Your guide to the latest country music news, interviews, and travel tips.
LeAnn Rimes Concert at the Ryman Auditorium
With her latest album God's Work, LeAnn Rimes continues to evolve and captivate listeners. Her current tour "The Story...So Far" is an immersive experience that highlights her twenty-five years of making records. I share my thoughts on attending the show and how it exceeded every expectation, resulting in a powerful night of music on the most scared stage in country music.
Underrated Country Songs of the‘90s: #89 No Man in His Wrong Heart by Gary Allan
Could Gary Allan's lack of success with “No Man in His Wrong Heart” be due to another song that happened to be a hidden track that radio program directors were intrigued by? We’ll uncover the details in this episode!
Podcast - Interview with Shenandoah lead singer Marty Raybon
When you're scrolling through your favorite streaming platform, you might notice an album or two from an artist’s catalog missing. That’s the case with Shenandoah’s Long Time Comin’ and Under the Kudzu. Both of those albums contain some pretty big hits from the ‘90s, like "I Want To Be Loved Like That" and "Rock My Baby." I had the chance to talk with Marty Raybon of the legendary country band Shenandoah, so of course, I had to ask him where those albums were. You'll get the answer in this edition of Across the Country with Amanda.
Interview: Heath Wright of Ricochet reveals the country artist that inspired "Daddy's Money"
“Daddy’s Money” by Ricochet was one of the biggest country songs in the ‘90s. Ricochet lead singer Heath Wright shares the story behind the song including the country artist that inspired it. He also talks about the song’s longevity and impact on the band’s successful career.
Podcast - Chart Talk: May 2023 Edition
Are Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen starting a trend where artists release multiple singles simultaneously to country radio? I'll talk about their success, along with my top picks for the month. Plus, Carrie Underwood's "Hate My Heart," written by HARDY, was poised to be a chart topper, so why did it stall on country radio? I'll touch on that and dive into what country songs are crossing over into pop right now. We'll cheers to Hailey Whitters and her first top twenty victory and spotlight artists on the chart for the first time.
Podcast - Album Deep Dive: Wish You Were Here by Mark Wills
During a seismic sales boom in the late '90s, Mark Wills released one of the most successful albums from that era. Wish You Were Here spawned multiple top ten singles including the acclaimed "Don't Laugh at Me," which created a generational impact. This podcast outlines the state of country music in 1998, takes you back to the top hits playing on country radio at the time, includes interviews from the making of this record, and highlights historical moments from the album.
Underrated Country Songs of the‘90s: #90 Albuquerque by Sons of the Desert
The 90 Underrated Country Songs of the '90s kicks off with Albuquerque by Sons of the Desert. Go back to 1999 and re-discover the band's history of how this song was first featured on a shelved sophomore album. This series dives into country songs that didn't make it past the top twenty on the Billboard airplay charts and deserved more recognition.
Podcast - 2023 ACM Award Recap
The Academy of Country Music Awards were once again streamed on Amazon Prime Video. Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton hosted and we saw the next generation of country music claim the night's top prizes. Find out the biggest moments, surprising performances, and how the show fared compared to year's past.