The DRTI CMA Live Chat & Predictions Forum

It's Country's Biggest Night! And like many of you, I'll be watching tonight's CMA Awards from the comfort of my couch. But it wouldn't be a CMA Awards if we didn't offer you up a safe comment section

Something good comes along, then it’s gone: Farewell, Todd Snider.

When I moved to East Nashville in 2012, legend had it that if you wanted to find Todd Snider, all you had to do was go to Drifter’s BBQ in Five Points, and he’d be there at the bar. Nashville always had rumblings like this: that John Prine

Put a Record On: An Instrumental Country Playlist for Writing (or whatever else you do)

As someone who listens to music all the time, and writes about music and musicians for a living, there is one curious time when I am extremely picky about what I listen to: when I am actually writing. And when I am in that deep work, ignore everything else and

This Week In Country Chart History: Standards, Sexism and Cincinnati Dancing Pigs

Back with more arcane country chart history, because as we all know it brings me great joy :) Hop in, let’s take a ride on the Billboard time machine… 75 Years Ago: November 11, 1950 In its 19th (!) week on the chart, we have the now-standard "I'm

Put A Record On: Who Gets to Grow Old?

Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. Sorry if they are a little late in the day today - I got stuck in the airport mess thanks to Trumps Government Shutdown! - MM

James Talley On 50 Years of 'Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got A Lot Of Love'

The veteran singer-songwriter talks with DRTI about his timeless debut, and the half-century since.

Put a Record On: For the Mothers

I've been thinking about motherhood lately. Just kidding - I think about it and write about it all the time, because it's obviously very much a part of who I am, as a mom to two young kids who refuses to hide this part of myself

On 'Soul-Folk', with author Ashawnta Jackson

These days, the too-often ignored history of Black artists making country music looks like positively well-trodden territory compared to the story of Black artists and folk. Enter Ashawnta Jackson's Soul-Folk, a quick guide released last year to a whole subgenre that stretches far beyond even the brilliant artists

Put A Record On: I Guess This is Growing Up

Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox. Here’s this week’s music recommendation post and playlist, which are for paying subscribers only. If you’re interested in paid content but not able to afford it, shoot us an email. The Good "Field Song," Mon Rovîa: I

About that blonde woman’s album that came out October 3rd…

Forgive me for the subject line of this newsletter, a tacky bait-and-switch. But in a world of fifteen-second TikTok clips, sometimes you must resort to the low road. Because no, I’m not talking about Taylor Swift here - though I am happy to talk about Taylor! I am talking

Put A Record On: A Fall Playlist

A fall playlist, for your #aesthetic and cozy autumn days.

14 Essential 1975 Country Albums

'70s country is the source of plenty of current nostalgia despite being made (gulp) a half century ago. There are so many great albums that hit the 50 mark this year, though, and it only seemed right to give you all an excuse to listen to them — some will