Strap them kids in, give 'em a little bit of vodka In a Cherry Coke, we're goin' to Oklahoma To the family reunion for the first time in years Spin #3's last song runs right through my home area where Oklahoma meets Texas.

I was born by a river that was paved with cement I was born by a river that was paved with cement Still I'd stand out in that river and dream that I was soaking wet James McMurtry does Dave Alvin: youtube.com/watch?v=hToyBk…

Adam Van Winkle The true national anthem. slate.com/articles/life/…

Tom T. & Miss Dixie Hall were one of the most important songwriting duos of bluegrass, country, and American roots music as a whole. Here’s a 12-song primer that attempts to scratch the surface of their far-reaching influence! #BGSArchives bit.ly/2EI5Bst

What literary magazines are you reading regularly? I'm updating a list for my students and would like to add some mags I don't know about.

Born on this day in 1931, George Jones. Died on this day in 2003, Johnny Cash.

I gave up the fast lane for a blacktop county road Just burned out on all that talk about the motherlode I traded for a songbird, a bigger piece of sky When I miss the good old days, I can't imagine why Still I get restless... Spin #1 today is REK:

I'm a high straight in Plainview A side bet in Idalou And a fresh deck in New Deal Yeah, some call me high hand And some call me low hand But I'm holding what I am, the wheel... Robert Earl Keen does Terry Allen: youtube.com/watch?v=jFd0m5…

I miss you darlin' more and more every day As Heaven would miss the stars above With every heartbeat I still think of you And remember our faded love In honor of his birthday (and salmon-colored jumpsuits everywhere), spin #2 today is George:

That promise you've made Was only a lie Now after you've gone All alone I'll pine For all that I've got Was a worried mind This is a Not Porn Country Covers Series kina album. George Jones does Bob Wills: youtube.com/watch?v=_MMOnZ…

Look, objectively, this cannot be true...

Today marks 18 years since the Chocolate Drops released our debut album Dona Got a Ramblin' Mind. Dona Got a Ramblin’ Mind was the first record CCD made - we recorded it in a couple days I think in Chapel Hill many moons ago - right after we’d spent a month doing a bunch of school shows

Thanks Rhiannon Giddens for reminding me that today is our 18 year anniversary of releasing Dona Got a Ramblin’ Mind! Next year we are celebrating our 20th anniversary! How many people would like to see a CCD reunion w/myself, Rhiannon, & Justin? For the record I’m all in!

East of beautiful Alberta North of old Montan' The livings fine, when the springtime's kind To a bovine raisin' man Seems like a Colter Wall start to the day is called for. Spin #1:

To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip The stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip Colter does Marty: youtube.com/watch?v=u-7jNG…

Well the road is long and hard, can't you see Some  of us are lucky just to be And  he always said, "I ain't livin' unless I'm free Fried chicken and evil women gonna be the death of me" Spin #2 today is Vincent Neil Emerson:

I like how Steve Earle’s like, “Y’all are in suits? Well shit. Okay I’ll throw on a blazer but nothing further than that.”

Action shots.

On this day in 1946, Hank Williams was REJECTED by the Grand Ole Grand Ole Opry on his first tryout.