Will Groff
@willgroff.bsky.social
Legendary Woman of Country. Bylines at Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, PAPER, LGBTQ Nation, No Depression, etc.
willgroff.com
willgroff.com
Pinned
Will Groff
@willgroff.bsky.social
· Oct 8
'Try That in a Small Town' One Year Later: Looking for Truth at a Jason Aldean Concert
On the ground at a Jason Aldean concert in Nevada, where we gauge the meaning of 'Try That in a Small Town' more than a year after its release.
www.rollingstone.com
I wrote about the stubborn persistence of “Try That in a Small Town,” the strange industrial complex that’s cropped up around the song and the surprising mutability of its meaning. (Aldean recently said it’s about trans people?)
My first for @RollingStone www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
My first for @RollingStone www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
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 🫕
Reposted by Will Groff
Anyone shocked that Kathy Mattea wasn't already a member of the Grand Ole Opry should read up on how the industry turned on her for having the unmitigated gall to wear three red AIDS support ribbons at the 1992 CMA Awards.
August 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Anyone shocked that Kathy Mattea wasn't already a member of the Grand Ole Opry should read up on how the industry turned on her for having the unmitigated gall to wear three red AIDS support ribbons at the 1992 CMA Awards.
Reposted by Will Groff
Since I can’t solve the astronomically bigger problems in this world I’m begging people to please stop being so weird about country music when writing about country music!!!!
August 13, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Since I can’t solve the astronomically bigger problems in this world I’m begging people to please stop being so weird about country music when writing about country music!!!!
Reposted by Will Groff
I went mansion house hunting on FaceTime with Jonny Fritz and all I got was this story.
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
This Cult Songwriter Wants to Sell You a House
Jonny Fritz earned a reputution as one of country's most eccentric songwriters; then he quit to sell houses.
www.rollingstone.com
August 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I went mansion house hunting on FaceTime with Jonny Fritz and all I got was this story.
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Wrote this little Valentine's Day number on the love songs of Martina McBride, an underrated legend whose best work is sharper and more nuanced than most anything on Today's Country Radio. So-called "music for soccer moms" (a label I resent!) is good, actually!!!
open.substack.com/pub/goodcoun...
open.substack.com/pub/goodcoun...
Empowered Love Songs
Martina McBride’s best-loved songs find strength in softness.
open.substack.com
February 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Wrote this little Valentine's Day number on the love songs of Martina McBride, an underrated legend whose best work is sharper and more nuanced than most anything on Today's Country Radio. So-called "music for soccer moms" (a label I resent!) is good, actually!!!
open.substack.com/pub/goodcoun...
open.substack.com/pub/goodcoun...
yes ma'am this is my post-election healing album
November 21, 2024 at 7:28 PM
yes ma'am this is my post-election healing album
Meanwhile Whiskey Riff runs an article calling Shaboozey a "borderline-country-artist" and saying how disrespectful his performance was... to Toby Keith
November 21, 2024 at 6:22 PM
Meanwhile Whiskey Riff runs an article calling Shaboozey a "borderline-country-artist" and saying how disrespectful his performance was... to Toby Keith
Reposted by Will Groff
shameful stuff
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
November 21, 2024 at 5:34 PM
shameful stuff
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Another rough night for people who think cancel culture is real
November 21, 2024 at 4:13 AM
Another rough night for people who think cancel culture is real
Reposted by Will Groff
"If a woman doesn't look woman enough to a Republican, they want to be able to inspect your genitals to use a bathroom? It's disgusting.
Everyone should reject it completely... they're endangering women, they're endangering girls of all kind, and everyone should reject it. It's gross." - AOC
Everyone should reject it completely... they're endangering women, they're endangering girls of all kind, and everyone should reject it. It's gross." - AOC
November 21, 2024 at 2:44 AM
"If a woman doesn't look woman enough to a Republican, they want to be able to inspect your genitals to use a bathroom? It's disgusting.
Everyone should reject it completely... they're endangering women, they're endangering girls of all kind, and everyone should reject it. It's gross." - AOC
Everyone should reject it completely... they're endangering women, they're endangering girls of all kind, and everyone should reject it. It's gross." - AOC
He may not have won best new artist but Bailey Zimmerman is a lock for the Dwight Yoakam lifetime achievement award for tiniest male waist
November 21, 2024 at 3:18 AM
He may not have won best new artist but Bailey Zimmerman is a lock for the Dwight Yoakam lifetime achievement award for tiniest male waist
Post Malone doing his best Megan Moroney impression
November 21, 2024 at 2:36 AM
Post Malone doing his best Megan Moroney impression
Kacey doing her best Megan Moroney impression
November 21, 2024 at 2:20 AM
Kacey doing her best Megan Moroney impression
Crazy night for me to come out as a Megan Moroney fan
November 21, 2024 at 1:57 AM
Crazy night for me to come out as a Megan Moroney fan