Nostalgia Trap - Episode 395: Atomic Twang w/ Joseph M. Thompson

Joseph M. Thompson is assistant professor of history at Mississippi State University, and the author of Cold War Country: How Nashville's Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism (UNC Press, 2024). Thompson's history tracks the deep connections between country music and the U.S. military, uncovering a concerted effort by government officials and cultural creators to cement country culture and national pride (and of course, anti-communism). Our conversation moves from Slim Pickens to Toby Keith, as we explore how the cultural politics of country continue to shape the 21st century. Subscribe to the Nostalgia Trap Patreon to check out my News Trap updates and all of our bonus content: patreon.com/nostalgiatrap