In this episode of Americana Podcast: The 51st State, Robert Earl Keen sits down with Billy Strings to talk about learning to play, the craft of songwriting, and the evolving world of Americana music.

Born William Apostol and raised in rural Michigan, Billy Strings grew up surrounded by bluegrass. By the time he was a teenager, his blistering flatpicking had already earned him a reputation as a prodigy among pickers and players. Years of relentless practice and countless small gigs eventually carried him from Midwestern bars and festivals to some of the biggest stages in roots music.

For years, bluegrass lived mostly in whispers. You might hear it referenced in liner notes, spot it in a citation, or see it pop up in the occasional New Yorker cartoon. But something has changed. The conversation has gotten louder, and the reality is harder to ignore.

Bluegrass music is considered cool now.

It should not come as much of a surprise. Bluegrass has always carried a rich and vibrant history stretching back to the early twentieth century. It is a genre that holds tight to regional identity, creative freedom, and remarkable musicianship. At the same time, it has always fostered a deeply communal culture of learning, where songs, skills, and stories move naturally from one player to another.

What the music needed was a new voice. New chapters. New songs added to the bluegrass canon.

That is where Billy Strings comes in.

Over the past several years, Billy has emerged as one of the most influential figures in modern bluegrass. His albums Home and Renewal helped push the genre into new territory while earning widespread acclaim, including multiple Grammy Awards, with Home winning Best Bluegrass Album. His live shows have developed a devoted following, blending traditional bluegrass musicianship with the improvisational spirit of jam bands and the storytelling roots of Americana.

Billy Strings makes music that is rooted in bluegrass but stretches well beyond it. His songwriting reflects a deep understanding of the power of a well-crafted song. His lyrics move easily between personal reflection, observations about economic and ecological change, and the everyday questions that shape a life. All of it is supported by remarkable musicianship and production, where intricate playing and layered sonic details often create moments that feel almost like soundscapes.

Trying to describe how good he is can be difficult.

Some things are simply easier to hear than to explain.

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In this episode of Americana Podcast: The 51st State, we listen for a different kind of music.

Not the kind that starts on a stage. The kind built into process. The low hum of a sewing machine. The steady rhythm of hands at work. The quiet beat of something being made with intention.

The story begins in Tupelo, Mississippi, a town forever tied to music. Gospel, blues, and early rock and roll left their fingerprints here. Rhythm lives in the ground, and making something, whether a song or a pair of jeans, has always meant putting a little of yourself into the work.

Blue Delta Jeans was founded here by Josh West and Nick Weaver. Two men who believed craft still mattered, and that manufacturing could carry the same soul as the music that shaped its region. What they built was not about chasing trends. It was about slowing things down, listening closely, and letting process lead.

This episode explores the connection between music, labor, and culture. The same values that shape a song shape the things we wear. Authenticity. Repetition. Imperfection. Time.

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In this episode of Americana Podcast: The 51st State, host Robert Earl Keen sits down with one of the most quietly influential voices in American songwriting: James McMurtry.

For decades, McMurtry has carved out a singular space where songs are more than melodies. His writing is built on gritty character studies, moral landscapes, and moments of hard-won clarity—stories that feel lived in, observed, and unafraid to sit with complexity. From the early days of his debut album Too Long in the Wasteland to the lived-in wisdom of his most recent work, his catalog reads like a map of roads traveled and lives encountered along the way.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, McMurtry spent much of his youth in Northern Virginia before finding his footing as a songwriter in Tucson, Arizona, studying English and Spanish while cutting his teeth in small rooms and local venues. After time spent traveling—including a period living in Alaska—he returned to Texas, working odd jobs, playing bars and open mics, and gradually forging a life as a working songwriter. For much of his adult life, he’s been based in Lockhart, just south of Austin, though his music has carried far beyond those borders.

In this conversation, Robert and James reflect on the long arc of a songwriting life—from early guitar lessons and teenage gigs to his first record, Too Long in the Wasteland, and through to his latest album, The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy. Along the way, they talk about craft, observation, patience, and what it means to tell the truth in song without flinching.

It’s an intimate, thoughtful look at an artist whose work doesn’t chase trends or spotlight—but endures, quietly and honestly, exactly where it belongs.

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Today’s episode is a rerun, and we bring it to you with a heaviness that is hard to put into words. When we learned of Todd’s passing on November 14th, it felt as if something vibrant had suddenly drained from the world, as if a familiar warm light we’d always counted on had quietly dissipated into the ether, leaving us in a cold sadness which we may never shake. Revisiting this conversation now feels like reaching for that light we all miss.

Todd had a way of making the world feel a little lighter, a lot funnier, and all the more honest. His storytelling did more than briefly fill you car stereo, living room, and favorite live music haunts. It stayed with you long after the music faded, carrying the kind of truth and humor that only he could bring, singing through a one of a kind crooked smile. His voice, his wit, and his beautifully kooky way of seeing things continue to travel with us in the songs, the stories, and the moments he gave so freely.

As we return to this episode, we do so with gratitude for the spirit Todd Snider shared so openly. Listening back is a way of holding onto the warmth, the wonder, and the wild sincerity he carried into every conversation. He may no longer be with us, but his sound will remain forever.

