This week, Caylee Hammack dials in from Nashville to chat to Ben about the places that have had the biggest impact on her and on her music. She talks about everything from the quiet stability that family life in Ellaville gave her, to the heartbreak that pushed her to leave town and pursue her dreams in Nashville.Caylee speaks about a devastating diagnosis at the age of sixteen which turned her world upside down, and set her on the path to becoming a songwriter. She also shares what she learned from losing all her worldly possessions in a housefire; how the beginning of her honky tonk education at Tootsie’s on Broadway came about; and her love of solitude and nature and how it brought her to Scotland. Be sure to check out our Country Roads Podcast Playlist on Spotify, where you can hear all the songs discussed with Caylee in this episode, and many more besides! Follow us on Instagram @countryroadspod to connect with fellow Country fans, to hear exclusive content with our guests, and be the first to know about the giveaways and competitions we have coming up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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53:35
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53:35
Kassi Ashton
This week, rising star, Kassi Ashton, speaks about finding her sound by accepting that she is two sides of one coin; leaning into being someone who loves fashion design as much as dirt bikes, and hunting as much as ballet. Kassi has learned to be unapologetically herself, and explains how she has captured her truth in her long awaited debut album, Made From The Dirt. In learning more about the places that have made her who she is today, we journey to Missouri for rifle season which is bigger than Christmas for Kassi’s family; to her happy place in Key West, Florida, where she met her husband; and to Nashville where she struggled to fit in at Belmont, but found her feet Downtown. Kassi shares what it was like writing the most difficult song of her life but why it’s become one of her favourite songs to perform, why she’s more interested in being an icon than a star, and why her “rat cave” is the place she feels most at home! Also, listen in full to hear Kassi deliver one of the best answers ever to the question, “Are you Country enough?” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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57:42
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57:42
Josh Ross
Canadian singer/songwriter Josh Ross joins Ben for a chat about his incredible rise to stardom, his love of Nashville and how sometimes you just need sit in silence. Josh slept in his car when he first moved to Nashville, trying to make it as a young songwriter, but soon made his mark and it's now the city he calls home. But Canada still has his heart - and he loves to return to see his family, and, to fish! Ben and Josh share stories of songwriting sessions in Nashville (and how, sometimes, they don't always go right) and talk about some of their inspirations. Remember you can watch all of our episodes on our YouTube channel - please subscribe and like so we can share the love! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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46:10
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46:10
Rissi Palmer
This week, American country artist Rissi Palmer joins Ben Earle for a chat about the places that have inspired her songwriting. From the churches of Pennsylvania, to her home of North Carolina, Rissi's songs tell great stories, which are influenced by her family. A trailblazer for Black women in country music, she debuted in 2007 with the single "Country Girl", which made her the first African-American woman to chart a country song since 1988.Get more familiar or reacquaint yourself with all the music mentioned in this episode by saving our Country Roads Podcast Playlist on Spotify. You can also follow us on Instagram be the first to hear what's coming up on Country Roads each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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44:24
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44:24
Kezia Gill
This week, Ben is joined by his first British guest of the series - Kezia Gill! She takes us back to her musical roots in Ireland, where she would sing with her Dad in the local pubs. She honed her craft playing cover songs in clubs, before becoming the singer/songwriter she is today.We journey to Nashville and Memphis, where Kezia had an inspirational Elvis moment, and across the UK, where she calls home. She also tells Ben about the inspiration behind some of her most personal lyrics, and, how she gambled everything - even her house - on making her most recent album. Get more familiar or reacquaint yourself with all the music mentioned in this episode by saving our Country Roads Podcast Playlist on Spotify. You can also follow us on Instagram to be the first to hear what's coming up on Country Roads each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Singer songwriter Ben Earle is offering Country fans a fresh take on the lives and careers of their favourite artists. Country music has always been closely tied to the land from which it sprung, and as a result many of the best Country songs tell us stories with a strong sense of place; be it Dolly’s Mountain Home in Tennessee, Tim McGraw’s Nashville, or Cam’s Redwood Tree in California. We’re taking this one step further by better getting to know our favourite Country stars through the places that are most important to them; the landscapes that have shaped them, the places that have opened their eyes to new possibilities, the people who’ve crossed their paths and inspired them to capture their story in a song. If their lives were a stack of postcards, where would they be from? We also dive deep into the songwriting, to find out more about the places that have inspired some of our guests most beloved songs. There’s a saying; we are everywhere we’ve ever been. So meet us here every Thursday to hear real stories about the places that have made the biggest and brightest Country artists who they are today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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