Iris's voice arrives like a piece of weather — slow, undeniable, a little frightening. She writes plainspoken songs about big subjects and refuses to oversing any of them. Merle Haggard called her his favorite singer. He was right.
- Loretta Lynn
- The Carter Family
- Sacred Harp tradition
- John Prine
- Greg Brown
Iris DeMent on tape
Late-night listening. Hit play and let it run.
Pull the thread
USA · 1944 — 1997
Townes Van Zandt
The patron saint of the kitchen-table songwriters.
USA · 1953 — present
Lucinda Williams
Louisiana made audible.
USA · 1978 — present
Sturgill Simpson
Walked into Nashville with a haircut and an attitude.
USA · 1991 — present
Tyler Childers
Appalachia, unfiltered and unembarrassed.
USA · 1988 — present
Sierra Ferrell
Sings like she found the songs in a creek bed.
USA · 1984 — present
Charley Crockett
Keeps the bones, throws out the gristle.
USA · 1979 — present
Jason Isbell
Wrote 'Southeastern' and meant it.
USA · 1983 — present
Margo Price
Outlaw country with a working-class spine.