Rising star Vincent Mason has come a long way from his Georgia roots—through Mississippi and straight into Nashville’s spotlight as an Amazon Music Artist to Watch. Get to know the soulful newcomer as he drops his debut album There I Go, gears up for his first headlining tour, and reveals what he will (and won’t) be doing Down Under on his international debut. Meanwhile, Kelly and Amber enroll in “Idol University,” catching up with Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan to preview the next season of American Idol, which is set in Music City! Next Week on Country Heat Weekly: everything you need to know about the 59th Annual CMA Awards - including a chat with show host Lainey Wilson! Make sure you're following the podcast so you don't miss an episode! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've got the inside scoop on Dan + Shay's Taylor Swift cover, including their history with Taylor in Nashville. Kelly and Amber bring you exclusive chats with the duo as well as CMA Awards host Lainey Wilson! Plus there's a seismic shift happening on Music Row - and Luke Combs and Carrie Underwood are the ones making history. Find and Follow Country Heat Weekly for the direct scoop from Nashville each week!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a special edition of Country Heat Weekly with our guest, Carter Faith and a live audience! Freshly named Amazon Music's Breakthrough Artist, Carter opens up about the early days of her career—from playing her first show at 14 to finding inspiration in artists like Eric Church and Kacey Musgraves. Carter also takes us inside the making of her debut album Cherry Valley and shares how she built a record that celebrates every version of herself. Plus, she spills the tea on her unexpected friendship with Billy Bob Thornton, and how she landed her first movie role. Even if you weren't at the Opry for the taping, this episode will make you feel like you had the best seat in the house! Go behind the scenes of our live episode on Instagram with our hosts: Amber Anderson - @HeyItsAmberA Kelly Sutton - @TheKellySutton See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From musical theater stages to the country music spotlight—Kaitlin Butts has arrived! She reveals the musical that sparked her ambitious concept album Roadrunner!, the story behind her breakout hit “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” and how Vince Gill became part of her journey. With a new record deal, a Hall of Fame feature, and a spot on Lainey Wilson’s tour—Kaitlin’s moment is now. Plus how Kelly and Amber predicted Luke Combs' latest news - and they brought receipts!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready for a special Country Heat Takeover of the Grand Ole Opry! Everything you need to know about how to watch sets from Lainey Wilson, Dan + Shay, Russell Dickerson, Gabby Barrett, Lauren Alaina, Noeline Hoffman and Carter Faith, live. Plus we dig into Dolly's family drama, unpack Luke Combs' big tour announcement, and share more exclusive content as Amazon Music celebrates Country Music Month. PLUS - a bonus Thomas Rhett story you haven't heard yet!   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adrien Nunez and Graham Barham are former roommates who were hustling trying to make it in Nashville - and they did! On this episode of Country Heat Weekly, the pair reunite to share unfiltered stories from those early days, their very different upbringings and the roads that led them to country music. Both recognized as part of Amazon Music’s 2025 Artists to Watch, they give us the scoop on their latest releases, the power of social media, goals for the next year and the inside scoop that only a roommate knows!  Follow the hosts on Instagram: Amber Anderson - @HeyItsAmberA Kelly Sutton - @TheKellySutton  Plus, Kelly and Amber check in on the rest of the 2025 class. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thomas Rhett is back on Country Heat Weekly with fresh stories, music, and life updates! Joining us as our first guest of Country Music Month, Thomas dives into creating the 25-track About A Woman Deluxe, collaborating with friends like Jordan Davis, Blake Shelton, and Tucker Wetmore, and shares what it was like to headline Fenway Park for the first time. He also gives a peek at his upcoming Las Vegas shows and revealed that he and his wife Lauren are keeping the gender of their fifth baby a surprise, though they’ve been tossing around name ideas in the meantime. Plus, Kelly and Amber hint at some of the BIG things lined up for this month on Amazon Music. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Josh Ross is having the kind of year artists dream about—big CCMA wins, his first No. 1 at country radio with “Single Again,” and finally releasing his debut album. He sits down with Country Heat Weekly for the very first time to share how a kid from small town Ontario went from chasing dreams as an athlete to chasing hits in Nashville. Josh gets real about his journey, shares stories from the road with Jelly Roll, and gives us the inside scoop on Later Tonight. Hear which song tells his side of a story you may have heard, plus why teaming up with Akon was a full-circle collaboration. PLUS - Kelly checks in from London for a truly ""global"" edition of the podcast! Follow the hosts on Instagram: Amber Anderson - @HeyItsAmberA Kelly Sutton - @TheKellySutton Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shaboozey just released a new jam - and the only place to stream it is on Amazon Music! Kelly and Amber bring you the scoop on that, as well as their thoughts on the CMA Awards nominations. Plus they start plotting how to tag along when Garth Brooks plays London next year. Follow the hosts on Instagram: Amber Anderson - @HeyItsAmberA Kelly Sutton - @TheKellySutton See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Hardy gets ready to release his new album COUNTRY! COUNTRY! we're looking back on a chat we had when he first started to rock out! Original Airdate: January 2023 Follow the hosts on Instagram: Amber Anderson - @HeyItsAmberA Kelly Sutton - @TheKellySutton  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Zach Top celebrates the release of his