A rising country star just pulled off what no one else has — topping George Strait’s record for the biggest ticketed show in U.S. history. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Month: September 2025
Jay Cutler just reported to jail after his DUI conviction — but the sentence may be shorter than you’d think. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Cole Swindell’s new song, “Make Heaven Crowded,” is making a major impact with fans.
The country hitmaker first teased the faith-driven track on September 20, just 10 days after the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk. Swindell revealed that he felt inspired to write the song after hearing a moving tribute from Kirk’s widow, Erika, who spoke publicly for the first time following her husband’s passing. In her remarks, she said, “Charlie, you are alongside Jesus right now, doing what you always wanted to do. Making heaven crowded, right? That’s what it’s all about.”
Soon after, Swindell joined forces with Greylan James, Joel Hutsell, and Blake Pendergrass to bring the song to life.
Driven by overwhelming fan demand, Swindell quickly released the song, which officially hit streaming platforms on Friday. In the days that followed, he was blown away by its “unbelievable” success, as it soared to No. 2 on the all-genre chart and claimed the No. 1 spot on the country chart.
To show his gratitude, Swindell filmed a video message thanking fans for their support.
“I just wanted to say thanks again because it truly does mean the world… supporting me, my music, but this is bigger than that. This is bigger than anything I’ve ever been a part of musically because of the message,” Swidell began. “I’ve had some stuff that hopefully have helped people through everyday life or tough situations, but we’re talking about eternity here. This isn’t just everyday life and I don’t know, just your reaction, response. It makes me so hopeful, and I knew I wasn’t the only one feeling this way when we wrote the song, but to see the reaction just confirms that.”
He went on to urge fans, “we cannot stop now,” telling them: “Y’all be strong. Too many times we go through things that bring us all together and as time passes, we slowly drift back apart. But let’s not do that this time. Let this song be a reminder that we can do this. We can do better, be good to each other. Let’s tell somebody about Jesus.”
“Make Heaven Crowded” is a heartfelt ballad that finds Swindell questioning what things would be like if more people accepted Jesus into their hearts.
“What if churches had a longer line outside/ Than all them bars on Friday nights? What if people prayed for people who ain’t on their side? What if good ran off the bad? Them streets of gold up there’d be packed/ This whole world would look a lot better than we found it/ If we make Heaven crowded,” he sings.
He previously opened up about the song, admitting that becoming a father has changed his perspective on the world.
“I was inspired by Erika’s [Kirk] speech,” said Swindell. “A phrase I had heard before but I hadn’t heard it in a moment like that. It literally stopped me in my tracks and ultimately moved me to write ‘Make Heaven Crowded’. The heartbreak I felt, and still feel, for her and their kids was so heavy thinking about my wife and baby girl. I knew I had to get those feelings out of my heart and head and down on paper.”
He admitted the response he received from fans was “unlike any reaction I’ve ever had to a song” and recognized that “this may be the most important song of my career.”
“Make Heaven Crowded” is available now across all streaming services.
The post Cole Swindell Shares Heartfelt Message With Fans After New Song ‘Make Heaven Crowded’ Soars On Streaming Charts appeared first on Country Now.
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Country Jam Colorado, which has been dubbed Colorado’s largest country music festival, has announced that the highly anticipated event will be taking a “pause” in 2026.
The event that has been held at the Jam Ranch in Mack, Colorado for the past three decades will not be returning in 2026. Festival organizers took to the Country Jam Colorado’s official social media pages to announces that the reason for the gap in the upcoming year allows them to “Take time to re-evaluate and plan for the future.”
The full statement reads, “Important Update: Country Jam Colorado will be pausing in 2026 as we take time to re-evaluate and plan for the future. We’re grateful to all the fans, artists, partners, and the entire Colorado community & beyond who have supported the festival and made it such a special event year after year.”
Using the term “pause” instead of “canceled” suggests that the festival is expected to return at some point in the coming years, but its unclear exactly when that will take place. This marks the festival’s first cancellation in its 33-year history.
Over the summer, the festival took place as usual, running from June 26-28 with three days of nonstop live music. Attendees were treated to performances from headliners Cody Johnson, Bailey Zimmerman and Eric Church. Other artists on the lineup included Flatland Calvary, Cooper Alan and Tracy Lawrence.
Plus, a slew of rising stars like Ashely Cooke, Hannah McFarland, Mae Estes, Blake Whiten, Owen Riegling, Caleb Lee Hutchinson and more left their mark on the stage this year.
The Denver Post reports that Country Jam Colorado launched in 1992 as a spinoff event from the Shake, Rattle and Roll Festival, an oldies-themed festival established in 1989 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
The festival changed course when the ’90s ushered in a new level of popularity for country music, Melissa Jefferson, the event’s sponsorship manager at the time, told the Post in 1996.
The festival eventually shifted its focus to country music as the genre surged in popularity, Melissa Jefferson, the event’s sponsorship manager at the time, previously told the outlet.
“It was getting harder to find the old rock ‘n’ rollers – the ’50s-type rockers – who were still alive,” Jefferson explained.
This has been a notable event for countless fans and artists over the years. One of the most iconic moments to take place on the festival grounds happened during its first year, when Tim McGraw proposed to his now wife, Faith Hill.
Fans should keep their eyes on Country Jam Colorado’s official social media pages for any further updates regarding the future of the beloved music festival.
The post Country Jam Colorado Puts Festival On Hold In 2026 To Plan For The Future appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Cori Kennedy brought some true country music soul to The Voice Blind Auditions with her performance of The Judds’ “Why Not Me” as well as an original tune inspired by the singing competition show.
Before her vocals could even come through the mic, the twang of her guitar was enough to make Reba McEntire say, “Here we go,” almost as if she could sense the talent about to emerge. The audience quickly joined in, clapping and cheering along to the steady beat. It didn’t take long for McEntire to hit her button and turn her chair, followed moments later by fellow Season 28 coach, Michael Bublé.
Cori had the entire room swaying along in their seats as she delivered the 1980s tune, with her powerful voice cutting through the speakers with clarity and emotion, making the song feel like her own story.
After proving her skills and earning a standing ovation from McEntire and Bublé, all four coaches finally came face-to-face with the hopeful singer. Snoop Dogg was first to speak, asking, “sister, what is your name and where are you from?”
She responded, sharing her name, that she is 28 years old and hails from a small town in Minnesota. Before giving the other coaches a chance to speak, Cori asked if she could perform another song for them. This time, she delivered an original song inspired by meeting Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg and Niall Horan. The coaches graciously allowed her to sing the second song, and it did not disappoint.
“Well, I’m just a girl from a zero-stoplight town/ Minnesota roots, and wearing hand-me-downs/ From dreaming in the dark, I stepped out and rejoice/ My grandma won’t believe me that I’m singing on The Voice/ Sleep by dead and grow up on your rhythm or your rhyme/ But I know Willie Nelson, so I think we’ll be just fine/ Miss Reba, you raised me right on that sitcom screen/ A single mom who works to jobs/ My redhead “Fancy” queen/ Niall, your smile lit up my teenage days/ I was only smitten for Harry in my one direction phase/ Mr. Bublé you sang like a Christmas star/ But have you ever tried to jumpstart a frozen Minnesota car?/ I’m not sure what I’ve done or why they even picked me/ I must be doing something right/ I’m singing on NBC.” She sang as images from her upbringing and life back home flashed across the screen.
The four coaches instantly stood on their feet and offered a round of applause for the clever songwriting. Snoop Dogg even jokingly shared some advice for future contestants saying, “next time you on The Voice, come out with an original song.”
Reba McEntire finally got her chance to share her thoughts on Cori’s performances.
“I’m just so thrilled to be back on The Voice and to hear your voice on that stage singing. It just took me back to Tennessee. Makes me homesick,” she said with emotions welling up. “Your voice is wonderful. Such power.”
The country icon asked Cori if she gets the chance to perform a lot. While she explained she shares her talent when she can, she still works a typical nine to five job with a commercial furniture dealer, making it a bit harder to find the time.
“Well, I would love to have you on my team and welcome to The Voice,” McEntire added.
Then it was time for Bublé to comment on why he decided to turn his chair as well.
