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/

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

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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

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• Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/

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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

One great co-write can change a career, but only if you understand what actually happened in the room. We sit down with Louisiana country music recording artist Karen Waldrop to get specific about the songwriting process behind “Me Again,” including what it was like writing with hit writer Danny Wells, how the melody and structure came together, and why the best collaborators know when to lead and when to get out of the way. If you’re a songwriter, an indie artist, or just a listener who loves the story behind the song, this conversation is packed with real craft, not mythology.

From songwriting we move into the studio, where Karen shares what she learned working with producer Garth Fundis and what it takes to track a record in iconic Nashville spaces like Sound Emporium, Soundstage, and BMG Studio A. We also talk about making music that holds up in 2026 listening environments, including Dolby Atmos mixing for immersive audio and why she’s pushing for the best possible sound. Karen breaks down a bold independent artist strategy too: touring songs before releasing the full project, using real-time audience reaction to guide what comes next.

The emotional center is her new release “Keeping the Faith,” a hopeful country song rooted in belief, prayer, and the decision to keep moving even when life hits hard. Karen opens up about going through divorce while finishing a positive record she calls “No Way Back,” why honesty with fans matters, and how her community showed up through a Mother’s Day video built from fan-submitted photos and stories. We also zoom out to the bigger legacy she cares about most: her long-term charity work supporting Haiti through homes, clean water, and music-driven fundraising.

Subscribe for more artist interviews, share this with a friend who loves country music storytelling, and leave a review if you want more conversations like this. What helps you keep the faith when the plan falls apart?

Episode Links

• Karen Waldrup: https://karenwaldrup.com/

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Support the show

Links

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

Contact

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

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

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• 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