Highlighting iconic personalities, attractions, and events in Osage County, Oklahoma where the smiles are always free!
Send us a textEnjoy this interview with Cary Ginell - a veteran radio broadcaster, folklorist, and author of ten books on American music. He is an award-winning writer and music historian who took a moment to sit down with host, Kelly Hurd, recently and discuss the beginnings of the western swing music genre.Through Cary's reminiscing about the days of Milton Brown, Bob Wills, and the Light Crust Doughboys, you'll feel as if you stepped back into the 1930s!Get to know Milton Brown and Bob Wills a little better through the insights of Cary Ginell.* And in the opinion of Kelly Hurd - Bob Wills is still the king, of Western Swing!May faith guide your compass and fear kiss your back bumper! Hope you'll join me next time on Calling to the Good. CallingToTheGood.com
Send us a textIt was Mother's Day at Joey and Sherry McKenzie's house down in Texas. Bob Wills' daughter, Carolyn, was there as well - when Joey McKenzie of The Western Flyers took time to sit down for a little one-on-one interview about how a fiddle-loving youth from Oregon stepped into his dream of Western Swing and found the love of his life as well!The Western Flyers | Western Swing & Country BandMay faith guide your compass and fear kiss your back bumper! Hope you'll join me next time on Calling to the Good. CallingToTheGood.com
Send us a textBob Wills passed from this life on May 13, 1975, and almost 50 years to the day, I got to sit down with the daughter of the King of Western Swing - Carolyn Wills - to reminisce about her childhood, talk about what it was like at her house growing up, as well as celebrate her new success as an award-winning author with her children's book, "Glory Be! It's Punkin's Story!" about her father's horse, Punkin'.Many thanks to the folks at the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival and its founder, Mr. Michael Markwardt for sponsoring this Western Swing series on Calling to the Good!For tickets to their annual Western Swing festival in Fort Worth, Texas each year check out their website at BirthplaceOfWesternSwing.com!To order a copy of Carolyn's children's book visit BobWills.comCallingToTheGood.com
Send us a textI remember Monday nights on NBC and later rushing home from school to watch Charles Ingalls and the folks of Walnut Grove on Little House on the Prairie.In this episode, we are visiting with the gal everyone just loved to hate on Little House - that notorious Nellie Oleson (aka actress Alison Arngrim)!Listen in as Alison tells us about Willie (Jonathan Gilbert), Harriet (Katherine McGregor), Charles (Michael Landon), and more!Here's your opportunity to get to know the actress behind Walnut Grove's spoiled brat and step onto the set with her way back in the day!I hope you enjoy this interview!CallingToTheGood.com
Morey Sullivan is a legend in his own time. He brought the band that Hank Thompson later dubbed The Brazos Valley Boys - and they are still playing good music today!Join us down at Good Time Charlee's in Pawhuska, Oklahoma as Morey Sullivan and host, Kelly Hurd, talk about how it all began with Hank Thompson and where it's all headed today!Also, Hank Thompson's Brazos Valley Boys will be playing at the 2025 Pawhuska Western Swing Festival the weekend of November 14-15. Find out more at PawhuskaWesternSwingFestival.com!CallingToTheGood.com
If you haven't already tuned in toAmerican Country Network(ACN), after listening to this episode you just might want to, because ACN is airing original country music content that you're gonna love!We have two of the network's creatives on Calling to the Good today and they are also BOTH performing at the upcoming Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival in Fort Worth, Texas in November!Steve Markwardt and Curt Ryle of Clarksville Creative Soundshareabout their new show, "Small Town Sound," on ACN, as well as give a little insight on Country Music and its roots in Western Swing!AND - we've even included a word from Tucker Carlson on this one!I'm Kelly Hurd, your host - and consider yourself invited to join us!Thank you to the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival for sponsoring our Western Swing series!Find out more at:BirthplaceOfWesternSwing.comCallingToTheGood.comACNCountry.com
Hey y'all!Let's do a little Calling to the Good!Pull up a chair and join us around a table in the historic Guthrie Depot as the "boys" of Oklahoma Swing talk a little Bob Wills, limousines, Reba, barn fiddlin', dozens of dollars, and the journey that brought them together to revive Western Swing music north of the Red River!May all your pastures be belly-deep, your cattle be tick-fat, and may the good Lord take a liking to ya!Are you listening, Henry? ;)Oklahoma Swing band members:Greg BurgessHenry BurgessBobby BakerJoe SettlemiresRichard SharpBo Posey Steve Shortmissing: John BlairCallingToTheGood.comBirthplaceOfWesternSwing.comPawhuskaWesternSwingFestival.com
When you get five Kentucky gentlemen together, you just never know where the conversation might go...I enjoyed every minute of visiting with The Honkytonk Wranglers as part of our Western Swing music series brought to you by the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival!Turn the volume up and get to know Sethro, Clayton, Scooter, Spencer, and Josh. You just might like a little Bone Stock Honkytonk music, as they call it - and you'll get the chance to listen to some because The Honkytonk Wranglers graciously allowed me to include their video of Crazy Arms in the video version of this episode.I'm your host, Kelly Hurd, and I most definitely approve of this content! Enjoy!
