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Country Music Dads

Country Music Dads

By: Country Music Dads
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The parenting podcast with a twang. We’re driving a highly subjective, comically contrarian, often irreverent conversation about fatherhood and country music for people who have a passion for both. Join us for interviews, analysis, hot takes, and unhinged rants on the most pressing issues in the world of parenting and country music.Country Music Dads Music Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Nathan Evans Fox: Lots of Beginnings and Other Hard Truths

    Nathan Evans Fox: Lots of Beginnings and Other Hard Truths
    May 28 2026
    This week, the Country Music Dads welcome Nathan Evans Fox to the podcast. He is a Nashville-based country music artist and dad with a fascinating new album on the way. He explores his own country upbringing. Using traditional themes of land, hard work and faith, he approaches his music and life from the political left, in a space considered very conservative. Fox’s album Heirloom is out May 29 on Free Dirt Records.Show Notes:3:12 - A discussion of “Lots of Beginnings” brings the conversation to the very end of the album, as Nathan explains the process of losing his dad and becoming one in the same year -- and how he landed on the title of the Heirloom album. And we dive deep into family right away.6:00 - Nathan’s connection to family, family land and the family system, is deeply connected to his political understanding. His understanding is wildly personal, tactile and real. The family land allowed him to know his extended family through his universe of ghosts -- and it still looms large in his experience even after the family sold it.9:50 - Growing up very weird and country go hand in hand with Nathan’s experience.10:50 - A feeling of home vs enjoying where you live. Nathan and the dads talk about how to create a home. Grief, economics and complications.12:10 - His time as a hospital chaplain exposed Nathan to the full range of emotions of those at the hardest points in their lives, forcing him to radically listen. These experiences drove him to be more explicit about the need for his music to become more message-driven. It also put his life as an artist in perspective.15:50 - Going viral with “Hillby Hymn” and bringing liberation theology to country music fans, and how Nathan became many folks' favorite worship leader.18:51 - Understanding how to square yourself to the cultural dominance of Christianity in the bible belt, and how this language can be used as a vernacular poetic experience, one that helps folks accept something they don’t expect.25:48 - “We belong and we feel, well before we think or form ideologies,” Nathan said. And we should likely get back to knowing our neighbors and caring.26:35 - A discussion of Nathan’s music feels a bit like contemporary Christian music, suggested Dave. And Nathan felt called out.28:45 - Talking about “Racecar” and its place within contemporary country music, or as Nathan calls it, “Butthole Country Music.” Dave and Nathan geek out about Bro Country and how “Racecar” references “Dirt Road Anthem” for tone. Yet the topic of this song is anything but traditional -- in fact, it’s pretty divisive. The guys jump into the question of politics of it all.34:24 - The Dad Life Sound Check featuring songs from Roger Miller, Ryan Bingham and Corb Lund & Hayes Carll.Thank you for listening. The best way to support us is to subscribe to the show on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or whatever podcast platform you use. If you want to see new episodes and more content delivered straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our newsletter: countrymusicdads.substack.com. You can find everything we do on our website: countrymusicdads.com. And we’d love to hear what you think, so send us comments, suggestions, friendly banter on Instagram @countrymusicdads, or via email countrymusicdads@gmail.com.Mentioned In This Episode:Liberation TheologyThe book about how country music was created to divide people is Creating Country Music: Fabricating Country MusicNathan Evans Fox's substackReferences/Songs:Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock” by MoodmodeLots of Beginnings by Nathan Evans FoxI Know the End by Nathan Evans Fox (out May 29)Hillbilly Hymn (Okra & Cigarettes) by Nathan Evans FoxRacecar by Nathan Evans Fox (out May 29)Dirt Road Anthem by Jason AldeanDo-Wacka-Do by Roger MillerAmericana by Ryan Bingham and The Texas GentlemenMuch Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) by Corb Lund & Hayes Carll
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    40 mins
  • Don't Call It a Comeback: Country Music Dads Returns!

