Not the Swagger, Not the Anthems: The Song Where Toby Keith Finally Let Us See Him Break
For thirty years, Toby Keith was the big man in the room. He had the boots, the grin, and the…
Not “Me and Bobby McGee,” Not “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”: The Song Where Kris Kristofferson Stopped Pretending He’d Live Forever
The song is “Feeling Mortal,” the opening track and title song of the album Kris Kristofferson released on January 29,…
Billy Joe Shaver Was Still Writing the Song About His Late Wife and Son While the Guitarist Tuned Up
In 2002, Billy Joe Shaver sat in a chair in an open studio room, still finishing the words to “Day…
The Statler Brothers Made America Smile for Decades. Then They Sang About a Mother at the Vietnam Wall
The song is “More Than a Name on a Wall.” The Statler Brothers released it in April 1989, and it…
Stevie Ray Vaughan Walked Off Stage With Eric Clapton and His Brother Jimmie, Then Asked for the Last Seat on a Helicopter
On the night of August 26, 1990, Stevie Ray Vaughan finished a jam on “Sweet Home Chicago” beside Eric Clapton,…
Not “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’.” Not “San Antone.” The 1967 Song Where Charley Pride Stopped Smiling
The song is “Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger,” and if you only know Charley Pride from his sunny, sing-along…
Tom Jones Cut “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” in One Take, and the Only Copy Went Home to His Wife
Tom Jones has recorded hundreds of songs since the 1960s, from “It’s Not Unusual” to “Delilah” to “She’s a Lady.”…
The Toughest Man in Country Music Picked His Softest Song as His Favorite
Waylon Jennings gave country music some of its rowdiest anthems. But when he was asked which of his own recordings…
In 2002, June Carter Cash Went Home to Her Mother’s House in Virginia to Record One Last Album. Eight Months Later, She Was Gone
In September 2002, June Carter Cash came back to Maces Spring, Virginia, the small community in Poor Valley where she…
One of the Last Things He Ever Told Her Was That He Couldn’t Hear Her Sing Anymore
In the summer of 1996, Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn told his wife he couldn’t hear the music anymore. Loretta Lynn thought…