This is one epic conversation!Here we were in the historic Stampede Dance Hall on the Snyder Highway outside of Big Springs, Texas with none other than Jody Nix - a legend in Texas dance hall music.We talked about his being invited to be part of the last Bob Wills album ever recorded - "For the Last Time" - as well as about growing up with the King of Western Swing coming over to his house after becoming friends with Jody's father, Hoyle Nix.Jody even brought Bob Wills' original fiddle to the Stampede that day, and took it out and played it!Enjoy this insightful look back into the days of the beginnings of Western Swing, as well as an inspiring look into the life of Mr. Jody Nix, himself!Thank you to Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival and Mr. Mike Markwardt for sponsoring this Western Swing series on the Calling to the Good podcast!Find out more about their festival at: BirthplaceOfWesternSwing.com!Host: Kelly Hurd
Jake Hooker and Tommy Hooker have been making dance music for decades and managed to stay true-to-self in the Western Swing industry while putting their own stamp on it and calling it Texas Swing!Around a wooden table over a cup of coffee, host Kelly Hurd, joined Jake and Tommy in the Hooker's guest house/music studio for a conversation that will stand the test of time and one that was definitely "Calling to the Good!"Be sure to subscribe to the Calling to the Good podcast because there's more to come!Also, if you're a Western Swing music lover, you'll want to follow the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Facebook and Instagram pages!
Over the past 25 years, Texas music legend - Dave Alexander - has established himself as one of today's most sought-after Country and Western Swing performers!When Dave is not performing with his own award-winning Big Texas Swing Band, you'll find him touring and recording with such artists as George Strait, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Sheryl Crow, Asleep At The Wheel, Tracy Byrd, Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, and LeAnn Rimes. Dave will also be one of the performers at the 2025 annual Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival taking place on November 6-9th in Fort Worth, Texas at the historic National Hall.Host, Kelly Hurd will make sure it's entertaining and pull you right into the conversation! Get ready to smile and enjoy a moment of Calling to the Good!
You're invited to pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy a little time at the ranch office of cowboy poet, songwriter, singer, and legend - Mr. Red Steagall - as we reminisce about his life, insights, and legacy.*Many thanks to Mr. Gary Kinslow of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City for your gracious kindness. I still want to get a few of Red's Rangers together for an episode of storytelling! :)CallingToTheGood.com
Thank you to Good Time Charlee's on Kihekah Ave. in Pawhuska, Oklahoma for hosting this recording! We appreciate your hospitality!!The House of Pain's former rapper turned philanthropist has a story of redemption and relationship that not only rescued him from his own house of pain, but has led him to give back to his community in bigger ways than he could have ever imagined...Turn up the volume, and listen in as Danny Boy O'Conner comes to Pawhuska to share about The Big Show Off - and the part he plays in it with the Tulsa Day Center!CallingToTheGood.com
You know him as Alamanzo Wilder on Little House on the Prairie, and we were thrilled to have actor and author, Dean Butler, sit down with host, Kelly Hurd, for an honest look into his new book, "Prairie Man" published by Kensington Publishers. Meet the real Dean Butler in this episode!Get ready to enjoy this one!
Mark Allen Cash (Johnny Cash's nephew) and Wendi Lou Lee (Grace Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie) sit down with host, Kelly Hurd around Johnny Cash's kitchen table in Bon Aqua, Tennessee for a little pickin', grinnin', and sharin' something good called hope. Mark even picks up Johnny's guitar and begins to play and sing!If you've been through something lately - this episode is for you!