    Don't Call It a Comeback: Country Music Dads Returns!
    May 14 2026
    The Dads are so back! After an extended season break -- due to some expansions in the family size -- the guys are back at it, planning out a new season of great guests, interesting topics and general silliness. We hope you are ready for Season Three of the Country Music Dads podcast.Show Notes:00:47 - Highlights of Season Two. Dave and Donnie discuss three things: our best episode, favorite interview and the most memorable moment. From Mustaches to Beefing Bros, with great guests and social media shares, the guys get to do what all podcasters love: talk about themselves.16:29 - Looking forward, the Dads talk about their delay into season three, prioritizing time and the changes outside the pod that drove some of these issues. (Hint: Dave is the father of FOUR kids under the age of 10).21:30 - The Dads discuss our listener feedback and how we will incorporate that into the podcast moving forward. Buckle in -- you’re gonna get more dad stuff and more country stuff, which is shocking.24:44 - The Dad Life Sound CheckMentioned in this Episode:The Mustache Rides Again episodeBeefing Bros EpisodeCountry Never Dies Album ReviewGavin Adcock comments on Country Cutler's Instagram post.Songbird albumShooter Jennings episodeJames Sullivan, author of Jeans: A Cultural History of an American IconBlue Jeans episodeThe Doohickeys episodeJeremy Pinnell InterviewTed Russell Kamp interviewChildren's books episodeLukas Nelson article on the SubstackLuke Combs Fathers and Sons episodeGQ interview with Luke CombsGrey DeLisle's album of Cindy Walker songsReferences/Songs:Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock” by Moodmode"Run Your Mouth" by Gavin Adcock"Night Time Eagle" by Jeremy Pinnell"Redneck Yacht Club""The Lie" by Lukas Nelson"Beer Never Broke My Heart" by Luke Combs"Alcohol of Fame" by Luke Combs"The Pieces" by Grey DeLisle
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    33 mins
  • Jeremy Ivey’s Shape Reveals Itself

    Jeremy Ivey’s Shape Reveals Itself
    Mar 18 2026
    Recently, the dads sat down with Grammy-nominated songwriter, alt-country artist and father, Jeremy Ivey. But you may know him better as Margo Price’s husband. Ivey has a new album, It’s Shape Will Reveal Itself, out now on Soggy Anvil Records, and it’s a heavy look at the world around us. We will talk about his role as Price’s husband, their partnership in raising their children and songwriting, and how their lives together (and apart) have influenced his art.Show Notes1:10: Donnie admits to being a fan boy and interrupting Jeremy’s dinner before a show in Charlotte, NC, several years ago. What he wanted to ask then, and could ask now, was how Jeremy got into songwriting, and it all started with reading great poetry.3:12: Jeremy explains how It’s Shape Will Reveal Itself came together, and the story of “Little Bird” and his daughter’s role on the track.5:15: A discussion of how the track order, the playing and technical recording impacts the album's feel, through a patchwork of old and new songs. Also, a CRAZY story about Joan Baez.10:35: Jeremy’s approach and process, supporting Margo Price and his personal career, and the impact of fatherhood. And a cautionary tale about selling your car with a young child to make an album -- this one worked out, but don’t do it, says Jeremy.14:10: Balancing home and touring. How Margo and Jeremy find the balance for their music and family, and the hardest part of staying off the road is the FOMO.16:20: Balancing the creative, romantic and parenting partnerships, and the annual cycle of creativity and support.19:30: What does a normal day look like for the Ivey/Price household? Pretty normal, explains Jeremy. It’s complete chaos, with a bunch of toys on the floor.21:40: Jeremy explains his writing process and how the chaos around him influences it. And the honest balance between self-indulgence and giving in to the process of songwriting.22:57: The difference between songs created for Margo Price’s albums and Jeremy Ivey’s albums.26:40: The American experience provides an incredible context for creating meaningful and interesting art.27:20: The Dad Life Sound Check.Mentioned in the EpisodeEmily DickinsonThe Beat Poets PAIN: The Board Game by Sampson StarkweatherDrew Carroll The Bomb ShelterJoan BaezBonnie Raitt Emmylou Harris DulcimerThin LizzyThe DublinersBuffalo CloverBrittany Howard and Alabama Shakes Darrin Bradbury Anti RecordsFarm Aid Anthony BourdainKhalil GibranReferences/Songs:Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock” by MoodmodeLittle Bird - Jeremy IveyEdge of Darkness - Jeremy IveyDon’t Sleep on Your Dreams - Jeremy IveyWhiskey In A Jar - The DublinersClose to You - Margo PriceTennessee Song - Margo PriceA Long Way From Home - The KinksGone to Stay - Margo PriceHe Stopped Loving Her Today - George JonesLots of Beginnings - Nathan Evans Fox
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    37 mins
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