
About this episode
The episode features conversations with three country music artists discussing their journeys and music ahead of Stagecoach weekend.
This week on the Spout Podcast, we’re doing something a little different for Stagecoach weekend. In this special bundled episode, we bring together three separate conversations with Josh Ross, Corey Kent, and Willow Avalon — three artists heading into one of country music’s biggest weekends, each with a very different story, sound, and lane right now. Josh Ross talks about the emotion behind “Give Her Hell,” why he’s drawn to songs that hit harder emotionally, and how he moves between stripped-back country, power-ballad energy, and full-scale live intensity. He also opens up about the personal side of his songwriting, the meaning behind sequencing records, and why some of the deepest songs are the ones that stay with people the longest. Corey Kent joins us to talk about the rise of “Empty Words,” how fan reaction helped push the song forward faster, and why trusting instinct still matters in a world obsessed with data. He reflects on the long road from Oklahoma to Nashville to Texas, losing a publishing deal, working at a pavement company during COVID, and building a career that now includes platinum records, a No. 1 song, and a place on major festival stages. It’s a conversation…
People in this episode
Host: Spout Podcast
Guests: Josh Ross, Corey Kent, Willow Avalon
Topics covered
- Stagecoach
- country music
- songwriting
- artist interviews
- music industry
- resilience
- emotional storytelling
Keywords
- Stagecoach
- country music
- Josh Ross
- Corey Kent
- Willow Avalon
- songwriting
- music industry
- emotional songs
- artist interviews
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Give Her Hell, Empty Words, Easy on the Eyes, Cardinal Sin
Places: Oklahoma, Nashville, Texas
More episodes of Spout Podcast
- Lauren Spencer Smith on Album Three, Sad Songs and Staying True to Herself · June 11, 2026 · 45 min
- Spencer Sutherland on Life Is Glamorous, A$AP Rocky, Teddy Swims & Choosing Drama · June 8, 2026 · 53 min
- Joe Nichols on Tequila, Traditional Country & What Success Means Now · June 3, 2026 · 39 min
- Bobby Bones on Moving to Netflix, Being a Dad and Mastering the Art of the Interview · June 1, 2026 · 1h 6m
- The Maine on JOY NEXT DOOR, Mikey Way, the Jonas Brothers and 20 Years of 8123 · May 25, 2026 · 46 min
- TX2: To Be Cringe Is to Be Free · May 20, 2026 · 41 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Spout Podcast podcast page.