Recent Posts
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Brian Whelan: Zen and the Art of Session Musicians
Brian Whelan is a professional musician with a range of impressive credits to his name. He’s supported Post Malone’s early forays into country music, was a mainstay in Dwight Yoakam’s studio band and supported one of last year's best albums, Jake Owen’s Dreams to Dream. In addition to his studio work, Whelan is a regular on stages across Southern California and beyond. Like so many musicians based in Los Angeles, he called Altadena home. The proximity to recording studios, affordable and interesting housing and a slower pace of life were appealing. Along with his wife, they welcomed their twins home to the city, and not long after that, their lives changed, along with so many others, on a windy night in January. More than 9,400 structures burned down in that fire that raged through the hills and neighborhood east of Los Angeles. The Dads speak with Whelan about music, the impact of the Eaton fire on the music scene in LA, especially the roots, Americana and country scenes, and how being a dad, growing up and getting “Pro Vibed” have provided balance in his life and approach.
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The Fourth of July Soundtrack: Why Country Music Sounds Like America
This week, the Country Music Dads celebrate America 250, country music’s role in this -- and other -- uniquely American celebrations, and how to honor our history, the details of our past, and advance the American experiment. Happy Birthday America!
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Country Music, Interviews, Small Town Life
Nathan Evans Fox: Lots of Beginnings and Other Hard Truths
This week, the Country Music Dads welcome Nathan Evans Fox to the podcast. He is a Nashville-based country music artist and dad with a fascinating new album on the way. He explores his own country upbringing. Using traditional themes of land, hard work and faith, he approaches his music and life from the political left, in a space considered very conservative. Fox’s album Heirloom is out May 29 on Free Dirt Records.
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Country Music, culture, Dad Life
Don’t Call It a Comeback: Country Music Dads Returns!
The Dads are so back! After an extended season break -- due to some expansions in the family size --the guys are back at it, planning out a new season of great guests, interesting topics and general silliness. We hope you are ready for Season Three of the Country Music Dads podcast.
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Jeremy Ivey’s Shape Reveals Itself
Recently, the dads sat down with Grammy-nominated songwriter, alt-country artist and father, Jeremy Ivey. But you may know him better as Margo Price’s husband. Ivey has a new album, It’s Shape Will Reveal Itself, out now on Soggy Anvil Records, and it’s a heavy look at the world around us. We will talk about his role as Price’s husband, their partnership in raising their children and songwriting, and how their lives together (and apart) have influenced his art.
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2026 Grammy Awards Preview: Country Music Dads’ Picks, Snubs, & Surprises
Awards Season is here, so the Country Music Dads must weigh in on what is most deserving, who was snubbed and how the Grammys may be the ultimate dad award show. It's the 2026 Grammy Awards preview edition of Country Music Dads!
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Country Music, culture, Dad Life, Masculinity
Beefing Bros: Making Sense of Gavin Adcock and the Fightin’ Side of Country Music
What’re you looking at, son? You wanna go? Well, it seems like Gavin Adcock can’t get enough of the fightin’ side of country music, and the media (The Dads included) can’t get enough of his bologna. This week, we dive into the beefs, why country music seems to foster this kind of violent rhetoric, what dads should do about it and how the media landscape makes it all worse. While you're listening, please take two minutes to fill out our listener survey! What do YOU want to hear about country music and modern fatherhood in Season 3? Survey will be live until January 31, 2026. https://countrymusicdads.com/feedback/
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Country Music, culture, Dad Life
Why Thanksgiving is the Ultimate Country Music Dad Holiday– and Why It Gets No Respect
Thanksgiving doesn't get any respect, but we're looking to change that. The beleaguered middle child of the holiday season, Thanksgiving is often overlooked. Yet so many elements of Thanksgiving (gathering with family, romanticizing our past traditions, and reckless binge-eating, among others) seem to make it the perfect holiday for a dad and for country music. We explore why Thanksgiving doesn't get its due and we take our best shot at creating a Country Music Thanksgiving Playlist.
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Songbirds’ Son: Shooter Jennings on Waylon The Artist, Waylon The Dad and The Legacy of Both
This episode needs no introduction: Shooter Jennings joins Donnie and Dave to discuss his dad’s cache of recordings, the process of bringing together three albums' worth of new Waylon Jennings music, and his feelings about the first installment, Songbird. Shooter talks at length about the discovery of Waylon’s previously unreleased music, his relationship with his legendary dad and his own role as a father of two. This one was big for the Country Music Dads, as there couldn’t be a more perfect topic for this podcast.
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Ryan Posner: The Dad Behind Y’all Star Revue on Country Music’s Evolution
This week, Donnie speaks with Ryan Posner, a Los Angeles-based bass player, side man and musical director, about balancing his home and professional life, how to define country music, why it is important to push art forward and how bass players make great dads. They dive deep into the value of his current project, the nearly weekly Y’all Star Revue, a showcase at the original Desert 5 Spot in Hollywood. This event highlights the best local and touring country music talent who are on the verge of breaking out.