What a treat it was to sit down with Danette Daniels, owner of The Water Bird Gallery in Fairfax, Oklahoma, and visit with her about The Water Bird venue/gallery/museum - as well as hear her Osage perspective on Killers of the Flower Moon and even get the story on the use of her historic building for filming the movie!Danette has a heart for her community and its history. She is also making a positive difference one smile at a time!(Writing an article for the Bartlesville Monthly Magazine is what originally initiated this interview - but it was just so good it needed to go onto a podcast as well! )Check out her store at
Look out Food Network, John Hurd is in the kitchen!In this episode, John and Kelly talk cooking along with some Texas memories that include the Moorhouse Ranch, buffalo, and more - plus a little talk about Oklahoma cow workings.
Enjoy a visit with Mark and Kelly Spencer, owners of the Wolf Creek Ranch just north of Pawhuska where you can trail ride, hike, and enjoy the western way of life!
From Cowboys & Indians magazine to the back pastures of Osage County, Oklahoma - Kenyon Lomax, owner of Prairie Sky Jewelry Co. takes time to sit down with The Tourism Gal and transparently share about her journey to almost overnight success as well as the hard work and vision before it happened.
Tune in as Rod and Ashlee Hartness tell the story of how Pawhuska came to be known as the Steer Roping Capital of the World, as well as visit about the upcoming Buddy Hartness Memorial Senior Steer Roping, their Bed & Bath just outside of Pawhuska, and their family.For information on the Hartness Ranch Bed & Bath: https://visittheosage.com/places/hartness-ranch/
Just west of Pawhuska on Hwy 60, there's an Osage County experience you don't want to miss! Neil and Teresa Fisher left Colorado and moved their business to Oklahoma - bringing with them a herd of bison, like no other!
Here's all the information you've been looking for on the upcoming Indian Relay Horse Races coming up Memorial Day weekend at Osage Downs in Pawhuska. Join us as we sit down with Mr. Jim Stevens for a behind-the-scenes look into this original event.
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look into the life of well-known western artist, Steve Boaldin, as he took a break from filming out on The Drummond Ranch in Osage County, Oklahoma for an interview with The Tourism Gal. To see more and take a look at the amazing work of this American icon, check out ArtOfACowboy.com#OsageCountyOklahoma#TheCowboyNeverRidesAway
Meet the Legend and the Hero, the artist and the artisan - Mr. Cha' Tullis, owner of the Cha' Tullis Gallery in Hominy, Oklahoma. Listen in as The Tourism Gal had a little "sit down" with the man who really knows how to paint the town!
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and listen in as we visit with Saddle Bronc champ, NFR qualifier, and Oklahoma's own - Hardy Braden from Welch, Oklahoma! Make plans to attend the PRCA's Osage Bronc Days in Pawhuska on March 26 & 27th at 7:30 pm each evening for 40 of the top broncs paired with 40 of the top saddle bronc riders in the country! All this excitement will be followed by an after-party you don't want to miss! Tickets can be purchased at www.FlatLandTickets.com. Find out more at VisitTheOsage.com
From the ranch in Oklahoma to South America to South Africa to around the globe - Will Rogers was a man who left his mark everywhere he went. We are glad to claim him as our own up here in northeastern Oklahoma. In this episode, we sit down with Visit Claremore's Tanya Andrews and visit about the mark Oklahoma's Native Son left on Claremore and Osage Co.It's also the year for the 75th Will Rogers Stampede in Claremore as well as the 75th Annual Cavalcade Rodeo in Pawhuska this summer! Y'all come see us where #TheSmilesAreAlwaysFree - or as Will might say, it's the land of Bacon, Beans, and Limousines! ;)VisitTheOsage.comVisitClaremore.org
Located on the edge of the Osage is a little piece of history paired with a big slice of personality. On the edges of Osage County, but filmed within the Osage - is what has now become The Outsider's House Museum owned by former rapper, Danny O'Connor. Join in on this insightful conversation about what brought a California rapper to lay down one lifestyle to invest himself into another.Note: Due to inclement weather, this podcast was recorded via Zoom.
Join The Tourism Gal and Ora Brown around the hat bar in Osage Outfitters as they discuss Ora's life as a cowboy, stunt man, aspiring actor, and legend in his own time! Pull up a chair - this is a good one!