“You started off very low, then you started singing in the high range and I was like, oh my God. It’s like country with a little mix of Stevie Nicks and then Reba pushed her button. You know what I did today? I wore these today for you,” he said while showing off his Reba McEntire socks. “These are Reba McIntyre socks, baby. “Now you can see their underwear I’m wearing in case I have to battle…No kidding,” he said earning laughs.
Snoop Dogg admitted that while he clearly recognized her talent, he knew he couldn’t compete with Reba McEntire to get Cori, a country singer, on his team.
“I didn’t want to lose, so I’m so happy that you’re on The Voice and I’m so happy that you’re going to pick a coach to be on a team.”
The clip ended just before the contestant could choose her coach for the season, meaning fans will have to tune into tonight’s episode on NBC to find out the result.
The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
The post Cori Kennedy Steals The Spotlight On ‘The Voice’ With Country Classic And Original Tune appeared first on Country Now.
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![<a href="https://countrynow.com/chase-matthew-opens-up-about-keith-urbans-impact-and-his-own-next-chapter-exclusive/" target="_blank">Chase Matthew Opens Up About Keith Urban’s Impact and His Own Next Chapter [Exclusive]</a>](https://countrynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2-13-1024x683.jpg)
Last week, Chase Matthew returned to Chicago, IL, this time, to take the stage at the United Center for the very first time. His unforgettable performance in the Windy City marked another stop on his current run as a special guest on Keith Urban’s High and Alive World Tour. The trek has taken them across the U.S., Canada and Australia.
Spending all this time on the road with Urban has been more than just a career highlight for Matthew. It’s also give him the opportunity to study the Australian singer/songwriter up close and channel that same energy into his own shows.
“Well, he’s just very dedicated to his show,” Matthew told Country Now, gushing over his tourmate. “And I think for me, when I go do my show, no matter what kind of day I’m having, I’m always pushing through and making sure that I’m giving people the best show possible. Because when I’m on a stage, as soon as I go out on a stage, everything I was thinking about that day goes out the window. I’m in my happy place, I turn on a different switch, kick another gear. And you could tell with Keith when he gets out there, he just lets it rip. That’s his element. That’s where he is meant to be. And you can learn by just watching that guy.”
Beyond what he’s learned by simply watching Urban on stage, Matthew says the country icon’s support offstage has been just as impactful.
“He’s just very supportive of everybody and wants everybody to win and he’s always watching everybody’s shows,” Matthew continued. “As soon as we come off stage, he’s like, ‘man, great job tonight. You did it again. You did it again.’ He’s like, hyping us up. So feels really good to have him in our corner.”
Shortly before their visit to Chicago, the country music stars brought the tour to Australia for a run of dates across Urban’s homeland. This turned out to be a trip Matthew will never forget. When he wasn’t singing his heart out for his Aussie fans, the Tennessee native got to visit the iconic Australia Zoo, the Sydney Opera House and even got an Australia tattoo to commemorate the entire trip.
Another highlight was getting to debut his super limited-edition t-shirt created in partnership with Jockey. The shirt officially launched on September 5 on Jockey.com and at Coopers 12South, Jockey’s Nashville retail concept with Luke Bryan and sold out within minutes.
While on stage down under, Matthew and his band unveiled the custom design that reflects his love of trucks and features personal touches that further tie into his life. The shirt is part of Jockey’s Made2Fit line, crafted from 100% cotton for breathability with fitted sleeves and a cling-free tapered cut. Matthew says his favorite feature is the Staycool+® technology, which helps keep him cool and dry under the stage lights.
“So we started with a Made2Fit shirt with all the cool and technology, all that stuff, and it’s the same shirt that I wear on stage. And so we got that shirt and then I started with like, ‘okay, what represents Chase?’ Well, if you know me, I’m a huge fan of old trucks and so there’s an old Dodge Ram on there and it’s got TSL Super Swamper mud tires on it…And I put all the Easter eggs in there, the license plate says ‘Chase Matthew,’ got the ignition sticker on there, the Chase Matthew logo and then the ‘Jockey County Line’ sign in the background, which I think that one’s pretty cool.” he explained.
“It just represents me. And then on the front of it, it’s got a rearview and it says, ‘chase your dreams’, cause, you know, don’t look in the rear view unless you’re reflecting on what got you where you’re at. So yeah, Chase your dreams at all times and trust God,” Matthew added.
