Katie & Company

Ashley McBryde has stepped into her 'Wild' era, releasing her fifth studio album and once again reteaming with producer John Osborne of Brothers Osborne. The GRAMMY-winning singer recently joined Katie Neal to unpack her new project, and talk about her recent honorary degree from Arkansas State University. “I got to go and watch the full commencement ceremony, and I got to sit with all the head folks and then get up for the presentation and give a little speech,” Ashley details about this past weekend, receiving an honorary doctorate of music. “It was awesome and my father was there, who has always wanted me to be a doctor. So he got what he wanted, but he didn't get what he wanted, so we're both happy.” The new album, 'Wild,' started with a few songs that McBryde would play live, that she knew needed to be on the record. “We started there with that kind of obstinance. Is that the right word maybe for that? My way or not at all,” she shares. “And then realized that that attitude is the opposite of creative, but I'm thankful for it because it got us there.” “But why is my gut telling me these have to be on a record? It's because they were stories, that they weren't about some lady named Brenda who won't put her bra on, it was stuff that I am struggling with, stuff that that if I expose it and let it be seen, it might help somebody else.” For more on the new album, 'Wild,' Ashley’s full circle Nashville moment, and her new NA bar in partnership with Eric Church, check out the full conversation above.

Next month Cody Johnson will release his new album, 'Banks Of The Trinity,' just as his inspirational song, “The Fall,” makes its ascent towards number one. The singer joins Katie Neal this week on the 'Superstar Power Hour,' and talks about his feeling when first hearing the track, and the important role it has played in so many listeners’ lives. “The first time I heard it, I was a little scared of it because it felt a little bit like, ‘Til You Can't’ Part Two,” he admits. “It was so strong as far as the message, and I started thinking about how it could help people when they hear it, cause the ride is worth the fall, but you've gotta fall, like failure is a part of success.” “I don't know a single one of my friends that are billionaires that haven't been bankrupt before trying to get there. You have to fall on your face before you can get back up because the getting back up from a fall is what teaches you about your next step and the next step,” he adds. “So, once we put the production to it and then we recorded the music video for it, I just kind of started to feel how impactful it is, and I really started to see the influence on people at shows. It almost like feels like a praise and worship song, their hands in the air and yes, yes, and I'm like, ‘man, it is helping people.’” At a listening party for his new album, Johnson was recently given a platinum plaque for “The Fall,” a few weeks shy of its stop at the top of the charts. For Cody though, it’s all about the impact it has on those that hear it. “I've heard people tell me how they were gonna quit their career until they heard ‘The Fall,’” he reveals. “So just to know that it's more than platinum records, it's more than number ones or being the superstar and getting the ‘Entertainer of the Year,’ knowing that I get to do my job that I love, I live and breathe for, but it helps people like that, that's probably the most rewarding part of my job.”

This weekend in Las Vegas, Parker McCollum hopes to play a little blackjack, hit the greens for some golf, and walk away with the ACM Award for 'Album of the Year.' McCollum recently checked in with Katie Neal to talk about the nomination, new music, and an upcoming addition to his family. Parker has a lot on the horizon as well beyond the ACMs, as the “What Kinda Man” singer is also expecting his second child in a few months. He and his wife, Hallie Ray, are still debating names for the new baby, which he says leads to "pretty funny heated arguments" because he feels passionately about his sons having "strong names.” "These are my boys, they're gonna take over, everything that I build in this life,” he says. “I'll leave it to them, so their name's gotta be good." Just as strong is his chances at this weekend’s ACM Awards, where Parker’s self-titled album is up for 'Album of the Year.' The nomination is the "greatest honor of my career so far," according to Parker, and "mind blowing" given the amount of talent in the category. “It's my favorite record I've ever made. I've never been more proud of a collection of songs, than I am [of] this record that came out last year,” he admits. “To be mentioned, and among so much freaking talent, so many crazy records, and all the records that could have been nominated, for this album to receive a nomination is mind blowing." For more from Parker McCollum on his ACM plans and his latest single, “Killin' Me,” check out the full conversation above.

