (allegedly) based on his grandfather! Gavin opens up about why supporting the troops is so personal to him and how the fear of regret motivates him as an artist. Gavin shares stories about being broke in New York (including the time he might have eaten a finger!), working with Colbie Callait, and details how the real Joe Davola–yes, THAT Joe Davola from Seinfeld–convinced him to use his hit single “I Don’t Want To Be” as the theme for One Tree Hill. Then, Troy looks back on his favorite interviews of 2025 with Blake Shelton, Billy Bob Thornton, Gavin Adcock, and Old Dominion! In 2026, Gavin hits the road with O.A.R. for the Three Decades Tour, which will also feature musical artists Lisa Loeb, KT Tunstall, and Phantom Planet.

After realizing he wasn’t destined to be a guitar player, Tom Mayhue found his true calling behind the scenes—solving problems on the road. Four decades later, he’s still living the dream, managing tours for some of the biggest names in rock. In this episode, Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer sits down with his longtime friend Tom Mayhue to talk about a life spent on tour buses and stages around the world. Tom shares how his 21-year friendship with Billy Bob Thornton began, what it’s like balancing tour managing for The Boxmasters and Guns N’ Roses, and how the touring business has evolved since the ’60s. Plus, hear how The Trailer Park Boys sparked Tom’s unexpected acting career—and why getting booed in real life was one of his favorite moments.

After growing up watching The Who on the Ed Sullivan Show, the members of The Boxmasters never dreamed of having the chance to tour with one of the greatest bands in the world, but here they are. Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer welcomes Billy Bob Thornton and JD Andrew of The Boxmasters to On The Bus. The duo walks Troy through their happenstance meeting and how the British Invasion and “hillbilly music” are such major influences in their work. Billy Bob reveals why, despite all of the major successes he’s had in TV and film, his greatest passion will always be music. JD and Billy Bob explain how they went from appearing in The Trailer Park Boys to singing at Abbey Road, and how their music often reflects on missing the simple things in life, like putting a quarter in a payphone.

Cody Johnson grew up hunting and fishing in rural Texas with two dreams: to be a singer and a cowboy. Not only does CoJo continue to sell out stadiums, but he has his own ranch filled with horses, cows, and pastures. If only young Cody could see him now! Troy Vollhoffer, CEO of Country Thunder, is thrilled to welcome Cody Johnson on the bus this week. Cody explains how he started bull riding in high school and what it’s like having his own official roping event. Troy and Cody discuss the ups and downs of pursuing music without a backup. Cody details why letting the band rip during recording sessions and improvising on stage allowed him to find his authentic artistic voice.

The members of Old Dominion spent years in Nashville crafting a sound and trying to break through. After another label passed, their manager asked if they wanted to keep going. The guys had one answer: “If they don’t like it, that’s fine.” Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer welcomes one of his favorite country bands, Old Dominion, to the show. The members of Old Dominion detail their origin story and how they played in different bands on the same circuit before teaming up. Troy recalls the first time he booked them for a festival and how tenacious OD was from the start. The bandmates share how shocking it was to discover so many fans in Canada, and reveal how Barbra came to be.