Roy Wood Jr.: The Rolling Stone Interview

On this week’s Rolling Stone Interview, politics reporter Nikki McCann Ramirez sits down with Roy Wood Jr. for a candid, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about comedy, politics, and the personal stories that shaped him. Wood opens up about growing up in Birmingham, the complicated legacy of fatherhood explored in his memoir The Man of Many Fathers, and how a wide circle of mentors helped guide him toward his voice – onstage and off. He also reflects on his time at The Daily Show, the limits of satire in a polarized America, and why empathy may be the most powerful tool a comedian has today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Nashville Now! If you’re online, you’ve seen Bryan Andrews all over your feed. The Missouri country singer has made a name for himself by singing traditional-leaning country music and unapologetically sharing his political beliefs in a series of viral posts. In doing so, he’s smashed the stereotypes of what it means to be both a country singer and an American. This week we welcome Bryan to the cabin to talk about what drives him and ask him one particular question: Is he a country singer or a content creator?    Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yungblud looks back at the journey to his Grammy-nominated album fourth album, Idols, in an interview with Rolling Stone Music Now host Brian Hiatt. He also discusses his EP with Aerosmith, facing down the haters, his Ozzy Osbourne tribute performance, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A man walks into a bar to tell some jokes about his life falling apart during an open-mic set – and that man is Will Arnett. This week, the star of Is This Thing On? sits down with Rolling Stone Senior Editor and Critic David Fear to talk about playing a man in existential crisis who finds renewal through stand-up comedy – and how making the film ultimately led to his own personal growth. They also dig into the agony and ecstasy of doing real club gigs in character, the unexpected success of his hit podcast SmartLess, the Arrested Development lines fans still quote back at him, and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2015, not long after the release of Black Messiah, D'Angelo sat down with Rolling Stone Music Now host Brian Hiatt for lengthy interviews about his whole career. In the wake of the legendary musician's death in October, we're presenting audio from those conversations for the first time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s our final official episode of the year and we run through our list of the best country albums of 2025 with Rolling Stone contributors Marissa R. Moss and Josh Crutchmer. We also talk about albums we loved that didn’t make the list and look ahead to what we’d most like to see in country in 2026. Plus, we have a very special interview with the artist behind Nashville Now host Joseph Hudak’s favorite all-genre album of the year –  singer, songwriter, and guitar hero Brian Dunne.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marcus King is helping revive guitar-rock in country music, while also working on himself. The South Carolina guitar-slinger joins us in the Nashville Now cabin to talk about getting sober (an Ozzy Osbourne quote inspired him), his new album Darling Blue, and the time he was caught sneaking into a club to give Warren Haynes a demo tape. King also gets candid about the response to his wife Briley King’s cover of “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.”  It’s a conversation of Southern rock, self-awareness, and soul searching.   Country is Here…Nashville is Now.   Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Budden joins Senior Music Editor Jeff Ihaza for an unfiltered conversation about his evolution from rapper to one of hip-hop’s most influential media voices. As The Joe Budden Podcast enters its tenth year, he opens up about building a network on his own terms, clashing with co-hosts, and walking away from Spotify. Budden also reflects on the pressures of independence and what it takes to stay honest – and relevant – in today’s culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Step into Rolling Stone All Access, where the biggest voices in music and culture tell the stories you won’t hear anywhere else. From the must-hear reporting of Music Now to the pulse of country on Nashville Now and the unfiltered conversations of The Rolling Stone Interview, this new feed pulls back the curtain on the artists and ideas driving the world forward. With new original series and special drops like Voices of the Year on the way, Rolling Stone All Access brings you the moments that matter — straight from the source. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Breland joins us in the Nashville Now cabin for one of the podcast's most honest conversations yet. It's a look behind the curtain at what it means to "play the game" in country music, with the "My Truck" singer and songwriter openly talking about his experience of being Black in Nashville. Breland also teases new music coming in 2026 and shares his candid reaction to one of his collaborators performing a controversial gig.    Country is Here…Nashville is Now. Check out our Hear Now playlist on Spotify, updated weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices