Will Groff
@willgroff.bsky.social
Legendary woman of country and journalist w/ bylines at WSJ, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, etc
willgroff.com
willgroff.com
Reposted by Will Groff
without this newsletter, how would I know about the country Justin Bieber cover that is somehow less country than the original
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XsH...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XsH...
January 16, 2026 at 7:55 PM
without this newsletter, how would I know about the country Justin Bieber cover that is somehow less country than the original
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XsH...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XsH...
The Karol G/Marco Antonio Solís duet has such a stranglehold on me rn…
January 15, 2026 at 11:22 PM
The Karol G/Marco Antonio Solís duet has such a stranglehold on me rn…
In which I make a case for Muscadine Bloodline's "Way Too High (2010)" as SOTY and reflect on Moroneygate at the CMAs
January 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM
In which I make a case for Muscadine Bloodline's "Way Too High (2010)" as SOTY and reflect on Moroneygate at the CMAs
Such a treat to catch @jonbern.bsky.social discussing his stunning new biography of Justin Townes Earle with the great @johnhendrickson.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Such a treat to catch @jonbern.bsky.social discussing his stunning new biography of Justin Townes Earle with the great @johnhendrickson.bsky.social
What is the best song of 2025 and why is it the unlicensed afrobeats cover of The Fate of Ophelia
January 11, 2026 at 12:19 AM
What is the best song of 2025 and why is it the unlicensed afrobeats cover of The Fate of Ophelia
Reposted by Will Groff
Bring the war home:
January 9, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Bring the war home:
Reposted by Will Groff
the first DRTI post of 2026 is for all you resolution-ers - a country workout playlist from friend of the newsletter and notoriously fit country critic @willgroff.bsky.social !!! www.dontrocktheinbox.com/put-a-record...
Put A Record On: A Country Workout Playlist
A workout playlist by an extra special guest!
www.dontrocktheinbox.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:16 PM
the first DRTI post of 2026 is for all you resolution-ers - a country workout playlist from friend of the newsletter and notoriously fit country critic @willgroff.bsky.social !!! www.dontrocktheinbox.com/put-a-record...
Reposted by Will Groff
On @rollingstone.com, the first excerpt of my biography of Justin Townes Earle.
This one's about the writing and recording of Harlem River Blues (the album AND the song!)
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
This one's about the writing and recording of Harlem River Blues (the album AND the song!)
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
How Justin Townes Earle Wrote His Biggest Hit and Became a Nashville Legend
An excerpt from the highly anticipated authorized biography of Justin Townes Earle shows how he wrote his biggest hit and became a Nashville legend.
www.rollingstone.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:37 PM
On @rollingstone.com, the first excerpt of my biography of Justin Townes Earle.
This one's about the writing and recording of Harlem River Blues (the album AND the song!)
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
This one's about the writing and recording of Harlem River Blues (the album AND the song!)
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
DRTI guest post alert!!!
Put A Record On: A Country Workout Playlist
A workout playlist by an extra special guest!
www.dontrocktheinbox.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:56 PM
DRTI guest post alert!!!
Reposted by Will Groff
Wrote about the country music industry going full MAGA in 2025
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
How Nashville's Music Row Went MAGA in 2025
Nashville's mainstream country music industry went all in on Trump and the MAGA movement in 2025.
www.rollingstone.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Wrote about the country music industry going full MAGA in 2025
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
My WSJ story on the honky-tonk takeover of American nightlife, now in print
December 29, 2025 at 3:02 AM
My WSJ story on the honky-tonk takeover of American nightlife, now in print
Streets are calling my honky tonk story far beyond any other country trend piece!
will's depth of reporting (and unwillingness to make forced political conclusions from it) on this is so far beyond any other country trend piece - you gotta check it out bsky.app/profile/will...
December 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Streets are calling my honky tonk story far beyond any other country trend piece!
Reposted by Will Groff
will's depth of reporting (and unwillingness to make forced political conclusions from it) on this is so far beyond any other country trend piece - you gotta check it out bsky.app/profile/will...
December 23, 2025 at 4:55 PM
will's depth of reporting (and unwillingness to make forced political conclusions from it) on this is so far beyond any other country trend piece - you gotta check it out bsky.app/profile/will...
Reposted by Will Groff
Read @willgroff.bsky.social on nightclubs+bars across the nation going country:
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
How American Nightlife Went Honky-Tonk
From New York City to Chicago to Portland, bars are riding a country boom, drawing everyone from outlaw singers to finance bros for ‘countryoke’ and line dancing.
www.wsj.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Read @willgroff.bsky.social on nightclubs+bars across the nation going country:
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
I interviewed Jake Owen about his new album, the wonderful and surprising "Dreams to Dream." He had a LOT to say about authenticity, bro country ("I invented that shit!") and that little dustup he had with Jason Isbell over artists writing their own songs thebluegrasssituation.com/read/jake-ow...
Jake Owen Started Bro Country. His New Album is Anything But – Good Country
'Dreams to Dream,' produced by Shooter Jennings, is a sonic left turn for an artist who epitomizes 2000s mainstream country.
thebluegrasssituation.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I interviewed Jake Owen about his new album, the wonderful and surprising "Dreams to Dream." He had a LOT to say about authenticity, bro country ("I invented that shit!") and that little dustup he had with Jason Isbell over artists writing their own songs thebluegrasssituation.com/read/jake-ow...
Reposted by Will Groff
Amanda Shires spent an afternoon introducing me to Lubbock and a small portion of those very fun hours is now chronicled in Texas Monthly ahead of her new album :) gift link: www.texasmonthly.com/arts-enterta...
Amanda Shires Tells Her Side of the Story After Divorce From Jason Isbell: “I'm Not Scared”
After a marriage in the spotlight ended in brutal divorce, the singer-songwriter-fiddler is telling her story, her way.
www.texasmonthly.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Amanda Shires spent an afternoon introducing me to Lubbock and a small portion of those very fun hours is now chronicled in Texas Monthly ahead of her new album :) gift link: www.texasmonthly.com/arts-enterta...
Reposted by Will Groff
This is sick freak shit to say and it's alright to point that out
Fox News' Trey Gowdy: "The only thing that can give us any modicum of peace at all is those two children are with the person who loved them the very most, the person who created them, that being Jesus. That is the only thing that can possibly give parents in the future any modicum of peace."
August 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
This is sick freak shit to say and it's alright to point that out
Had a real pinch me moment chatting with Ashley Monroe — whose music means as much to me as anyone's — about her new album, Tennessee Lightning. We touched on many things including how she feels about "Americana" (my most burning question). Give it a read!
thebluegrasssituation.com/read/ashley-...
thebluegrasssituation.com/read/ashley-...
Ashley Monroe's Patchwork Quilt: 'Tennessee Lightning' - Good Country
“I’m from East Tennessee, so no one can really hear my voice and say that I'm not country.”
thebluegrasssituation.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Had a real pinch me moment chatting with Ashley Monroe — whose music means as much to me as anyone's — about her new album, Tennessee Lightning. We touched on many things including how she feels about "Americana" (my most burning question). Give it a read!
thebluegrasssituation.com/read/ashley-...
thebluegrasssituation.com/read/ashley-...
Reposted by Will Groff
quarterly reminder to subscribe to Don't Rock the Inbox
August 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
quarterly reminder to subscribe to Don't Rock the Inbox
what if annie up is the best pistol annies album…
August 16, 2025 at 2:19 PM
what if annie up is the best pistol annies album…
apropos of nothing luke bryan has a lot of bad songs but country girl shake it for me is not one of them
August 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
apropos of nothing luke bryan has a lot of bad songs but country girl shake it for me is not one of them
Reposted by Will Groff
if you're curious to learn about "what caused the current country boom" might i recommend a little newsletter called Don't Rock The Inbox :) www.dontrocktheinbox.com
Don't Rock The Inbox
A country music newsletter.
www.dontrocktheinbox.com
August 13, 2025 at 7:17 PM
if you're curious to learn about "what caused the current country boom" might i recommend a little newsletter called Don't Rock The Inbox :) www.dontrocktheinbox.com
charles is cooking here 🫕
New at No Fences Review: to celebrate the release of Patty Griffin's new album, I talk about a few of my favorite songs by this great artist. As always, there are many others that I could have included. Please share and subscribe!
Patty Griffin: A Love Letter in 16 Songs
Charles on a few songs by an artist we love
nofencesreview.substack.com
August 13, 2025 at 10:08 PM
charles is cooking here 🫕