In a new interview, Steve Earle shared some rather pointed thoughts about the current state of country music and the genre's next generation.
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The 62-year-old singer-songwriter shared his blunt thoughts on the genre during a chat with The Guardian.
"The best stuff coming out of Nashville is all by women except for Chris Stapleton," Earle says. "He's great. The guys just wanna sing about getting f***ed up. They're just doing hip-hop for people who are afraid of black people. I like the new Kendrick Lamar record, so I'll just listen to that."
Along with his unfiltered thoughts on country, he also recalled the turbulent years of his life during the late 1980s and early 90s. An addition to heroin left him completely broke.
"I lost everything but my house. The house in Tennessee I still own, though I don't know how. I guess it's because I couldn't figure out how to put it in the car and take it to the pawn shop."
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There are a few moments of bitterness, including his claim that his ex-wife Allison Moorer left him "for a younger, skinnier, less talented singer." But after decades of living like an outlaw, it's not surprising to see Earle still calling it like he sees it. Even if it ruffles a few feathers along the way.
Earle has a busy tour schedule set for the rest of the year. He'll travel across the U.S. with dates at festivals and venues across the country through October. You can find a full list of his upcoming live dates via his official website.