Karen Fairchild was born to Southern parents in Gary, Indiana, but whether she was living in the Midwest or the South, that Southern influence was always there. She eventually made her way to Birmingham, Alabama, where she attended Samford University and met her future bandmate, Kimberly Schlapman, through the school’s choir program. In the late ’90s, she was reunited with Schlapman in Nashville and went on to form Little Big Town with Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook, whom she later married. Their self-titled debut came out in 2002, but their real breakthrough came with The Road to Here in 2005. Now, Karen and Little Big Town have just released their 12th studio album, It’s a Dying Art, which features collaborations with Ashley Monroe, Jason Isbell, and Kelsea Ballerini. Sid talks to Karen about what’s kept the band going strong all these years, how she balances life on the road with raising school age kids, and how Little Big Town has been influenced by Fleetwood Mac.

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Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living / Becky Fluke

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 Dolly Parton was last on the show back in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, and we talked on the phone about her Christmas traditions, her childhood in East Tennessee, and her incredible work getting millions of kids to read through the Imagination Library. This time I got to sit down with her in person at her studio outside of Nashville, and she hasn’t slowed down one bit. She told me all about her latest album, Rockstar, which features 30 rock and roll classics, from covers like Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Bob Seger’s “Night Moves,” to some powerful new Dolly Parton originals. She’s also just released a new book called Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, which documents more than six decades of outfits, costumes, and iconic looks from a career in the spotlight.

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Lauren Alaina was born in Rossville, Georgia, where she discovered her love of music at a very early age. In 2011, she was introduced to millions of viewers on American Idol, where she finished as the runner-up. Later that year, she released her debut album, Wildflower, which helped establish her as one of country music’s brightest young stars. Plenty more success has followed, along with high-profile collabs with artists like Trisha Yearwood, Lainey Wilson, and Chase Matthew. Now, she has a new album called Stages, where she’s diving deep into some of the most significant chapters of her life. Sid talks to Lauren about the emotional highs and lows of losing her dad and then finding out she was pregnant, what it’s been like having a hit duet with her childhood friend Kane Brown, and much more.

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Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living / Katie Kauss

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Maggie Rose was born and raised in Potomac, Maryland, where she grew up eating blue crabs, attending Catholic school, and singing solos in front of her church’s congregation. A self-described black sheep of the family, she headed to Clemson University in South Carolina before leaving school early to move to Nashville for a career in music. But it was her family’s support that gave her the courage to make it in a very tough business, and it eventually paid off in a career that’s earned her a Grammy nomination, a loyal fan base, and more than 100 appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. Her podcast, Salute the Songbird, started during the pandemic, and it’s become a powerful vehicle for candid conversations with other female musicians about their experiences and challenges in the music business. Sid talks to Maggie about what it’s like being a new mom, her Grammy-nominated  album, No One Gets Out Alive, what it meant to perform recently in Asheville, North Carolina, and her longtime love for Old Bay Seasoning. 

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

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 Duane Betts is the son of legendary Allman Brothers Band cofounder Dickey Betts, and he's even named after another of the band's founding members, Duane Allman, whose life was cut tragically short. Rather than relying on his family name, Duane has earned his own reputation through years of touring, collaborating, and developing a sound that's distinctly his own. In addition to leading his own band, Duane also helped found the Allman Betts Band alongside Gregg Allman's son, Devon. Together, they've celebrated the musical traditions established by their famous fathers while creating original music that's finding its own loyal audiences. Now Duane is back with Isle of Hope, an album that explores grief, resilience, sobriety, family, and hope.

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Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living / Bobbi Rich

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Ashley Cooke grew up in a family that moved around a lot, from Wisconsin to California to Florida. But wherever she lived, music was always a constant, and she developed a passion for songwriting at an early age. She eventually ended up in Nashville for college, where she got to know both the city and the music industry up close. After a string of successful singles and signing with Big Loud Records, she reached a new level with her 2023 hit, "Your Place." The song became a country radio favorite, was certified Gold, and earned her the Breakthrough Female Video of the Year award at the 2024 CMT Music Awards. On August 14th, she'll release her self-titled album, led by the single "Baby Blues," which she’s turned into a social media moment by singing to guys she picks out of the crowd. Sid talks to Ashley about why her songs draw directly from her own experiences—even her therapist’s office—and the exciting moment women in country music are having right now.

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Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Patrick Tracy

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Cedric the Entertainer first rose to national fame as one of The Original Kings of Comedy before starring in films like Barbershop and the hit sitcom The Neighborhood, which he also produced. Anthony Anderson is best known for his Emmy-nominated role on Black-ish, along with films including Hustle & Flow and The Departed. The two met through acting more than 30 years ago and have remained close friends ever since, partly through a shared love of cooking and entertaining. Together, they've built AC Barbecue, a brand dedicated to showing that barbecue is about more than just great food—it’s a centerpiece of African American culture and community. Now they have a new cookbook called AC Barbecue: The Husky and Handsome Guide to Grilling, and they're shining a light on the pitmasters, the history, and the storytelling that has helped define barbecue in America.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Cedric the Entertainer by Jeff Kats / Anthony Anderson by Tommy Garcia Courtesy of FOX Entertainment

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Willow Avalon was born and raised in a part of rural Georgia that she says “felt like the Wild West.” She got her start performing in the Baptist church choir, where she played piano and got her first guitar. Later, she joined her father, the acclaimed musician Jim White, onstage in dive bars. After dropping out of high school, she moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles to New York. She even lived in her car for a while, but eventually her songwriting skills helped land her a record deal—and a shot at a better life. In 2024, Willow released her debut EP, Stranger, and followed it the next year with her first full-length album, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell. Now she's back with her sophomore album, Pink Pocket Pistol. Sid talks to Willow about the story behind the mugshot on the cover of her debut album, her song about Dolly Parton, and how a blackberry honey cobbler made from her grandmother's recipe helped make a lasting first impression at Atlantic Records.

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Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Silken Weinberg

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Clint Black spent years honing his craft in Texas clubs and honky-tonks before breaking through with his landmark 1989 album, Killin' Time, which became one of the biggest debut country albums ever. Over the course of a career spanning nearly four decades, Clint has sold more than 20 million records and earned countless awards and honors. These days, Clint is as active and creative as ever, writing, performing, touring, and even helping create a Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit celebrating his career. His latest project is his first memoir, Killin' Time: My Life and Music, which offers an intimate look at his journey from working-class Texas musician to country music superstar - with plenty of dramatic stories along the way.

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Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Clint Black

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Steve Earle is a Grammy-winning songwriter, performer, author, actor, activist, and storyteller whose career has been defined by honesty, grit, and fearless songwriting. Born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, Steve spent most of his childhood in South Texas around San Antonio. After a move to Nashville and years of writing songs for other artists, he released his breakthrough album, Guitar Town, in 1986. With its blend of traditional roots influences and rock-and-roll energy, the record became an instant classic that helped redefine country music for a new era. From there, Steve went on to write and perform songs that have become part of the modern American songbook, celebrated for their vivid characters and masterful storytelling. Now, Steve is celebrating more than five decades as a songwriter with his Fifty-One Years of Songs and Stories tour. Sid talks to Steve about his childhood in South Texas; the tribute album he made for his late son Justin Townes Earle; how he’s shaped his life to better care for his younger son, John Henry, who is autistic; and what it meant to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

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Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Chinaza Ajuonuma

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