Country Minute Podcast

Why Colby Acuff Is Doing Everything Opposite in Country Music

Colby Acuff is the country outsider leading a revolution that is anything but quiet. We sat down with the Idahoan singer-songwriter in the basement of The Intersection in Grand Rapids, Michigan to talk about his headlining tour, his upcoming record, and why he is doing everything opposite this year. Colby just wrapped up a Whiskey Riff March Madness run where he beat Chris Stapleton and Turnpike Troubadours to take the whole thing. He is playing a ton of unreleased music on this tour, leaning into a Southern rock and country rock sound that pulls from CCR, Waylon, Willie, and Bob Seger. The new record was solo written, recorded raw with no vocal tuning, and Colby calls the next single his favorite song on the entire project. We also got into the art direction behind the new era, why he packages serious messages in comedy, the iPhone he passes into the crowd every night so fans can shoot the show, and what it means to find your own measurements of success when you are not chasing the mainstream. New music drops at the end of April. Presented by Country Minute.

Zach John King: New Music, Big Tours, and the One Thing He Still Hasn't Figured Out

James sits down with 2025 Country Minute Rookie of the Year Zach John King backstage at the Blue Gate in Shipshewana, Indiana. Zach opens up about joining Thomas Rhett on the road this fall, the headlining run he's been low-key teasing, and why ticket sales are the only metric that really matters to him. He also breaks news on back-to-back releases coming in just a few weeks, including a Harry Styles cover that was previously Amazon-exclusive. Plus, his honest take on TikTok, balancing the grind with keeping his band's morale intact, and what it looks like to build a catalog that doesn't put fans in a box.Subscribe for more country music interviews, festival coverage, and artist stories every week.#ZachJohnKing #countrymusic #CountryMinute

Gavin Adcock on Opening for Morgan Wallen, New Album, and That Caddy Suit Story

Gavin Adcock joins Country Minute backstage at US Bank Stadium before night two of Morgan Wallen's Still The Problem tour. Gavin walks us through the debut of his new song Wannabe, his plan to release new music every three weeks, and the next album taking shape. He previews his first arena headlining tour with a 25-foot longhorn stage piece and a drum riser that puts his drummer 15 feet in the air, teases Country Never Dies II, recaps his sold-out Australian run at CMC Rocks, and tells the story behind the caddy suits he and Vincent Mason wore on stage in Minneapolis. Recorded on location in Minneapolis.

Graham Barham Interview: “Break Up (Down),” FGL Influence & What’s Next

Graham Barham joins us backstage at The Intersection in Grand Rapids on the final run of the Whiskey Rain Tour to talk about everything happening in his world right now. From the release of his new single “Break Up (Down)” to the viral success of “Country Music,” Graham opens up about blending country with club energy, paying homage to artists like Sam Hunt and Florida Georgia Line, and why now felt like the right moment to drop this next phase of his sound. We also get into his songwriting success behind the scenes, including cuts with artists like Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley, plus the story behind “Broken Branches.”

Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE on 'The Long Surrender,' acoustic tours, and more t

Recorded live at the historic Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, James sits down with Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE for an honest and reflective conversation ahead of the band’s acoustic tour stop. Bear opens up about why the acoustic shows hit differently, how sitting down on stage changes the energy, and why longtime fans are finally getting to hear songs they’ve been waiting on for years. The two also dive deep into the meaning behind the upcoming album The Long Surrender, a record born out of personal loss, frustration in the studio, fatherhood, faith, and the humbling realization that some things in life simply can’t be controlled. From the vulnerability behind writing “The Long Surrender” in a moment of prayer, to the story of recording in Savannah with producer Dave Cobb, Bear shares how this season of the band feels different — more present, more stripped back, and more open to spontaneity on the road. It’s a conversation about surrender, songwriting, and what happens when the music takes on a life of its own in the hands of fans. If you’ve ever had a NEEDTOBREATHE song become part of your story, this one’s for you.