Beyond his love for the products, Chase Matthew said partnering with Jockey felt like the perfect fit. As a family-owned company, Jockey’s values align with his own commitment to staying true to his roots, making the collaboration a natural choice.
“They’re great partners. They’re very supportive of everything we want to do. And if we ever got ideas on gift bags or anything we want to do, they’re always like, let’s do it. Let’s do it. They’re very involved in country music in the right ways.”
This isn’t the end of Matthew’s partnership with Jockey. He hinted that there is definitely “more to come.”
Chase Matthew also recently dropped another exciting release, his song “Don’t Leave (Jolene remix),” which finds him putting his own spin on the Dolly Parton classic. Meanwhile, his collaboration with Lauren Alaina “All My Exes,” as well as his rising hit, “Darlin’” also continue to make waves.
Beginning October 10, he will embark on his headlining Holdin’ It Down Tour, named after an unreleased song that Matthew has been teasing online. The trek runs through December and features support from Trevor Snider and Austin Williams.
Chase Matthew continues to keep fans on their toes, promising more surprises in the near future.
A full list of his upcoming tour dates can be found HERE.
The post Chase Matthew Opens Up About Keith Urban’s Impact and His Own Next Chapter [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
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Keith Urban and his wife, Nicole Kidman have reportedly separated after 19 years of marriage.
TMZ reports that multiple sources with “direct knowledge” of the pair’s personal life, have informed the outlet that the country superstar and Oscar-winning actress have been living apart “since the beginning of summer.”
With Urban having been away on tour for the majority of the summer, Kidman has reportedly been focused on caring for their two children and, “holding the family together through this difficult time.”
The split is believed to be one-sided, with sources claiming Kidman has been working to save the marriage while Urban has already stepped away from their Nashville home.
“Keith has acquired his own residence in Nashville and has moved out of their family home,” a source told TMZ.
PEOPLE also confirmed the news from a source who once again emphasized, “She didn’t want this…She has been fighting to save the marriage.”
It is uncertain whether this separation will turn into a divorce or if the two will find a way to reconcile their long-term relationship.
Urban and Kidman tied the knot in 2006 have since built a life together that includes expanding their family with their two teenage daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith, 14.
Country Now has reached out to Keith Urban’s team for comment.
Reflecting on their love in a 2020 episode of Dax Shepard’s podcast, “Armchair Expert,” Urban recalled the moment he knew she was the one.
“She’s just the one, that was it,” he said at the time. “She’s the one that I was searching for my whole life, and everything not only changed but had to change in me if I was going to go that road. It felt like an ultimate fork-in-the-road moment in my life. It was literally like, ‘You either get this right now, or you are never, ever going to get it right. This is your one shot.’ Really, it felt so obvious.”
During an interview on theTODAY Show that same year, Kidman also gushed over her Grammy-winning husband, praising him as both a husband and a father.
“He’s such a good man, as I’ve said before,” she shared. “I’m married to a really good man. And the kids have a great father and that’s a very beautiful thing to be able to say.”
Despite their busy schedules, the pair are often seen by each other’s sides supporting their partners achievements and various projects. Their most notable recent appearance was at the 2025 ACM Awards, where Keith Urban walked away with the coveted Triple Crown Award.
On June 25, Kidman also shared a heartfelt post celebrating another year together.
She wrote, “Happy Anniversary Baby ❤️.”
Keith Urban currently has tour dates scheduled through August 2026, while Kidman recently wrapped filming Practical Magic 2 in London.
The post Keith Urban And Nicole Kidman Have Reportedly Separated After 19 Years Of Marriage appeared first on Country Now.
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She broke the news on Twitter: “Bcuz I Love U, I want u to be the first to know the title of my album Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel,” Mariah Carey posted on May 21, 2009. The name of the project, her 12th studio effort, connected Carey to a woman, she told the New York Beacon, was “so influential to my singing style:” “…the Minnie Riperton album that contained ‘Lovin’ You’ was called Perfect Angel. So I felt in many ways it was meant to be.” The core idea in the title – examining life and embracing flaws – links Carey to a tradition that goes back to the earliest history of recorded popular music – the blues. This has less to do with the sound of the songs, which evoke dulcet 90s R&B, than the spirit guiding them. As acclaimed writer Ralph Ellison put it in a 1945 essay: “The blues [represent] an impulse to keep the painful details…of a brutal experience in one’s aching consciousness, to finger its jagged grain and to transcend it…by squeezing from it a near-tragic, near comic lyricism.”
