The Country Music Media Podcast

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, Washington Post reporter Emily Yahr talks about her profile on Garth Brooks ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors. Plus (18:00) astute observations about the 2021 season of American Idol and (21:00) The Voice.
Read: Everyone wants Garth Brooks on their side. He just wants everyone to get along, at the Washington Post.
Read: 'The Voice winner is a former tween YouTube sensation - and he could change the show forever at the Washington Post.
Read: This season of 'American Idol' was a close competition - until one very strategic move by the winner, at the Washington Post.
Tweet: Find Emily Yahr on Twitter at @EmilyYahr
Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes

There's a problem with Loretta Lynn’s new album, and it’s kind of a big one. The press release says Still Woman Enough is a celebration of women in country music but it should say it’s a celebration of white women in country music. To what degree should we eviscerate an 88-year-old Country Music Hall of Famer, and true pioneer in American history? The answer to that requires a bit of research.
Read: Rest In Peace, Ceasar Gaiters in the Richmond Times Dispatch
Listen: Loretta Lynn recites "Coal Miner's Daughter"
Loretta Lynn's Still Woman Enough album drops on March 19.

Days after the Christmas morning bombing in Nashville, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts gave weight to a conspiracy theory that a missile — not a bomb in an RV — was responsible for the explosion on 2nd avenue. Today's guest called his bluff. Big Rick Daniels hosts the morning show on Korn Country 100.3 in south-central Indiana. He's not a seasoned news journalist, but you wouldn't know it to hear him handle a serious topic with appropriate objectivity.
After our conversation about Gary, Rick and I talk about the art of the radio interview and how to avoid a major trap.
Then, some thoughts on two country wives who took to social media following the siege on the U.S. Capitol, which was literally happening as Gary and talked to each other.
Listen: Big Rick's interview with Gary LeVox on Korn Country.
See: Rick's tweet with the graphic Gary posted on Instagram and Facebook.
Follow: Rick on Twitter at @OnAirWithRick
Read: "Why Are Country Music Wives Pushing Baseless Conspiracy Theories" on Rolling Stone Country.

There are very few people capable of properly reviewing an album like Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous, and even fewer who want to. This says nothing about the actual album and it’s relative worth. This is more about what goes into a proper album review. They're hard. They're time-consuming and — if we're being honest — nobody is reading them.

Country music is built on stories of humility, faith and redemption and this week’s guest has a good one. If you’ve ever taken a relationship for granted or if you’ve ever looked at the best thing that ever happened to you and thought “meh, what else is there?” you’ll relate to author Jerry Broadway.

Maybe you know him best as just Broadway, part of the nationally syndicated Bud and Broadway radio show but before that in institution at radio stations across the southeast and Midwest in markets like Tulsa and St. Louis. He’s an ACM and CMA winner and a familiar face to famous country stars like Keith Urban and Brad Paisley. But today, Broadway is just Grayson’s dad.

The book is called Amazing Grayson after his teenage son Grayson, who’ll get to know in just a second. But really it’s one man’s story of redemption and the family that stood by him through often fatal impulses, like infidelity, ego and selfishness. Throw in some testicular cancer, a special needs child and the fragile nature of jobs in this industry and you see why this combustible story could easily have been a tragedy. But it’s not, thanks to one person. Well, thanks to God and one person.
Note: Days after recording this interview, Oklahoma City radio station KXXY announced they were bringing the syndicated Bud and Broadway Show.
Read: Amazing Grayson on Amazon
Learn More: Bud and Broadway Show's Homepage
Contest: The Eric Church ViewFinder I'm giving away. Tweet about the show with the #CMMP hashtag for a chance to win.