Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Rolling Stone Nashville Now

When Midland debuted in 2017 with their traditional country song “Drinkin’ Problem,” the Texas band stuck out like a sore thumb in Nashville. Now, the trio of Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson, and Cameron Duddy look like trendsetters. All three singer-songwriters join us in the Nashville Now cabin to talk about their influence on today’s country music — you can hear Midland vibes in “Choosin’ Texas.” They also address the authenticity attacks they weathered early in their career, and take us inside their new album Stages, which includes the hits “Marlboro Man” and “Shooting Memories With Tequila.” It’s a particularly wild and loose episode of Nashville Now, hosted by deputy editor Joseph Hudak, who’s followed Midland’s career since the very beginning.    Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From touring with Bob Dylan and spending quality time with Dolly Parton to being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, even Sheryl Crow can’t believe the arc of her career. In a new episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, Crow talks about how her life experiences, and her mix of apprehension and hope for the future, informed her new album Pick You Up. She also previews her summer stadium tour with Kenny Chesney and Eric Church, and how she’ll approach a country crowd, and opens up about her friendship with Olivia Rodrigo, who sang for Crow at a recent awards banquet in Nashville. It’s an emotional interview with one of American music’s most important voices.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grammy-winning songwriter Ashley McBryde joins us on Nashville Now to talk about her new album Wild, a project that dives deep into her family lineage and her desire to be “fully seen.” The Arkansas native also shares her journey to sobriety and what the word “redemption” means to her — it’s not only the name of her mocktail-forward bar on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. McBryde also has a gift for a Scottish accent, and once she starts it up, she can’t stop. Join us on the podcast for a conversation that gets to the human side of one of Nashville’s most important songwriters.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn were country music royalty who shaped the genre both through their solo careers and when they teamed up for songs like “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” and “After the Fire Is Gone.” But what were Conway and Loretta really like? Michael “Tre” Twitty Jenkins, the grandson of Conway, and Tayla Lynn Finger, the granddaughter of Loretta, join us in the Nashville Now cabin to offer a glimpse into the personal lives of two Country Music Hall of Famers. Tre and Tayla, who perform as Twitty & Lynn, also talk about balancing their own music with that of Conway and Loretta, share memories of Conway’s status as a sex symbol, and reveal what Loretta liked to do on nights off. It’s a visit with living history, only on Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aaron Raitiere has been compared to legends from John Prine to Shel Silverstein for his eccentric, anything-goes approach to songwriting. But the Kentucky native also knows his way around writing a hit: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, and Lady Gaga have all covered his songs. In this rambunctious, irreverent conversation in the Nashville Now cabin, Raitiere lets us into his songwriting process and also shares some behind-the-scenes tales of his friendship with the late Bob Weir and the lost project they were working on before the Grateful Dead icon’s death.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dolly Parton’s death on Aug. 25 at age 80 after a quiet battle with cancer resonated around the globe. But it was especially acute in Nashville, where she lived, launched her career, and died. In a special tribute episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, host Joseph Hudak and Rolling Stone Senior Writer Marissa R. Moss talk about the vibe of the city, what we’ve felt, and what’s to come. We also explain what Dolly’s final public appearance says about her life, share our favorite Dolly moments, and offer our thoughts on who in country music best embodies the Dolly spirit. It’s a remembrance of a woman, an artist, and an icon whose impact will be felt for generations, only on Nashville Now. Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brothers Osborne are going home, but first the Grammy-winning duo are stopping by Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast. Singer TJ Osborne and guitarist John Osborne join us for a conversation that looks back at their beginnings in Nashville more than a decade ago and where they’re headed on new album Watertown, a celebration of their hometown of Deale, Maryland. They also talk about releasing “sellout” editions of their new singles in an attempt to capture today’s short-attention spans, and how their unexpected collaborations with Cody Johnson came to be. It’s one of Nashville’s most important bands, only on Nashville Now. Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maggie Rose has been known as “Nashville’s best-kept secret” for far too long. With her new album Half Moon and a pair of Grammy nominees under her belt, the singer-songwriter is standing fully in the spotlight. On Nashville Now, Rose talks about reinventing herself in the competitive music industry, how she became a favorite of jam-band audiences, and why living in Nashville as an all-genre artist can be a double-edged sword. It’s a snapshot of a woman who bravely took control of her career and, as she titled one of her albums, changed the whole thing. Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will Hoge and Dave Hause, two of roots music’s most incisive songwriters, join Nashville Now live onstage at the Mile of Music Festival in Appleton, Wisconsin, for one of our most charged conversations yet. Both artists toe the line between rock & roll and Americana and use their music to make pointed cultural and political statements. Onstage at Mile of Music, one of the U.S.’s must-attend boutique festivals, Hoge and Hause tell the stories behind songs like Hoge’s “Whose God Is This” and Hause’s “Tarnish” — and perform them live too. Nashville Now and host Joseph Hudak put listeners right in the room with two artists who aren’t afraid to speak truth to power.  Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a new class of twang overtaking country music and Braxton Keith is at the forefront. The Midland, Texas, native joins us in the Nashville Now cabin to talk about his new album Real Damn Deal and how he ended up onstage with Post Malone at this year’s Stagecoach. Keith also opens up about his viral moment: when he stopped a concert to admonish fans for throwing beer at the stage. With songs like “Cozy” and “I Own This Bar,” Braxton Keith is bringing old school vibes with a dash of humor back to country. Meet this rising new star on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nashville’s indie-rock scene is having a moment and Lombardy are one of the bands at the forefront. In a special episode of Nashville Now, we introduce you to the group, one of the most inventive bands to come out of Music City over the last few years. We ask them about the burgeoning new scene, about writing songs with titles like “Jane Fonda” and “Motorbike,” and get their take on why Nashville will never only be a country town.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠⁠Hear Now⁠⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast goes on the road this week for a very special episode with the legendary Shania Twain. Surrounded by memorabilia from throughout her career, the country music trendsetter welcomes us to her Las Vegas property for a wide-ranging conversation. Twain talks about connecting the dots between Shania the superstar and the young girl who sang in motel bars in her native Canada on her new album Little Miss Twain. She also opens up about putting her singing career on hold to become a caregiver for her siblings following the tragic death of her parents, being embraced by an LGBTQ audience, and why she thinks men like singing along to “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” Twain shares what she sees in the success of Ella Langley too. It’s a conversation with one of country music’s most important artists.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Newsted Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr and former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted join us in the Nashville Now cabin for one of the most unexpected episodes of the podcast yet. We learn the origins of Charlie and Jason’s friendship, how Amanda Shires helped connect them, and why they’re on the road together this summer: Jason’s Chophouse Band is opening for Charlie and the Southern rock torchbearers. The musicians also talk about the struggles they’ve faced, from the death of Blackberry Smoke’s founding drummer Brit Turner to Jason’s recent cancer battle. And, yes, we talk Metallica too. It’s a pairing you’ll only see on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now!   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The War and Treaty are done doing it Nashville’s way. In a bold new interview with Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, the husband-and-wife duo of Michael and Tanya Trotter open up about playing the mainstream country game — and why they would advise other artists against it. They also talk about the Adult Contemporary vibes of their new album The Story of Michael and Tanya, what it felt like to be snubbed at this year’s ACM Awards, and why Michael’s military service stands out in a community where patriotism is a buzz word. It’s an important, unvarnished conversation about today’s country music, only on Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner is making protest music that unites not divides America. On a special Fourth of July weekend episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, Weiner talks about what went into his band’s new album, Livin’ in the USA. It’s an empowering conversation about censorship, standing up for what’s right, and good ol’ American roots music, with Weiner calling out that great U.S. hero: Mr. Rogers. Happy Independence Day, all.