Carly Pearce is unafraid to raise tough questions about faith, marriage, and success in country music. In a startling candid episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, the Kentucky singer-songwriter addresses the polarizing response to her new song “Church Girl,” opens up about the sacrifices she’s had to make for her career, and wonders if you can ever really “move on” from a broken relationship. “Those parts of your story, they’re never gone,” Pearce says. Also, we run down the week’s news, including word of a new Highwomen album, and give you our five Hear Nows, the songs in country music you just have to hear this week.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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On this episode of The Rolling Stone Interview, Johnny Knoxville – the patron saint of beautiful stupidity – looks back on 25 years of broken bones, bad ideas, and cultural chaos as he gears up for what he insists will be the final chapter of Jackass. In a wide-ranging conversation with Rolling Stone senior writer Alex Morris, he opens up about the darker aftershocks of that legacy: concussions, “catastrophic thinking,” addiction within the cast, and the uneasy realization that aging bodies don’t bounce the way they used to. It’s a raw, unexpectedly tender reckoning with risk, rebellion, fatherhood, and how the guy who made a career out of pain is finally learning his limits.

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Rob Sheffield and host Brian Hiatt break down Harry Styles' long-awaited new single "Aperture," trace the career arc that made him pop's most unpredictable star, and look ahead to Kiss All the Time. Disco Occasionally.

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As the singer of Rival Sons, Jay Buchanan has one of the most powerful voices in all of music, but on his new solo album, Weapons of Beauty, he dials back the volume in favor of a rootsy, Americana approach. The results are stunning. In a special episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, taped in front of a live audience, Buchanan talks about writing the album off the grid in the Mojave desert, where he slept with a pistol beneath his pillow. He also goes deep on his role in the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere, and shares how Springsteen’s Nebraska inspired his new chapter. If you don’t know Jay Buchanan, you will now. 

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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The story of the Band Perry remains one of the most fascinating in all of music. The sibling trio restored faith in real country music with songs like “If I Die Young” and dynamic live shows, but left fans confused when they exited their Nashville label to make pop music. Now lead singer Kimberly Perry is back with a revamped Band Perry lineup, new songs that continue to touch on her favorite subject (death!), and a long-awaited answer for those who ask what the hell happened. We welcome Kimberly into the Nashville Now cabin for one of our most revealing chats yet.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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For the past month, The Kid Mero has stepped into the morning-show chair at Hot 97, taking over one of New York City’s most influential microphones following the departure of longtime host Ebro Darden. In a wide-ranging conversation with Rolling Stone’s Jeff Ihaza, Mero talks about the weight of becoming a daily voice for the city, fatherhood, and why terrestrial radio feels like a natural next chapter in his evolution. It’s a candid look at bridging digital and legacy culture – and creating moments for the version of himself who was listening years ago.

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We discuss Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance, look back at his career path, and try to figure out how such a nice guy sparked so much controversy with an uplifting halftime show. Julyssa Lopez joins host Brian Hiatt for the discussion

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Justin Townes Earle may have traveled the world as an Americana troubadour, but the story of the singer-songwriter’s life can be told in just a few square miles in his native Nashville. In this special episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, Jonathan Bernstein, author of the new authorized biography of Earle, What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome, gives us an intimate walking tour of Earle’s Nashville, from the park where he found solace to the dive bar where he honed his craft. We also talk about the legacy of Earle, who died in 2020, and why his songs will continue to play on.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

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We go deep into the making of the big show's superstar performances, chaotic moments, and more, with Grammys executive producer Ben Winston joining Rolling Stone Music Now host Brian Hiatt

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We look at Bruce Springsteen's rapid response to deaths at the hands of federal agents in Minnesota — and the long history of other fast-turnaround protest songs, from Woody Guthrie to Nina Simone to Buffalo Springfield to Lil Baby. Andy Greene joins host Brian Hiatt for the discussion.

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Laura Veltz, the songwriter behind hits for Dan + Shay, Jessie Murph, and more, shares the secrets of the Nashville writing room in this week's episode of Nashville Now. Veltz  opens up about how she collaborates intimately with someone who may not share her own beliefs. We also preview Nashville's upcoming 615 Indie Live festival, where we'll host a live-audience podcast, and assess the health of Nashville's independent music venues with local champion Jamie Kent.

Country is Here…Nashville is Now.

Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices