The 2025 CMA Awards took Nashville by storm this week, crowning new winners and welcoming fresh faces. In this special bonus episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, we break down the good, the bad, and the “what were they thinking?!” Country music journalist Marissa R. Moss joins host Joseph Hudak to heap praise, talk smack, and question if the country music establishment finally got it right.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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Jake Owen is one of the architects of bro country, churning out radio smashes like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and “The One That Got Away.” But on his new album of outlaw country songs, he buries his bro persona. In a shockingly emotional interview on Nashville Now, Owen talks about his big musical risk and how he ended up working with producer Shooter Jennings on the new album Dreams to Dream. It’s a vulnerable interview that shows a major country star letting down his guard, and it’s only on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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Kings of Leon may be one of rock’s most global bands, but the group is forever tied to Nashville. This week, lead singer Caleb Followill joins us in the Nashville Now cabin to talk about the Kings’ surprise new EP, what it’s like to work with Zach Bryan, and what he thinks about all of those country covers of the band’s massive hit “Sex on Fire.” (Spoiler alert: Some make him cringe.) Caleb also takes us back in time to a much different Nashville, where he and his brothers tried to shop their songs on Music Row the old-fashioned way: Knocking on doors. Join us on a very royal episode of Nashville Now!

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Ink is one of country music’s most fascinating new figures: Born in Germany, raised in Georgia, she’s gone on to write with Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and more. On this week’s episode of Nashville Now, Ink brings her swagger and joyful nature to the cabin to talk about her tremendous new EP Big Buskin’. Ink says she’s “making a permanent mark,” and it’s hard to disagree. We also send our cameras backstage at the Ocean Calling festival to talk to Nelly about his country crossover career that just won’t quit.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our ⁠Hear Now⁠ playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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On this special bonus episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, we welcome Gretchen Wilson to the Nashville Now cabin to talk about CBS’s hot new competition series, The Road, created by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan. Gretchen is the “tour manager” to the contestants and shows them the ropes of a life lived on a bus and on a stage. She also opens up about the enduring appeal of her signature hit, “Redneck Woman,” and how it changed the game more than 20 years ago.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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Fans of real country music, this week’s episode of Nashville Now is for you. The legendary Jamey Johnson joins us in the Nashville Now cabin to talk about his no-cares-given career, from the time he didn’t play his hit “In Color” in concert to a wild decision to buy a golf course. Johnson also opens up about a brutal fall he took in 2010 that nearly derailed his songwriting and even affected his personality. Joshua Hedley, a fixture on Nashville’s Broadway stages, joins us too to talk about his new Western swing album, All Hat, and share the craziest things he’s seen in the honky-tonks.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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Horns up, music fans! This week on Nashville Now, we take a left turn into Nashville’s hard rock scene with very special guests Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of the band Halestorm. Lzzy talks about why she and the group moved to Nashville, what it was like to play with Ozzy Osbourne at his final concert, and why she’s comfortable sharing her sexuality with fans. We also talk about late Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley’s ties to Nashville and recap all the surprise performances at this year’s Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Turn this episode to 11 and join us.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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Don’t you think this outlaw bit’s done got out of hand? On this week’s no-holds-barred episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, we talk to the keeper of the outlaw country flame, Shooter Jennings, about the new album he produced on his dad, the legendary late rebel Waylon Jennings. We learn how Shooter found the tapes, why they’re so important to country music, and how the Grammy-winning producer put them all together. Shooter also tells us why he has such a “hard time” with Nashville and if there will ever be a Waylon Jennings honky-tonk on Broadway. We also talk about Sabrina Carpenter’s big country debut and list off our Hear Now songs for the week. Let’s go!

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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On this very special bonus episode of Nashville Now, we celebrate the legacy of John Prine with his widow Fiona Whelan Prine and country music legend Carlene Carter at one of Prine’s favorite Nashville haunts: Brown’s Diner. On what would have been Prine’s 79th birthday, Fiona Prine and Carter share stories about the creation of his album Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings, which was just reissued by Oh Boy Records in a 30th anniversary edition. It’s an emotional, poignant, and often humorous conversation focused on one of America’s greatest ever songwriters.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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Buckle up! This week country powerhouse Lainey Wilson joins us fresh off the deluxe release of her album Whirlwind – and in the middle of her global tour. From becoming the first woman to host the CMA Awards solo since Reba McEntire in 1991 to headlining Stagecoach next year, Lainey opens up about how she juggles it all, what it took to get here, and where she’s headed next.

We’re also joined by guitarist Andrew Leahey, whose road to Nashville stardom looks a little different from Lainey’s – but is every bit as inspiring. Tune in for a conversation that captures the grit, grind, and glory behind today’s musicians.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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