Country Mile

Brad Paisley thinks he’s special – Europeans know it.

Paisley’s first television special “Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special” will air 7 p.m. Dec. 3 on ABC. He filmed the television show in Nashville in September a few weeks before he headed to Europe for his sold-out arena tour.

Paisley sat down with The Tennessean’s Country Mile podcast to talk about “Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special,” his record-setting European arena tour and the importance of giving back. Paisley, along with his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Belmont University are partnering to open a free grocery store for those in need that is set to open in early 2020. The Store, by the way, was inspired by his sons when they were younger. His wife thought they were acting spoiled, put them all in the car and drove them to a place to volunteer in California called The Unity Shoppe. The Paisley family was so inspired by the trip that they tirelessly worked to bring a version of the concept – a free grocery store – to middle Tennessee.

The 53rd Annual CMA Awards took place in Nashville last week, and Cindy Watts was there to talk with the artists that took home the heavy trophy. She grabs Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, Ashley McBryde, Dan+Shay, Luke Combs and Garth Brooks moments after coming off the stage.

The first seven installments of The USA TODAY NETWORK's Country Mile podcast were taped in some of Nashville's most storied, intimate rooms – with just a few lucky folks on hand to hear some of country music's most influential artists talk about the moments that made their careers. 

Episode 8 – well, Episode 8 is a party. Thousands of country music fans packed into Belmont University's Curb Event Center to hear one of country's biggest stars ever, Garth Brooks, and one of its most exciting voices, Ashley McBryde, talk about the songwriting craft. There are lots of laughs, a few tears and a wealth of career advice for any aspiring writer.

Recorded in the historic RCA Studio B, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Marty Stuart and Chris Scruggs talk the history of country music, and preserving it for the next generation.

Martina McBride and Sara Evans talk about breaking through in country music, their similar origin stories, and raising families while on the road.

Travis Tritt and Tracy Lawrence have been friends since the ‘90s. Over the last three decades, the country singers built a friendship on making memories – and keeping secrets.

“We don’t have any stories we can tell,” Lawrence quipped. “Not enough people have died. His wife would run me off if I tell stories on him”

Country Mile Episode 6 was recorded in Buena Vista, Co., at Dierks Bentley’s Seven Peaks Festival. And while Tritt and Lawrence aren’t up for sharing the details of their youthful heyday, they are more than happy to share g-rated touring stories and are also pretty impressed with atmosphere Bentley created in in the mountain town three-to-four hours outside of Denver.

“It’s been a long year, and I’m about sick of Dolly Parton,” Parton quipped Saturday backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.

Parton capped the Opry’s Dolly week with two performances Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry. Before she performed, the East Tennessee native sat down with The Tennessean’s Country Mile Podcast to chat about her 2019, which might as well be renamed "The Year of Dolly Parton."

Parton’s television appearances start rolling out in November. She talks about those on Episode 4 of Country Mile as well as her plans for the holidays, the Grand Ole Opry, her future and more.

In episode three of Country Mile, Tennessean reporter Cindy Watts and producer Ayrika Whitney take the show on the road to Buena Vista Colorado, where Dierks Bentley recently held his second annual Seven Peaks Music Festival. 

After a twenty-two hour journey to the remote Rocky Mountain town, they caught up with Bentley and rising star Tenille Townes for a wide-ranging conversation about day-to-day life on an international tour, honing their craft, fiddle fairy dust and festival fringe fashion.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs and up-and-coming country duo High Valley — composed of brothers Brad and Curtis Rempel — talk about the rich crossroads of country and bluegrass.

Skaggs remembers waking up to find a mandolin in his bed when he was 5 years old, a gift from his father. High Valley learned to love music in their isolated Northern Canadian town by listening to bluegrass records, including Ricky Skaggs.

What was the first music that moved you? The first song you learned to play? The first time you heard yourself on the radio?

Cindy Watts sits down with 21-time Grammy winner Vince Gill and multi-platinum selling country artist Chris Young at Belmont University's The GIG. (Gallery of Iconic Guitars)