iHeartCountry NZ Essential Interviews
by iHeartCountry NZ
From Nashville to New Zealand, iHeartCountry NZ brings you closer to the biggest names in country music. Hear exclusive interviews with global superstars and rising artists about the stories behind their songs, New Zealand tour news, new music, and life on the road. These are the conversations every Kiwi country fan needs to hear!
Episodes
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Tami Neilson on recording a surprise duet with Willie Nelson
New Zealand country star Tami Neilson joins iHeartCountry on release day to celebrate her new duet with Willie Nelson, Too Many Mamas. Tami shares the incredible story behind the collaboration, from a tornado disrupting the Outlaw Tour to staying at Willie's Texas ranch, rewriting the song...
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Dan Bernstone chats with TheWesternGuide & Kaylee Bell about 'The Truth I Keep'
TheWesternGuide & Kaylee join Dan Bernstone on Kiwi Country Friday to talk about their emotional new duet, Truth I Keep. The pair share how the collaboration came together and why the song sat unfinished for nearly a year before finding its missing piece.
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TheWesternGuide and Kaylee Bell on their new duet 'Truth I Keep'
TheWesternGuide and Kaylee Bell have teamed up for one of the most exciting Kiwi country collaborations of the year, Truth I Keep. The pair join Georgia Burt to reveal how the song came together, why it sat unfinished for a year, what it was like recording together, the story behind the music...
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Michael Marcagi on touring with Noah Kahan and finding fans in New Zealand
Michael Marcagi joins us as he returns to New Zealand to open for Noah Kahan. The singer-songwriter talks about writing Scared to Start during Covid, seeing fans sing along on the other side of the world, the songs connecting most with crowds, life on tour, and why a potential New Zealand bungee...
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Kaylee Bell says CMC Rocks fans are ‘the best we've ever played to’
Kiwi country star Kaylee Bell is gearing up for another massive CMC Rocks appearance as the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary. Kaylee reflects on her first performance, how the festival helped shape country music across Australasia, her favourite CMC memories, camping with fans, and what...
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Brooks & Dunn on CMC Rocks, the All Blacks and country music's biggest honour
Country music icons Brooks & Dunn are heading back to Australia for the 20th anniversary of CMC Rocks. We caught up with them to chat about the journey that brought them there. The duo reflect on receiving a major CMA honour, share stories from the road, talk about their loyal fanbase, and reveal...
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Drew Baldridge on his new album 'Farm Faith Family'
Drew Baldridge joins iHeartCountry NZ to talk about his new album 'Farm Faith Family', the independent journey that turned She's Somebody's Daughter into a career-changing hit, and why New Zealand holds a special place in his heart. Drew also reflects on the night his Auckland debut was…
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Tami Neilson on Nashville, the Opry, and Country Music's Biggest Night - the CMA Awards
Kiwi country star Tami Neilson joins iHeartCountry NZ after landing a nomination for the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award at the CMA Awards in Nashville. Tami opens up about the emotional moment she received the news, growing up watching the CMAs from a tiny TV in her family's touring...
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Vincent Mason on Stella Lefty, the Grand Ole Opry & coming to New Zealand
Vincent Mason joins iHeartCountry NZ to talk about his whirlwind rise from university student to touring alongside some of the biggest names in country music. Vincent opens up about his relationship with Stella Lefty, why performing at the Grand Ole Opry means so much, life on the road with…
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Cameron Whitcomb on weird pants, hippo skulls & bringing chaos to New Zealand
We caught up with Cameron Whitcomb backstage before his sold-out Auckland show! We chatted about his first trip to New Zealand, collecting strange souvenirs, and the similarities between Kiwi and Canadians. Timestamps: 00:00 - Cameron's first few days in New Zealand 00:12 - Gaming on tour and...