second album Ain't In It For My Health, by making his first visit to Country Heat Weekly! From his early dreams and ambitions to headlining his own tour, Zach takes us into the creation of the project, including which songs are based on real life and which ones are poetic license. Plus he shares what he has learned from touring with Dierks Bentley and the Hot Country Knights! Kelly Sutton is back this week and brought all the scoop from her time on the set of an upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie set right here in Nashville! Follow the hosts on Instagram: Amber Anderson - @HeyItsAmberA Kelly Sutton - @TheKellySutton Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Russell Dickerson is having a moment right now, and we are loving every second of it. He stopped by the Country Heat house in Nashville to chat with Kelly and Amber all about his best summer yet! Go behind the scenes of his epic Russellmania tour, his new album Famous Back Home, and balancing it all with dad life. From the stories behind the songs, to collaborating with Vince Gill, and the real-life breakup that inspired several fan favorites, Russell dives into it all, and even teases what could be coming in 2026.  Follow the Hosts on Instagram: Amber Anderson - @HeyItsAmberA Kelly Sutton - @TheKellySutton  Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey Nashville: BigXThaPlug has arrived! We're going beyond his hit with Bailey Zimmerman and diving into this unexpected genre crossover - which all started with a little white lie. The Texas native talks being welcomed into the Nashville community, how heartbreak shaped his new EP I Hope You’re Happy, and the support he’s received from megastars like Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and even Beyoncé! BigX shares with Kelly and Amber how stepping into country music pushed him to be more intentional with every lyric and revealed that somewhere along the way, he might’ve accidentally fallen in love with his duet partner, Ella Langley. You’ll have to listen to find out more! Follow the hosts on Instagram for BTS Content:   Amber Anderson - HeyItsAmberA Kelly Sutton - TheKellySutton  Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re back with Bailey Zimmerman for his third time in the Center Stage spotlight, and boy is there’s a lot to catch up on. Since his last visit, Bailey’s life has been a whirlwind full of nearly sold-out tours, writing his most personal album yet, Different Night, Same Rodeo, and becoming a dog dad again. So we held a therapy session where Bailey opens up about how rescuing Pie felt like a ‘God thing,’ why his bucket list now includes Bush Stadium, and how this record feels like his realest work yet. Plus, we talk collaborating with Luke Combs, Kid LAROI and BigXThaPlug, get the story behind “Chevy Silverado,” and hear why he’s manifesting a meet cute with his future wife. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have a seat because you're not going to want to miss a single second of this episode with chronic over-sharer Kelsea Ballerini. This episode originally aired in October of 2024 as Kelsea was about to release her album Patterns. Next Week: Bailey Zimmerman brings his new album Different Night, Same Rodeo. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hot topics for this week include a new Keith Urban album, a fresh Luke Combs track, and some very colorful collaborators for Chris Stapleton! Plus, Kelly and Amber have the scoop on a record Megan Moroney just broke and which country stars have named their cars!  Follow on IG: @theKellySutton @heyitsAmberA Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whether you're a new fan or already hooked, this episode dives deep into Max McNown’s unique story. The rising star opens up about growing up in Oregon, how his family sparked his love of music, and the unexpected road that led from making lattes to going viral and earning millions of streams. Max shares why he walked away from American Idol, unpacks the stories behind fan-favorite songs, and talks his new album Night Diving (The Cost of Growing Up).  Before hearing all about Max McNown’s journey, Kelly and Amber give us the scoop about our girl Lainey Wilson and her brand-new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails, which just opened last weekend. Follow Kelly and Amber on Instagram: @thekellysutton and @heyitsamberA Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelly and Amber are back in the studio this week and have a LOT to catch up on! From being on the bus with Dierks Bentley to catching Old Dominion in Chicago, this episode is packed with artist updates. Plus, they dig into collaborations from the Country Heat Playlist from Ella Langley & Hardy, Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll & Alex Warren, and more!   Next week: Max McNown Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our final episode recorded live at CMA Fest 2025, features a raw conversation with Parker McCollum where he reveals career insecurities that may surprise you. In this chat, we dive into two big topics in Parker’s world right now: fatherhood and his brand-new self-titled album. He opens up about recording for seven straight days in NYC with laser focus and why this is the first time he’s ever truly loved a project. Parker also talks about the vulnerability behind “Hope That I’m Enough,” writing “Permanent Headphones” at just 15, and teaming up with Cody Johnson for a standout cover of “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues.” Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cole Swindell is in the midst of one of the biggest years of his life, and in this episode, we caught up with him LIVE at CMA Fest 2025 to talk all about it.  To sum it all up, his new album Spanish Moss drops June 27, he’s gearing up for the Happy Hour Sad Tour, and he and his wife Courtney are getting ready to welcome their first baby. Cole opens up about becoming a dad, takes us behind the stories of several songs on his 21-track project, talks the special meaning behind the album title and teases how he’s building setlists around both chart-toppers and new fan favorites. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.