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Singer-songwriter Michaela Anne just may be the quintessential indie artist, one for whom the hustle never stops. She’s a working mom, a podcast host with her husband and bandmate, and the one in charge of keeping her music coming. Michaela Anne, who crowd-funded her new album These Are the Days, talks about the struggle to balance it all in an especially candid episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, which dives deep into what it takes to stay on the road as a touring artist. Some days are harder than others, like a merch debacle that left her in tears, while others provide big wins: Michaela Anne will perform at Rolling Stone’s Stateside Festival this July Fourth. It’s an unvarnished look at the life of a musician, only on Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a Nashville Now first, Rolling Stone’s country music podcast goes to Bonnaroo for a live episode with the Tedeschi Trucks Band. But the interview with the husband-and-wife duo of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks doesn’t go quite as planned — a lightning storm forces the evacuation of the festival! Yet Tedeschi Trucks will not be deterred. The band talk about the logistics and finances of touring with a 12-piece band, the new album Future Soul, and the three artists they think everyone needs to know. It’s a wet and chaotic episode of Nashville Now, live from the Farm at Bonnaroo. Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been 35 years since Amy Grant released her 1991 album Heart in Motion and scored a massive hit with its radio single “Baby Baby.” Now, Grant is looking back on a new album, The Me That Remains, and even writing a eulogy to her younger self. In a candid interview with Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, Grant opens up about aging, her marriage to fellow country star Vince Gill, and how her latest album is both a celebration of her career and a message of coming together.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his first-ever podcast interview, Shaboozey — who gave the decade one of its biggest crossover hits with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — joins Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now for a very special live podcast taping in Las Vegas. The episode arrives as part of a multimedia package with Shaboozey, including a digital cover story on RollingStone.com. Nashville Now host Joseph Hudak, who authored the cover story, captures Shaboozey at his most vulnerable. He gets tearful recounting his historic Grammy win, recounts growing up in Northern Virginia as the song of Nigerian immigrants, and shares the various inspirations — from Quentin Tarantino movies to Old West video games — for his ambitious forthcoming album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western tales. It’s a deeply personal interview with one of music’s most fascinating new stars, only on Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Nashville is synonymous with country music, Music City’s indie scene is vital. In this special episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, we introduce you to Crystal Rose, a singer-songwriter with a stunner of a voice working in the R&B and folk space. At a recent showcase in East Nashville, Rose hypnotized the crowd with a flash choir, making for an indelible musical moment. Rose tells us how it came about, what’s on the horizon, and why Nashville is an important creative hub for musicians of all genres. Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When music fans talk about “heartland rock,” they’re describing the catalog of Kip Moore. The Georgia native broke out in Nashville in the 2010s with radio hits like “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” but evolved into one of the most dynamic artists, a singer-songwriter who headlines stadiums overseas. So why won’t Nashville give him his due? In a candid episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, Moore opens up about his success, his roadblocks, and his stellar new album, Reason to Believe. Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Auerbach has called Gregg Allman “the foundation of what I do.” On the ninth anniversary of the Allman Brothers Band leader’s death, Auerbach joins Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now for a very special episode filmed at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound in Nashville. The Black Keys singer-guitarist goes deep into how Allman influenced him personally, as well as the music of the Black Keys, and opens up about the grief that informed the band’s new album Peaches!, which was recorded as Auerbach’s father was dying. It’s an emotional interview, steeped in music history and the legacy of Gregg Allman, only on Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fans of gritty TV dramas know Luke Grimes from his role as Kayce Dutton on Yellowstone and now CBS’s Marshals, which airs it's Season 1 finale on May 24th. But Grimes is every bit the country singer and songwriter as he is accomplished actor. In this freewheeling episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, the Ohio native turned Montana resident shares what went into his new album Red Bird, how he made the successful transition to all-around artist, and why he said yes to reviving the role of Kayce on CBS’s latest hit. It’s a Nashville-meets-Hollywood conversation, only on Nashville Now. Country is Here…Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Tyler White joined Love on the Spectrum, Netflix’s series about the dating lives of people with varying degrees of autism, he became an instant fan favorite for his Southern charm and wealth of country music knowledge. Now, the Florida native is making a go as a country singer, with help from some Nashville power players. Tyler joins Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast to talk about his debut single “Oh Yeah Baby,” his