Show Notes
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.
For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam
Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living / Becky Fluke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Biscuits & Jam
At just 19 years old, Ty Myers has already become one of country music’s biggest breakout stars. He first reached a wider audience with his viral song “Tie That Binds” in 2023. His debut album, The Select, followed in January 2025. This year, he’s released two more albums: Heavy on the Soul featuring 17 songs, and Two Braids & the Truth , a ten-song tribute to Willie Nelson, whose music has been part of Ty’s life since childhood. Ty came by the Southern Living offices in Birmingham, Alabama, a few hours before he was set to headline a show in Tuscaloosa at Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater. After a quick tour of the test kitchens, he talked to Sid about his connection to Willie, the song he considers perfect, what Texas means to him, and one of the most fun nights he’s ever had on stage.
George Motz is a self-proclaimed Burger Scholar, as well as an author, filmmaker, and TV host who’s been called the “foremost authority on hamburgers” by The New York Times. George grew up on Long Island, but he has deep family ties to South Carolina on his mother’s side. He spent a lot of time in the Lowcountry as a kid, soaking up the food and culture, which helped shape his lifelong passion for American cuisine. That passion eventually led him to create the 2004 documentary Hamburger America, which he produced, directed, shot, and edited himself. In 2016, he released his first cookbook, The Great American Burger Book, and he also brought his expertise to television as the host of Burger Land on the Travel Channel. And in 2023, George opened Hamburger America, an acclaimed restaurant in New York City where he’s serving some of the best burgers you’ll ever taste. Sid talks to George about the cultural significance of hamburgers, the men and women who make them, and what drives him to preserve and celebrate these American institutions.
Miranda Lambert has Texas roots that run deep - she grew up in Lindale, just east of Dallas - but Tennessee has become her home. In this episode, Sid interviews the country legend during a Southern Living cover shoot at her farm just outside of Nashville. It’s been a big year for Lambert, who co-produced Ella Langley’s blockbuster album, Dandelion, and co-wrote the epic single that’s swept the country, “Choosin’ Texas.” Now she’s out with a new album, Crisco, which shows the veteran artist at the peak of her powers. Miranda talks to Sid about how the farm is a much-needed escape from Music City, how exciting things are for women in country music these days, and how much fun she had collaborating on new songs with Ella Langley and Chris Stapleton.
Lanie Gardner was born and raised in Burnsville, North Carolina, in a family where music was a big part of life. Her grandfather, JD, was a musician, as was her Dad, and Lanie borrowed from both of them for a sound that blends the storytelling of country music with the grit of classic rock and the energy of pop. Lanie first caught the world’s attention with her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” which she posted online in 2020. The video reached an audience of more than 100 million and even landed on the Billboard charts. Her 2024 debut album, A Songwriter’s Diary, proved her talents as a songwriter, and she continued that momentum the following year with Faded Polaroids, an ambitious sophomore album that’s now out as a deluxe edition. Sid talks to Lanie about who did the cooking and baking in her family, the legacy of Dolly Parton, and why she brought a special polaroid into the circle with her at the Grand Ole Opry.
Mae Estes was born and raised in Hope, Arkansas, and she got her start on stage singing the national anthem at rodeos as a kid. After becoming the first person in her family to get a college degree, she moved to Nashville and, with a good bit of ingenuity on social media, she started to make a name for herself. In 2022, her single “Thinkin’ ‘Bout Cheatin’” got some attention, and in 2024 Mae was included in CMT’s Next Women of Country. Now she’s gearing up to release her latest ep, The 90s Called, which features a single by the same name that celebrates the era of country music that shaped her. Sid talks to Mae about her experience riding a bull at rodeo during high school, what she learned during her brief gig as a line cook, and some of the impressive collaborations she’s been a part of.