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Country Music Dads

Country Music Dads

Written 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 Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Fourth of July Soundtrack: Why Country Music Sounds Like America

    The Fourth of July Soundtrack: Why Country Music Sounds Like America
    Jul 1 2026
    This week, the Country Music Dads celebrate America 250, country music’s role in this -- and other -- uniquely American celebrations, and how to honor our history, the details of our past, and advance the American experiment. Happy Birthday America!Show Notes:00:05 - Dave and Donnie talk about their memories of the Fourth, how they are getting ready for America 250 and so much more. From childhood memories to debauchery of young adulthood, the guys go over what makes the Fourth of July awesome.4:46: What makes a great Fourth of July playlist song? And Dave asks if non-country fans use this holiday as an excuse to enjoy something they feel like they can’t otherwise.6:35: The history of country music and patriotism. The discussion turns serious as the dads address Joseph Thompson’s Time magazine article that explores how the country music industry, titans of industry and the Department of Defense teamed up to feed the concept that country music is the music of America.12:50: “God Bless the US” has been stuck in Dave’s head since the second grade due to grammatical corrections his school made to the song.14:05: Fourth of July family traditions growing up and sharing with your kids. Both of us want to raise proud Americans who can still love America while understanding the more complicated aspects of our history.22:49: The playlist debate. The dads start with “Clear Patriotic Anthems/ Celebrations of American Life.”36:45: The next section is about “Blind Patriotism” songs, and yes, they talk a bit about post-9/11 reactionary country music.43:30: And now, for a few Protest Songs because there is nothing more American than speaking truth to power. Just ask our kids.49:57: Songs that People Mistake for Patriotic Anthems but are Really About Something Else52:15: The Dad Life Sound Check - American EditionThank 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:Joseph Thompson's book: Cold War Country: How Nashville's Music Row and the PentagonJoseph Thompson's Time magazine articleCountry Music Association Whiskey Riff article about the Hermosa Beach IronmanNo-No BoyTed Russell Kamp episodeShooter Jennings episode60 Songs That Explain the 90's: The 2000s on Toby KeithAmerica-themed parties around the worldCountry Country podcastDead Man’s Town: Born in the USA RevisitedNathan Evans Fox episodeReferences/Songs:Theme Music: “Dark Country Rock” by MoodmodeStars and Stripes Forever - John Philip SousaGod Bless the USA - Lee GreenwoodThe Best God Damn Band in Wyoming - No-No BoyThis Land is Your Land - Woody GuthrieRagged Old Flag- Johnny CashAmerica - Waylon JenningsBorn Country - Alabama4th of July/He Stopped Loving Her Today - Medley - Shooter Jennings, George JonesAmericana - Ryan BinghamAmerican Saturday Night - Brad PaisleyMiddle of America - Haily Whitters feat. American AquariumGod's Country - Blake SheltonGod's Country (Live from Red Rocks) - HARDYGod Bless America Again - Loretta Lynn, Conway TwittyCourtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) - Toby KeithWhere Were You When the World Stopped Turning - Alan JacksonYour Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore - John PrineDress Blues - Jason IsbellAll American Made - Margo PriceHistory Repeats Itself - American AquariumTry That in a Small Town - Jason AldeanIndependence Day - Martina McBrideBorn in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
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    56 mins
  • 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
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