The Church Visit That Brought Kris Kristofferson to Tears—and Led to “Why Me”
Kris Kristofferson remembered thinking there was no way he would get up in front of a church full of strangers.…
Billie Joe Armstrong Lost His Father at 10. The Song Came Years Later.
Billie Joe Armstrong was a child when his father died. Roughly twenty years later, that loss became “Wake Me Up…
Johnny Cash Sang About Prison. Merle Haggard Knew the Man Who Inspired “Sing Me Back Home.”
Johnny Cash made “Folsom Prison Blues” one of the most recognizable prison songs in country music. The song was partly…
The Day Pink Floyd Didn’t Recognize the Friend Their Song Was About
On June 5, 1975, Syd Barrett arrived unannounced at Abbey Road while Pink Floyd were working on “Shine On You…
Kris Kristofferson Heard Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” After Her Death
Kris Kristofferson and Janis Joplin had been close friends, yet Kristofferson had never heard Janis Joplin sing “Me and Bobby…
The Breakup Song That Brought Ray Price Back to No. 1
When Ray Price recorded “For the Good Times” on March 16, 1970, nearly eleven years had passed since the singer’s…
Billy Joe Shaver Threatened to Whip Waylon Jennings in a Nashville Studio — and Nine Songs Changed Country Music
In 1972, Billy Joe Shaver was a struggling Texas songwriter trying to get Waylon Jennings to keep a promise. After…
The Statler Brothers Beat the Beatles at the Grammys—Then Waited 12 Years for Their First No. 1 Country Hit
In 1966, The Statler Brothers accomplished something few country groups could have imagined. A song written by Lew DeWitt, the…
Vern Gosdin Invited His Ex-Wife Into a Music Video About Their Broken Marriage — And the Story Behind It Is Remarkable
In 1989, Vern Gosdin did something few country singers would have imagined doing. After a marriage of 11 years came…
From $10 Before Baseball Games to Owning Part of the Texas Rangers: Charley Pride’s Remarkable Journey
In 1960, Charley Pride was paid an extra $10 to sing before baseball games in a small Montana town. Sixty…