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Brittney McKenna

@brittneymckenna.bsky.social
1.2K followers 291 following 30 posts

writer at apple music, bbc, billboard, forbes, nashville scene, npr music, rolling stone, vinyl me please, elsewhere she/her

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Reposted by Brittney McKenna
Natalie Weiner @natalieweiner.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
my debut for the @newrepublic.com! on Dolly, and how she was always entirely herself even in a world that wasn't ready for it newrepublic.com/article/2147...
newrepublic.com
Dolly Parton Never Wavered
From making music to launching a huge literacy program, the singer always took her work seriously. Eventually, the rest of us caught up.
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Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary) @bowiesongs.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
a favorite bit of writing on Dolly: David Cantwell on "Coat of Many Colors" "I am poor, but I will be more than that. I *am* more than that. Despite your contempt, the things I love are worth loving."
Coat of Many Colors is not a documentary or even a memory, but a story she's telling herself. The adult Parton presents this childhood story says a lot about the survival tactics of poor kids generally, and of Dolly Parton specifically. It might, for example, explain Parton's flamboyant stage dress through the years. More substantially, it tells how a poor kid from the Blue Ridge Mountains has to make sense of life if she has ambitions, as we know Dolly Parton most certainly did. ...I am poor, but I will be more than that. I am more than that. Despite your contempt, the things I love are worth loving. And since my mother slaved over this amazing coat for me, I must be worth loving, too."
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Getting to interview Dolly in 2016 is and always will be one of the great joys and honors of my life. It's hard to imagine a world without her.
americansongwriter.com
Dolly Parton: American Hustler
"I'd still be doing this today if I was a waitress," Dolly says. "That's how much I love the music."
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Wow what do you even say. This one genuinely breaks my heart.
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Matthew Downhour @matthewdownhour.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Where’s that post that’s like ‘to a lot of people the experience of the Roman Empire falling was that one day the bridge collapsed and no one came to repair it”?
nbcnews.com
‘Getting no help’: Thousands in Gary, Indiana, still without power nearly 2 weeks after storms
For some in the predominantly Black city, the lack of electricity has caused medical complications, while others are cooking what food they can at local parks before it spoils.
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ryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 24/08/2026
important piece of how journalism works right here www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/never-apol...
The Post, a truly immoral scumbag tabloid that is simultaneously the most skilled tabloid journalism publication in America in a way that we can all learn from, ran the story, and then it was picked up over the next few days by other right wing outlets making essentially the same “hey this left winger is a rich kid” joke, and then yesterday the story was picked up by the New York Times, which had profiled Gordillo earlier, and once that happened it instantly became acceptable fodder for non-right-wing reporters and pundits. This is a textbook case of how to shepherd a shallow partisan smear into the mainstream news cycle. You may find it distasteful, but you should admire its efficacy. Any competent cutthroat political communicator must be able to replicate this process on demand.

(When I worked at Gawker, we frequently played a similar but less political role in this general process, by writing about stories that the Times was interested in but considered disreputable, which would then allow them to write follow-ups framed as “People are talking about this thing,” which provides them an entry point to feed their readers salacious news while still maintaining an analytical, hands-off pose. Once you understand this dynamic you will see it all the time.)
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Sydney Bauer @sydney-bauer.com · 23/08/2026
Begging editors around the country to retire the phrase “transgender debate.” That’s not what this is. That’s not what this ever has been!
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Maya Schenwar @mayaschenwar.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Find out which of your local businesses are working with ICE. (New database from @theappeal.org) The Appeal’s investigation reveals a widespread web of public and private entities enabling Trump’s deportation machine. theappeal.org/ice-local-bu...
theappeal.org
Deportation Dollars: ICE Contracts With More Than 1,000 Businesses Across the U.S.
The Appeal’s investigation found contracts in nearly every state. Find out if your local businesses are working with ICE.
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Luke O'Neil @lukeoneil47.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
She's conventionally attractive, and if you can believe this, fairly bigoted. My latest on Some Bitch.
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Steven Hale @iamstevenhale.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I went to the Nashville gas station where a woman was killed Monday after the semi-truck she was sleeping under ran her over. Some people who have been surviving on the street alongside her were there. They told me her name was Tasha. nashvillebanner.com/2026/08/19/n...
nashvillebanner.com
Friends mourn unhoused Nashvillian killed by semi-truck - Nashville Banner
A 46-year-old unhoused Nashville woman was fatally run over by a semi-truck while sleeping under its trailer Monday. Friends recall her life, struggles.
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Craig Jenkins @craigsj.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
i spoke to the incomparable brittany howard re the alabama shakes hiatus, reunion, and new album 'i must be dreaming,' which did the job that was required (a day after tennessee primaries so we also got into the failures of viewing the south as political monolith) www.vulture.com/article/brit...
vulture.com
‘Things Got a Little Complicated’
Brittany Howard on Alabama Shakes’s near-decade hiatus and embracing imperfection on their new album.
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Natalie Weiner @natalieweiner.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
so many bad things happening that are kind of inevitable feeling or more an example of tactical neglect - then there's ai, the tool for people who want to go out of their way to destroy a world that was already melting and its culture bsky.app/profile/404m...
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Matt Zoller Seitz @mattzollerseitz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
"Deep-hearted man, express / Grief for thy dead in silence like to death.” www.rogerebert.com/features/mem...
rogerebert.com
Memories of Helen: The Heroic Despair of "John Wick"
An ode to the violent grief of cinema's most dogged assassin.
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Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary) @bowiesongs.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
so glad to see "Lodge 49" make the cut---as true in spirit to Pynchon as either of PT Anderson's adaptations, if not more so
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D. Patrick Rodgers @dpatrickrodgers.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Andy Ogles banned the @nashvillescene.com (as well as the @tennesseelookout.com, the @nashvillebanner.bsky.social, NewsChannel 5 and the @thetnholler.bsky.social) from his election night party.
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Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
They could always sign up to give comment at a public meeting.
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Jeff Weiss @passionweiss.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
One year since the final Dead show in Golden Gate Park. www.powmag.net/p/you-cant-k...
powmag.net
You Can't Kill What's Already Dead: Live From GD60
Sixty Years After the Grateful Dead's Inception, The Long Strange Trip Returned to Golden Gate Park.
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cait (and adonis) @cait.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
here's a fun lil exercise for cis people: how many articles would a publication have to print calling for your extermination before you would expect people who care about you to stop giving them money? and how would you feel if their excuse for still supporting them is some fuckass crossword puzzle?
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Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 31/07/2026
"I was a bad addict, a coping alcoholic. And I had this spiral moment, where I went back to my hotel and tried to take my life." Orville Peck talks to RS about the rock bottom that became the starting point for his upcoming album, 'Mule'
rollingstone.com
Orville Peck Overdosed and Nearly Died. He Turned It into His Best Album Yet
Orville Peck's new album 'Mule' tells the story of his overdose, near-death experience, rehab, and sobriety.
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
This happened to me with Vulture last year. I was hired to cover a day-long TV event (on a Sunday, no less) here in Nashville. I spent 8 hours at the event, then went home and wrote a 1500-word piece overnight because they wanted to post it the next day. Then the editor kept putting me off. (cont.)
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Readful Things @readfulthings.com · 28/07/2026
Last month I started working on a series based on those great library 'READ' posters, using promotional stills as a starting point. Here's the first in the series
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Kristen Radtke @kristenradtke.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com
theverge.com
I grew up with Alex Pretti
The kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend.
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MinnMax @minnmax.com · 27/01/2026
"You raise your voice, I erase your voice." ICE in Minneapolis are erasing your rights. Please share our new video of what's happening in our city. youtu.be/W1dyNcRGRXY
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David Cantwell @cantkill.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
At No Fences Review, @charleshughes2.bsky.social pays tribute to the late Bob Weir
open.substack.com
Turn It Up - Bob Weir edition
Charles pays tribute to the late co-founder of the Grateful Dead
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Drop Site @dropsitenews.com · 24/03/2025
BREAKING: Israeli settlers have carried out a ‘lynching’ of the co-Director of Oscar winning documentary No Other Land. Hamdan Billal has injuries in his head and stomach and is reportedly bleeding.
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
"Look at our government. Anybody more famous than me that didn’t make any effort to stop this movement and culture, I hope you’re embarrassed." A little teaser of my talk with @joyoladokun.bsky.social, which you can read in this week's @nashvillescene.com. www.nashvillescene.com/music/covers...
nashvillescene.com
Finding Joy: Joy Oladokun Isn’t Afraid to Speak Out
After parting ways with her label, the Americana artist powers on — and will headline the Ryman March 27
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Nashville Banner @nashvillebanner.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Records obtained by the Banner from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office show a variety of alleged offenses lead to immigration detentions, making clear the stakes of a police encounter are high for undocumented Nashvillians. Story: @iamstevenhale.bsky.social
nashvillebanner.com
Immigration detentions surge in Nashville under Trump - Nashville Banner
A South Nashville man was arrested and later taken into ICE custody after being charged with public intoxication. His wife and daughter face uncertainty.
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Luke O'Neil @lukeoneil47.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
"The richest man alive, an actual Nazi and a fucking sicko, who was not elected, is firing tens of thousands of people to further enrich himself and the president he has usurped all to make Americans' lives worse" has to be among the biggest layups of all time for messaging. And yet.
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
One of my oldest friends lost her job at the CDC over the weekend. She is seven months pregnant with her first child and has no idea if she'll still have health insurance by the time she delivers. Not to mention that she is incredibly smart, compassionate and genuinely invested in doing great work.
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Kim Baldwin @theblondemule.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Wrote a lil love letter to some recent work from @nikostratis.com, @marissarmoss.bsky.social and @brittneymckenna.bsky.social. 😘
theblondemule.substack.com
Beyoncé and Chappell and Kendrick, Oh My
A few things to read from some fantastic music writers
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Jonathan Bernstein @jonbern.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Two great, thoughtful perspectives on Beyoncé winning AOTY up at RS this week. Here's another: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
rollingstone.com
Beyoncé's First AOTY Win Confirms She Was Always Too Black for the Grammys
Beyoncé has waited 15 years to win the Album of the Year Grammy award. That is unforgivable
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
For @rollingstone.com, I wrote about what Nashville can learn from Beyonce's big Grammy win. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
rollingstone.com
The Grammys Understood Beyoncé Was Country. Why Didn't Nashville?
