In this episode of Across The Country With Amanda, we dive into "Better Man," the second single from The Warren Brothers' debut album, Beautiful Day in a Cruel World. Despite its low peak at 32 on the country charts, "Better Man" remains a standout in their catalog. The episode also highlights the Warren Brothers' successful songwriting careers including cuts from major artists like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
00:00 Introduction to Better Man by the Warren Brothers
00:10 The Warren Brothers' Early Career
00:46 BNA Records in the '90s
01:23 Better Man: The Song and Its Impact
02:07 Songwriting Success in the 2000s
02:35 Recent Activities and Personal Stories
Watch episodes on YouTube
Follow Amanda on Instagram
In this episode of Across the Country with Amanda, Amanda reveals her top contenders for the 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame's Modern Era category. She discusses a range of artists who achieved national prominence at least 20 years ago, highlighting their significant contributions to country music. Featured artists include Steve Wariner, Roseanne Cash, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and many more. Amanda also makes her pick for the 2025 inductee, praising their innovative impact on the genre. Tune in for insights and predictions on future Hall of Fame members.00:00 Introduction to the Modern Era Category00:43 Overview of Recent Inductees01:13 Underrated Artists from the 80s02:15 Influential Women in Country Music04:01 The 90s Country Music Boom04:45 Future Hall of Fame Inductees05:03 2025 Predictions
In this episode of Across the Country with Amanda, Amanda explores Martina McBride's 1999 album Emotion. Highlighting how the album stood out during a competitive era in country music, Amanda discusses its deeper themes, unique production quality, and chart successes like "I Love You." She also covers Martina's significant moments at award shows and how the album contributed to her career surge. The episode provides a nostalgic look at the impactful music and performances of Martina McBride, making a case for why Emotion still resonates today.
00:00 Introduction to an Underrated Album
00:59 Setting the Scene: Martina's Career in the Late 90s
02:18 The Release of 'Emotion' and Its Impact
03:52 Martina's Milestone Moments
05:23 Chart Success and Continued Dominance
06:58 Production Insights and Crossover Success
08:27 Reflecting on 'Emotion' and Its Legacy
Watch episodes on YouTube
Follow Amanda on Instagram
In this episode of Across the Country, Amanda discusses the underrated Conway Twitty song "She's Got a Man on Her Mind" from his Even Now album. She explores how Conway Twitty was able to naturally adapt to the contemporary 90s country sound of the time without seeming out of place. Plus, find out which country singers, including a future hall of famer, provide background vocals. Tune in to discover more hidden gems in country music and subscribe for more episodes.00:00 Introduction to Underrated Country Songs00:14 Spotlight on Conway Twitty00:57 The back-story of "She's Got a Man on Her Mind'"01:55 Conway Twitty's Impact and Legacy02:21 Where to Find The Song
2025 Veterans Picks for Country Music Hall of Fame | Across the Country with Amanda
Radio Personality Amanda Tempel dives into her picks for the 2025 inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the Veterans category. She also explains the Hall of Fame election process, including the different categories and the voting procedure. Additionally, she discusses the Hall of Fame's medallion ceremony and past surprise performances honoring inductees. Amanda highlights notable classic country artists and their contributions to country music.
00:00 Introduction to the Episode
00:10 Understanding the Election Process
01:03 The Voting and Induction Ceremony
02:14 Special Performances and Surprises
03:35 The Backlog and Special Inductions
04:19 Veterans Category: My Top Picks
12:09 My Top Pick
13:08 Upcoming Episodes and Conclusion
Carly Pearce's album Hummingbird, is a bright spot for contemporary country music. In this episode, I discuss how she blends storytelling, musical arrangements, bluegrass roots, and touches of humor, resulting in a mainstream masterpiece. Tune in to discover why this album is a must-listen!
This series explores underrated country songs that missed the top 20, delving into their backstories, chart history, and radio impact.
In this episode, we look back at Sons of the Desert and their song "Albuquerque." Known for their rich harmonies, the band first made waves in 1997 with "Whatever Comes First", a top-ten hit.
They also contributed background vocals for artists like Ty Herndon and Lee Ann Womack, even winning major awards for I Hope You Dance. Despite label disputes and an unreleased album, "Albuquerque" found its place on their 2000 album Change under MCA Records. Sons of the Desert eventually disbanded in 2002, but lead singer Drew Womack later became the frontman for Lonestar.
A hidden gem of '90s country, "Albuquerque" stands out for its haunting, pensive style—showcasing why this group remains one of Nashville’s most underrated vocal acts.
The ACM Honors are happening on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, and I have your honoree preview.
In This Episode:
Find country music news and interviews at AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com.
The second single from The Warren Brothers provides a relief to the glossy and overproduced country music of the late '90s. "Better Man" from their debut album Beautiful Day in a Cruel World lands on this countdown at #87.
In this Episode:
This country music podcast miniseries counts down 90 Underrated Songs of the '90s. Check out AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com for all the latest country music news, interviews, and more!
If there's a country album from the past year that you need to listen to, it's Julie Roberts' "Ain't In No Hurry." Produced by Shooter Jennings and Erin Enderlin, the collection is unlike anything we've heard from the singer on her previous efforts. While it was nearly a decade in-between full-fledged albums, the wait was worth it.
Visit AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com for the latest happenings, music news, and more in country music.
The Chicks World Tour made its way to Louisville, Kentucky, on July 25, 2023. With a setlist comprised of selections from each of their five studio albums, it's a show that every fan should see! I share my highlights in this country music podcast.
Visit AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com for the latest happenings, music news, and more in country music.
Diving into the current state and what's happening at country radio in this podcast.
Visit AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com for the latest happenings, music news, and more in country music.
Penned for a '90s TV movie, "xxx's and ooo's (An American Girl)" by Trisha Yearwood becomes a staple of country music. The movie? It wasn't so acclaimed. But was it really as bad as it sounded? I'll give you my review!
In This Episode:
About Your Host: Amanda Tempel is a country music DJ who brings you all the latest country music happenings and artist interviews at AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com.
Conway Twitty left a legacy of hundreds of songs, many of which were chart-toppers. His reign continued throughout the early '90s when he was scoring big hits amid the Hot New Country wave. "She's Got A Man On Her Mind" would become his final top thirty hit in 1991 and it ranks at #88 in this podcast mini-series.
In this Episode:
This country music podcast counts down 90 Underrated Songs of the '90s. Check out AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com for all the latest country music news, interviews, and more!
Kimberly Perry releases the most personal project of her career titled "Bloom." As she begins her solo career, she looks back at the journey here through "If I Die Young Part II," a beautiful ode to her award-winning single that sold over five million copies during her stance as lead singer for The Band Perry. We'll dive into "Bloom" and revisit the monumental time period when we were first introduced to Kimberly Perry at country radio.
In This Episode:
Visit www.AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com for the latest country music news, reviews, podcast episodes, and more.
With her latest album God's Work, LeAnn Rimes continues to evolve and captivate listeners. Her current tour "The Story...So Far" is an immersive experience that highlights her twenty-five years of making records. I share my thoughts on attending the show and how it exceeded every expectation, resulting in a powerful night of music on the most scared stage in country music.
Plus, I'll talk about the show's opener, Sean Oliu, who is an outstanding traditional country music artist!
Visit AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com for the latest happenings, music news, and more in country music.
Could Gary Allan's lack of success with “No Man in His Wrong Heart” be due to another song that happened to be a hidden track that radio program directors were intrigued by? We’ll uncover the details in this episode!
Check out the entire mini-series 90 Underrated Songs of the '90s on this podcast. I'll count down country songs from one of the biggest decades in country music that should've been bigger hits. Your host Amanda Tempel is a country radio DJ and covers all the news, events, and more at www.AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com.
When you're scrolling through your favorite streaming platform, you might notice an album or two from an artist’s catalog missing. That’s the case with Shenandoah’s Long Time Comin’ and Under the Kudzu. Both of those albums contain some pretty big hits from the ‘90s, like "I Want To Be Loved Like That" and "Rock My Baby." I had the chance to talk with Marty Raybon of the legendary country band Shenandoah, so of course, I had to ask him where those albums were. You'll get the answer in this edition of Across the Country with Amanda.
Your host Amanda Tempel is a radio DJ and covers all things country at www.AcrossTheCountryWithAmanda.com.
Are Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen starting a trend where artists release multiple singles simultaneously to country radio? I'll talk about their success, along with my top picks for the month. Plus, Carrie Underwood's "Hate My Heart," written by HARDY, was poised to be a chart topper, so why did it stall on country radio? I'll touch on that and dive into what country songs are crossing over into pop right now. We'll cheers to Hailey Whitters and her first top twenty victory and spotlight artists on the chart for the first time.
During a seismic sales boom in the late '90s, Mark Wills released one of the most successful albums from that era. Wish You Were Here spawned multiple top ten singles including the acclaimed "Don't Laugh at Me," which created a generational impact. This podcast outlines the state of country music in 1998, takes you back to the top hits playing on country radio at the time, includes interviews from the making of this record, and highlights historical moments from the album. Join radio DJ Amanda Tempel for this deep dive of Wish You Were Here by Mark Wills.