iHeartCountry NZ Essential Interviews
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
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 jump has him slightly nervous.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to New Zealand & Australian tour experiences
01:30 - Auckland recomme...
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 audiences can expect from her 2027 festival set.
Timestamps:
00:00 - CMC Rocks' 20th anniversary and Kaylee's connection to the festival...
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 what Kiwi and Aussie country fans can expect when they hit the CMC Rocks stage.
Timestamps:
00:00 Receiving the Willie Nelson Life...
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 cancelled, performing a surprise set at Jolene Bar, joining Kaylee Bell on stage, working with Tyler Hubbard and Luke Combs, touring with Luke...
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 motorhome, and why she never thought a CMA nomination would happen after moving to New Zealand more than 20 years ago. She also talks about re...
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 Parker McCollum, and whether a New Zealand trip could be on the cards.
Timestamps
00:34 - Seeing his music reach audiences around the world<...
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 surviving bad hotel WiFi
01:00 - Buying a hippo skull in Auckland
01:47 - His expensive collection of weird pants...
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:
00:00 - Welcome to the newly opened Wigmore Deli
00:42 - How an impulsive purchase became a new business
02:13 - Building a space ...
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
01:13 - James explains proper shoey etiquette
02:35 - How Small Town Smoke came together
03:54 - Discovering how similar the...
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 story behind his travelling teddy bear, Tick
01:22 - First impressions of New Zealand
01:55 - Fishing trips and exploring Waiheke ...
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 fishing trip
00:54 - Turning fresh snapper into dinner
01:28 - Shoutout to Captain Pete
01:52 - The golf ball that smashed ...
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 - Preparing for his first trip to New Zealand
01:47 - Why now was the right time to finally visit NZ
03:00 - Why You Make It Easy never l...
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 home
00:58 - Their willingness to do a shoey
01:19 - Returning to CMC Rocks as headliners
02:21 - What makes CMC Rocks so spe...
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 the songs that have resonated most with fans. She also shares the story behind Lemonade, why Too Good surprised her, and how motherhood co...
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:
00:00 - Why he couldn't wait to come back to New Zealand
00:45 - Exploring Auckland with his family
01:53 - The restaurants and pla...
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 - Preparing for his first-ever trip to New Zealand
00:30 - The thrill of finding fans around the world
01:51 - What performing live feels lik...
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 - Why Brad is in New Zealand ahead of schedule
00:31 - Returning after his first NZ shows
01:02 - The significance of his first...
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, and it is our first stop on the other side of the world.”
Timestamps:
00:00 - Finally bringing the Wh...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.