Across The Country with Amanda Podcast Episodes
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In this episode of Across the Country with Amanda, Amanda shares her top picks for the 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame's Modern Era category, discussing influential artists from the past 20+ years and revealing her prediction for the next inductee.
Take a deep dive into Martina McBride’s 1999 album Emotion, highlighting its commercial success, impact on country music, standout performances, and the timeless quality that makes it one of her most underrated yet significant records.
In this episode, Amanda explores Conway Twitty’s “She’s Got A Man on Her Mind” and its chart performance, production quality, and his enduring legacy in country music.
2025 Country Music Hall of Fame predictions for the Veterans Category.
Carly Pearce's album Hummingbird, is a bright spot for contemporary country music. In this episode, I discuss how she blends storytelling, musical arrangements, bluegrass roots, and touches of humor, resulting in a mainstream masterpiece. Tune in to discover why this album is a must-listen!
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.
If there's a country album from the past year that you need to listen to, it's Julie Roberts' "Ain't In No Hurry." Produced by Shooter Jennings and Erin Enderlin, the collection is unlike anything we've heard from the singer on her previous efforts. While it was nearly a decade in-between full-fledged albums, the wait was worth it.
The Chicks World Tour made its way to Louisville, Kentucky, on July 25, 2023. With a setlist comprised of selections from each of their five studio albums, it's a show that every fan should see! I share my highlights in this country music podcast.
Penned for a '90s TV movie, "xxx's and ooo's (An American Girl)" by Trisha Yearwood becomes a staple of country music. The movie? It wasn't so acclaimed. But was it really as bad as it sounded? I'll give you my review!
Kimberly Perry releases the most personal project of her career titled "Bloom." As she begins her solo career, she looks back at the journey here through "If I Die Young Part II," a beautiful ode to her award-winning single that sold over five million copies during her stance as lead singer for The Band Perry. We'll dive into "Bloom" and revisit the monumental time period when we were first introduced to Kimberly Perry at country radio.
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.
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!
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Discussing the current trends at country radio for the month of February 2023. I’ll talk about how the slow-climbing nature of songs is affecting the longevity of artists. Plus, the rise in traditional country continues. See how the influx of new artists of today compares to decades past, too.
Talking all about country music’s big night at the Grammy’s. Find out the 2023 Grammy Award winners, who performed, and the big surprises of the night.
Predictions on the 2023 country Grammy Award nominees and what to expect on the show. Hear insights on past nominees and historical statistics, plus how exposure from the show benefits the country music genre.
Country music saw a commercial explosion in the 90s and so many new artists like Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Pam Tillis, and more came on the scene. What were the best-selling albums by debut artists? Find out in this episode.
Faith Hill’s iconic Cry album turns 20 in 2022. Look back at this era in country and pop music in this deep dive.
Discussing the Modern Era Artist predictions for the Class of 2021 into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Luke Combs was honored with the prestigious Gene Weed Milestone Award during the 14th Annual ACM Honors. I caught up with Luke right after he came offstage from the historic Ryman Auditorium and gave a heartfelt acceptance speech.
The story behind Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine.”
A deep dive into Martina McBride's 1999 Emotion album that helped her achieve international success. Listen to chart facts, interview excerpts, career highlights, and the state of country music in the new millennium.
Dive into the stories behind underrated country hits! In this episode, I explore the late 90s country hit "Better Man" by the Warren Brothers.