Kenny Chesney is back with new music for the first time in nearly two years, and it appears to be a preview of more to come later in the year. The Country Music Hall of Famer recently joined Katie Neal to talk about the new single, “Carry On,” where he’s at with the making of his latest project, and his new record label he recently launched. “I've always loved feel good music and I've always been kind of a sucker for barroom wisdom,” Chesney tells Katie about his new single, “and this barroom wisdom is to not take your life too seriously and if it feels good do it, if it doesn't then don't, and I think that's a great message, in today's social climate.” “Carry On” might just be the summer song we all need right now, and there’s more on the way from Kenny who is busy working on a new album. “We're putting the pieces together,” he reveals. “I'm very excited about where we're at.” “I'm never done. I'm one of these people that's never done. Like I'm going into the studio again soon,” he shares. “They gave me a date the other day when the album has to be turned in, so I'm looking at that going, ‘OK, well’, so yeah, it's coming at some point this year, probably, and I'm excited about that, and I'm excited about the music and the songs and where I'm at in my life.” 2025 saw Kenny kick off a residency at The Sphere and release his memoir, so what’s on the roadmap for the rest of 2026? “2026 is gonna be about connecting with the fans again out there on the road, and new music, and doing what we truly love to do. I mean we love it.” For more check out the full conversation with Kenny Chesney above.

Once again, Russell Dickerson has your summer soundtrack with his new 'Worth Your Wild' EP, soaking in the sunshine and keeping the good vibes alive. The singer recently joined Katie Neal inside our Nashville studios to talk about new music, offer an update on his family, and share how his dreams are matching his reality on tour. “As I'm writing a record, I feel like I can kind of pick out songs that feel like a summer vibe,” he shares. “This feels like we could get real funky with it.” Ticking off the titles of tracks on the EP, RD says “I don't want that to just be on an album and get lost and I don't want it to just be like one beachy summery moment. I want it to be a whole project.” “It's like ‘Worth Your Wild,’ that's your road trip down to the beach, you're going from Nashville, wherever you're going, that's what you're jamming. Then once you get there, boom, ‘B.O.A.T.,’ ‘2 Limes, 2 Coronas,’ talks about meeting somebody. Oh, ‘Spring Break,’ a little spring fling, then it's over, boom, sad song, spring break's over. So it's a whole journey within 4 songs.” To hear more from Russell Dickerson on his massive tour, and the latest developments for his family, listen to the 'Superstar Power Hour' with 'Katie & Company' on your favorite Audacy Country station, or check out the conversation above.

There are big release weekends, and then there is what Jason Aldean just did. The Country superstar celebrated the debut of his new album, 'Songs About Us,' with a co-headlining show alongside Luke Bryan, inside Sanford Stadium, the home of the Georgia Bulldogs. For the Georgia native and lifelong Bulldogs fan, it was a special moment to return to the field in Athens. "I mean, whenever anybody asks me, what's your favorite show you've ever played, it's always this one to me,” Aldean admits. Jason and Luke had performed at Sanford Stadium previously, but this time they truly co-headlined with a different kind of show that involved splitting songs and playing together. It makes sense given the two collaborate on the new album’s title-track, “Songs About Us.” Aldean was elated about finally sharing the new music with fans, which has been a "never ending process," working on the album for a couple of years. However, he’s already starting on the next chapter. ""I already have a Dropbox with probably 10 songs for the next album in it, you know, that I'm listening to already, and it's just sort of a never ending process." To hear more from Aldean about his special show with Luke Bryan, his upcoming tour, and the making of 'Songs About Us,' check out the full interview above.

Riley Green joins Katie Neal backstage at Tortuga Music Festival.

Tyler Hubbard talks with Katie Neal at Tortuga Music Festival.

Dylan Scott joins Katie Neal inside our Nashville studios to talk about the success and unique inspiration behind his hit song "What He'll Never Have," his songwriting process, balancing family with work, and much more.