If the Recording Academy can recognize Beyonce as country music and pivot in a relatively short period of time, what gives with Nashville?
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Kristen Martin @kwistent.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Thanks to @literaryhub.bsky.social for sharing an excerpt of perhaps my favorite chapter of THE SUN WON’T COME OUT TOMORROW and certainly the most fun one to write—on ‘90s and ‘00s TV representstions of foster care and orphanhood lithub.com/all-in-the-f...
lithub.com
All in the Family: Considering Television’s Orphan Plot
The first kid I knew who didn’t live with his parents was Shawn Hunter, Cory Matthews’s best friend on Boy Meets World. Like many in the 1990s, I grew up alongside Shawn and Cory, one episode at a …
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Annie Zaleski @anniezaleski.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
And the year Jagged Little Pill turns 30, no less. “This is the first SHOF class to include no women since 2017…The initial list of nominees included four women – Franne Golde, Sheryl Crow, Janet Jackson and Alanis Morissette – but none made it this year.” www.billboard.com/music/awards...
billboard.com
George Clinton, Doobie Brothers, Beach Boys’ Mike Love & More Are 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees: Full List
Here are the 2025 inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, including George Clinton, Mike Love and three members of The Doobie Brothers.
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Haven't logged in here in a year and I'm surprised to find 1000 followers--- hello everyone! Deleted my nazi bird app account and glad to be back in the good place
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 21/11/2023
Last Thursday, Fox Nation held its annual Patriot Awards at the Grand Ole Opry. Among the honorees was extremist group Moms for Liberty. I went and lived to tell the tale, and wrote about the strange and infuriating experience for Slate slate.com/business/202...
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 29/08/2023
Logging Back On to say that, at the request of absolutely no one, I've started a Substack, which I promise to send sparingly. Subscribe for periodic lists of songs, books, films, articles and other things that I think are solid. brittneymckenna.substack.com/p/hi-hello-t...
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 29/08/2023
Logging Back On to say that, at the request of absolutely no one, I've started a Substack, which I promise to send sparingly. Subscribe for periodic lists of songs, books, films, articles and other things that I think are solid. brittneymckenna.substack.com/p/hi-hello-t...
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Rachel Cholst @rachelcholst.bsky.social · 25/07/2023
Need some more queer country music for your playlists? I've got you covered with Chris Housman, Nora Kelly Band, Lydia Loveless, Flamy Grant, My Sister My Brother, Alex Lahey, and @jennyowenyoungs.bsky.social buff.ly/43LB17o
buff.ly
Rainbow Ruckus 7/25: Chris Housman, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lydia Loveless, and More! - Rainbow Rodeo
You go away on your honeymoon for two weeks and the queer cowpokes keep cranking out amazing music! What the hell!!! That’s only a good thing, and our Rainbow Ruckus column will be a little bit long...
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 25/07/2023
In 1969, the beloved Nudie Suit Chris Ethridge wore on the cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers LP 'Gilded Palace of Sin' was stolen. Earlier this year, the suit's high-profile second life was discovered by an Ethridge family friend. I spoke with Chris's daughter Necia about the remarkable reunion.
nashvillescene.com
How Flying Burrito Brother Chris Ethridge’s Family Found His Long-Lost Nudie Suit
The recently uncovered suit has been loaned to the the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's ‘Western Edge’ exhibit
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 21/07/2023
Molly Tuttle is a living legend and it was a lot of fun to talk to her for this week's Nashville Scene. 'City of Gold' is out today!
nashvillescene.com
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway Sing of Big Dreams on ‘City of Gold’
Checking in with the lauded songsmith and picker ahead of her new LP
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 17/07/2023
anyone else streaming the last dead and co show tonight?
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 11/07/2023
It’s hard to disassociate to the bachelorette when there is an Oppenheimer trailer every commercial break
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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 06/07/2023
I wrote about being tossed about on cosmic gravitational waves, for @washingtonpost.com: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202…
washingtonpost.com
Opinion | I’m a physicist. Last week’s gravitational waves announcement sent me reeling.
Hum from gravitational waves gives a completely new and audacious view of the universe.
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 06/07/2023
Nashville has a great new record shop, the R.A.P. Ferreira-founded Soulfolks Records and Tapes. The shop will host its first Nashville incarnation of its annual Beat Invitational tomorrow.
nashvillescene.com
R.A.P. Ferreira Establishes a New Outpost of Soulfolks Records and Tapes
Checking in with the master MC about building community through his shop ahead of its Beat Invitational
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 05/07/2023
fully here for olivia rodrigo's commitment to bringing chromaticism back to the top 40
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Brittney McKenna @brittneymckenna.bsky.social · 05/07/2023
having a mild existential crisis over this empty new profile and kind of loving it, ama
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