In the late 2000s, Justin Townes Earle emerged as one of the most magnetic singer-songwriters in roots music. He died in 2020 of a fentanyl overdose in Nashville, and now journalist Jonathan Bernstein has an engrossing biography, “What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome.”
jewly hight
Music critic and journalist Jewly Hight has been based in Nashville for two decades. Often, she's interpreted developments in Nashville's music communities and industries for a national audience. Her work has appeared on NPR and in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine/Vulture, The Guardian, Billboard, The Oxford American, Slate and numerous other outlets, and she's lent her expertise to a number of podcasts and documentaries. Hight landed her first book deal while studying religion, gender, sexuality, music and the South at Vanderbilt Divinity School, she was the inaugural winner of the Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism and she helped launch WNXP as its Editorial Director in 2020. Now Senior Music Writer for Nashville Public Radio, and working with a diverse Nashville audience in mind, she's created the organization's first limited podcast series focused on music, "Making Noise."
Nashville rapper iNTRO contains multitudes
On “Duality of Man,” rapper iNTRO paints a self-portrait from many different angles, continually shifting in style and subject matter alike. “What is a rapper? … I’m also doing these other things that aren’t necessarily rapper-esque, like baking banana bread.”
Mon Rovîa sought quiet to make an album that could reach the world
Mon Rovîa named his debut album, and its title track, “Bloodline.” In the song, he reflects on his quest to restore his sense of connection to the people and place he came from.
A new exhibit on Muscle Shoals explores a complex history of transcending the musical color line
The Muscle Shoals music scene would wind up with a road sign making a grand claim to fame: “Welcome to the City of Muscle Shoals, hit recording capital of the world.”
Nashville artist Shelldhn wants Music City to embrace its R&B past and present
Watching how an artist operates in the studio can be revealing. When Nashville R&B singer-songwriter Shelldhn brought an unfinished instrumental to his producer’s studio, senior music writer Jewly HIght was there to report.
Nashville R&B singer-songwriter Kyleigh grew into her new name on her new EP.
There are lots of reasons why artists change their names. For Nashville R&B singer-songwriter Kyleigh, she signaled she was serious about her artistic identity by dropping her high school nickname this year.
Curious Nashville: What does it take to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry?
What does it mean to be a member of the Opry? Do you have to have a hit?
At 100 years old, the Grand Ole Opry is the keeper of country music’s legacy
One hundred years ago this week, the radio barn dance that came to be known as the Grand Ole Opry was first broadcast from Nashville. Being part of the show still matters to country artists today.
Key Changes: The CMA Awards rock the show
Among the big winners at the 59th annual CMA Awards are names you’d expect, but others in the mix are newer to the spotlight, and their growing success points to trends potentially reemerging in the genre.
For country music traditionalists, Grammy changes promise a brighter spotlight
Starting with this year’s nominations, the Grammy Awards will split its prize for country album of the year into two distinct categories: traditional and contemporary.
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