Mark Blankenship
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markblankenship.bsky.social
Mark Blankenship
@markblankenship.bsky.social
Bylines and other work at markgblankenship.com. If you lived inside my mind, you'd be home by now.
At various points in my life, I had both of these phones, so you know my conversations were COOL.
September 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Print media alert! I was fortunate to write the companion book for the vinyl cast album of the GYPSY revival. Available now!
August 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
A print-only newspaper! We just published Issue 7 of Modern Vintage News (modernvintagenews.com), where I'm proud to be Senior Editor. Join us for 40 pages of original reporting and essays about appreciating what we already have and rediscovering the supposedly familiar world around us.
July 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I'm delighted to debut in Edible Nashville with my story on Screen Door Kitchen, a restaurant in Dayton, TN that contains practically the entire religious history of the region. ediblenashville.ediblecommunities.com#flipbook-df_...
March 28, 2025 at 7:21 PM
It's the season finale! As we finish our look at Best New Artist Grammy winners, we consider what makes Chance a rapper, Samara a joy, and Dua... um... a lipa. Join @sarahdbunting.bsky.social for the thrilling conclusion! LISTEN: bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
December 23, 2024 at 2:28 PM
We've hit the 10s! @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I discuss the penultimate batch of Best New Artist winners, including Meghan Trainor, Zac Brown Band, and Adele, back when she was 19 (instead of 21, 25, or 30).

LISTEN: bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
December 16, 2024 at 2:01 PM
As @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I continue discussing the Grammy winners for Best New Artist, we have reached the heady years of Maroon 5, Norah Jones, and Carrie Underwood. Listen here: bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
December 9, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Last night, I was honored to receive a Phila Award for my writing in The Food Section. What an honor to share the stage with awardees from The Store, Second Harvest, Cooper Creek Farm, and Edible Nashville! Thanks as always to @hannaraskin.bsky.social for inviting me onto The Food Section's team.
December 7, 2024 at 6:52 PM
Earlier this week, I was lucky enough to host a fundraising auction at the legendary Bluebird Cafe. I was auctioneering after some incredible music from Jeff Trott, Jamie Floyd, Cyndi Thomson, and Ryan Larkins. And it turns out I LOVE auctioneering!
December 6, 2024 at 2:26 PM
As @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I continue our march through Best New Artist history, we're looking at Grammy winners like Arrested Development, Sheryl Crow, and Xtina. We also get into a whole thing about Hootie and the Blowfish's surprising fall into obscurity. LISTEN: bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
December 2, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Cyndi might be surprised she won the Best New Artist Grammy, but we're not! @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I return to the 80s in the latest episode of our Best New Artist Breakdown season.

LISTEN: bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
November 25, 2024 at 2:18 PM
They finally released the original cut of that Wilson Phillips video.
November 20, 2024 at 2:46 AM
Pleased to announce I've signed a new group to my management company. They're available to sing at your wedding, graduation, or funeral. Contact me for rates.
November 20, 2024 at 2:40 AM
Remember when the Grammys went full drag in 1984? In our latest episode of Best New Artist Breakdown, @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I digging into winners like Culture Club, Sheena Easton, Men at Work, and (of course) Starland Vocal Band. bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
November 18, 2024 at 2:31 PM
Today @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I continue our spirited investigation of Grammy winners for Best New Artist by looking at the 70s, when Carly Simon, Bette Midler, The Carpenters, and Natalie Cole all came out on top. Join us! bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
November 11, 2024 at 2:42 PM
Over at Mark and Sarah Talk About Songs, @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I are investigating every Grammy winner for Best New Artist. In our first installment we figure out who The Swingle Singers are, and we talk of Bob, Bobby, Bobbie, and Robert.

bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
November 4, 2024 at 3:23 PM
In the finale of our Pop Goes The Actor season, @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I consider a few actors who have had sustained success on the pop charts. It's time for Jared Leto, Donald Glover, Hailee Steinfeld, and Jamie Foxx to sing us on home. bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
October 7, 2024 at 2:41 PM
What happens when 80s movie hunks rock out? @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I will find out as we dig into the music of Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, Keanu Reeves, and Corey Feldman. Check it out --> bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
September 30, 2024 at 1:51 PM
Remember when Tracey Ullman was a pop star? Or when Eddie Murphy had a hit song with Rick James? All that and more as @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I talk about comedians with honest-to-god music careers.

LISTEN: bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
September 23, 2024 at 1:24 PM
Today! @sarahdbunting.bsky.social and I talk about the (often quite excellent) music made by beloved TV actresses. From Shelley Fabares' self-professed terror to Lynda Carter's journey to the apocalypse, we've got it all. bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
September 16, 2024 at 3:59 PM
Print journalism! I am proud to be Senior Editor of Modern Vintage News, a PRINT ONLY newspaper about culture and ideas. The latest issues features great work from Bethany Joy Lenz (our EIC), Matthew Morrison, Rumer Willis, @sarahdbunting.bsky.social, and many more. Find us at ModernVintageNews.com
September 13, 2024 at 2:49 PM
This diva just won the Westminster Dog Show. If you're not entering the room with this level of confidence and style, then I suggest you stay home.
May 15, 2024 at 6:55 PM
Weird Al's "Word Crimes" gets us talking about "Blurred Lines" (sigh) and whether or not we should still be upset by terms like "irregardless." It's the penultimate dispatch from our Weird Al season!

LISTEN: bleav.com/shows/mark-a...
April 22, 2024 at 12:16 PM
I have been WAITING for this one. Sarah and I are talking about "Tacky," Weird Al's riff on Pharrell's modern classic "Happy." The whole thing makes me as giddy as Jack Black in the "Tacky" video. www.patreon.com/posts/weird-...
April 18, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Sarah and I dig into "Party in the CIA," Weird Al's particularly excellent parody of "Party in the USA." www.patreon.com/posts/weird-...
April 4, 2024 at 1:17 PM