The Music Universe Podcast

Morgan chats from his tour bus Last month, Craig Morgan -- Army veteran, country music hit-maker and star of the CBS series Beyond The Edge -- released his much-anticipated personal memoir, God, Family, Country, in partnership with Blackstone Publishing. The book, which Morgan wrote with Jim DeFelice, details the country star's road to success, from his humble childhood in Tennessee to his years as an elite military operative to his country music stardom with 25 Billboard charting hits. He recently wrapped a six city in-person national book tour where he chatted with fans and personally signing copies of the book. I met with him in Los Angeles where he discussed his life with the small audience. He will release the deluxe edition of his latest album, God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition), on November 11th. The project, aptly releasing on Veterans Day and coinciding with his headlining show at Nashville's iconic Ryman Auditorium, features 14 tracks including “How You Make A Man,” Morgan's newest single impacting country radio now. Morgan will launch his headlining Operation Finally Home Welcomes God, Family, Country Tour 2022 with Craig Morgan this fall, playing 11 theater and auditorium dates in October and November. Kicking off October 19th in Green Bay, WI, he'll be joined by country hitmaker Ray Fulcher to open the shows. In this episode of The Music Universe Podcast, Morgan chats with us about the memoir, album and how faith keeps him grounded. He was between cities on his tour bus during the Zoom interview, so please forgive any drops in audio and video. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/n-Px4qzNfMY

Band releases a remixed version of debut record The Dead Kennedys' classic 1980 album Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables has been remixed from the original multi-track tapes by Chris Lord-Alge and is now available via Manifesto Records. The band's debut album, which was originally released on September 2, 1980, is politically incendiary while also wholly musically adept – provocative and often idiosyncratic agit prop lyrics bouncing off of careening, adrenaline-infused musicianship. So it's only natural that the 40th anniversary re-release of this classic album is revisited by the GRAMMY winning mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge. Bassist Klaus Flouride joins us to discuss how the themes of the album -- capitalism, fascism and affluenza -- are still applicable now. He also discusses how the pandemic played into the release of the record, which was delayed by two years and the band's influence on modern music. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/c1h964pDfk0

Drummer joins us for an hour Kenny Aronoff is one of the most influential and in demand drummers and percussionists in the world. He has entertained millions of people with his drumming, has played on thousands of records, and has been the “go to” drummer for the biggest stars in music, including John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi, Stin, Adele, Bruno Mars, Alice Cooper, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Meat Loaf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Brian Wilson, Sammy Hagar and countless others. The self-taught drummer was the driving force behind Mellencamp's music for 17 years during his early career. The partnership began in 1980 and includes 10 albums and countless tours as the back beat behind the Americana rocker. Aronoff is credited with having recorded on records that have sold more than 300 million combined with more than 1,300 having been certified Gold, Platinum or Diamond the the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He's been named the No. 1 Studio Drummer by Modern Drummer Magazine and DRUM! Magazine five times and three times, respectively, voted the No. 1 Pop/Mainstream Drummer by Modern Drummer Magazine five times, and even tops Rolling Stone's "Top 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time" list. Aronoff talks to us about his career, his fall 2022 tour with Joe Satriani, his future projects and even gives us a tour of his Uncommon Studios. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/sDoIoLE8bi0

We trek to Europe to explore some music history If you've been following our podcast, you know that we had a big European trip set for September 2022 to coincide with the five Garth Brooks Irish concerts in Dublin. That time has come and gone and we wanted to recap the trip with a new series -- TMU Radio -- which features us talking about a variety of music-related subjects without a guest. We not only attended night one of Garth Brooks in Ireland, but we also visited a variety of music landmarks while in Europe. We kicked things off by visiting the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London. The don't give tours, but we hung out at the gift shop next door and stood at the famous crosswalk while snapping photos and signing the block wall that surrounds the property. Our first full day in Ireland saw us travel to Slane where the famous Slane Castle resides. The legendary venue has hosted a recurring concert series since 1981 that's boasted headliners like U2, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Queen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and most recently Metallica in 2019. They attract approximately 80,000 fans annually with the shows returning in 2023 as Harry Styles headlines the castle's first post-COVID concert next summer. Conyngham scion Alex Conyngham -- who was a guest on The Music Universe Podcast last summer -- carries the mantle of the castle and its legendary concert series. Additionally, Alex has co-founded Slane Irish Whiskey and built a distillery inside a 230-year-old renovated horse stable located on the castle grounds. We took a tour of the distillery and ended with a private tasting with Alex who then showed us several key rooms in the castle itself, including where U2 recorded and filmed in the mid-1980s. The next day, we toured the famous Windmill Lane Studios on the Dublin docks where U2, Def Leppard, Lady Gaga, and many more have recorded. The studio tour included interacting with a mixing board and seeing history lined through its inner walls. Tours are only given whenever the 4,000 square foot main studio is available, so one should check it out the next time they're in Dublin. Friday night concluded with opening night of Garth Brooks' sold out five night Ireland run to conclude three year The Stadium Tour. Four hundred thousand tickets sold out within four hours last November, marking a new milestone for the country star who hasn't performed in the city in 25 years. Brooks last played Dublin in May 1997, three months before the historic Central Park show. All our adventures are packed into a 90 minute episode, so grab your favorite drink and sit back for some craziness. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Sweeney releases new album on Sept 23rd Sunny Sweeney's new album, Married Alone, drops on September 23rd via Thirty Tigers. Produced by Paul Cauthen and The Texas Gentlemen's Beau Bedford, Married Alone takes listeners on a vibey ride from rowdy juke joints to lonely hotel rooms over the course of twelve tracks. Ranging from sweet acoustic Americana to painful, pedal steel ballads to unrestrained breakup kiss-offs to an emotional duet with country legend Vince Gill, the album captures perfectly the broad spectrum of Sweeney's talents as a songwriter and a performer. Sweeney is also the host of a new morning show on Willie Nelson's exclusive SiriusXM channel, Willie's Roadhouse (ch. 59) and on the SXM App, dubbed Sunny Side Up. On weekday mornings, from 6 am until noon ET, Sweeney presents over four decades of classic country hits from the ‘50s through the ‘80s by artists including the channel's namesake Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and many more. Sweeney chats with us about her new album, her radio show and her career. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/UPBcSx43YI8

