Southern Americana

Southern Americana

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Southern Americana episodes

  • Goldpine, Kassie & Ben Wilson
    In mid-January 2026, I crossed paths with Kassie and Ben Wilson, the married Nashville duo known as Goldpine, after their unforgettable set at the 30A Songwriters Festival. Their acoustic performance, alive with electrifying vocals and seamless harmonies, was nothing short of captivating. From the first note, their passion for both their craft and each other radiated through the room. The singer-songwriter world is crowded with duos, many of them married or longtime touring partners. Yet Goldpine stands out. Their latest project, Three, released last August, continues the story begun with their first two albums, fittingly named Two and One. Kassie, who hails from Somerville, Alabama, met Iowa-born Ben at church nearly twenty years ago. Both journeyed to Nashville, chasing dreams and carving their place in the ever-evolving Americana scene. Calling them "road warriors" barely scratches the surface. Their days are spent crisscrossing the country in a converted van, juggling long drives, makeshift meals, and the endless admin of a 200-day roadshow. For Kassie, Planet Fitness parking lots have become a quirky but familiar "home away from home." Ben's musical journey began with singing and playing in church, a path that soon led him into the world of recording studios. He moved to Nashville to chase a career as a recording engineer, but it was meeting Kassie that reignited his passion for guitar. His fascination with sound engineering now lets Goldpine capture the raw magic of their live performances in their recordings. He caught Kassie's eye 18 years ago when he was performing at a church service. "My first thought was that he was cute and I could fix how he dresses," Kassie said with a grin. A direct message from Kassie through MySpace led to lunch at Panera Bread. "I didn't even pay for her lunch," said Ben. "I think I was somewhat oblivious to her intentions." Pinning down Goldpine's sound is no easy feat. Ben calls it "aggressive Americana," a label that fits their bold energy. Kassie, meanwhile, sees their music as a form of storytelling, inviting listeners to experience each show like turning the pages of a novel. Faith is a huge part of Kassie and Ben's lives and shines through in their songs. "The gospel has to appear to everyone, even if they don't realize they need it," explains Ben. "I've seen more faith influence in music over the past several years in mainstream music than I've experienced in my life. It's an amazing experience." Kassie hopes that anyone who listens to their songs feels less alone when facing life's rough patches. She sees their music as an extension of their own journey, and a reflection of others' stories too. This summer and fall, Goldpine will light up stages across the Midwest before returning for a string of Southeast shows. Don't miss the chance to experience their magic live.
    1 hr
  • Sarah Clanton

    Sarah Clanton is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter, cellist, and creative catalyst whose music bridges the worlds of folk-pop, jazz, and classical with soul-stirring authenticity. Known for her "cello-brations" — joyful, genre-bending performances that invite audiences to laugh, feel, and heal — Sarah's sound combines the lyrical sensitivity of Norah Jones with the bold charm of Amy Winehouse, all wrapped in her signature cello grooves.

    Watching Sarah ignite the stage at this year's 30A Songwriters Festival was nothing short of magical. While others strummed guitars or tapped keys, Sarah's cello became a spellbinding force, captivating every soul in the room. A classically trained musician turned indie innovator, Sarah discovered her unique musical voice after a life-changing moment at Bonnaroo. It was then that she realized that her cello could sing as freely as her own voice. She has toured nationally and internationally, releasing music, and shared the stage and writing room with notable Grammy-winning and nominated songwriters including Dan Navarro, Richard Leigh, Tim Johnson, Melissa Fuller, and Georgia Miles. Her song "Tequila"was recognized by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) as one of their Top 40 Songs, marking her as an emerging voice to watch. Catch Sarch later this year during her Colorado tour and at CELLOVISION this September in Nashville.
    1 hr 50 min
  • Caylee Hammack & Kurt Ozan

    Caylee Hammack, originally from Ellaville, Georgia, is a Nashville-based Country artist who is opening for Eric Church on his 2026 spring tour. Her Capitol Records sophomore album, Bed of Roses, will be released on March 7th. In addition to her performing career, she hosts The Caylee Hammack Show each Friday at 2 p.m. on SiriusXM radio channel 58.

    Kurt Ozan, a talented multi-instrumentalist, plays in Luke Combs' band, The Wild Cards. A 2009 graduate of Berklee College of Music, Kurt is a highly sought-after studio musician and co-host of the Raised Rowdy podcast.

    53 min
  • Megan Gorman, Author and Wealth Management Executive

    Megan Gorman, an attorney and managing partner at Chequers Financial Management, is the author of All the Presidents' Money, an in-depth and engaging examination of how our presidents have managed their financial resources.

    For the first twelve years of her career, Megan worked for Ayco, a Goldman Sachs company. She also served as Vice President at BNY Mellon Wealth Management before launching her own wealth management firm. As a senior contributor at Forbes, she is a member of the Board of Trustees for the National Endowment for Financial Education.

    Megan explores the financial acumen of our nation's leaders, and her revelations may surprise you. Her extensive knowledge of financial matters, along with years of research into nearly 250 years of personal financial successes and failures of our presidents, will both entertain and educate you.

    https://www.instagram.com/allthepresidentsmoney/?hl=en

    https://x.com/megan_e_gorman

    1 hr 5 min
  • Tristan Tritt

    Tristan Tritt is a Georgia-based singer-songwriter forging his own musical path. He comes from a lineage rooted in Americana outlaw music, with his father, Travis Tritt, and sister, Tyler Reese, both achieving their own successes.

    Growing up alongside his dad, watching him perform with some of country music's biggest hitmakers, Tristan discovered his own style. He found inspiration in the works of artists like Ozzy Osbourne and Stone Temple Pilots.

    "I refer to my music as 'Y'all-ternative,'" Tristan said. "I'm a huge fan of music. I love country, Southern rock, and outlaw music, but I wanted to blend elements from each of these genres while incorporating some heavy rock themes. As a Georgia-born artist, I appreciate many styles and aimed to combine them into my own unique sound."

    With a keen business sense and a wealth of talent, Tristan is well-equipped to create and showcase his distinctive artistry. In this episode, he shares insights about his upbringing, music production, and what he enjoys doing outside the studio.

    https://www.tristantritt.com

    https://onesouthernman.com

    Follow OneSouthern Man on Instrgram and Facebook.

    1 hr 17 min
  • Liza Graves, StyleBlueprint CEO

    Liza Graves, along with her husband, Jay, own StyleBlueprint, one of the South's best lifestyle websites. The site began as a blog in 2009. Today, StyleBlueprint reaches over 210,000 daily email subscribers with a 55 percent open rate. They also reach over 2.5 million annual readers, focusing on the South's best places, events and lifestyle.

    We discussed the site's origin and how social media and AI are impacting readership, and what people who enjoy the Southern lifestyle want to learn about.

    For more podcast episodes and articles, check out onesouthernman.com/

    1 hr 18 min
  • Flagship Romance

    Flagship Romance is composed of the husband and wife team of Shawn Fisher and Jordyn Jackson. The Louisville, KY based duo has traveled over 300,000 miles delighting fans with their unique Americana mix.

    I sat down with Shawn and Jordyn at Shack's Art Gallery in Grayton Beach after they performed in Seaside, Florida. Listen to their road stories and how the miles enhance their songwriting and relationships.

    1 hr 18 min
  • Blackberry Smoke Guitartist's Charlie Starr & Benji Shanks

    Charlie Starr is a founding member of the Atlanta-based southern rock band Blackberry Smoke. Guitarist Benji Shanks joined the band in 2018 as a multi-instrumentalist.

    In addition to embarking on their new tour, "Rattle, Rumble & Roll," this duo performed at the 2025 30A Songwriters Festival. We sat down in the podcast studio at Shacks Art Gallery in Grayton Beach, FL, to discuss their musical careers and life on the road.

    58 min
  • Richard Turner

    Richard Turner is a founding member of the southern rock group Blackberry Smoke. Together with his brother Brit, their longtime drummer, they joined forces with guitarist and lead vocalist Charlie Starr to form the iconic band, which has been touring since 2000.

    His bass lines play a crucial role in establishing the band's steady rhythm. In this episode, he discusses growing up in a music-influenced household, how the two brothers started playing together, the formation of Blackberry Smoke, life on the road, and his bass gear.

    Blackberry Smoke recently embarked on their Rattle, Ramble, and Roll tour. You can find show dates and follow the group at blackberrysmoke.com.

    1 hr 10 min
  • Ben Larsen, Razorbackology

    University of Arkansas alum and Razorbackology founder Ben Larsen is a life-long Arkansas Razorback sports fan. Ben discusses the latest happenings withing the Razorback sports program, along with tailgating suggestions for fans visiting Fayetteville.

    28 min

About Southern Americana

From the publisher's feed

Americana means many things to many people. For some, it's music; for others, it's a way of life. The goal is to take you on a journey of Americana's music, people and places, especially as it relates…