It goes without saying that it “Ain’t A Bad Life” for Thomas Rhett, who is on the verge of scoring his 25th number one song, and just welcomed his fifth child, Brave, earlier this year. The Country star joined Katie Neal to talk about it all this week during the 'Superstar Power Hour.' “We're tired, but he's actually sleeping,” Rhett says of the newborn, his first son. “He's our best sleeping baby that we have had.” “I still think just like having a newborn, plus you know, 4 other, kids' schedules with school, and sports, and friends, and birthdays. We're in the weeds as my grandmother would call it.” “It's a season and I'm really trying to not let it slip me by,” Thomas shares. “I'm not trying to wish it away, so really just trying to, when I'm home just be extremely present. It kind of dawned on me the other day that my oldest child, she's 10, so, I have 8 summers left with her. When you start thinking about it in terms of like, ‘whoa, 8 years,’ it seems like a long time, but It's been 6 years since COVID and it kind of feels like it was yesterday in some capacity, you know, so that's how quick time is moving.” “I'm really trying to just be as present as I humanly can while I'm home because I know that, you know, this might be the last infant phase that we go through. We're having a good time and we're just tired, but we kind of have learned how to live tired, so.” Katie was quick to ask, “is this the last infant, or are you guys still undecided?” “Dude, I mean, in my brain, I'm done, but we've seen how far that my brain has gotten me, you know, over the last decade or so.” On the music front, Rhett is approaching a monumental milestone, his 25th number one song, “Ain’t A Bad Life” with Jordan Davis. “It doesn't add up in my brain,” TR tells Katie. “There are some days I wake up and I still feel like a new artist, and then there are some days I wake up and I'm like, ‘gosh, I've been doing this for a long time.’ There's really no in-between for me.” “When I think about 25 number ones, I think if I were to tell my 19-year-old self that I'd be talking to you today, talking about that, I would have called you a complete liar,” he adds. “So I feel grateful. I feel blessed, I don't know. Just feel undeserving for the people that have helped me get here, honestly.” “Then also just to have that number one, hopefully with Jordan, is really special because he's gotten to become one of my best buddies in this industry and, to have that with him is really cool” To hear more about family life and what’s next, listen to the full conversation with Thomas Rhett above.

Luke Grimes is back with his vulnerable and personal sophomore album, 'Red Bird,' and the actor and artist is joining to Katie Neal unpack it inside our Nashville studios. It's all about balance and beauty for Grimes, as we dive in with the Country star.

Dan + Shay have kicked off their next project on a very personal note, sharing the single, “Say So,” which also serves as a tribute to their friend, Ben. The duo recently joined Kate Neal for a conversation about new music, their pivot to “real,” mental health, and more.

Justin Moore is once again climbing the Country charts, this time with the song “Time’s Ticking.” The singer joined Katie Neal during this week’s Superstar Power Hour to talk about the track, working with Dierks Bentley, and the unbelievable amount of TVs he has on his tour bus. “I think throughout your life, you learn that, maybe what used to be the most important things are not necessarily to be,” Moore says. “This song to me is kind of, you know, soaking it all in and just slowing down, maybe put your phone down at a certain time or stop checking emails or whatever, and just making the most out of every day you can with your loved ones, your friends” The song features his friend Dierks Bentley, who Justin is quick to admit is better at the art of friendship than he is. “I always say Dirks is a much better friend than I am,” he smiles. “I mean he texts, he texts me every time we have a big hit. He texts me, ‘man, I love this song, or it sounds great,’ or every Father's Day he texts me, ‘hey, man, you're such a great Dad.’ I'm just like, I would just drop me like a bad habit because I'm terrible about all that.” “He's got to be the one that never forgets to get his wife a card for different occasions,” he adds. “I buy them about a week before and then I just, it's a running joke in our house, I just leave them in my console in my truck and forget about them.” Soon Justin Moore will hit the road once again, this time with Riley Green. He’ll likely win back some friend points on the tour bus, which features 17 TVs. “Yeah, I'm a little crazy,” says Justin. “Most of us at least in my camp, and I think a lot of camps out there, we're all sports fans and, so it's really good for like March Madness, or any kind of tournament, you know, football playoffs or whatever.” To hear more about Justin Moore’s tour plans and music, check out the full conversation above.

Brantley Gilbert stays on his grind, continuing to push the boundaries and shake up the world of Country music. His latest effort is the song, “Good Damn,” which arrives everywhere this week. But first, the “Real American” singer checked in with Katie Neal from the beach, to talk about new music, his journey to sobriety, and so much more. “We've always known where we belong,” says Brantley of his next collection of music. “As long as there's a box that is the Country music genre, we always know where we belong, and that's outside of it. Close enough to touch it, but, you know, outside the lines, and this one kind of pushes the envelope a little bit even for us, which is really fun for me as a songwriter, just like even, even less rules, you know what I mean?” “We really wanted this one to cover all the bases and then some, and I feel like it does that,” he adds. “There's songs on here that I've been excited about for a long time, some of these songs are older, but we also wanted to be reminiscent of some of my earlier albums. So there's some nostalgia in there. There's definitely some stuff that leans a little further back, stylistically and sonically. So, you know, that, that part's been really fun. “ “We weren't really trying to write a number one because we didn't ever think we'd get one. We were just trying to write a good song, and that was the approach I can honestly say we took on the majority of these… It was more about, ‘hey, let's write a cool song and let it be what it wants to be.’” To hear the full conversation with Brantley Gilbert, check out the 'Superstar Power Hour' interview above.

This week we closed out our 'Totally Private' series with a special performance from Bailey Zimmerman. The "Rock And A Hard Place" singer serenaded fans with an intimate, stripped down set inside the Hard Rock Cafe, but first he joined us inside our Nashville studios for a talk with Katie Neal, powered by Spirit Airlines. The always energetic and electric Bailey Zimmerman dove into a few of his recent songs while sitting with Katie, including the hit currently climbing the charts, "Chevy Silverado." "it just feels so meant to be because it's just about my grandpa," says Bailey. "It's just like such a special song, so when they came to me and they wanted to take it to Country radio I was like, 'oh I'm in, like I love this.' This means more to me than anything, and then to see what it's doing is just like crazy. It's so cool. Grandpa would be proud for sure." Another song that Bailey has been talking up on socials is one for "the future Mrs. Zimmerman," a song called "Before You." "It's just a song about growing up and, you learn lessons and you learn how to be, and you learn what life's really about," he says. "The title is 'Before You,' and it's like I wanna be the man I need to be for you, but it talks about like who I was before I met my future wife." "I'm at a place right now in my life where I'm just kind of ready for that. I've been ready for that and I had some things I was working on, you know, just like personally kind of just growing up, but I really feel like I'm in that kind of era of my life where I'm really ready to like meet that person... I'm ready to be that person for them as well." To hear more from Bailey Zimmerman, check out our full conversation above.

Jelly Roll and Shaboozey are still feeling the impact of "Amen," as the GRAMMY-winning song continues to climb the Country charts and forever links the two superstars in the history books. Both artists made time recently to connect with Katie Neal for the 'Superstar Power Hour,' sharing their mutual admiration for each other, the value they place on authenticity, and their plans for future collaborations. "I think God really favored us," shares Shaboozey, "and rewarded us that day for making a choice to look at each other and be like, 'look, man, I see you.' You know what I mean? 'I see you as one of me, and I see you like I see myself and, and everybody else.' I think we made something from that place, and really God rewarded us on a Sunday, and gave us a GRAMMY for a song called 'Amen.'" "I feel like every time I perform that song, it renews and restores my faith and restores my purpose," he adds. "From the start of it to like us winning the GRAMMYs, to about to have a Country number one, it's just honestly God just answering my prayers. I ask God every single day to just help guide me and making sure I'm making the right decisions, and I'm making the right kind of music, and I have the right message, and I think it's just like kind of this weird full circle moment that the song is just called 'Amen,' and that's just God being, 'Amen, your prayers are answered. Here you go.'" Shaboozey heaped high praise onto his collab partner, which Jelly Roll was quick to give right back to the singer. "Getting to hang out with Shaboozey is like, he is the ball of joy that y'all see in these interviews, or that you see on the streets, or when you see him on stage," gushes Jelly Roll. "He has got the best temperament of any human I've ever met under every circumstance. We've toured the world together now. I've seen him in all different environments, climates, and time zones, and, he is who he is, man." To hear more from the "Amen" duo about future plans and "cry headaches," listen to the full interview with Katie Neal above.

Kane Brown is feeling more like himself these days than ever before, thanks to a new outlook on music, more time in the gym and in the ring, and less time gaming. The "2 Pair" singer recently joined Katie Neal in the studio to talk about it all for the 'Superstar Power Hour.' "My last album, just to be completely honest with you, I felt like it was a little rushed," Kane admits. "But now I'm like, more motivated than ever." Brown shares he found that spark in the gym, sharing that challenging himself physically has helped fuel his artistry. "It was, a lot of working out, and just kind of getting that competitive grind again," Kane says. "I don't play video games no more. I think that could be another big thing about it." "With the working out and the stages of working out, getting into boxing, bringing my competitiveness back, and then not having anywhere else to put it, it's made me like wanna put it towards music since I don't game." It all makes for a new and improved Kane Brown, ready to spill all that energy into his music. "When I say level up, I think you'll see a different light when I'm performing and my artistry, cause I'm trying to bring like, I'm trying to dance and do all that stuff that's just not done," he shares. "I feel like for the last decade I've kind of tried to fit in the box of what everybody's wanted me to be in and I've tried to please the wrong people, and not really be me and not really get to do my, or like please my fans and just show them, you know, I'm excited and I found that light again. So I think that's what people is gonna see, the difference in the music." To hear from Kane Brown on family life, his newly announced bar in Nashville, and more, check out the full conversation above.

It's been an historic entry into Country music for the band Shinedown, which has already found success across multiple genres because of their authenticity and sincere songwriting, and now have been firmly embraced by the Country music community. Shinedown singer Brent Smith recently joined Katie Neal inside our Nashville studios at the Hard Rock Cafe to talk about how Country crept into the recording of their single, "Searchlight," how it felt to debut the song at the Grand Ole Opry, and much more. "I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and when we were cutting the song, we were demoing it out, I think it was a bit more of a Rock ballad," shares Smith. "I just said, 'hey, listen, I'm gonna cut this with just the acoustic. Let me kind of re-sing it." The different approach from Brent rang very "authentic" for him, and the song began to ask for something different. "It was a different approach, but it was very authentic. It was very real, and it felt honest. So the song then asked for a banjo which in turn asked for a lap steel... and then a fiddle was brought in. And look, it's a very Country-esque Rock song, but for me when I heard it I was so enamored by the fact that it kind of is a style that we haven't done per se, and it was a bit more of a true homage to Country instrumentation and just the simplicity of the lyric and the way that it was sung. It made sense, and Country is starting to embrace it." It doesn't hurt that the band got to debut the song at the Mother Church of Country Music, singing it as part of the venue's 100th anniversary, and introduced by Carrie Underwood. "It was a very, kind of, out of body experience, especially when you walk into that circle," Smith admits. "You can feel the weight of the moment because of who stood in that circle." The Country connection is something that seemed inevitable for Smith and Shinedown, given the influence he was raised around. "I grew up, my granny had Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and probably out of all of them, Randy Travis was probably the loudest growing up," he says. Even now he's looking forward to meeting a few of the genre's heaviest hitters, praising artists like Ella Langley and HARDY. "I gotta give a lot of credit because I'm such a fan of his songwriting and again a very versatile individual, I haven't had a chance to meet him, but I hope I get to, I'm a huge fan of HARDY and just how he kind of is just this songwriting juggernaut for a lot of different styles." To hear more from Brent Smith of Shinedown, check out the full interview above.

How did Miranda Lambert's kangaroo lead to a chart-topping hit from Ella Langley? The ACM and CMA award-winning artists told us the origins of her smash, "Choosin' Texas," and also gave us a look at her upcoming album, 'Dandelion,' during this week's 'Superstar Power Hour' with Katie Neal.

This week we traveled to Chiefs in Nashville, where Eric Church performed for an intimate room of fans during our 'Totally Private' show. But first, the "Record Year" singer made his way to the Hard Rock Cafe and into our studios for a talk with Katie Neal, powered by Spirit Airlines. Church is currently on the road with his 'Free the Machine Tour,' supporting his album, 'Evangeline vs. The Machine,' a very deliberate outing for the GRAMMY-nominated singer. "For me in a world that's very fabricated, it's very AI driven, it's very machine-driven, we wanted to, you know, when you come see us play, everybody that's on stage, we're all playing music and there's no tricks," he shares of the show. "We're playing music, and that's what I grew up on, and it's been fun to see over the course of the tour people gravitate to that." Eric is a veteran in this Country music game, and he shares he's willing to impart his wisdom unto his openers when asked, like with Ella Langley. "It was kind of fun to be the old guy in the room that, as we kind of talked about advice and where she's going and stuff, I've been there and, it was fun to just hang out with her." "When you go from where she is and where I've been, and you're struggling, you're struggling, you're struggling and you find something that that kind of is like a rocket ship, things change quickly," Chruch admits. "All the outside noise becomes pressured noise, and kind of what I said to her was, 'you gotta keep it about the music and what you wanna do long term,' because you're gonna have a lot of opportunities to do things that take it away from that, and that's just normal, and that's great, but, the farther you get away from your anchor there, the harder it's gonna be to get back to that." It's always been about the music for Chief, who has caught his own rocket a few times since the start of his career. The year's testament to the power of music for Eric is a massive collaboration he did with Tim McGraw, HARDY, and Morgan Wallen, called "McArthur." "It's just it reminds me a lot of of the stuff that I grew up on with message and with the quality of the songwriting, and just what the track said and the way they tie in," he says of the song. "It's a great song and I'm happy to be part of it." "The great thing about Country music, you think about the Opry, you think about what we are, it is, as far as I'm concerned, format wise, a family-based, we take care of our own format. I said this song does that, it lays it out that it's about lineage, it's about remembering where you came from. It's about legacy, and I think it's a really important song for Country music." To hear much more from Eric Church, check out the full interview above.