Pull up a chair with The Tourism Gal and country music's Luke Christenson in Pawhuska, Oklahoma around the Hat Bar in Osage Outfitters on Kihekah Ave. Listen in as Luke talks about putting family first and how he makes it work out on the road - as well as hear about his latest upcoming song related to the soon-coming movie, "Killers of the Flower Moon." Plus - Luke sings us out on this one!
Pull up a chair and listen to the back story and the love story of Pawhuska's Cody & Lauren Garnett - owners of the Buckin' Flamingo, the Flamingo's Nest, the Great Osage Auction & Trading Co., and the Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum.
Join The Tourism Gal around her dining room table with SpringStreet as they talk about the past, present, and future of the band; Bluegrass and the power of music in general, the Tallgrass Music Festival, and even a little good old fashioned patriotism! They even perform on this episode of Osagin' It!
Pull up a chair in the office of the Hot Rod Garage in Sand Springs where old is made new and vintage takes on a style all its own! Listen in as The Tourism Gal visits with Jason Smith and Brandon McCullough, creators of The Gathering at the Roc. They're discussing an upcoming vintage car show that looks like none other and will be taking place at Woolaroc, oil tycoon Frank Phillip's ranch on October 31, 2020.
Up and coming country music star, Gracee Shriver, took time from her busy schedule to sit down with the Tourism Gal while in the Osage and visit about The Voice, how she writes her songs, Zoom calls with Brad Paisley, and more!
If you haven't yet read Tea With Isabel, you might want to get yourself a copy! Set in Osage County, Oklahoma - author Julie Sneed Womack captures your attention from the beginning and never drops it all the way to the last page! Listen in as Julie Sneed Womack tells about how the novel came to be and what is coming next!
Join us on the back porch of the farmhouse where Solid Rock Soap Co. calls home and listen in as owner, Jamie Crouch, tells of how it all began and even tells some of her secrets to successful soap making! From goat milking to soap making - you'll enjoy this visit between the Tourism Gal and the Solid Rock Soap Gal!#OsageCountyOklahoma where #TheSmilesAreAlwaysFree :)
Join Woolaroc's CEO, Mr. Bob Fraser and the Tourism Gal up on the screened-in porch at the Lodge at Woolaroc. Listen in as Bob tells of the timeless history and living legacy of oil tycoon Frank Phillips. Re-live the days of outlaws, oil deals, and cattle barons as Bob lets you in on an inside look at the ranch.
Pull up a chair around the table at Mandy's Cafe' in Shidler, Oklahoma, and join Molly Lawson of MHeart Artistry & Studio and the Tourism Gal as they discuss western photography, Molly's upcoming Cowboys of Oklahoma Art Show, and the art of being a cowboy's wife.The Cowboys of Oklahoma Art Show will take place at The Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum in Pawhuska, Oklahoma - July 13 - 31, 2020.
Getting to visit with Jay Adcock around his dining room table as he talks about his interest and talent in the area of rawhide. There's nothing like spending a little time with a cowboy in his element. Join me.
Visiting with rodeo legend, Mr. John Payne, the One Arm Bandit at Mandy's Cafe in Shidler, Oklahoma. Listen in as John tells of his travels and get a heaping dose of his perspective on life. Plus, you'll hear the story of how he came to be the One Arm Bandit of Osage County, Oklahoma. Pull up a chair and join in the conversation. Osage County, Oklahoma where #TheSmilesAreAlwaysFree
He has managed and produced artists such as Hank Thompson, Roy Clark, Minnie Pearl, the Oak Ridge Boys, and the list goes on. Listen in as Mr. Jim Halsey takes us down memory road from Hee Haw to Las Vegas with some of country music's greats - and then hear about his upcoming plans in Pawhuska, Osage County, Oklahoma at the Constantine Theater!
When else can you sit down and listen to Jimmy Don tell of when he first met Chip and Joanna Gaines AND Ladd & Ree Drummond?? From the Fixer Upper Silos to the Pioneer Woman's kitchen -- Jimmy Don Holmes is becoming an American icon. Take a moment and give this episode a listen as we hopped into his High Country pickup where he took a moment to visit about how it all began --- and where it all is headed -- which may include Osage County! He makes a little announcement here and we are excited to be the ones to get to share what may be in the works. Get ready for a little "Fixer Upper Mixer Upper" with the Osage County Tourism gal, Jimmy Don Holmes, and his good friend Frank White. Here we go... :)
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