Best Country Guitarists, Best Song in a Movie, and Country Music News

What makes a musician “the best”—flashy solos, bulletproof tone, or the quiet excellence of a session pro who lifts every track they touch? We dig into that question with a fresh list of country’s standout guitarists, then pressure-test the names you know—Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley—against a studio titan who’s played on nearly everything: Brent Mason. Along the way, we break down how electric and acoustic roles really differ, why Telecasters and chicken-pickin’ still define a lane of country, and how pedals and signal chains can even shape a vocal when the studio gets experimental.The conversation widens fast. We unpack timely headlines and onstage signals—setlist swaps, lyric tweaks, rings on or off—and why fans read those choices as chapters in a public diary. There’s tour news, a TV series blending arena stages with backstage pressure, and a reminder that new voices rise from multiple paths now: TikTok bursts, honest songwriting pivots, and the right producer pairing at the right studio. If you care about where country music is headed, these threads matter.Then we hand the mic to our listeners for a high-stakes bracket: the greatest song ever used in a movie. Purple Rain surges. Eye of the Tiger swings hard. But the final crown lands on I Will Always Love You—a rare union of perfect song, perfect voice, and an unforgettable film moment. We close with chart spotlights (mainstream and indie), a quick-hit review of tracks worth your time, and a pointer to our playlist so you can hear everything we discuss.Episode LinksJeff King: https://jayfranze.com/episode6/Carl Tatz: https://jayfranze.com/episode24/Jim Cristaldi: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/MaKenzie Phipps: https://jayfranze.com/episode73/Billie Jo Jones: https://jayfranze.com/episode98/Jonny James: https://jayfranze.com/episode171/Send us Fan MailSupport the showLinksJay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/ContactContact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/SocialsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServicesServices: https://jayfranze.com/services/BooksBooks: https://jayfranze.com/books/MerchandiseMerchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/SupportSupport: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout OutsHigh Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives