Show Notes
Ellen Skrmetti was born and raised in Ripley, Mississippi, not far from Memphis, in a family that was devoted to the Southern Baptist church. For Ellen, a person of faith but also an aspiring comedian, this turned out to be great source material, as did all the characters in her small Southern town. During the pandemic, she started posting videos that all started with “Hey Jesus, It’s Me,” and then she would launch into gossipy monologues about her neighbors, critiques of a cousin’s potato salad, or—famously—what would have happened if Queen Elizabeth had died in the South. Now she’s got a new book that takes its name from those viral hits and expands it a bit: Hey, Jesus, It's Me: I Have Questions, Comments, and Concerns. Ellen lives in Birmingham now, so we got to do this one in the Southern Living offices, and she was just as charming and funny in person as she is on Instagram. Sid talks to Ellen about why her yeast rolls are controversial, what it’s been like getting back to standup after a fruitful detour through social media, and having what she calls a “true Southern church lady for a mother.”
For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam
Biscuits & Jam is produced by:
Sid Evans - Editor-in-Chief, Southern Living
Krissy Tiglias - GM, Southern Living
Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer
Michael Onufrak - Audio Engineer & Editor/Producer
Jeremiah Lee McVay - Producer 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.