Three hours. That’s the kind of clock Nashville can put on a recording session, and it forces you to learn fast or get left behind. We sit down with country music recording artist Stephen Quinn to unpack what it really felt like to walk into a Nashville studio for the first time to cut “Get It Girl” with seasoned session musicians and a producer who actually cared about getting it right. If you’ve ever wondered how professionals can hear a song once, chart it, and deliver a finished track at speed, this conversation puts you in the room.

We also dig into the role that rarely gets enough credit: the vocal coach. Stephen explains why he brings Velvet, his longtime coach and co-writer, into high-stakes sessions, how she balances technical corrections with creative choices, and why having the right ears in the room can make your vocals stronger and the entire recording process smoother. From work tapes recorded on iPhone voice memos to “living with the lyrics” before committing to production, we get specific about songwriting habits that help independent artists finish better songs.

Then the story opens up. Stephen walks us through his American Idol journey, from pre-dawn cattle-call auditions to Hollywood Week at the Dolby Theater, including the nerves, the friendships, and the performance moments that stick. We talk about his patriotic song “Stand Up,” what “country” means as a way of life, and why audiences stand up when the message hits. Finally, he shares what it’s like to sing the national anthem at a Jacksonville Jaguars playoff game, why he keeps it traditional, and how local relationships helped land a Country Fest slot opening for Ashley Cook.

If you enjoy honest artist conversations about Nashville recording, country songwriting, music video production, American Idol, and performing live, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Links

• Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/
• JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/

Contact

• Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/

Socials

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranze
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranze
• Everywhere: @jayfranze

Services

• Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/

Books

• Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/

Merchandise

• Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/

Support

• Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/
• Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/

Shout Outs

• High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/
• VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

A leaky heart valve. A brand-new piece of medical tech called a Harmony valve. And a country singer who’s back on Broadway faster than most of us would return to the gym. We’re joined by Tennessee recording artist Stephanie Rabus, and she tells the full story, from being born with a serious heart murmur and having open-heart surgery at 11 to facing pulmonary regurgitation decades later and choosing a transcatheter pulmonic valve replacement instead of another long recovery.

From there, we zoom out to the working-musician reality in Nashville. Stephanie breaks down what it’s like to gig on Broadway when there are no sick days and your income depends heavily on a tip jar that can swing wildly from night to night. We talk about fear, pacing yourself after surgery, and the mental toughness it takes to keep chasing a dream when the industry loves to tell you you’re “too old” or “too late.”

We also get deep into the craft behind her new single “I Told Me So” (out May 15): the co-writing room, the emotion that comes from lived experience, and how a simple work tape can turn into a finished master with the right producer and world-class session players. Plus, we dig into vocal health and vocal production, including when pitch tools help, when they hurt, and what vocal therapy taught her about breathing, hydration, and staying consistent for the long haul.

If you care about country music, Nashville songwriting, Broadway gigs, vocal health, or what “making it” really means today, you’ll get a lot out of this one. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Episode Links

• Stephanie Rabus: https://stephanierabus.net/
• Scotty Simpson: https://jayfranze.com/episode3/
• Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/
• Kieran Robertson: https://jayfranze.com/episode209/
• Karen Waldrup: https://jayfranze.com/episode213/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Links

• Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/
• JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/

Contact

• Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/

Socials

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranze
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranze
• Everywhere: @jayfranze

Services

• Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/

Books

• Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/

Merchandise

• Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/

Support

• Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/
• Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/

Shout Outs

• High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/
• VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

Ella Langley didn’t just have a good ACM Awards night, she turned it into a full-on statement. We’re breaking down the 61st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards from Las Vegas with Shania Twain hosting, Cody Johnson grabbing Entertainer of the Year, and a wave of winners that makes you ask what country music is rewarding right now. We talk through the biggest moments, the funniest bits, and the kinds of wins that feel like the format finally caught up to the fans.

Then we zoom out into the bigger music industry trends behind the headlines. Why does “traditional country” suddenly feel like a flex again, and why does that make some Nashville decision-makers nervous? We also hit a fast music news run across country and rock, including reunion-tour culture, documentary buzz, and the ongoing fight for artist ownership after Avenged Sevenfold regains rights to key recordings. If you care about master recordings, catalog value, and creative control, you’ll want to hear this part.

We keep it interactive with our question of the day: what artist or band had you hooked from the first time you heard them? From Ozzy to Journey to Live and a pile of listener answers, it turns into a real-time map of musical first loves. After that, we rip through the country and rock chart countdowns and finish with trivia night chaos as Tiffany tries to redeem herself against Mark.

Subscribe so you don’t miss the next live hang, share this with a friend who argues about awards shows, and leave us a review. What’s the one artist who grabbed you on the very first listen?

Episode Links

• Scotty Simpson: https://jayfranze.com/episode3/
• Lucy Franze: https://jayfranze.com/episode47/
• Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/
• Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/
• Kieran Robertson: https://jayfranze.com/episode209/
• Karen Waldrup: https://jayfranze.com/episode213/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Links

• Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/
• JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/

Contact

• Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/

Socials

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranze
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranze
• Everywhere: @jayfranze

Services

• Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/

Books

• Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/

Merchandise

• Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/

Support

• Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/
• Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/

Shout Outs

• High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/
• VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives