Biscuits & Jam

Karen Fairchild was born to Southern parents in Gary, Indiana, but whether she was living in the Midwest or the South, that Southern influence was always there. She eventually made her way to Birmingham, Alabama, where she attended Samford University and met her future bandmate, Kimberly Schlapman, through the school’s choir program. In the late ’90s, she was reunited with Schlapman in Nashville and went on to form Little Big Town with Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook, whom she later married. Their self-titled debut came out in 2002, but their real breakthrough came with The Road to Here in 2005. Now, Karen and Little Big Town have just released their 12th studio album, It’s a Dying Art, which features collaborations with Ashley Monroe, Jason Isbell, and Kelsea Ballerini. Sid talks to Karen about what’s kept the band going strong all these years, how she balances life on the road with raising school age kids, and how Little Big Town has been influenced by Fleetwood Mac.

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Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living / Becky Fluke
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Dolly Parton was last on the show back in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, and we talked on the phone about her Christmas traditions, her childhood in East Tennessee, and her incredible work getting millions of kids to read through the Imagination Library. This time I got to sit down with her in person at her studio outside of Nashville, and she hasn’t slowed down one bit. She told me all about her latest album, Rockstar, which features 30 rock and roll classics, from covers like Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Bob Seger’s “Night Moves,” to some powerful new Dolly Parton originals. She’s also just released a new book called Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, which documents more than six decades of outfits, costumes, and iconic looks from a career in the spotlight.
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Lauren Alaina was born in Rossville, Georgia, where she discovered her love of music at a very early age. In 2011, she was introduced to millions of viewers on American Idol, where she finished as the runner-up. Later that year, she released her debut album, Wildflower, which helped establish her as one of country music’s brightest young stars. Plenty more success has followed, along with high-profile collabs with artists like Trisha Yearwood, Lainey Wilson, and Chase Matthew. Now, she has a new album called Stages, where she’s diving deep into some of the most significant chapters of her life. Sid talks to Lauren about the emotional highs and lows of losing her dad and then finding out she was pregnant, what it’s been like having a hit duet with her childhood friend Kane Brown, and much more.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living / Katie Kauss
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Maggie Rose was born and raised in Potomac, Maryland, where she grew up eating blue crabs, attending Catholic school, and singing solos in front of her church’s congregation. A self-described black sheep of the family, she headed to Clemson University in South Carolina before leaving school early to move to Nashville for a career in music. But it was her family’s support that gave her the courage to make it in a very tough business, and it eventually paid off in a career that’s earned her a Grammy nomination, a loyal fan base, and more than 100 appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. Her podcast, Salute the Songbird, started during the pandemic, and it’s become a powerful vehicle for candid conversations with other female musicians about their experiences and challenges in the music business. Sid talks to Maggie about what it’s like being a new mom, her Grammy-nominated album, No One Gets Out Alive, what it meant to perform recently in Asheville, North Carolina, and her longtime love for Old Bay Seasoning.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

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Duane Betts is the son of legendary Allman Brothers Band cofounder Dickey Betts, and he's even named after another of the band's founding members, Duane Allman, whose life was cut tragically short. Rather than relying on his family name, Duane has earned his own reputation through years of touring, collaborating, and developing a sound that's distinctly his own. In addition to leading his own band, Duane also helped found the Allman Betts Band alongside Gregg Allman's son, Devon. Together, they've celebrated the musical traditions established by their famous fathers while creating original music that's finding its own loyal audiences. Now Duane is back with Isle of Hope, an album that explores grief, resilience, sobriety, family, and hope.

For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam

Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living / Bobbi Rich
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