Carey establishes the tone from the first cut, “Betcha Gon’ Know (The Prologue),” where she invites, “welcome to a day in my life,” before detailing a romantic betrayal that finds her – in film noir fashion – racing wildly down a road, “mascara running,” feeling like her “heart’s been cracked.” This begins an emotional odyssey of dissecting “buried recollections,” with most songs playing like a flashback. The singer/songwriter remembers days of “Sweet Tarts” and “ring pops” on “Candy Bling,” “videos on her phone” on “Inseparable,” and “cherry wine” and Jodeci slow-jams on “The Impossible.”
Mariah is joined on this memory lane road trip by Terius “The-Dream” Nash, co-writer of all but 4 of the album’s 17 tracks. Nash – then primarily known as the piquant pen behind such mega-hits as Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby” – helps Memoirs achieve a consistently funny, sardonic vibe that’s different from other Carey albums. On the first single, “Obsessed,” she tells a manipulative fabulist, “see right through you like you’re bathing in Windex.” And on the ragtime/hip-hop hybrid, “Up Out My Face,” she delivers the tongue-taxing barb: “If we were two Lego blocks, even the Harvard University graduating class of 2010 couldn’t put us back together again.”
Along with Nash, the other main musical contributors are Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Britney Spears’ “Me Against The Music,” Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine”) and the late James “Big Jim” Wright, a Sounds Of Blackness member and longtime Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis collaborator. Wright gives the doo-wop-y “It’s A Wrap” – which had a viral resurgence in February 2023 – its distinctive old-school feel by playing the Hammond B3 organ, the keyboard of choice for such varying virtuosos as Billy Preston, Tyrone Downie, and Twinkie Clark.
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This sound is key to the groundedness of Memoirs. Despite “black Cavalli shades,” “Chrissy Lous” (Christian Louboutin shoes), and flights on a “BBJ” (Boeing Business Jet), Carey comes off as a quintessential blues trope – the good-woman-feelin’-bad. She’s “virtuous and true” before being heartbroken and forced to find the moxie to keep on keepin’ on. This makes the album acutely relatable. By sharing her pain, Carey proves she’s one of us.
Shop for Mariah Carey’s music on vinyl or CD now.
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We’ve entered the golden era of podcasting, especially when it comes to music podcasts, but as the ecosystem grows larger and more diverse, decision paralysis inevitably sets in. Where to begin when there’s a seemingly endless amount of options? From band-specific shows to genre-, era-, and album-devoted series, there is a podcast for every type of music fan, from the most esoteric obsessives to mainstream-pop heads. Here are some of the very best music podcasts out there today.
24: Dolly Parton’s America
In this Peabody Award-winning limited series from WNYC, host Jad Abumrad (known best as the co-founder of Radiolab) explores the universal appeal of Dolly Parton. During the nine-episode podcast, which premiered in 2019, Abumrad not only delves into Parton’s life and music, but also examines the artist’s impact within a historical, cultural, and political context. Along the way, exclusive interviews with the country icon add additional insight. Fun fact: Abumrad’s father (physician and professor Naji Abumrad) cared for Parton after a 2013 car accident, eventually becoming good friends with the singer-songwriter. Their bond later inspired Parton to help fund Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
23: BBC’s Desert Island Discs
On each episode of this long-running BBC series, one guest “castaway” is asked to select eight recordings, one book, and one luxury item that they would wish to have if stranded on a desert island. First broadcast in 1942, Desert Island Discs has aired over 3000 episodes and hosted such venerable castaways as Sir David Attenborough, Bruce Springsteen, Princess Margaret, Dame Judi Dench, Keith Richards, and, perhaps the most famous Castaway of all, Tom Hanks. Thought-provoking and deeply candid, each conversation proves the uncanny ability of music to help us relive the most important moments in our lives.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
22: All Songs Considered
Hosted by longtime NPR correspondents/producers/directors and self-proclaimed “music nerds,” Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton, All Songs Considered has been delivering a weekly dose of new music to fans since 2000. An essential podcast for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve, the podcast spotlights new releases from emerging and established acts and features interviews with a range of artists from around the globe. Fun fact: both hosts are also musicians themselves. Hilton is a multi-instrumentalist and composer, who wrote and performed the theme music for NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered, while Boilen had a psychedelic band in the 70s called Tiny Desk Unit (which inspired the name of his NPR video series, Tiny Desk Concerts).
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
21: For Scores
Ever wanted to learn how music comes to life in a movie or television show? For Scores explores the compositions from Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and 20th Century Fox projects. It’s truly the perfect podcast for any film or musical fan. In each episode, journalist Jon Burlingame speaks to a legendary composer and dives into how the music was composed to tell each movie’s full story. Previous guests include Alan Menken, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Alan Silvestri, Robert Lopez, Danny Elfman, among others.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
20: Dad Bod Rap Pod
For those who take hip-hop seriously, want to hear conversations with a bit of historical grounding, and enjoy listening to old friends nerd out together, Dad Bod Rap Pod may be the music podcast for you. Hosts Demone Carter, David Ma, and Nate LeBlanc have been hip-hop participants and fans for decades, and they clearly know their stuff. Listening to them interview musicians and journalists – or simply chat about the latest releases among themselves – will give you a wealth of new music to explore.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
19: Name 3 Songs
Fangirls have long been demonized (or worse), but the music world would be nowhere without them. Name 3 Songs addresses this fact head-on, looking to “challenge sexism in the music industry and empower fangirls.” Topics have included “fatphobia in the music industry,” “when idolization goes too far,” and “misogyny in pop music.” Co-hosts Sara Feigin and Jenna Million take on these issues with empathy, creating a safe space where difficult conversations can be had.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
18: On Wednesdays We Wear Black
On Wednesdays We Wear Black is hosted by three folks in the alternative music space that are brave enough to bring what would normally be taboo topics into public view. As their podcast description puts it, “They talk about everything from sex, racism and gigs to myspace emo fashion…. Warning, do not have this on with your gran in the room.” In a scene where these types of voices have long been silent (and silenced), it’s a refreshing listen.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
17: The Ringer Music Show
Hosted by music critic Charles Holmes and comedian/musician Grace Spelman, The Ringer Music Show has a perfect balance between treating music extremely seriously and taking it with an enormous grain of salt. Hot takes abound, but they’re always offered with a considered point-of-view. The weekly podcast takes its topics from whatever is in the news at any given moment, which makes listening to it feel a bit like having two friends update you on what everyone else is talking about.
Listen on Spotify
16: Rolling Stone Music Now
Ever wanted to eavesdrop on an editorial meeting of the world’s most famous music magazine? That’s what it often feels like when Rolling Stone Music Now brings on a cadre of its writers to talk about a specific topic. In addition to hearing expert listeners debate the merits of the latest releases, host Brian Hiatt also conducts in-depth interviews with news-making musicians. For those wanting to dive deep into what’s going on in the world of music, this is one of the best podcasts around.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
15: Tape Notes
The secret to Tape Notes is in the premise itself. Reuniting artists and producers to talk about great projects, it often finds the guests talking to one another for the first time in ages. Hearing the participants reliving special moments together is like eavesdropping on a conversation between old friends. As if that wasn’t enough, the podcast often comes complete with unreleased material from those sessions, giving listeners a front-row seat to the creative process.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
14: Mogul
One of the first great narrative podcasts about music, Mogul’s debut season followed the life of record company exec Chris Lighty, whose path seemed to intersect with just about every major movement in the world of hip-hop. (Lighty managed 50 Cent, LL Cool J, and Missy Elliott, just to name a few.) The podcast returned a few years later to tell yet another iconic hip-hop story: The birth of Southern hip-hop and how 2 Live Crew’s explicit music ended up at the United States Supreme Court.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
13: Broken Record
With interviews conducted by producer Rick Rubin, writer Malcolm Gladwell, and former New York Times editor Bruce Headlam, you know that the quality of Broken Record will be high. The guest list, as you might imagine, is no less impressive: Brian Eno, Liz Phair, Pharrell Williams, and John Legend are just a few of the names that have gone deep on their craft. Despite the variety of interviewers, Broken Record largely takes its guiding philosophy from Rick Rubin, whose patient and empathetic conversational style often brings out surprising insights from the high-profile guests.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
12: Afropop Worldwide
The long-running Afropop Worldwide shines a light on some of the most fascinating music from around the globe, telling the stories behind artists and tunes that often don’t get lengthy and careful treatment from media outlets. Since its beginnings, Afropop has operated under a non-profit model, relying on generous donors to send its audio documentarians out into the world. They’ve come back with incredible material, working to fulfill the self-described mission of increasing “the profile of African and African diaspora music worldwide, and to see that benefits from this increased profile go back to artists, music industry professionals, and the countries that produce the music.”
Listen on Apple Music
11: Twenty Thousand Hertz
“The stories behind the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds” is the tagline for Twenty Thousand Hertz, and that’s exactly what it does. It’s one of the best music podcasts around because it takes a broad view of what music actually is… and digs deep into those stories. Ever wanted to know how the “Netflix sound” came to be created? What you might hear if you were on a different planet? Or what it’s like to dub movies in a foreign language for George Clooney? There’s an episode for all of those scenarios and much more.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
10: Punch Up the Jam
Comedians are regularly called upon to punch up a joke or fix a script, but to improve a pop song? Not so much. Enter Punch Up The Jam, the comedic tag team of Miel Bredouw and Demi Adejuyigbe who both champion and tear apart some of popular music’s enduring hits. Each week the duo (and guest) break down a hit song and then attempt to re-arrange it with hilarious results. Look no further than their take on Guns N’ Roses’ iconic hit “Welcome To The Jungle” or ‘Escape (The Pina Colada Song)’. Nothing is off limits.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
9: R U Talkin REM Re: Me
Comedy writer Scott Aukerman had a few musical-comedy podcasts under his belt before starting R U Talkin REM Re: Me with his friend and collaborator Adam Scott (of Parks And Recreation fame). What started out as a few sporadic episodes of U Talkin’ U2 To Me? later evolved into their greater passion… R.E.M. Less a deep dive into the musicality of the band than addictive banter and wild tangents that also revolve around R.E.M., clearly the duo were onto something, as they counted Mike Mills and Peter Buck as guests in the show’s run. Now complete, the duo more recently did a full season devoted to Talking Heads, but the R.E.M. archives are still available and well worth exploring.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
8: KCRW’s Lost Notes
The best music podcasts fill in the blanks, providing context and telling the stories behind some of the music you love, but KCRW’s Lost Notes takes it one step further, interrogating the past through the lens of today and how to reconcile those differences. Seasons have been hosted by music writer Jessica Hopper (author of The First Collection Of Criticism By A Living Female Rock Critic) and poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib, but the idea always remains the same: Highlighting “the greatest music stories never told,” from a punk-rocker turned father who revisits his misogynistic past, to the legacy of John Fahey re-evaluated through the women who were in his life.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
7: Sound Opinions
Dubbed as the “world’s only rock and roll talk show,” Sound Opinions has existed in many forms since its first incarnation as a Chicago radio show back in 1993. Hosted by veteran rock critics Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis, the duo has decades’ worth of musical knowledge at their disposal, but also an insatiable curiosity for what’s happening in music today. Ambitious in scope, the pair will tackle anything from the legend of Robert Johnson to De La Soul and the Paisley Underground, alongside exclusive interviews and live performances. With more than 800 episodes, you’ll never run out during a long road trip.
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6: Dissect
While many of the best music podcasts break down classic songs, genres, and artists, the Dissect podcast trains their lens on the album, dismantling a single title across a whole season. From unpacking Beyonce’s Lemonade to analyzing Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, Dissect is less cultural criticism and more musical sleuthing. Initially started as a passion project by host Cole Cuchna, it’s now part of the Spotify podcast network.
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5: Switched On Pop
What makes pop songs so catchy? Musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding make it their goal to solve this question without taking away the magic of the music. Like all the best music podcasts, Switched On Pop is democratic in scope, pondering the secret formulas of pop music and going off the rails in the best way possible. From the weirdness of 90s pop to the timeless catharsis of Martha And The Vandellas’ “Dancing In The Street,” life after Auto-Tune, and what “Cotton Eye Joe” tells us about a century-plus of pop music, Switched On Pop is there to answer life’s big questions.