experience on Love on the Spectrum, and what it’s like to encounter fans of the show. He even shares an update on his and Madison’s wedding plans. It’s a heartwarming episode that highlights the true power of country music, only on Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Mac is leading a proud, new charge for queer country music, but getting to this point wasn’t without its challenges. The Russellville, Kentucky, native joins us in the Nashville Now cabin to talk about the discrimination he’s faced, including harsh public words from a pastor in his hometown, and how he’s overcome it. Mac also shares the origin of his band the “Cowgays”, with Brooke Eden and Chris Housman, and how he approaches his version of masculinity. And in a candid display of courage, the singer opens up about rewriting a homophobic song by Hank Williams Jr. He’s a new face of country music, only on Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy birthday, Willie Nelson! In honor of the country music legend turning 93 on April 29, Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast joins forces with Texas Monthly and PRX’s One By Willie podcast for a very special crossover episode. One By Willie host John Spong, the preeminent scholar on all things Willie, joins Nashville Now host Joseph Hudak in the cabin to talk about Willie’s catalog of songs and why each is uniquely important. Then, Spong asks Hudak about the impact that Nelson’s 1980 Number One hit “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” had on his own life. It’s a celebration of the Red Headed Stranger! Country is Here…Nashville is Now.  Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back in 2012, Ne-Yo teamed up with Tim McGraw for the country/R&B collaboration “She Is.” Now, Ne-Yo is returning to Nashville to work on his own country-influenced project. We welcome the singer to the Nashville Now cabin to talk about going country, his love of Reba McEntire, and the time Tim and Faith Hill had him over for fried chicken. He also opens up about his personal experience so far in Music City and on the rowdy blocks of Lower Broadway, and how it may be different than what some fans might expect. It’s a sit-down with an R&B great, only on Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nominations for the 2026 ACM Awards are out now and we have some questions. Rolling Stone’s Senior Music Editor Joseph Hudak and longtime RS contributor and author Marissa R. Moss break down five key storylines, from the dominance by this year’s women nominees to the wildly confusing New Artist races. Check out our hot takes and be sure to tune in to the 61st ACMs airing May 17 on Prime Video, live from Las Vegas.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 From Taylor Swift to Tanya Tucker, country music has a rich history of child stars. Maddox Batson, at just 16, is the latest, drawing comparisons to a young Justin Bieber with his songs about middle-school crushes and country living. Maddox joins us in the Nashville Now cabin to talk about songwriting, social media, and the song he co-wrote for Lana Del Rey and Quavo. And for his already hardcore fans, he tells us if there really was a “girl in green.” It’s the future of country music, only on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ve never met a mother quite like Paul Cauthen. The outrageous Texas country singer remains proudly defiant on his new album The Book of Paul, which he says is about “the freaking trials and tribulations of Paul.” In a new episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, the man known as “Big Velvet” tells us exactly what those tribulations are. He also talks about writing songs for Beyoncé, explains a lyric that dissed Kenny Chesney, and reveals where his alter-ego “Big Velvet” ends and Paul Cauthen begins. It’s a wild ride with one of country music’s most complex figures. Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brandon Lake has made a name for himself as one of Christian music’s most successful stars. Now he’s setting his sights on country music and Nashville, teaming up with artists from Jelly Roll and Cody Johnson to Lainey Wilson. In this new episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, we ask Lake about the intersection between Christian music and country, if he’s worried about faith being exploited by politics, and if listeners of all faiths can have a seat at his table.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Noeline Hofmann has gone from the Badlands of her native Canada to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry on the strength of her expertly crafted songs like “Purple Gas” and “Rodeo Junkies.” In a very special episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, Hofmann joins us in front of a live audience at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge outside of Nashville to preview her upcoming full-length album, share what Zach Bryan’s endorsement meant to her, and explain why she was drawn to cover the late songwriter Luke Bell’s “The Bullfighter.” It’s an introduction to your new favorite country songwriter, Noeline Hofmann, only on Nashville Now. Country is Here… Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vince Gill has earned a reputation in country music not just for his singing, songwriting, and guitar playing, but for the way he treats people. In this episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, Gill’s kindness is on full display as he walks us through his new series of EPs, 50 Years From Home, his ongoing gig as a member of the Eagles, and his own solo tours. Gill also recalls the time he was heckled by Eagles fans, reflects on his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame when he was only 50, and gives a candid answer when asked about performing at a polarizing venue last year: the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It’s an hour with a true country music legend, only in the Nashville Now cabin.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the Black Crowes reunited in 2019, brothers Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson recorded their comeback album in Nashville and also kicked off their reunion tour here. They returned to Music City to record their brand-new album, A Pound of Feathers, and embedded themselves in town. In our most free-spirited episode yet, the brothers strut into the Nashville Now cabin to talk about mending fences, how their reunion inspired Oasis’s comeback, and why the Crowes are touring with Texas country-rockers Whiskey Myers this summer. They also rail against AI in music and share a message to all those who said they’d never make it. It’s a must-see interview from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees.   Country is Here… Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Devon Gilfillian has been putting his own spin on Americana music since moving to Nashville from Philadelphia back in 2013. He pushes the boundaries even further on his forthcoming album Time Will Tell, which he recorded at historic RCA Studio A on Music Row. But, Gilfillian says, this is far from a Music Row-type album. During his visit to the Nashville Now cabin, the singer-guitarist talks about sidestepping the system as an indie artist, how Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music influenced his career, and why things have or haven’t changed for Black artists making their art in Music City. Get to know one of American roots music’s most dynamic voices on this episode of Rolling Stone’s all-things-Nashville podcast.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carly Pearce is unafraid to raise tough questions about faith, marriage, and success in country music. In a startling candid episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, the Kentucky singer-songwriter addresses the polarizing response to her new song “Church Girl,” opens up about the sacrifices she’s had to make for her career, and wonders if you can ever really “move on” from a broken relationship. “Those parts of your story, they’re never gone,” Pearce says. Also, we run down the week’s news, including word of a new Highwomen album, and give you our five Hear Nows, the songs in country music you just have to hear this week. Country is Here…Nashville is Now. Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the singer of Rival Sons, Jay Buchanan has one of the most powerful voices in all of music, but on his new solo album, Weapons of Beauty, he dials back the volume in favor of a rootsy, Americana approach. The results are stunning. In a special episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, taped in front of a live audience, Buchanan talks about writing the album off the grid in the Mojave desert, where he slept with a pistol beneath his pillow. He also goes deep on his role in the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere, and shares how Springsteen’s Nebraska inspired his new chapter. If you don’t know Jay Buchanan, you will now.    Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The story of the Band Perry remains one of the most fascinating in all of music. The sibling trio restored faith in real country music with songs like “If I Die Young” and dynamic live shows, but left fans confused when they exited their Nashville label to make pop music. Now lead singer Kimberly Perry is back with a revamped Band Perry lineup, new songs that continue to touch on her favorite subject (death!), and a long-awaited answer for those who ask what the hell happened. We welcome Kimberly into the Nashville Now cabin for one of our most revealing chats yet.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin Townes Earle may have traveled the world as an Americana troubadour, but the story of the singer-songwriter’s life can be told in just a few square miles in his native Nashville. In this special episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, Jonathan Bernstein, author of the new authorized biography of Earle, What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome, gives us an intimate walking tour of Earle’s Nashville, from the park where he found solace to the dive bar where he honed his craft. We also talk about the legacy of Earle, who died in 2020, and why his songs will continue to play on.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laura Veltz, the songwriter behind hits for Dan + Shay, Jessie Murph, and more, shares the secrets of the Nashville writing room in this week's episode of Nashville Now. Veltz  opens up about how she collaborates intimately with someone who may not share her own beliefs. We also preview Nashville's upcoming 615 Indie Live festival, where we'll host a live-audience podcast, and assess the health of Nashville's independent music venues with local champion Jamie Kent.