Vince Gill: This Country Music Hall of Famer truly needs no introduction. One of the most respected singers, songwriters and guitarists in Nashville, I spoke to the experienced collaborator – and expert golfer – around the time of the release of his new studio album, Down to My Last Bad Habit. The 59 year old opened up about his favourite tracks on the record (his 18th studio album) and also ruminated over whether he believes he is doing a good job in trying to ‘fill the shoes’ of the greats, in reference to the classic George Jones song. See what Vince had to say here.
Wheeler Walker Jr.: Wheeler Walker Jr. is the alter-ego of Kentucky-born comedian Ben Hoffman and his outstanding debut album, Redneck S**t, topped the Billboard Comedy Charts back in February. So much more than just a raucously funny comedy record, the 11-track CD also contained some excellent country songs, featuring traditional country instrumentation, and deservedly entered the Billboard Country Charts at number nine. The full piece can be viewed here.
Lorrie Morgan: One of country music’s feistiest females returned this year with Letting Go… Slow, her first solo album since 2010’s I Walk Alone and the first long-player to bear her name since the 2013 duets album with Pam Tillis, Dos Divas. The first female country star in history to achieve three consecutive albums certified Platinum (Leave the Light On, Something in Red and Watch Me) discussed the new record, her tumultuous private life and also recalled her friend, the late Mindy McCready. Go here to read what she had to say.
Bill Anderson: Another Country Music Hall of Famer I interviewed this year was the veteran singer/songwriter they call “Whisperin’ Bill.” As busy as ever, the 79 year old, who has had his songs recorded by artists such as George Strait, Ray Price, Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley, celebrated 55 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2016, and also published his second autobiography, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson: An Unprecedented Life in Country Music. We spoke about all this and more back in July and the subsequent article can be found here.
Jon Pardi: One of my favourite country albums of the year (California Sunrise) contained my absolute favourite country song of the year: “Head Over Boots.” The young Californian behind both was a gracious interviewee in the summer and reflected on the album’s success (it went straight in at number one) and also revealed the philosophy behind his winning sound. To find out what one of Nashville’s biggest names had to say, go here.
Mark Chesnutt: I’d waited a long time to speak to one of my favourite country stars of the 1990s and when the chance finally came, he didn’t disappoint. Tradition Lives, Chesnutt’s first album in six years, was a sparkling return to form and surely one of his finest artistic statements to date. As well as the record, Mark also looked back on the time he, Tracy Lawrence and Joe Diffie were invited out to Merle Haggard’s ranch in Redding, California. The full interview can be read here.
Hoyt Hughes: Another new artist, Floridian Hoyt Hughes plays a more traditional style of country that seems to be coming back into the mainstream, as the likes of Chris Stapleton, William Michael Morgan, Mo Pitney and Sturgill Simpson have proved. Dividing his time between Nashville and Los Angeles, Hughes has the potential to be huge and I look forward to seeing what 2017 has in store for him. The fruits of our conversation can be seen here.
To everyone who clicked on my articles over the past 12 months, thank you all for reading and here’s to more of the same next year. To read more of my interviews from the last seven years, check out my new book published earlier this year.
