When we’re listening to new country music, we love it when a singer’s personality shines through. It’s even better when we have a chance to catch up with them over the phone or a Zoom call, ready to hear about their inspirations and aspirations.
Since we’re now over halfway through 2026, it seems like a good time to revisit five of our favorite Good Country interviews so far this year. It’s our first ever Good Country Catch-Up:
Braxton Keith
The Texan singer-songwriter’s brand of country – and his new album, too – is another fine example of the current thriving neo-traditionalist scene. If you like Keith Whitley, George Strait, and Ronnie Milsap then Braxton might be right up your alley.
“I really was attracted to these older artists because of the storytelling, but also they have a technical skill about their writing – and their melodies,” he says.”Some of their melodies are pretty insane that I was trying to emulate, longing to hear again, or to make new.”
Jo Dee Messina
After more than 10 years, the pop country icon returns with an excellent new album, Bridges. Whether taking a narcissistic partner to task, warning about the dangers of self-medication, or setting the record straight on scripture, the triumphant singer-songwriter explores life’s complexities with a signature mix of grit and hard-fought joy.
Speaking about the lead single, “Some Bridges,” she explains, “With that song, we were in the writers’ room, and somebody brought up the idea that you can’t be burning bridges. But what if they’re meant to burn? What if that bridge leads you to pain and abuse, or to a job that sucked the life out of you? Forgiveness is for us, we’re not built to carry the weight of unforgiveness, but you can forgive from the other side of the bridge.”
Read More, and check out our list of 10 of the Best Jo Dee Messina Songs here.
Hudson Westbrook
A new EP, a platinum No. 1 hit, and a commitment to sounding “different than everything else” are driving the fresh-faced star’s success. The smash “House Again” is an emotionally complex ballad rooted in the experience of a kid watching the fallout of their parents’ divorce. Plus, Westbrook has developed a rootsy R&B side to his music, too.
Looking forward, the Texas native says, “I have like 120 songs and a lot of them are pretty good. I’m not saying they’re all for me, but I finally did what I should have done and that was sit back, find my key, find the way I like to write, really be intentional about what I’m writing. I wrote a song called ‘Nowhere Bound’ that is probably one of my favorite songs. It’s like, I never stop in any city and don’t ever slow down.”
Tucker Wetmore
There’s more to ask Tucker Wetmore about than women, whiskey, and blondes versus brunettes. Peel back the layers and you’ll find a thoughtful, hard-working artist rooted deeply in faith and family with a careful sense of public image, monitoring how and what he presents. While building his brand as a new artist, he’s learned the value of saying no.
“I account for my faith in pretty much all the decisions I make,” he says. “If I could give advice to any artist coming up – and I’m still making my way there – my biggest piece of advice is, ‘Say no to things that don’t feel right or don’t make you look like you.’ … At the beginning it’s really hard to say no to things, because you want every opportunity there is. But now I’m saying no to a lot more, saying yes to the correct things, and trusting my people. They know who I am and what we all want to build together, and it makes it a little easier.”
Stephen Wilson Jr.
A 46-year-old former microbiologist and Golden Gloves boxer, Stephen Wilson Jr. native stands out with probing lyrics and an experimental sound to match. He grabbed an unlikely spotlight with the 2023 album søn of dad, then grew his audience with a magnetic live rendition of “Stand by Me” on the CMA Awards last year. In 2026, his song “Gary” touched a nerve among audiences who appreciate and admire the people who don’t do fancy, but do get things done.
Speaking about the story behind the song, Wilson says, “I was driving down a highway and I saw a memorial billboard sign and it said ‘in memory of Gary,’ and there was a picture of a boy who was probably 16 years old. It was just really heartbreaking. I could feel the sadness and the heartbreak and the family’s plea to keep this boy alive in any way possible. … I couldn’t help but say out loud in the car, ‘Dang, there ain’t a lot of boys named Gary these days.’ That’s where my brain started subconsciously turning Gary into a subspecies of human. And then honestly, the song just fell out.”
Photo Credit: Tucker Wetmore by Chase Foster; Jo Dee Messina by Madison Sharp; Braxton Keith by Benjamin Humphrey.