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The deadliest mass shooting in modern American history happened at a country music concert. Journalist Mark Gray was at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas for Rolling Stone when the gunfire started during Jason Aldean’s performance, and he recounts his harrowing experience on the Nashville Now podcast. He also talks about the relationships he and other survivors forged in the aftermath, which is the focus of Gray’s new book, The Las Vegas Massacre Connections. Join us in the Nashville Now cabin for one of our most personal and important episodes yet. Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Langhorne Slim made his bones as an acoustic singer-songwriter, but on his new album The Dreamin’ Kind he teams up with Greta Van Fleet’s Sam Kiszka and Danny Wagner to make a bona fide Americana rock & roll album. We go deep into how the Nashville troubadour bonded with the rock stars, and also ask Slim about what drove him to get sober. It’s a fascinating interview with an artist who isn’t afraid to decare, “We’re living in f-cked up times.” We also preview the country albums we’re excited to hear in 2026 and share what we’re listening to this week in our Hear Now segment.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jim Croce, the singer-songwriter behind indelible songs like “Operator,” “Time in a Bottle,” and “Bad Bad Leroy Brown,” would have turned 83 this on January 10. In a special bonus episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, we sit down with Croce’s son A.J. Croce at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to discuss his dad’s legacy and influence on country music and Americana. Country is Here…Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Nashville Now! If you’re online, you’ve seen Bryan Andrews all over your feed. The Missouri country singer has made a name for himself by singing traditional-leaning country music and unapologetically sharing his political beliefs in a series of viral posts. In doing so, he’s smashed the stereotypes of what it means to be both a country singer and an American. This week we welcome Bryan to the cabin to talk about what drives him and ask him one particular question: Is he a country singer or a content creator?    Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s our final official episode of the year and we run through our list of the best country albums of 2025 with Rolling Stone contributors Marissa R. Moss and Josh Crutchmer. We also talk about albums we loved that didn’t make the list and look ahead to what we’d most like to see in country in 2026. Plus, we have a very special interview with the artist behind Nashville Now host Joseph Hudak’s favorite all-genre album of the year –  singer, songwriter, and guitar hero Brian Dunne.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marcus King is helping revive guitar-rock in country music, while also working on himself. The South Carolina guitar-slinger joins us in the Nashville Now cabin to talk about getting sober (an Ozzy Osbourne quote inspired him), his new album Darling Blue, and the time he was caught sneaking into a club to give Warren Haynes a demo tape. King also gets candid about the response to his wife Briley King’s cover of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.”  It’s a conversation of Southern rock, self-awareness, and soul searching.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Breland joins us in the Nashville Now cabin for one of the podcast's most honest conversations yet. It's a look behind the curtain at what it means to "play the game" in country music, with the "My Truck" singer and songwriter openly talking about his experience of being Black in Nashville. Breland also teases new music coming in 2026 and shares his candid reaction to one of his collaborators performing a controversial gig.    Country is Here…Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the singer-songwriter Todd Snider died in November, he left a gaping hole in the Nashville Americana music scene. We gathered some of those who knew him best, friends and musical collaborators Elizabeth Cook, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and Chuck Mead, to share their memories of Todd. In this very special episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, we remember the charismatic artist that Cook calls “the Pied Piper of East Nashville” and why Snider’s legacy will never be forgotten.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2025 CMA Awards took Nashville by storm this week, crowning new winners and welcoming fresh faces. In this special bonus episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, we break down the good, the bad, and the “what were they thinking?!” Country music journalist Marissa R. Moss joins host Joseph Hudak to heap praise, talk smack, and question if the country music establishment finally got it right.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jake Owen is one of the architects of bro country, churning out radio smashes like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and “The One That Got Away.” But on his new album of outlaw country songs, he buries his bro persona. In a shockingly emotional interview on Nashville Now, Owen talks about his big musical risk and how he ended up working with producer Shooter Jennings on the new album Dreams to Dream. It’s a vulnerable interview that shows a major country star letting down his guard, and it’s only on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices