Let’s Talk Country

Not the LTC ladies' normal MO, this episode is a very personal one for the fathers in our lives. It's almost Christmas and at Christmas you tell the truth: We love these men and all they've taught us! For some classic LTC country music industry commentary and to hear what we have to say about Beyoncé and The Chicks performing Daddy Lessons at the 2016 CMAs, skip to 1:02:20.

Hosts Mary Lynne and Sarah, and their guest LuVerne (aka, Lulie) discuss HARDY and Lainey Wilson's duet, "Wait in the Truck." To listen to our episode called "Country Music on Domestic Violence": https://www.letstalkcountry.com/episodes/country-music-on-domestic-violence If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also text START to 88788. For tips on how to help those experiencing abuse, follow the links in our companion blog post for "Country Music on Domestic Violence":  https://www.letstalkcountry.com/blog/country-music-on-domestic-violence

Hey y'all! Signing in for a very short mini-sode. Hope you enjoy our little news roundup from the beginning of April! Thanks for listening! Back soon with more real sized episodes!

The LTC ladies do a watch-along of Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas! Come along for the wild, genre-defying experience. We've got reactions! We've got podcast resolutions! We've got music recommendations! We've got nonsensical metaphors! We've got warm fuzzies! And, in an unlikely turn of events, hear both Dolly Parton AND Mary Lynne say, "Go to Hell"! Merry Christmas, listeners. xoxo  Companion Playlist for the episode is here!  https://www.letstalkcountry.com/ Purchase Adeem the Artist's latest album White Trash Revelry here: https://www.fourquartersrecords.com/collections/all  Get the extended version of the episode (more giggling and silliness) by becoming a Patreon patron: https://www.patreon.com/letstalkcountry

Y'all, we're playing clips of the latest from Hailey Whitters, Miranda Lambert, and Trixie Mattel, BUT, more importantly: We sat down with David Michael Hawkins. Whether he's lending his dulcet tones to country tunes new and old, or organizing the first-ever "CMgAys", David is one of the busiest, boot-scootin'-est guys in the country music biz! In addition to bringing his incredible talent, he also offers a healthy dose of optimism about LGBTQ+ folks taking their turn in the country music spotlight. His strategy for inclusion in the country world? "If you don't have a seat at the table, build your own damn table." Hear David's music, his current favorite artists, and his incredible story as the first openly gay, openly HIV+ country artist.  Can't get enough David Michael? Check out his website, https://davidmichaelhawkins.com! You'll find links to his social media and ways to stream his tunes. Here's more info on the Ryan White Foundation https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/ For assistance getting/paying for HIV care https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/hiv-care Links to learn more about: WNCAP - https://wncap.org/ AID Upstate - https://www.aidupstate.org/ Music City PrEP - https://www.musiccityprep.org/ Need more details about safe sex with an HIV+ partner? https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/can-you-have-sex-with-hiv

The LTC Ladies and the ANA continue our conversation. From PMS to tattoos, we can count on country music AND public health nurses to have something to say. *As promised in the intro, we don't go into detail on any of the following but if you're not up to hearing mentions of child abuse/child sexual abuse, you can skip from minute 3:00 to 10:42. *We also have mentions of postpartum depression and ppd songs from 28:20 until 32:37. *And mentions of abortion and abortion songs from 32:37 until 42:13. ALSO at the very end, enjoy the musical stylings of Lucile Ray, Lisa Ray, Vicki Carter and Robert Carter as they sing our family's version of "Bill Grogan's Goat".  (Spoiler Alert: we renamed him Joseph Cagle for rhyme scheme reasons.)  Here is the official Let's Talk Country "Country Music on Public Health" Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YFk8Qsmt6kPoxnnbRyIRE email: [email protected] Instagram: @letstalkcountrypodcast Twitter: @LetCountryPod

Haven't you always wondered how country music has addressed public health issues? WONDER NO MORE! Mary Lynne and Sarah talk to 3 retired public health nurses about tuberculosis, the 1919 flu, COVID-19, AND SO MUCH MORE! Hear Jimmie Rodgers, Essie Jenkins, Luke Combs, Big & Rich, and yes...Dolly herself sing about the hardships of these (and other) plague times. Here is our official "Country Music on Public Health" Playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YFk8Qsmt6kPoxnnbRyIRE Here is our Companion Playlist for this episode - it includes the full version of the songs we mention and play in part 1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7orRTRvBi5NUbtLzk4FAzw

Sarah talks with Marika, Katherine, and Shauna from Safe Harbors, a non-profit dedicated to helping survivors of domestic abuse. Together they examine a playlist of country songs that discuss abusive relationships. From The Chicks' campy murder ballad "Goodbye, Earl" to more earnest offerings from Faith Hill and Reba McEntire, this playlist is a representative sample of the way that country music talks about domestic violence. Listen to the songs discussed (and more!) here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7oMbLRU3DWFSMcS463lDzU If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also text START to 88788. To read our companion blog post for this episode, go to: https://www.letstalkcountry.com/blog/country-music-on-domestic-violence

Join us as we talk to our friend, Elliott, who tells us about growing up queer in conservative, small-town NC and the music that got him through it. He shares his music knowledge and a healthy dose of optimism to go with the difficult realities of being queer in The South and in country music.    Here's his playlist. Listen along. Walk a mile in someone else's music.    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7FzUqQrfeja6jjjDRRIJPs?si=5ef85648e95541f5 Hear our favorites from Orville Peck, Johnny Cash, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Kristin Andreassen (Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes), The Indigo Girls, Bikini Kill, The Linda Lindas, and more!

Mary Lynne and Sarah are looking back at 2021, counting their blessings, and reminiscing on Christmases Past. Hear their favorite and least favorite holiday stories set to tunes they genuinely love.  Featuring Brenda Lee, Robert Earl Keen, Mary Lambert, and more!   Hope you've got your dancin' shoes handy!