Rolling Stone’s weekly deep dive into the hottest genre in music: country. Hosted by Senior Editor Joseph Hudak, each episode breaks down the biggest stories in country, spotlighting rising artists and legends alike and delivering the must-hear songs — all with the insider access only Rolling Stone can provide. From Americana to outlaw to Red Dirt, we’ll bring you behind the scenes of the genre’s biggest moment yet, with sharp commentary, rich history, and just the right amount of attitude.
Nashville's Indie Scene: Lombardy Throw the Best Party
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
Shania Twain Finally Tells Her Whole Story
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
Southern Rock Meets Metal: Blackberry Smoke and Jason
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 with Playing the Game
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
BONUS: Low Cut Connie’s All-Inclusive American Protest Music
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
Michaela Anne is the Quintessential Indie Artist
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
Tedeschi Trucks Band Survive the Bonnaroo Storm
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
Why Amy Grant Wrote Herself a Eulogy
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
Shaboozey Rides Again: Inside His Ambitious New Album
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
BONUS: Nashville’s Indie Scene: Crystal Rose Will Blow Your Mind
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
Kip Moore On Why Nashville Just Won’t Pay Attention
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 on the Lasting Influence of Gregg Allman
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
Luke Grimes: From ‘Yellowstone’ to Nashville
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
Tyler White: From ‘Love on the Spectrum’ to Country Music
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 and His Courageous Brand of “Queer Country”
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
One By Willie x Nashville Now: Happy Birthday Willie Nelson!
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
Ne-Yo Opens Up About His Country Debut
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
The 2026 ACM Awards Nominations: When Will Voters Get It Right?
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
Is Maddox Batson “Country Music’s Justin Bieber”?
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
Is Paul Cauthen Country’s Reformed Rebel?
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