Kongos is one of the biggest independent bands in the world Kongos -- featuring brothers Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Danny Kongos -- have music in their blood. They're continuing the musical legacy of their South African/British father, John Kongos, who landed hits on multiple charts in the Seventies. Growing up in London and Johannesburg, the men ultimately settled in their mother's hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, where the band was officially formed in 2003. Kongos began playing shows and recording, eventually releasing their self-titled debut album in 2007. Completely self-contained, they write, produce, engineer and mix their music as well as direct all their own music videos. After years touring, emailing labels, agents, radio stations and management companies, the brothers got their first break in 2011 when "I'm Only Joking" became a radio smash in South Africa, followed by multiple top 40 hits from their second album Lunatic, including “Come With Me Now” which would go on to put Kongos on the map in the United States and worldwide in 2014. The group became unanimously recognized as one of rock's most infectious and invigorating new voices as the track went RIAA 2x Platinum for sales in excess of two million. It occupied the No. 1 spot at alternative radio for five weeks, marking the quickest ascent to the top by a new band in history. They spent the following two years on tour all over the world. We chat with Johnny who tells us about the band's independent success and how they were influenced by their father. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/wGHaH0PrQO4

Texas rapper chats about career and new music In the mid 2000's, Cowboy Troy defined a new era in country music with country rap -- or hick hop, as he has coined it. The Texas born rapper released Loco Motive in 2005 with "I Play Chicken With The Train" landing in the Top 50 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. It paved the way for a genre that some may argue is unrecognizable today with its hip hop and R&B loops. Cowboy Troy was a member of the MuzikMafia (Musically Artistic Friends In Alliance) which was founded by Big & Rich's John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin in 2001. The collective contained a variety of outliers in the Nashville community who mixed styles and genres. MuzikMafia grew a vast fanbase as they often hosted late night jam sessions around Nashville that included a variety of guest performers like Jon Bon Jovi, Kid Rock, Jewel, and others, to name a few. We spoke with Cowboy Troy after the 2022 CMA Fest to chat about his career, new music and what's ahead. Full audio is streaming above. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

We address some positive and negative things about the trek After two summers of delays, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts hit the road this summer The Stadium Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the summer tour is set to wind down on September 9th with a performance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Upon initially going on sale in 2020, 25 stops have sold out while amassing over one million tickets sold to eager fans wanting to see Mötley Crüe return seven years after their Cessation of Touring agreement. The band destroyed the contract following a massive surge in new audience after the huge success of their 2019 Netflix biopic The Dirt. In February, the trek expanded to include five additional stops, due to fan demand. A fifth act, Classless Act, was also added to open the shows, turning the event into a nearly eight hour 80's glam rock traveling festival. Matt Bailey and I each had a chance to catch a show. Matt caught the Philadelphia stop in June while I attended the Los Angeles stop over the weekend. While both of our reviews remain positive, we did have a few negative thoughts, but wanted to release an episode to embellish on those thoughts a bit more. Full audio is streaming above. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Farriss has embarked on a solo career Earlier this year, prolific INXS singer/songwriter Andrew Farriss released his self-titled debut solo record. After decades of producing and writing songs for others, Farriss has embarked on a solo career. A credit to his remarkable versatility, his self-titled debut album is stunningly Americana and features a collection of eclectic songs with a unique blend of rhythm, roots, and country influences. His first offering from the project “Come Midnight” was released in 2019 and topped the country charts on radio stations all over Australia. His follow-up single “Good Momma Bad” was released at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2020. Now, in 2022, Andrew is introducing the project in the US. Farriss is best known for being a member of the rock group INXS, which is 45 years with a variety of reissues and celebrations. The group will release a 40th anniversary edition of their global breakthrough album Shabooh Shoobah in October with a deluxe digital box set. They'll also release INXS Recorded Live At The US Festival 1983, featuring a previously unreleased concert on CD and 180-gram vinyl LP. Five classic videos have also been concerted to HD and more. Farriss chats with us about his new album and the legacy of INXS. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/cW2zMLVDA0M  

Wright chats about her new album and "Take It Like Man" 30th anniversary Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer Michelle Wright releases her 10th studio record, Milestone, on August 26th via BFD/Audium Nashville. The album was produced by Bob Funk and features her latest single, "Small Town," released in June. Wright is also celebrating the 30th anniversary of her massive hit, "Take It Like A Man," that catapulted Wright into a US country star. The song was featured on her sophomore Arista Records album, Now & Then, which has been certified 2x Platinum from the RIAA. The song marked Wright as the first Canadian-born artist in the modern era of country music to have a Top 10 hit in America, a No. 1 video on CMT and to win a major US music industry award. Wright joins us to chat about her new record which features a re-recorded version of "Take It Like A Man" with several of the musicians who recorded the original track in 1992. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/NK46SM-0nRc

Multi-faceted entertainer chats about her new single & more The multi-faceted Hayley Orrantia debuts her new single, "Gasoline," today (Fri, Aug 12th). The track is a pop juggernaut that imbues her country trademark, and shows off a new side to her songwriting. It follows the May release of "Open Your Mouth," in which she calls out her self-obsessed ex. Orrantia co-wrote "Gasoline" with Ben Zelico and Gregory Furman with features a uptempo R&B pop groove and steel guitar. Zelico also produced the three minute song that's now available digitally. From starring in a hit television series to releasing chart-topping singles, Hayley has quickly made a name for herself as one of the most exciting multi-hyphenate talents in the entertainment industry. She is widely recognized for her successful country music career, where she draws on inspiration from all genres to create a perfect soulful, country-pop blend that showcases her expressive, genuine and heartfelt spirit, even paying homage to Dolly Parton. In television, she can be seen this fall reprising her celebrated role as Erica Goldberg in ABC's longstanding sitcom, The Goldbergs. The show's tenth season premieres on September 21st. Orrantia joins us to talk about "Gasoline," placing second on Fox's The Masked Singer, the forthcoming tenth season of The Goldbergs, her starring run on the award-winning Kinky Boots that ran in July at The Hollywood Bowl, as well as what it was like honor Parton on her TV show. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/vghkBkHrcm4

Griffin is transitioning from songwriter to an artist Singer/Songwriter Ryan Griffin is making waves, having been previously tapped as an opener for Kelsea Ballerini, Lady A and Old Dominion. The budding country star co-wrote Ballerini's No. 1 hit, "Dibs," and is the first signee to Red Street Country, run by Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus. In May, Griffin released his EP, Slow Down Sunrise, which features the hit song “Salt, Lime & Tequila.” The track quickly gained momentum, Hit No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway's Hot 30 Countdown and has already had more than 14 million global streams with ten million on Spotify alone. Griffin has a social following of nearly one million, with a devoted fan base on TikTok. He recently performed his hit songs at Stagecoach and CMA Fest. Earlier this week, he launched his Slow Down Sunrise Tour which hits 25 cities throughout North America through the fall. In this episode, Griffin joins us to discuss how he's transitioning from songwriter to an artist, the success of "Dibs," and what's ahead. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/GDvEyLlkwdw

White suffered a stroke in 2019 Drake White continues his musical voyage with his second studio album, The Optimystic, which was released in March 2022. White co-wrote 12 of the album's 14 tracks and produced two songs solo, co-produced the others with The Cadillac Three's Jaren Johnston. In August 2019, White collapsed on stage due to a hemorrhagic stroke, the result of Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), a brain condition White had been diagnosed with early that year. Doctors told him that he might never perform again, but the Alabama native defied the odds, undergoing multiple procedures and months of intensive physiotherapy and has been able to regain the use of his left side. The condition forced him to relearn how to walk. White is back on the road and will hit perform five dates in The UK in August. We chat with the country star about his incredible resilience that led him to write and record The Optimystic and return to the road. We also discuss how he spent the pandemic and the event space he and his wife operate in Whites Creek, TN. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/npwZKABoqYo

Ranger Doug talks about the group's legacy Riders in the Sky is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2022. The four members -- Doug "Ranger Doug" Green, Fred "Too Slim" Labour, Paul "Woody Paul" Chrisman and Joey "The Cowpolka King" Miskulin -- are keeping country music fans laughing with their mix of quick-witted humor, musicianship and vocal abilities. The group regularly tours while appearing frequently on the Opry stage, representing the "western" part of the "country & western" genre. The group has held an Opry membership since 1982 and earned numerous awards along the way. Ranger Doug is our guest this week, where he talks about the group's legacy as well as how they recorded "Woody's Roundup" for the Disney/Pixar film, Toy Story 2, which earned them a Grammy in 2001. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/NnQnJ-Le3A0

Dean chats about forthcoming album Billy Dean is keeping 90's country alive with the release of his forthcoming album, The Rest of It's Mine. The 10-track collection of tunes reflects a place very near and dear to his heart: his home state of Florida, where he and his wife have resided since returning to the panhandle in 2018. The project is his first country album in 10 years and drops July 22nd via BFD/Audium Nashville. The title track and its video are available now and feature his songwriting partner Paul Overstreet. In this interview, Dean and I chat about the origins of the song, the influence of the album and his career. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/9mn7fPbmNzw

Debut single available now Rising country duo, BoomTown Saints, have released their debut single, "All Trucks Go To Heaven," via Nashville/Muscle Shoals-based entertainment company, 8 Track Entertainment. Chris Ramos and Ben Chism formed the duo in 2018 after deciding to pursue music full time instead of their previous career paths. The guys chat with us about those former career paths as well as their forthcoming project expected in 2023. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/1nL6Mtda3DE

Flanigan is prepping his debut album For the last decade, troubadour Ian Flanigan has toured his whiskey-soaked voice and evocative lyrics across America, with a country sound reminiscent of Joe Cocker and Chris Stapleton. In 2020, Flanigan was a celebrated finalist on NBC's The Voice, finishing third as the representative from Team Blake. The country music world has since tapped him as an up-and-coming artist to watch. Flanigan has since then, continued to tour as direct support to Trace Adkins and Chris Janson, and has released his debut single, “Grow Up” featuring Blake Shelton which has received over 1.2 million streams. Flanigan is expected to release his debut album in 2022 on Reviver Records. We chat with Flanigan about his career and what's it like to appear as a contestant on the multi-Emmy Award winning NBC series. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/xSu-_v2q-iM

