Advertise on podcast: Country Music Made Me

Jeff Hanna is the founding member of the Grammy Award winning country/rock group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Jeff joins Country Music Made Me to talk about his musical beginnings after picking up the guitar in Middle School, the organic formation of his first jug band in High School, and how winning a local talent competition set the group of friends on a path towards forming the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1966. Jeff and Brendan talk about the band's early years of hanging out with a group of young, like minded musician's, and what it's like to see them become the who's who of legendary artists within the industry. Jeff explains how the group has evolved and reinvented themselves over the years to remain relevant within in the industry, moving from jug band, to Americana and finally to Country with their #1 hit "Fishin' In the Dark" in 1987. Finally, Jeff talks about the bands new album "Dirt Does Dylan", a record filled with reimagined tracks from Bob Dylan's vast library of hit songs.

Jason Nix is a singer, songwriter and jack of all trades within the Country Music community. Jason joins Country Music Made Me to discuss the influence his musical father had on his early love of music, why being encouraged to become a musician never deterred him from chasing a career in music, and how his Dad's journey in Nashville helped shape his own path to Music City after high school. Jason and Brendan talk about his years at Belmont, how friendships with the likes of Tyler Hubbard, Ryan Hurd and Ryan Griffin during University helped shape his journey following graduation, and what his years spent in a cover band on Lower Broadway and playing for other artists like Ryan Griffin and Canaan Smith meant for his development as an artist. Finally, Jason explains the events that led to becoming a songwriter, how it helped lead him down a path towards releasing his own original music, including his newest single "Mary Wanna", and what the future holds within his developing career.

Abbey Cone is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who is signed to The Valory Music Co. an imprint of Big Machine. Abbey joins Country Music Made Me to discuss her early love of music, her first public performances when singing the national anthem on the Rodeo Circuit her family competed on, and how she grew as both a performer and a musician while singing on the Opry Circuit in her home state of Texas. Abbey and Brendan talk about her first trip to Nashville at the age of 12, how that led to telling her parents she wanted to finish high school through online courses so she could move to Music City, and what it was like making the official move before she had turned 17. Abbey explains what's it been like navigating the mental and emotional challenges while chasing a Country Music career, what the process was like when signing with Big Machine, and the importance she places on evolving as an artist and as she learns more about herself and the story she hopes to tell within her music.

Steve Moakler in a Country Music Singer/Songwriter. Steve joins Country Music Made Me to discuss the importance of family within his journey, including his Grandfather, who built a popular neighborhood bar in his basement called "Siddle's Saloon", and his Grandmother, who lived with Steve and his family for much of his formative years and helped inspire him in many important ways. Steve and Brendan talk about his musical beginnings, which started thanks to the gift of a 1980's Alvarez acoustic guitar from his Grandmother's boyfriend, his first high-school band "Line of Reason", and what drew him to Nashville rather than chasing fame and fortune with the group. Steve explains how he's navigated the many ups and downs within his career, the focus he continues to put on the relationships built within his music, and the personal messages of growth as a father, husband and musician that have inspired his new album "Make A Little Room".

Morgan Johnston is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter based in Nashville. Morgan joins Country Music Made Me to discuss her two competing loves, Horses and Music, how her parents love of both animals and music helped inspire her to chase her dreams no matter where they led, and how learning about her Great Grandmothers past as a songwriter has inspired her journey in Nashville. Morgan and Brendan talk about Morgan's early musical experiences, first with her friends putting on "air band" performances for their family, to open-mic nights at small venues around her hometown of Sandwich Cape Cod, and finally to dropping out of University after a year to chase a career in Nashville. Morgan explains the feelings she had when making the official move to Music City, what it was like to have her debut single "Good Guy" do much better than she expected, and how she's navigated the up's and down's of the industry. Finally, Morgan talks about enjoying the small victories within her journey, the growth she's experienced as an artist that she's brought into her new single "The End", what it's been like working with long time friend, Producer Noah Needleman, and the excitement she has for the release of her debut album in late 2022.

Devin Cooper is a Canadian Country singer/songwriter. Devin joins Country Music Made Me to discuss his early love of music which included playing along on the self playing piano, cranking up The Beatles Anthology CD on his parents living room stereo, and begging for a guitar at the age of 5. Devin and Brendan talk about the moment he received his first guitar at the age of 7, the dedication he showed at a young age to learning the instrument, how his songwriting began to develop, and how he was caught between two worlds, writing storytelling lyrics routed within the Country genre but playing blues inspired music around it. Devin explains how a concert featuring Kip Moore and The Cadillac Three helped inspire him to combine the Blues/Rock music he had grown up on with his Country inspired songwriting to create his own unique brand of Country Music, what it's meant to have friendships with some of the most talents musicians and producers in Canada, and how regular trips to Nashville have helped him develop as a songwriter and an artist.

Ryan Griffin is a Country Music singer/songwriter originally from Ocala, Florida. Ryan joins Country Music Made Me to discuss his early love of music which began while listening to the Country greats in the family car and with his Grandpa on Sunday nights while watching the Grand Ole Opry Telecast, it was also inspired by the soulful tunes of Brian McKnight and the genre bending sounds of Keith Urban. Ryan and Brendan talk about how his time at Belmont helped guide him towards a career as an artist, including a stint as the tour manager for an up-and-coming artist by the name of Jason Aldean, and what the journey has been like towards finding his own unique sound within the genre. Ryan explains how he's been able to navigate the ups and downs of his career, including losing his mentor and friend, Busbee in 2019, being dropped by both his publisher and record label in 2021, how the support of his wife helped him move forward as an independent artist, and the amazing opportunities that have come thanks to the success of his single "Salt, Lime & Tequila", including being welcomed onto the Grand Ole Opry stage and signing as the flagship artist on the Jay DeMarcus led Red Street Records.

Sarahbeth Taite is a Country Music singer/songwriter originally from Fort Collins, Colorado. Sarahbeth joins Country Music Made Me to discuss her early musical memories on the piano with her Grandmother, the encouragement her parents offered in following whatever path she chose as long as she worked hard, and how writing musical poems at the age of six transformed into song writing in her early teens after picking up the guitar. Sarahbeth and Brendan talk about signing her first publishing deal at 14 after attending the NSAI Songwriter's workshop in Nashville, what it was like to feel on top of the world at such a young age, and how she's navigated the high's and low's of the industry over the last 10 years. Sarahbeth explains the importance of growth within herself as an artist since the release of her debut single "He Loves Me" in 2015, what it was like working within the unexpected success of her single "Long Way" in 2020, what she learned from her time on American Idol, and what fans can expect from her new EP "For My Own Good".

Raleigh Keegan is a Country Music singer/songwriter based in Nashville. Raleigh joins Country Music Made Me to discuss his unusual birth story, born to a single mom serving time in a state penitentiary and being adopted when he was only a few days old to a loving family in Cincinnati. Raleigh and Brendan talk about his early love of music which was developed on a Baby Grand Piano in the family home, some of his first bands including the rap/pop group The Queen City Kids, and what caused him to leave his day job behind after College to chase his dreams in Nashville. Raleigh talks about how he stays positive within the ups and downs of his career, how his music has evolved over the years, and the excitement he has for his new concept album, The Tale of 7 Cities, which fuses his passion for Jazz with his love of Country Music.

Dallas Smith is one of the most successful Canadian Country Artists in history and the lead singer of rock band Default. Dallas joins Country Music Made Me to discuss his first musical memory of listening to The Beatles "Abbey Road Medley" on the radio, how his shyness kept him from singing in front of others as a youngster, and how a passion for music continued to burn deep within until his early 20's. Dallas and Brendan talk about stepping out of his comfort zone to perform Plush by the Stone Temple Pilots in his friends garage, how that quickly led to the formation of Default, and how working with Nickelback's Chad Kroger and producer Joey Moi helped launch them towards a successful career. Dallas explains the ups and downs that led him to reach out to Joey with the idea of recording a country record, how quickly the idea of a career in Country Music became a reality, and what his journey has been like over the past 10 years while becoming one of the biggest artists in Canadian Country Music history, which has included a record Twelve #1 singles. Finally, Dallas talks about how a shy kid grew up to be the 2 time CCMA Entertainer of the Year, and what's next within his decorated career.

Chayce Beckham is a Country Music singer/songwriter and the winner of Season 19 of American Idol. Chayce joins Country Music Made Me to discuss his early love of music after getting a guitar from his Grandma at the age of 3, how important his Grandpa was in helping him become the person he is today, and how singing along to George Strait in his truck as a teenager helped him find his voice. Chayce and Brendan talk about The Sinking Sailors, the reggae inspired band he formed with a group of friends after High School, his focus on making music a viable career in his early 20's, and the difficulty he had coming to grips with the loss of his Grandfather and the band in 2020. Chayce explains the deep hole he fell into during 2020, his efforts to mask the pain with alcohol, and the car crash that changed everything. Finally, Chayce talks about his time on American Idol, the inner healing he's experienced since winning in 2021, and the joy he's filled with as he lives his dream of sharing his music with the world.

Lexie Hayden is a Country Music Singer/Songwriter who recently competed on MTV's Becoming a Popstar. Lexie joins Country Music Made Me to discuss growing up in the Rock influenced suburbs of Washington but being drawn to Country Music thanks to regular trips to her Grandparent's farm in Pennsylvania, the influence her Grandpa and his love of classic country has had on her journey, and how she picked up the guitar thanks to inspiration from her young brother. Lexie and Brendan talk about her very first performance at the local venue "Jammin Java", posting the video to youtube, and how positive comments helped inspire her to continue sharing her music. Lexie explains how a summer internship with the Bobby Bones Show during College made her realize Nashville is where she wanted to be, what is was like moving to Music City only a few months after graduation, and how she's navigated the ups and downs within her journey. Finally, Lexie talks about working with hit songwriter Derek George since 2017, the positive momentum she's experienced over the past 2 years with skyrocketing streaming numbers and huge support from Bobby Bones and Women of iHeartCountry, and what's next within her burgeoning career.