Married to the Music with Hanley Riggs

Mandi Payton, wife of Elvie Shane, joins Married To The Music for a raw and emotional conversation about motherhood, marriage, and life behind country music. From raising her son at a young age to becoming the foundation behind Elvie’s early career, Mandi shares what it looked like to support a dream while managing real life at home. She opens up about long stretches apart, learning trust and communication in a relationship shaped by the road, and the powerful moment she first heard “My Boy”—a song that would come to define their family’s story. This episode is an honest look at love, sacrifice, and resilience in the music industry, giving listeners a deeper understanding of the real lives behind the songs they love.    Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.musicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sara Brice, wife of Lee Brice, joins Married to the Music for a heartfelt conversation about their love story, raising a family, faith, songwriting, and what life really looks like behind one of country music’s biggest names. Sara shares growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, discovering music through poetry and her grandmother, and how that led her to songwriting. She opens up about meeting Lee on the beach when they were young, falling in love before his career took off, and standing by him through the early, unpredictable years. From radio tour days to building a life rooted in faith and family, Sara gives a real look at their foundation, plus stories from their Tennessee farm, raising their kids, and what Lee is really like at home. Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.musicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s it really like being married to a country artist? Chase Fann joins Married to the Music to share a real, grounded look at building a relationship in the middle of the music industry. He talks about growing up near Nashville, becoming a lawyer, and meeting Madeline Merlo right before COVID, when their relationship had time to grow in a more intentional way. Chase also opens up about supporting a partner through touring, career highs and lows, and the constant balancing act between two very different worlds. They get into faith, communication, and what actually makes a relationship last, plus some fun moments with SEC football, Harry Potter, and the everyday things that keep them connected. It’s honest, relatable, and a true behind-the-scenes look at love beyond the spotlight.   Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.musicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country artists Hannah Ellis and Nick Wayne join Married to the Music to share how their Kentucky and Nashville roots shaped their paths into country music — and how a Nashville artist apartment building unexpectedly brought them together. They open up about navigating competition within a relationship in the music industry, the importance of having hobbies outside of music like golf, cooking, and scrapbooking, and what life really looks like on the road while preparing to welcome their first child. Plus, they get honest about the emotional toll of social media and how they stay grounded in an industry that never slows down.   Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.musicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country music, Nashville relationships, and life behind the industry — Peyton Niemann joins Married to the Music to share what it really takes to build a strong relationship in the music business. Peyton talks about growing up in Florida, attending the University of Texas, and eventually finding her way to Nashville, where music, career, and love all began to intersect. She shares how her path evolved from competitive figure skating and dreams of becoming a forensic pathologist to songwriting, artist development, and learning the music industry from the inside out. She also tells the story of meeting country artist Jerrod Niemann at Alley Taps in Printer’s Alley and how their relationship grew from there. Peyton opens up about navigating marriage in the spotlight, setting boundaries in the music industry, and why communication has been the foundation of their relationship. Plus, she talks about life on the road, writing music, hosting friends in Nashville, and the perspective that comes from seeing firsthand how deeply country music can impact fans.   Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.musicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hally Cooper, the wife of Cooper Alan, joins Married to the Music for a real behind-the-scenes conversation about growing up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and what it actually looks like building a life in Nashville when your partner is chasing the dream. Hally talks about being the “chatty kid” growing up, studying fashion textiles at NC State, and how a summer internship in New York City helped her realize what she didn’t want and pushed her to rethink her path. She also opens up about the early Nashville reality check. The Broadway grind, long nights, and the not-so-glamorous side of the industry that people don’t always see. Hally shares how faith and routine helped keep them grounded through those early years. Plus, we talk about what life is really like on a tour bus as the only girl, why Cooper isn’t actually a big social media guy, and the funny story behind the whole “Cooper” name confusion. And of course we get into the baby news, including their sweet Opry cupcake gender reveal and getting ready to welcome their daughter. Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.music  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida girls unite. Chloe Crawford- Shane Profitt’s fiancée,  joins Married To The Music for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what life really feels like when your partner is building a career on the road. She shares how they met in true Nashville fashion, what it takes to maintain trust and communication in the music industry, and how she balances supporting his dreams while continuing to build a life of her own at home. The conversation dives into independence, friendship, boundaries, and the importance of staying grounded while navigating a relationship in a fast-moving industry. It’s candid, heartfelt, funny at times, and full of perspective on love, identity, and finding balance when music is part of your everyday life.   Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.music  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country artist Meghan Patrick joins Married To The Music for a deeply honest conversation about her journey from Ontario to Nashville, the life-changing snowboarding injury that pushed her fully toward music, and how personal experiences have shaped both her songwriting and her purpose. She opens up about healing, family dynamics, finding confidence in the industry, and building a career from the ground up — plus the real story of how she met husband Mitchell Tenpenny, what makes their marriage work in the music business, and why trust, communication, and keeping their relationship sacred are non-negotiables. It’s candid, heartfelt, funny at times, and full of perspective on balancing love, career, and identity in country music.   Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.music  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She left Michigan for radio, survived divorce and career burnout, then rebuilt her life inside Nashville’s country music machine. Kristen Brust, wife of LoCash’s Preston Brust, shares the untold reality of loving an artist while protecting your own identity.Kristen walks through her path from country radio promotions to Big Machine Records, the loneliness of life on the road, hitting rock bottom during a divorce, and the unexpected night she met Preston. She opens up about marriage under a spotlight, tour-life boundaries, trust, raising three kids while he’s gone, and the behind-the-scenes truth of being married to country music.   Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Married to the Music is where the spotlight fades and the real story begins. It is honest, heartfelt conversations with the husbands and wives behind today’s country stars, the ones living this life every single day. This is where you get to know your favorite artists on a deeper level through the people who know them best. From building careers to raising families while tour buses roll out, it is an inside look at what life really feels like beyond the stage and who these artists are when they are home. But even more importantly, it creates space for the partners who do not always get the mic. These are the stories you do not hear on stage, and they matter just as much. Watch clips and behind-the-scenes moments: @married.to.the.music Follow Hanley: @hanleyriggs More episodes and show notes: www.MarriedToTheMusicPodcast.com Know someone we should feature? Reach out on social: @married.to.the.musicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Married to the Music is a new podcast with honest, behind-the-scenes conversations with the husbands, wives, and partners of today’s top country artists. These men and women aren’t just the plus one they’re entrepreneurs, creatives, parents, and powerhouse individuals building lives in and around Nashville. Each episode dives into love, identity, ambition, and what it really looks like to be married to someone in the spotlight from how they met, to balancing careers and family, to navigating fame from the inside out. Hosted by Hanley Riggs, Married to the Music is all about the stories you don’t hear on stage or see on red carpets.  Episode one drops February 13th. Follow @married.to.the.music on Instagram and TikTok for behind-the-scenes moments and episode teasers and follow me, @hanleyriggs, to come along for the ride.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.