McCreery chats about his latest music and expanding his family Last fall, Scotty McCreery released his fifth studio album Same Truck via Triple Tigers. The album includes his latest single, "Damn Strait," which has become the fastest rising single of his career. The track follows the country singer's fourth consecutive No. 1 single “You Time,” also from the album. Earlier this week, McCreery and his wife Gabi shared publicly that they're expecting their first child, a boy, in November. McCreery can also be seen on the road through December with some of his own headlining appearances and as an opener on Brooks & Dunn's Reboot 2022 Tour. We had a chance to chat with McCreery right after news broke of the couple's pregnancy. We discuss how he feels about being an expectant father, his music and the tour. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Zeiders recently released second EP Fast-rising country star Warren Zeiders released his second highly-anticipated set of original tracks, 717 Tapes EP Vol. 2 in April via Warner Music. The set features the stunning, panoramic track, "Wild Horse" which reveals a plaintive tale about the tribulations of chasing a dream to fulfill one's destiny. The introspective ballad offers a poignant contrast to Zeiders' recent hits, “Dark Night” and “Burn It Down,” both set to appear on the EP. 717 Tapes EP Vol. 2 follows last fall's 717 Tapes EP Vol. I, which contained his certified Gold, runaway hit single “Ride The Lightning.” The second installment includes five new compositions, including two different versions of "Wild Horse." Zeiders is currently on tour in support of the project. Matt Bailey chatted with Zeiders by phone as he arrived for soundcheck in Washington DC last month to talk about his success. Bailey also attended that night's performance which is discussed following the interview. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

We were in Nashville for 2022 CMA Fest The 49th CMA Fest is in the books after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. Reporter Matt Bailey was on the ground in Nashville where he brought us updates from all of the action all festival long. Matt was live from Music City Center most of the time, but also chatted with artists at the Chevy Vibes Stage, Glen Campbell Museum and even backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. All of covarage is available on our site and across our socials. However, there are four interviews we saved exclusively for this podcast. We wrap our coverage of the 2022 CMA Music Festival with King Calaway, Caitlyn Smith, TikTok star Thomas Mac and Lindsay Ell. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/kDk7io_wSGA

Anderson releases a new best of album One cannot think or talk about country music or the Grand Ole Opry without thinking of Whisperin' Bill Anderson. The Country Music Hall of Famer releases his new album, As Far As I Can See: The Best Of, today (Fri, June 10th) which includes a newly recorded duet and original 1964 demo with Dolly Parton. The collection of 16 songs shares its name with the current exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bill Anderson: As Far As I Can See, and comes from the opening line of one of the first songs he ever wrote, "City Lights," the country classic that was a hit for Ray Price in 1958. Last summer, Anderson celebrated 60 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Anderson made his Opry debut just a few weeks before his 21st birthday and became an official Opry member less than three years later on July 15, 1961 at 23-years-old, the youngest member at the time. In celebration, Anderson joins us to discuss his six decade career and share insight on what it's like to hang out backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. We also give a sneak peek inside of the Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/QLubMqmBIy8

Morgan chats with us Nineties country music star Lorrie Morgan is looking ahead to a big year. She is currently working on two new albums, writing a book about her life and career, and recently accepted the announcement of her former husband, the late Keith Whitley, will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum later this year. We welcome Morgan via video to discuss her successful campaign efforts that led to Whitley's induction, new music that includes an album with good friend Larry Gatlin, her line of hot chicken, and her book that's currently in progress. This episode of The Music Universe Podcast is sponsored by Aroma Retail. Scent Your Space with Aroma Retail that includes a collection of 90 fragrance oils, scenting machines, room sprays, linen sprays, wax melters, reed diffusers and candles. Head to aromaretail.com and use code MUSICUNI10 to save 10% off your order. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/dmOn9ZJ7g4I

Band releases collection on LP UMe has issued The Cranberries' greatest hits collection Stars: The Best of 1992–2002 on 2 LP vinyl. The reissue comes 30 years after its original release and collects their five Island Records album hits and adds two tracks unavailable on other albums, "New New York" and "Stars." Drummer Fergal Lawler joins me virtually from Ireland to discuss the new vinyl, forthcoming box set, the band's career and Lawler's recently released solo album, All Hope Is Never Lost. Full audio and video are streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/K3HQzEoMdSg

Group releases new Dylan cover album The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is celebrating its 56th anniversary with a second album of Bob Dylan cover songs called Dirt Does Dylan. The project is available today (Fri, May 20th) and features 10 gems from Dylan's vast catalog. The album introduces three new members, including fiddler Ross Holmes, bassist Jim Photoglo (who also wrote the group's "Fishin' In The Dark") and Dirt Band's founder Jeff Hanna's son Jaime Hanna. The elder Hanna chats with Matt Bailey about the project, the group's legacy and return to the road. He also clarifies a myth surrounding the group's "appearance" backing Steve Martin on Saturday Night Live in 1978. Full audio is streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Matt's back in town to cover a special concert Matt Bailey is back in Nashville a month after we covered the 2022 CMT Music Awards. This time, he's in attendance of a Music Memorial for Jeff Carson, who passed away from a heart attack in March at the age of 58. Michael Ray, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, Lee Greenwood, Heath Wright of Ricochet, Craig Campbell, Rhett Akins, Tracy Lawrence, John Berry, Halfway to Hazard, Danielle Peck, T. Graham Brown and War Hippies performed at the Nashville Palace. Don McLean made a surprise appearance to perform "American Pie." After retiring from country music in the mid 2000's, Carson pursued his other lifelong dream and joined the Franklin Police Department where he remained a dedicated officer until his untimely passing. Carson had begin to revive his music career as he was working on new music at the time of his death. Last year, Carson spoke with us about his latest single, "God Save The World," which we premiered the video digitally in early 2021. The concert was a charity event to benefit the Law Enforcement Assistance Partnership (LEAP), a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to sworn officers of the FPD during unexpected life events. Matt chatted with Ray, Herndon, Greenwood, Wright, Lawrence, Berry, Peck, Brown, and McLean on the red carpet. Before the interviews, Matt and I discuss other aspects of our joint trip in April 2022. We had the honor to cover the Grand Ole Opry our first night in town which included performances by Sara Evans, Tenille Townes, Riders in the Sky and Nate Smith making his Opry debut. Our last day in town included an afternoon ride on the world famous General Jackson showboat where we enjoyed a concert from the Tennessee Legends, where some of Nashville's finest musicians and singers shared the stories and songs from the pride of Tennessee. Full audio is streaming below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

