Country Minute Podcast

Ashley Cooke stopped by Country Minute at CMA Fest right in the middle of what she calls a shift, a stretch where the momentum just keeps building and she cannot quite explain why. In this conversation she opens up about leaning all the way into the personal on her new self-titled album, the idea that getting more specific somehow makes a song more universal, and the breakthrough that led to the e...

James sat down with Shane McAnally at CMA Fest, and somehow captured lightning in a bottle. We chased this interview for nearly a full year, and Shane did not disappoint. This is, by far, one of the most personal conversations we've had on this show. Shane was just named the second greatest living country songwriter by Rolling Stone. But we start where it all began that week: his brand new one...

Colby Acuff is the country outsider leading a revolution that is anything but quiet. We sat down with the Idahoan singer-songwriter in the basement of The Intersection in Grand Rapids, Michigan to talk about his headlining tour, his upcoming record, and why he is doing everything opposite this year. Colby just wrapped up a Whiskey Riff March Madness run where he beat Chris Stapleton and Turnpike T...

James sits down with 2025 Country Minute Rookie of the Year Zach John King backstage at the Blue Gate in Shipshewana, Indiana. Zach opens up about joining Thomas Rhett on the road this fall, the headlining run he's been low-key teasing, and why ticket sales are the only metric that really matters to him. He also breaks news on back-to-back releases coming in just a few weeks, including a Harry...

Gavin Adcock joins Country Minute backstage at US Bank Stadium before night two of Morgan Wallen's Still The Problem tour. Gavin walks us through the debut of his new song Wannabe, his plan to release new music every three weeks, and the next album taking shape. He previews his first arena headlining tour with a 25-foot longhorn stage piece and a drum riser that puts his drummer 15 feet in the...

Graham Barham joins us backstage at The Intersection in Grand Rapids on the final run of the Whiskey Rain Tour to talk about everything happening in his world right now. From the release of his new single “Break Up (Down)” to the viral success of “Country Music,” Graham opens up about blending country with club energy, paying homage to artists like Sam Hunt and Florida Georgia Line, and why now fe...

Recorded live at the historic Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, James sits down with Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE for an honest and reflective conversation ahead of the band’s acoustic tour stop. Bear opens up about why the acoustic shows hit differently, how sitting down on stage changes the energy, and why longtime fans are finally getting to hear songs they’ve been waiting on for years. The two...

Josh Meloy has been on my list of artists who could easily take the world by storm given the right opportunity since at least 2022. The Oklahoma native has a knack for deeply personal songwriting and a voice you cannot shake. He spent 2025 releasing a string of singles as opposed to a traditional project, and he's headed into the new year with similar plans. In this conversation, which we reco...

We last saw Bayker Blankenship in November 2024 at a small festival in Arizona. We were both hundreds of miles from home and unsure of how to adjust to the simmering Southwest heat. He was performing solo at the time, and truth be told, he was one of the first people kind enough to give us time on camera. Fast forward 50 weeks and we reconnected with Bayker Blankenship after our friends at Peanut...

Lauren Watkins is redefining what it means to be an artist in country music today. Her new album, In A Perfect World, captures the kind of honesty and confidence that make listeners feel like they’ve known her for years. In this episode of the Country Minute Podcast, we sit down with Watkins to talk about the record and what it’s like growing up inside the genre she loves. Country music has always...

Zach John King is our Rookie Of The Year for 2025. Hailing from small town Georgia, ZJK kicked off the year with his infectious single "Slow Down" and proceeded to do the exact opposite. In the last ten months he's released a string of viral singles, as well as a successful EP. He also supported Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan, Dylan Scott, and Gavin Adcock on various tours, not to mention...

I sat with Parker on his bus at the first-ever Tanglefoot Music Festival in Temple, Texas to talk about his new self-titled album, songwriting, John Prine, and becoming a dad. We dig into the making of the record, why recording in New York with producer Frank Liddell reset his process, and how that focus shaped his best work yet. Parker also explains why he won’t turn fatherhood into “content,” an...

90s country icon John Michael Montgomery joins the Country Minute Podcast for a milestone conversation. Recorded at his final Indiana show at The Blue Gate in Shipshewana, this exclusive interview dives into his farewell tour, his upcoming homecoming finale at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky , and what it means to bring his career full circle. John Michael opens up about becoming a grandfather,...

Dylan Scott might be the most underrated star in mainstream country music. With a string of undeniable hits and a career built on relentless work ethic, Scott has crafted an empire on his own terms. That success gives him both creative freedom and the rare ability to tour alongside his family. Recorded outside his tour bus at Country Jam USA in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this conversation dives into S...

Country Minute sits down with honky-tonk legend Mark Chesnutt for an honest conversation about his 40+ years in country music. From chart-topping hits to life as an independent artist, Chesnutt opens up about touring, family, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

It’s not every day you get to sit down with one of country music’s biggest stars, but that’s exactly what happened when we interviewed Cole Swindell aboard his tour bus at Country Jam USA 2025 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Just hours before headlining the festival, and days before becoming a first-time father, Cole talked with us about his brand new album, Spanish Moss . In this exclusive interview, w...

In its purest form, country music is an amalgamation of sounds and ideas pulled together from every corner of life. Whether its pulling from the hymns of Appalachia or the instruments of West Africa, country music is the melting pot of sound, combining truth and storytelling to capture minds and comfort hearts in a way no other genre can replicate. That is a long way of saying that evolution is at...

John Morgan is the kind of country artist you root for the moment you hear his music—or shake his hand. A humble hitmaker with a knack for lyrics that hit home, John built his Nashville resume writing for stars like Jason Aldean (“The Trouble With A Heartbreak”). Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight with his debut album Carolina Rain (out April 25). We caught up with John backstage at The Interse...

Alex Miller first met the world through his time on American Idol, but to call his success a result of that appearance would be a disservice to his incredible work ethic and talent. A Kentucky native whose respect for the genre runs deep, Miller has spent the last several years honing his craft day in and day out, all leading to his (perhaps inevitable) move to Nashville in 2024. Now, Alex is back...

With more than 15 million followers across social media, Cooper Alan has built more than just a fanbase—he’s built a community. In a town where chasing hits can feel like a formula, Cooper is carving his own lane by self-releasing music that speaks to real people and real stories—often the ones that go unnoticed. Just hours before taking the stage at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, Cooper sat do...

This episode was completely unexpected. Just a week ago, we had no idea we'd be talking to Tiera Kennedy—let alone for this podcast—but sometimes, the best moments come as surprises. Last Friday, March 28, Laura and I snagged last-minute tickets to see The War & Treaty’s hometown show. Opening the night was Tiera Kennedy, a rising country star we've followed for years but had only seen...

Mark Taylor is living the dream and chasing another. A singer/songwriter whose already years deep into the 'ten year town' of Nashville, Mark is one of our favorite country music underdogs. He's got everything—a powerful voice, creative songwriting, lovable personality, and even his own brand of whiskey. Still, Mark is chasing something bigger, and in this episode we discuss how he&#39...

We’ve been looking forward to this one for a long time! On this episode of the Country Minute Podcast , James sits down with the incredibly talented Walker Montgomery for a deep conversation about his career, life in Nashville, and the impact of his father, country legend John Michael Montgomery. Walker opens up about his journey, the stories behind his upcoming EP, life on the road, and what’s ne...

On this episode of The Country Minute Podcast , rising country artist Mackenzie Carpenter joins us to discuss her highly anticipated debut album, Hey, Country Queen , dropping March 7. Mackenzie opens up about the inspiration behind her music, the journey of navigating Nashville, and the importance of setting personal and professional goals. We also dive into the evolution of her songwriting, her...

Rising country star Jackson Dean sits down with The Country Minute Podcast for an exclusive in-person interview at Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. He opens up about preparing for his upcoming headlining tour, crafting the perfect setlist, and the challenges of performing high-energy shows night after night. Jackson also shares insights into his creative process, the evolution of his sound, and...