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Gin Wigmore on Country Diamond, starting over & telling the truth through music
Gin Wigmore is back, and if her latest track is anything to go by, she’s diving deeper than ever before. We popped into Gin Wigmore's newly opened Wigmore Deli and studio space to chat about about creativity, reinvention, and the deeply personal journey behind her upcoming album. Timestamps…
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Chase Matthew & James Johnston talk “Small Town Smoke”, tour chaos & Country Music’s global rise
Chase Matthew & James Johnston chat with us about their new collaboration Small Town Smoke, life on the road together, and why country music is connecting fans all around the world. Timestamps: 00:00 - Why the tour isn't coming to New Zealand (yet) 00:21 - Chase's first Aussie shoey experience...
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Backstage with Tucker Wetmore: First NZ show, why authenticity matters & turning wine into whiskey
A very sweaty Tucker Wetmore sat down with us after his first-ever New Zealand performance. He reflects on a whirlwind 24 hours, bucket-list moments, and the incredible reaction from Kiwi fans to a song released only a week ago. Timestamps: 00:00 - Fresh off stage and feeling sweaty 00:47 - The...
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Backstage with Jordan Davis: Fishing trips, career milestones & winning over Kiwi fans
We caught up with Jordan Davis backstage ahead of his first NZ headline show. Fresh off a day of fishing and golf in Auckland, Jordan Davis shared about making the most of his time in New Zealand and growing his fanbase on the other side of the world. Timestamps: 00:00 - A successful New Zealand...
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Jason Aldean on returning Down Under, family life & Songs About Us
Country superstar Jason Aldean joins iHeartCountry NZ ahead of his first-ever New Zealand shows to talk about returning to Australia, finally making the trip across the Tasman, and which songs fans can expect to hear live. Timestamps: 00:00 - Life in Nashville during a winter storm 00:39 -...
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Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey on finally coming to NZ, shoeys & seven CMA Awards
Old Dominion are finally making their New Zealand debut this March! We caught up with lead singer Matthew Ramsey to talk about their long‑awaited arrival in NZ and their return Down Under. Timestamps: 00:00 - Getting ready for New Zealand and Australia 00:22 - How international crowds compare to...
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Maren Morris on her Dreamsicle Tour, emotional honesty, and finally returning to New Zealand
Before kicking off her Dreamsicle tour, Maren Morris sat down with us to talk about her upcoming return to New Zealand, and the deeply personal album that inspired the tour. Maren reflects on navigating some of the most challenging years of her life, turning difficult experiences into music, and...
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Jordan Davis on headlining New Zealand, "Buy Dirt" & why Country Music connects the world
Jordan Davis is returning to New Zealand to headline his own show! We chat with him ahead of his return to New Zealand about headlining his own shows, bringing songs from Learn The Hard Way to Kiwi fans, and why Auckland delivered some of the most memorable performances of his career. Timestamps:...
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Jackson Dean on his first NZ Tour, Lord of the Rings obsession & the power of live music
Jackson Dean is finally coming to New Zealand! Jackson Dean joined iHeartCountry NZ ahead of his very first trip to New Zealand to talk about bringing his live show across the world, connecting with fans in unexpected places, and why performing is unlike anything else. Timestamps: 00:00…
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Brad Cox on touring NZ, turning 30 and writing what matters
Brad Cox on new music, marriage, touring New Zealand & country music's evolution. Australian country star Brad Cox is returning to New Zealand and he dropped by to talk about his upcoming album, touring regional New Zealand, and the friendships that have helped shape his career. Timestamps: 00:00…
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Lainey Wilson on first-ever New Zealand show “We’re doing the thing!”
Country music powerhouse Lainey Wilson is officially heading to New Zealand for the first time, and she’s just as excited as we are. “I have been wanting to come to New Zealand for so long,” Lainey told iHeartCountry NZ. “I can’t believe that we are finally making our way over there. But we are,...
About this show
From Nashville to New Zealand, iHeartCountry NZ brings you closer to the biggest names in country music. Hear exclusive interviews with global superstars and rising artists about the stories behind their songs, New Zealand tour news, new music, and life on the road. These are the conversations every Kiwi country fan needs to hear!
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iHeartCountry NZ
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