The Power of Women in Country Music highlights the past 100 years This month, the GRAMMY Museum's The Power Of Women In Country Music opens for a summer run in Los Angeles. The event highlights the past, present and future of country music's greatest female trailblazers by exploring the rich history of women as a driving force in country music. The Power Of Women In Country Music will take visitors on a journey through the history of women in country music, from the early years and post-World War II, to the emergence of Nashville as a country music mecca, and to female country artists becoming international pop sensations. The exhibit will feature artifacts or special content from a diverse roster of 70 female country artists. The exhibit launches on Friday, May 27th and will run through Sunday, October 2nd. LeAnn Rimes is scheduled for a special Public Program moderated by Marissa R. Moss, author of Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be, to celebrate the new exhibit on Tuesday, May 31st. Tickets are available now via the GRAMMY Museum's website. Kelsey Goelz, GRAMMY Museum's Associate Coordinator and curator of the exhibit, chats with us about what artifacts fans can expect to see. She also explains why it's important that the traveling exhibit continues to grow. Stick around after the interview where Matt and I chat about Naomi Judd, who passed away last week at 76, and Dolly Parton being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this fall. Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/XKf7FEG4ViI

Townes chats about her latest EP, performances and more Last week, Tenille Townes dropped her highly anticipated new EP Masquerades via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville in partnership with RCA Records. The EP is the first soul-baring collection Townes plans to release, where she fully pulls her own mask down. The project features tracks with Breland and Wrabel. The Canadian country star recently hosted her 12th annual Big Hearts for Big Kids event in Alberta, CA, raising over $450k. At just 15, she started the concert fundraiser in her hometown to benefit her local youth shelter, The Sunrise House, raising over $2 million thus far. She's set to launch a mini tour next week that continues the charity's contributions into the States. Townes chats with us about Masquerades, the charity, what it's like performing on the Opry and opening for some of country's biggest stars, and more. Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/deZr-jmJH8w

We are in Nashville for a big week of fun Last week was a big week for us as we trekked to Nashville to cover the 2022 CMT Music Awards on the Red (Pink) Carpet. We spoke to several country newcomers who are making waves, as well as some well known celebs who were in attendance to present such as Joel McHale and Gayle King. While in town, we covered Breland & Friends at the Ryman and John Mayer at Bridgestone Arena. Mid-week, we were the first outlet to officially unveil the name of Garth Brooks entertainment complex on Nashville's Lower Broadway. We were on the scene as his team assembled the retail store and scrim that graces the three-story complex. Before attending both of his Nissan Stadium concerts, we had the pleasure of chatting with the G-Man himself. During the 20 minute press conference, Matt Bailey asked him a question about future touring plans as the Stadium Tour winds down with five sold out shows in Dublin, Ireland in September. We followed with a personal interview with Brooks. All of our interviews from the CMT Awards and with Brooks are available on this episode of The Music Universe Podcast. We will have more from Nashville soon. Special thanks to everyone who made this unforgettable week possible! We can't thank you enough! Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/HTKnv1FoNfo

Hay chats about his latest album Men at Work frontman Colin Hay recently released his 14th solo studio album, Now And The Evermore. The set comprises a collection of ten tracks that celebrate life and love, one that insists on finding silver linings and reasons to smile at every turn. Hay is supporting the album by trekking across the country with an acoustic solo show. Last week, Matt Bailey chatted with Hay in person before his performance at Washington, DC's Lincoln Theatre. Throughout the two hour, 17-song set, Hay told stories and showed off a dry wit to rival any comedian. In fact, the crowd reacted just as well to his humor and self-effacing nature as they did his music. During their chat, Hay talks about the origins of the album and what's it like to be back on the road since the pandemic began. Hay will also be involved in Men at Work's forthcoming 18 date tour with Rick Springfield and John Waite. He's also a touring member of Ringo Starr's All Starr Band who are due to restart touring soon. The back half of this hour long episode features us chatting about our upcoming Nashville trip where we are covering the CMT Music Awards and both Garth Brooks shows. We also talk about some recent music news involving Brooks opening an entertainment concept bar, Eric Church canceling a gig to see a NCAA championship game, and the passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. Full audio can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Golden releases a three album project with his sons Country and Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry and The Oak Ridge Boys member William Lee Golden and his sons The Goldens have set Golden Classics, a three album covers project that is now available. The set features 34 songs that were originally recorded by other artists including Tom Petty, Eagles, Janis Joplin, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Bob Seger, and others. On Thursday (Mar 24th), we had an exclusive premiere of their version of the Kris Kristofferson-penned "Me And Bobby McGee" that was originally recorded by Janis Joplin in 1971. Earlier this week, we chatted with Golden while he was home briefly during tour stops with the Oaks. Golden tells us how the project came about and how he and his sons, grandchildren and some friends were inspired to record during the dark days of the pandemic. Full audio can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Magellan chats about the band's new live album Last week, Georgia Satellites released Lightnin' In A Bottle: The Official Live Album via Cleveland International Records. The 18-track album documents the band's epochal performance at Peabody's in Cleveland in 1988 after shooting to fame with "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" and their version of Chan Romero's "Hippy Hippy Shake" that was featured in the Tom Cruise film, Cocktail. It's the band's first official live album after a series of bootlegs were released throughout their decades long career. Lightnin' In A Bottle: The Official Live Album captures the sweaty excitement and spontaneity – both on and off stage – of that special night 33 years ago. The band's late 80's-era drummer Mauro Magellan chats with us about the project, the band's history and if there are plans to ever reunite and tour. Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/d30CvBq78u0