We share this rerun to honor Todd and the lasting imprint of his voice, a memory that continues to glow even in the spaces he no longer fills. We hope you enjoy this show as much as we did, and remember your love for Todd Snider as we do. 

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In part two of Americana Podcast: The 51st State, host Robert Earl Keen continues his conversation with Terry and Jo Harvey Allen—two legendary Texas-born artists whose creativity has spanned generations, mediums, and continents.

From a childhood friendship in Lubbock to a coin toss that took them west, Terry and Jo Harvey’s story unfolds like a piece of living Americana—filled with grit, luck, and a touch of magic. This episode picks up with their adventures from Los Angeles to Berkeley to Santa Fe, from early radio beginnings to global artistic recognition, including their most recent roles in Killers of the Flower Moon.

Together, Robert, Terry, and Jo Harvey revisit a half-century of partnership rooted in art, poetry, and the pursuit of truth—a love story told through every canvas, song, and stage.

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In this episode of Americana Podcast: The 51st State, host Robert Earl Keen sits down with two of Texas’s most revered creative forces—Terry and Jo Harvey Allen. A true artistic duo, their work stretches across music, theater, film, literature, and visual art, each piece carrying the unmistakable edge of West Texas grit and imagination.

Terry Allen, celebrated as both a groundbreaking songwriter and a visual artist, has long blurred the lines between mediums, telling stories that are as cinematic as they are deeply personal. Jo Harvey Allen, equally trailblazing, has carved her path as a writer, actress, and performance artist, bringing the raw complexities of American life—especially through women’s voices—onto stage and screen.

Together, Robert, Terry, and Jo Harvey reflect on decades of creation, collaboration, and connection: from navigating the intersections of music and art to sustaining a marriage and creative partnership that defies convention. It’s part one of a conversation as expansive as the plains they call home—an intimate, fearless, and unforgettable look at two artists who continue to shape the Americana landscape.

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In this episode of Americana Podcast: The 51st State, host Robert Earl Keen heads into the heart of Red Dirt country with none other than Evan Felker, frontman of the Turnpike Troubadours and one of the most compelling songwriters in modern Americana. From the dusty backroads of Oklahoma to the national stage, Felker has built a legacy rooted in grit, grace, and lyrical honesty. His songs, shaped by weathered landscapes and worn-in truths, echo the spirit of legends like Woody Guthrie and Townes Van Zandt, but his voice, and his vision, are unmistakably his own. Together, Robert and Evan talk about Turnpike’s celebrated return, the unpredictable path of creativity, and the quiet power of staying true to where you come from. It’s a conversation full of craft, conviction, and the kind of insight only earned by living the life behind the lyrics.

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In this special episode of Americana Podcast, host Robert Earl Keen takes listeners on a journey from the heart of Nashville to the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, exploring the rich history and evolving future of Americana and Country music. His guest is Shooter Jennings, an outlaw by birth and a tastemaker by trade, who has carved out a unique role in shaping the genre's direction.

As the son of country legend Waylon Jennings and a producer for artists like Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile, and The Turnpike Troubadours, Shooter brings deep insight into both the legacy and the innovation within the genre. He and Keen discuss the differences and connections between the Nashville and California country scenes, his approach to producing, and the upcoming release of never-before-heard music from Waylon Jennings.

Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or watch it on the official Robert Earl Keen YouTube channel.

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In this special episode, Americana Podcast steps beyond music to examine another vital thread of American culture: fashion. Host Robert Earl Keen sits down with Roger and Jackie Chieffalo, founders of Chieffalo Americana, a Fort Worth-based western outfitter reimagining classic style for the modern age.

Together, they explore:

The origins of Chieffalo Americana and how a shared love of tailoring sparked a creative partnership

How fashion, like music, plays a key role in expressing cultural identity

The intersection of heritage, craftsmanship, and urban influence in their designs

The evolution of stagewear and trends in the Americana scene

Why their approach favors quality, intentionality, and timelessness over fast fashion

Whether you're a music lover, fashion enthusiast, or cultural observer, this episode reveals how style and storytelling go hand in hand—and why Americana is more than a genre, it’s a way of life.

Guests: Roger and Jackie Chieffalo
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Brand Featured: Chieffalo Americana

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Americana Podcast explores the artists and ideas shaping American roots music, focusing this episode on the genre-defying Steve Poltz. Poltz is celebrated for his originality, blending tradition with unpredictability in a career that spans decades. Born in Nova Scotia and raised in Southern California, he first gained widespread attention as the co-writer of Jewel’s hit You Were Meant for Me. However, his true impact lies in his continual reinvention and subversion of Americana norms. His work reflects the folk tradition’s emphasis on storytelling and community, while also embracing humor, vulnerability, and improvisation. Poltz serves as a creative link between the West Coast’s DIY folk-punk movement and the broader narrative tradition of American roots music. This episode examines how his artistic approach challenges expectations and keeps audiences engaged. Listeners are also invited to watch a live performance of You Were Meant for Me with the Robert Earl Keen Band on YouTube.

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