We last saw Bayker Blankenship in November 2024 at a small festival in Arizona. We were both hundreds of miles from home and unsure of how to adjust to the simmering Southwest heat. He was performing solo at the time, and truth be told, he was one of the first people kind enough to give us time on camera.

Fast forward 50 weeks and we reconnected with Bayker Blankenship after our friends at Peanut Patch Boiled Peanuts invited us to the Greenville Country Music Festival. Bayker and his band had just completed a 19-hour drive from Texas, but that didn't stop him from taking a few minutes to discuss his the past year and how he feels about the future.

In this brief conversation, Bayker and I dig into what it means to be a young artist today. Bayker now has a band, and together they've traveled the world honing a sound that still feels very raw in the best possible way. He spoke of collaborations, like the one he has with Zach John King earlier in 2025, as well as the inspiration he finds in his current relationship.

If you ask me, Bayker Blankenship is the future of country music. He's a true storyteller putting in the work needed to build a strong, lasting career in music. This conversation may be short, but it inspired me to work a little harder. Maybe it'll do the same for you.

Lauren Watkins is redefining what it means to be an artist in country music today. Her new album, In A Perfect World, captures the kind of honesty and confidence that make listeners feel like they’ve known her for years.

In this episode of the Country Minute Podcast, we sit down with Watkins to talk about the record and what it’s like growing up inside the genre she loves. Country music has always been full of characters and familiar stories, but Watkins is carving her own lane by writing about real life.

Whether it’s buying a mailbox at Home Depot with your spouse or realizing that nobody is coming to save you, she finds meaning in the moments most people overlook. With a group of incredible songwriters helping lift her already powerful voice, In A Perfect World feels like one of the most important albums of 2025. It’s the kind of record that will stick with you long after the last note fades.

Zach John King is our Rookie Of The Year for 2025. Hailing from small town Georgia, ZJK kicked off the year with his infectious single "Slow Down" and proceeded to do the exact opposite. In the last ten months he's released a string of viral singles, as well as a successful EP. He also supported Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan, Dylan Scott, and Gavin Adcock on various tours, not to mention appearing at many of the genre's biggest festivals. We have not met a single person that isn't rooting for this guy to hit it big, and with songs like "Space" that spotlight doesn't seem too far away.

We sat down with Zach John King in Kalamazoo, Michigan in early October while he was on the 'Easy Does It' tour with Dylan Scott. Zach told us about his wild year, from finally getting noticed to trying to keep his head above water, and we end with a brief discussion about what the new year might hold.

Zach John King will be supporting Morgan Wallen on his 2026 'Still The Problem' tour. Follow Country Minute across social media for all things country music.

I sat with Parker on his bus at the first-ever Tanglefoot Music Festival in Temple, Texas to talk about his new self-titled album, songwriting, John Prine, and becoming a dad. We dig into the making of the record, why recording in New York with producer Frank Liddell reset his process, and how that focus shaped his best work yet. Parker also explains why he won’t turn fatherhood into “content,” and what it would take for a song about his son to earn a place on an album.We swap favorite John Prine cuts, look ahead at shows, and even laugh about lawns and deer season. Don’t miss this one.

Highlights

-Why the self-titled album is a creative reset

-Songwriting talk and John Prine

-Fatherhood, privacy, and art

-Touring updates and New Year’s Eve at Dickies Arena

If you enjoy it, like, comment, and subscribe so we can keep bringing you conversations with country’s biggest names.

90s country icon John Michael Montgomery joins the Country Minute Podcast for a milestone conversation. Recorded at his final Indiana show at The Blue Gate in Shipshewana, this exclusive interview dives into his farewell tour, his upcoming homecoming finale at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, and what it means to bring his career full circle. John Michael opens up about becoming a grandfather, his son Walker Montgomery’s growing career, and even hints at a future collaboration with Walker and his brother Eddie from Montgomery Gentry.

If you grew up on classics like I Swear and I Can Love You Like That, you won’t want to miss this rare sit-down with a true 90s country legend.

Dylan Scott might be the most underrated star in mainstream country music. With a string of undeniable hits and a career built on relentless work ethic, Scott has crafted an empire on his own terms. That success gives him both creative freedom and the rare ability to tour alongside his family.

Recorded outside his tour bus at Country Jam USA in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this conversation dives into Scott’s latest album Easy Does It and his upcoming fall tour of the same name. Beyond the music, we explore his family life, business ventures, and the philosophy that fuels everything he does. Inspiring and honest, Dylan Scott proves why he is not just another voice in country music but an artist still on the rise.

Country Minute sits down with honky-tonk legend Mark Chesnutt for an honest conversation about his 40+ years in country music. From chart-topping hits to life as an independent artist, Chesnutt opens up about touring, family, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

It’s not every day you get to sit down with one of country music’s biggest stars, but that’s exactly what happened when we interviewed Cole Swindell aboard his tour bus at Country Jam USA 2025 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Just hours before headlining the festival, and days before becoming a first-time father, Cole talked with us about his brand new album, Spanish Moss. In this exclusive interview, we cover the inspiration behind the project, how he chooses the right songs, what makes a track a hit, and what he’s looking forward to in the next chapter of his life.

With career-defining hits like You Should Be Here and Middle of a Memory, Cole has become one of the most consistent and respected voices in modern country music. This conversation offers insight into his process and passion, just before a major moment in his personal life.

This interview is also available on the Country Minute Podcast, streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

If you enjoyed this video, like, comment, and subscribe for more country music interviews, news, and behind-the-scenes stories.

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