Feature length episode relives our concert travels What do Garth Brooks, Tim Allen, George Strait, TWICE, Metallica and Billy Joel all have in common? Us attending their shows over the past five weeks! We've got a monstrous episode where we tell you about our experiences traveling to Las Vegas three times in a the shortest month of the year, Los Angeles and San Diego to see some of the hottest live acts on the planet. We have a feature length film edition of The Music Universe Podcast where Matt Bailey and I chat for an hour and 40 minutes about our February and March travels. Stay tuned until the end where you can hear some uber Garth fans tell us about some of their favorite memories seeing the country superstar in concert. Below are time frames for each show, for reference. Clicking each link will take you to our written review, where available, or news regarding that show. Garth Brooks: One Man Show (Park Theater, Vegas) - 10:30 - 35:00 Tim Allen (Mirage, Vegas) - 35:00 - 39:00 George Strait (T-Mobile Arena, Vegas)  - 41:00 - 47:30 TWICE (Forum, Los Angeles) - 49:50-68:30 Metallica (Allegiant Stadium, Vegas) - 68:30-84:00 Billy Joel (Allegiant Stadium, Vegas) - 84:00-87:45 Garth Brooks Stadium Tour (Petco Park, San Diego) - 88:00-100:00 Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Skid Row co-founder talks new music and being back on the road Skid Row is prepping the final installment of their music trilogy, United World Rebellion: Chapter Three later this year. They expect to release new music in March with singles periodically until the album's release on September 16th. The new project is in partnership with earMUSIC, after the band signed with the German label in 2021. The New Jersey rockers are also heading back on the road where fans can hear a mix of new and old songs. Headlining performances are scheduled through mid-summer, with the iconic band supporting the Scorpions nine date residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Buddy Iahn chats with Skid Row co-founder Dave "The Snake" Sabo about the new music that was produced during the pandemic, returning to the road, the Atlantic Years box set, friend Jon Bon Jovi and more. Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/EYky4BkSmXw

Moore is a co-founder and CEO TalkShopLive is a leader in live social commerce that provides ease of use, transparency and patent pending proprietary technology that allows customers to purchase products within the video player on any embedded site, turning every video into point-of-sale. The platform is open to businesses of all sizes as well as creators looking to develop their own immersive, livestream shopping experiences. The site has hosted product launches from stars such as Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Alicia Keys, Reba, Dolly Parton, KISS, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and many others. Unique physical products are often offered, including limited edition pressings, autographed editions and exclusives. CEO Bryan Moore, who co-founded the social media shopping site with his sister Tina in 2018, has an extensive background in social media marketing. After working as a social media director for 20th Television and a social media supervisor producer for Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, Moore branched off on his own where he's helmed social media campaigns for Vanity Fair, Access Hollywood, BAFTA, United Nations, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and others. Country music fans know Moore as Hashtag, the guy behind the camera for Brooks' weekly Facebook Live series, Inside Studio G, and Coffee Talk with Yearwood. Many often run into him at the pair's shows where he's creating content for their socials. We chat with Moore about his work with the country superstar couple as well as how TalkShopLive has become a premiere launching pad for more than Nashville and Hollywood celebrities. Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEeEmKdtnuc&ab_channel=TheMusicUniverse

McCollum introduces first-ever NFT fan club UMG Nashville recording artist Parker McCollum introduces country fans into the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) with the first-ever NFT fan club membership. The singer/songwriter's Gold Chain Cowboy Black Card: Signature Edition NFT sold out within the first three days of being offered as the inaugural launch of MusicFX, a one-of-a kind fan engagement platform for music artists. During its December launch, ten thousand NFTs were offered with one thousand lucky fans purchasing the Gold Chain Cowboy Black Card that features an individually signed and numbered NFT, 12-month membership to the Gold Chain Cowboy Club, access to private jam sessions, VIP access to future events, secret Airdrops into their Parker McCollum MusicFX Collection, and meet and greet opportunities at select McCollum concerts and events. MusicFX is a partnership between CurrencyWorks and Crown & Ace. The platform sets the stage for new innovations in artist and fan engagement by using the blockchain, empowering artists to leverage their brand while bringing fans closer than ever before to the music and the people behind the mic. McCollum, MusicFX co-CEO & CurrencyWorks Executive Chairman Cameron Chell, and MusicFX co-CEO and Crown & Ace CEO Billie-Jo Aasen join us to discuss the new NFT partnership. Full audio and video can be streamed below. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/iuAqmOHYIHY

Band has gone viral due to Peacemaker theme Wig Wam's music sounds straight out of the 1980s glam metal scene. However, the Norwegian band was formed in 2001 and has been largely been unknown to American audiences until recently when its song, "Do Ya Wanna Taste It?," was chosen as the theme for the HBO Max original series, Peacemaker. Peacemaker writer/director James Gunn chose the 12 year old track as the theme and created a catchy dance that has gone viral. Frontman and founder Age "Glam" Nilsen visits with us to talk about their newfound success and what the band's future plans are regarding touring. In the eight episode series, John Cena reprises his Suicide Squad role with Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Chukwudi Iwuji, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick also starring. New Peacemaker episodes drop weekly through February 17th on HBO Max. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/-9_05ANdH5o

The band joins us from their Los Angeles studio The Grammy Award-winning Temptations are celebrating their 60th anniversary with a yearlong celebration that includes the release of their long-awaited Temptations 60 album. The new 12 song project consists of nearly all-original songs that are both modern and classic in feel and sound. In addition to tracks produced by group members, the album brings the iconic group together again with some of its beloved producers, including the legendary and award-winning Smokey Robinson and Narada Michael Walden. This summer, the legendary "My Girl" singers will hit the road for a 60th anniversary tour that will see them hit the United States and abroad before year's end. Tour dates are forthcoming, but they assure us families of all ages will be able to see them "movin' and groovin'" to their classic R&B sound. During the 20 minute video discussion from their Los Angeles rehearsal studio, the band talks to us about their new album, forthcoming tour, legacy, and the success of their Broadway musical, Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, based on Otis Williams's personal journey. The show recently wrapped its Broadway run after having been nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and winning the Tony Award for Best Choreography at the 73rd Tony Awards ceremony in June 2019. The show is currently on tour throughout the United States with dates lined up through the end of 2022. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/nz-m_fz16DE

Emery was a country music broadcasting legend Last week, Country Music Hall of Fame broadcaster Ralph Emery passed away at the age of 88. Emery was known as "the Dick Clark of country music" and "the Johnny Carson of cable television" as he hosted a variety of programs and introduced new artists to country music. Among his many accolades were host of TNN's Nashville Now, WSM-FM jockey, Ralph Emery Live, and Grand Ole Opry announcer from 1961 until 1964. With a career spanning more than half a century, he was a 1989 inductee into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, a 2007 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and 2010 inductee in the National Radio Hall of Fame. Emery was known for his kindness and support of female artists in country music. He gave early exposure to Lorrie Morgan and The Judds, to name a few. We remember Emery with an archival interview Matt conducted in 2018. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

We talk Ticketmaster practices In this guestless episode, our first of the new year, Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey discuss the practices of purchasing concert tickets through Ticketmaster. We often get comped to report shows, but we also buy our fair share of tickets. Most of those come via Ticketmaster. We talk about our trials and tribulations when it comes the queues and how some shows seem nearly impossible to score tickets. We also discuss how the resale market and how unfair prices can soar with secondary tickets. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey recap an arduous year The year 2021 was monumental to say the least. It was the second year of a pandemic that continued to dictate the concert industry as artists returned or attempted to return to the road. It wasn't until the back half of the year when concerts starting trekking away again, but COVID continued to rear its ugly head as artists and members of their touring camps were diagnosed with breakthrough cases of COVID. Some artists even decided to cancel or postpone planned tour dates as new coronavirus variants began taking shape and cases continued to rise. Our first show back was in June with Dan Tyminski before heading to Vegas in July to see Dwight Yoakam and Randy Houser one night and Garth Brooks the next. Our concert coverage continued full force with coverage of Alice Cooper, Justin Moore, Jack Harlow, Luke Combs, Chicago, Hank Williams Jr, Collective Soul, an all-star tribute to Lee Greenwood in Alabama, and others before Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey once again convened in Las Vegas for another three shows that featured Shania Twain, Reba and Brooks & Dunn and Carrie Underwood in early December. Matt finished out the year with another impressive run of shows in the Washington DC area that included KT Tunstall and two nights with Eric Church before wrapping with Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Christmas Eve-Eve. We were blessed with some big guests on this show in 2021. Gene Simmons, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen, SiriusXM host Eddie Trunk, Police drummer Stewart Copeland and many others graced us with their presence. We also reached our milestone 100th episode which was an NFT-focused show with members of Goodie Mob and Curio's founder Ben Arnon. We are guestless for this recap which was recorded in our Las Vegas hotel room in December. We want to thank all of our website visitors, podcast listeners, guests, publicists, artists, advertisers and everyone involved in bringing you the best content we can. Cheers to 2022 and an even bigger year to boot across the board. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Manuel chats with Matt Bailey Designer Manuel Cuevas is so synonymous with combining fashion and music that he's mostly known by his first name. Manuel was responsible for making Johnny Cash the Man in Black, crafting Elvis' signature gold lamé suit, dressing all three Hank Williams, and creating garments for Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, The Beatles, Dolly Parton, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, and many more. The man is not a fashion designer. He is a costumer and an artist as his original designs have become the trademark of true American style. On a fall 2021 trip through Nashville, Matt Bailey stopped by Manuel's shop where the pair chatted in person. We first met Manuel during our joint trip to Music City in fall 2020. While an interview wasn't planned this time, Manuel was gracious enough to sit down with Matt and chat about his career and legacy across the music stratosphere. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Gowan talks about the band's newest music Over the summer, Styx released its first new album in four years, Crash of the Crown. The legendary band also released a Record Store Day exclusive EP as well this year. The music for both was written pre-pandemic and recorded during the trying times of it. Vocalist and keyboardist Lawrence Gowan chats with Buddy Iahn about the process of recording the new music remotely, something that's new to them. He also discusses returning to the road and their newest endeavor, a line of beer. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Grow recently released a new album Sam Grow is one of country's new voices that everyone is buzzing about. Before his new album, This Town, was released in September, he had earned more than 55 million streams on the tracks. Produced by Colt Ford and Noah Gordon, Grow wrote all of the tracks except for one. His latest single, "You Ain't Gone" had scored nearly 100k streams within its first week of release in August and was featured on a variety of Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and Amazon Music playlists. Grow is our guest this week in which we discuss the new project, his career and the often elusive business side to the music industry. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/h6Y7cPTHK5U

Matt Bailey interviews the Queen of Bluegrass backstage The Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent, returns to the show, but this time, it's an in person interview in Branson. Vincent is set to perform six Christmas shows at Branson's Mansion Theatre from December 6-12th with some special guests. On a recent trip to the Missouri city, Matt Bailey chatted with Vincent backstage following an afternoon performance at the venue. Vincent discusses how she makes each show different sans a set list, the atmosphere of Branson and what fans can expect with the Christmas shows. Buddy Iahn and Matt also chat about the history of Branson and tease some big news. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Carson returns after a 20 year hiatus Jeff Carson transports fans back to the early 2000s with his classic country sound for his current single “God Save The World." This single is more relevant now than ever, igniting hope for the future in a world longing for change and healing. We premiered the video digitally earlier this year, which truly captures each word of the poignant track. Carson chats with us about the two things that he loves – music and police work. In the mid-90's to 00's, he had several hits that include "Not On Your Love," "Holdin' Onto Something" and "The Car," the latter being his only No. 1 hit. Before that, he sang demos for songs that became big hits for superstars such as Reba McEntire, Tracy Byrd, Faith Hill, Tracy Lawrence and others. He left the music industry 20 years ago to become a police officer in Franklin, TN, but felt like the world needed to hear "God Save The World." Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/rs8mmn2-pXU

Schneider co-stars with Reba McEntire in Lifetime Christmas movie Christmas is underway and Lifetime is celebrating with 35 original movies for It's A Wonderful Lifetime in 2021. Among those is Reba McEntire's Christmas in Tune, premiering on Friday, November 26th at 8 pm ET/PT. John Schneider co-stars alongside Reba and Candice King (TV's The Vampire Diaries) in the heartfelt Christmas film. Years after their personal and professional breakup, the singing duo of Georgia (Reba) and Joe Winter (Schneider) agree to reunite after their daughter, Belle (King), asks them to participate in a Christmas charity concert, only to find themselves getting back in tune on stage and off. Schneider talks to us about the film and what it was like working with Reba and Candice. We discuss everything from the production in Nashville to the music and how Reba and John's real life chemistry makes the film a new holiday classic. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Matt is in town for a special project Branson, Missouri was once a mecca for world-famous live entertainment. Nestled away in the beautiful rugged Ozarks in Southwest Missouri, it once attracted millions of visitors each year with shows covering every genre and variety. Throughout the 80's into 00's, stars such as Mickey Gilley, Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, The Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis and others called Branson home. By the mid-90's, the city boasted more than one hundred performances each day, allowing stars to make millions of dollars by headlining residencies at their own theaters on a strip much like Las Vegas. Branson was seen as a great alternative to touring while still performing regularly. By 2015, Branson's theater shows became less attractive with many high profile and longtime entertainers leaving town. In 2014, Jim Stafford's iconic theater was under new ownership but retained his name. However, a new demographic and change in the touring industry has forever altered the landscape of the city that was once flourishing with high profile celebrities. Many of Branson's iconic theaters, including Stafford's, are being demolished to pave the way for new attractions, but some musicians are still finding success, such as Mickey Gilley. Matt Bailey is in town working on a special project, and is catching some shows. In this guestless episode, Matt talks about seeing Gilley and Johnny Lee, two of country's most prominent singers who gained famed during the Urban Cowboy movement in the 80's. We also discuss Branson's impact on the industry and tease Matt's project. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Band celebrates Road Apples 30th anniversary The Tragically Hip have released a special version of their sophomore album, Road Apples 30th Anniversary Deluxe. The set was released digitally worldwide on November 5th with physical versions on 4 CD/Blu-ray Pure Audio and 5 LP/Blu-ray Pure Audio staggered for Friday, November 12th in Canada, Friday, November 19th in the US and Friday, November 26th for the rest of the world. The expansive deluxe editions are jam-packed with rare and previously unreleased and never heard before pieces of music chronicling the Road Apples era, including the original album remastered in 2021 by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville. Bassist Gord Sinclair and drummer Johnny Fay join us to discuss the projects and how they thought much of the vault songs were lost in the Universal Studios Lot fire from 2018. The pair relive many moments from the recording sessions, and share why a show at The Roxy in Los Angeles was included in the physical variations. Stick around after the interview for a discussion Buddy Iahn and Matt Bailey have about Branson and a special project Matt is involved with in the Branson community. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/BSd1uj-HXro

Carter talks about debut album's new reissue and upcoming Ryman show Deana Carter is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her 5X Platinum debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This? with a newly remastered and expanded edition today (Fri, Nov 5th) via Capitol Nashville/UMe. The project includes two new tracks with Carter performing and producing 2021 versions of "Strawberry Wine," featuring Lauren Alaina, Martina McBride, Ashley McBryde, Kylie Morgan, and Vince Gill on guitar, as well as the title track, featuring Terri Clark, Sara Evans, Ashley McBryde, and Vince Gill. In addition, Carter will headline her first-ever concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium on November 18th with special guests Charles Esten and Breland, with other surprises as well. Carter joins Buddy Iahn to discuss the iconic album's silver anniversary, the Ryman show and her career. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/WN5hAMHysnI

Copeland reinvents The Police music with an orchestra The Police drummer Stewart Copeland is teaming with an orchestra to reimagine some of the band's biggest hits. On November 4th, Copeland will take the stage a 28 piece orchestra, guitarist, bassist and three vocalists for Stewart Copeland: Police Deranged for Orchestra at The Soraya in Northridge, CA. The event focuses on the epic rise of Copeland's career in music that has spanned over four decades, and includes more than 60 million records sold worldwide, six Grammy awards, and induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Copeland joins us from his home studio to discuss the show and what fans can expect. He also talks to us about his legendary career and what's head. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://youtu.be/Mjk0rp-EdhA

The group is celebrating its 60th anniversary The Temptations founding and sole surviving member, Otis Williams, is celebrating his 80th birthday this week and 60th anniversary of the legendary R&B group that's inspired generations of musicians. On November 1st, City College Center for the Arts will host a virtual event that will feature a conversation with Williams with several special celebrity guests. The “Evolution of The Temptations' Music, 1961-2021” will be simulcast from the Aaron Davis Hall's renowned Marian Anderson Theatre, named after the distinguished African American singer who broke racial barriers and inspired new generations of singers of all colors. Distinguished musician, composer and entertainment entrepreneur K. Sparks will conduct the online event, which begins at 7:30 pm EDT and will feature other special guests. Williams joins us to discuss the event as well as his legendary career including new Temptations music, Ain't Too Proud musical and more. Be sure to subscribe to The Music Universe Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.