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4: Cocaine & Rhinestones
As the son of outlaw-country artist David Allan Coe, Tyler Mahan Coe knows a thing or two about country music. On the first season of his podcast, Cocaine & Rhinestones, Coe doesn’t just recount the wild stories of country music, but backs them up with an arsenal of facts. Along with covering the big names of the genre – Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline – Coe also highlights some of the overlooked names in country – from The Louvin Brothers to Doug and Rusty Kershaw. Coe doesn’t just tell you the story behind Loretta Lynn’s banned song “The Pill,” he digs into US history and the cultural politics of birth control. Season two, released in 2021, ostensibly focuses on the country music legend George Jones, but covers so much more.
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3: Song Exploder
Explaining the creative process can be, well… a process, but hit podcast Song Exploder has succeeded in explaining the origins behind the biggest hits without getting lost in the weeds. Often copied but never replicated, Song Exploder lets the artists themselves break down their songs without getting in the way. Since 2014, musician and composer Hrishikesh Hirway (now musician Thao Nguyen) host and produce the show, revealing the creative process of artists as diverse as Lorde, The Mountain Goats, and John Carpenter, to name a few.
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2: Questlove Supreme
Even as more musicians are getting into the podcasting game (Hozier, Nicki Minaj, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, Perry Farrell, and even Rick Rubin), no other host holds it down quite like Questlove. The Roots drummer and author possesses an encyclopedic musical knowledge quite like no other and can convince his guests to fall down the rabbit hole with him. Past guests have included the likes of Chaka Khan, Michelle Obama, Herb Alpert, and even Michael McDonald. It’s nirvana for music nerds but also one of the most engaging talk shows on air.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
1: New York Times Popcast
It may be called Popcast, but the New York Times’ music podcast covers a wide scope of music. Hosted by music critic Jon Caramanica, you can count on the roundtable of critics to tackle every subject matter with rigorous enthusiasm, from the rise of Post Malone to Chris Cornell’s legacy, the bootleg merch trade, the future of jazz, and the unfair hand dealt to Ashlee Simpson. While each episode usually includes an expert guest (or guests) on the topic at hand, the dream team of writers Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz, Jon Pareles, and Caramanica each offer diverse expertise in genres and eras to keep the discourse piping hot.
Listen on Apple Music and Spotify
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music
ONE Musicfest will be returning to Piedmont Park in Atlanta on October 25 and 26. The two-day event will be headlined by Future, Doechii, and Ludacris.
Other artists set to perform include The Roots, The Dungeon Family, Flo, Ari Lennox, Bobby V, Lloyd, and plenty more.
Many of the sets at the festival are set to be special in one way or another. The Roots’ performance will feature Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, Havoc of Mobb Deep, and, of course, the band’s MC Black Thought. Doechii is billed as “Top Dawg’s Special Guest“ and her set will come “Live From The Swamp,” which is a reference to her tour of the same name.
Ludacris’ set will feature friends and celebrate his 25th anniversary as an artist. Dungeon Family’s Reunion set will feature “Friends” and will pay tribute to the late Rico Wade. Other highlights include an “R&B 2000’s Set,” a “Southern Ladies Set,” and more.
The news comes at an exciting time for Ludacris. Last year he acknowledged another anniversary, celebrating 20 years of The Red Light District with a special vinyl release. DMX, Nate Dogg, Nas, and more appear on the 2004 album, which features production from Timbaland (“The Potion”), Craig King (“Who Not Me”), Salaam Remi (“Virgo”), and others.
As for other artists on the bill, Doechii is gearing up for her aforementioned Live From The Swamp Tour, which is set to traverse North America in October and November, followed by her first ever dates in Australia in December.
Doechii’s live itinerary for the rest of the year begins with a run of festival sets throughout the summer and early fall: Belgium’s Pukkelpop festival this month, the All Things Go fests in Queens, NY and Columbia, MD in September, and two weekends of the Austin City Limits festival in Texas in October.
Shop for the best hip-hop on vinyl now.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music