When an artist with a résumé that includes Billy Joel and Kenny Loggins finally steps out on his own, the roots-music world tends to take notice. That’s exactly what happened this week when Emmy-winning songwriter Claude Carmichael brought his long-awaited solo project to one of Americana’s most beloved broadcast institutions.
Claude Carmichael shared songs from his solo debut on WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour and celebrates its release Oct. 27 at Stable Reserve Distillery in Franklin.
On Monday, October 19, Carmichael took the stage of the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour in Lexington, Kentucky, appearing alongside host and folk artist Michael Johnathon, on-air announcer Dorothy Edwards, and fellow guest artist Teni Rane for episode 1,190 of the widely syndicated program. The show, known for its live folk performances and intimate interviews, reaches audiences through public radio, PBS affiliates, RFD-TV, and the American Forces Radio Network across 177 nations.
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During the broadcast, Carmichael treated listeners to several tracks from “Tennessee Hill,” including “Bottom of a Well,” “Instead of Me,” “Sonia Lee,” and “Too Many Yankees (Bless Their Hearts).” He also opened up about his path to working with legendary producer Phil Ramone on Billy Joel’s “The Stranger,” his contributions to soundtrack albums, his work with the National Audubon Society, and the collaboration with Kenny Loggins on the Emmy-winning “This Island Earth.”
Landing a spot on WoodSongs is a significant milestone for any artist in the American roots scene. The show’s alumni list includes a veritable who’s who of the genre: Sierra Hull, Over the Rhine, Billy Strings, Brandi Carlile, Ben Sollee, Judy Collins, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tommy Emmanuel, and Roger McGuinn, to name just a handful.
Johnathon didn’t hold back in his praise for Carmichael’s performance and the new record. “Claude Carmichael [with] his album ‘Tennessee Hill’ is like the musical fragrance of an acoustic rainfall in a forest, poetic petrichor,” he said. “The album is all front porch and the soundtrack of rural America. A wonderful songwriter with a massive résumé to back him up.”
For Carmichael, the WoodSongs experience was both meaningful and memorable. “Michael Johnathon has built an impressive organization that puts out a terrific show, with a wonderful crew who make the guests feel welcome and sound great,” he said. “It’s a special show with a real community of wonderful people. I’m honored to have been a part of it!”
Though “Tennessee Hill” marks Carmichael’s solo debut, the album is already earning glowing early reviews. Medium’s Colin Jordan observed that “the album’s greatest achievement is how fresh that experience sounds when transformed into songs about belonging, memory, family, and home.” Michael Rand of Mobangeles echoed that sentiment: “Carmichael has plenty of impressive names in his biography, but the album’s appeal lies closer to home. The barefoot kid with the fiddle, the dad writing a lullaby, the driver recognizing his own neighborhood: Those are the people you want to get to know. After years in the business, he’s finally introducing them.”
Fans in Middle Tennessee will get their chance to hear the songs live when Carmichael performs at Stable Reserve Distillery in Franklin on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. He’ll be backed by a full band featuring Julian Carmichael, Will Falkner, Mike Swope, Audrey Swank, Michelle Murray, and friends.
Between the global WoodSongs broadcast and the upcoming hometown celebration, Carmichael says the most unexpected reward of releasing “Tennessee Hill” has been personal. As he told Johnathon on air, “What I didn’t expect is that [the album] gave me an excuse to get in touch with old friends; a way of reconnecting and giving the gift of music to people who had been so kind to me for so many years. I felt like I was giving them something, and they were giving me something right back.”
Matt Bjorke
PLA Media
matt.bjorke@plamedia.com
Watch WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour Episode 1190 Full Episode
Why it matters
Carmichael’s leap from behind-the-scenes veteran to front-and-center solo artist signals a homecoming for a musician whose work has touched some of pop music’s biggest moments. As he reintroduces himself to audiences on his own terms, “Tennessee Hill” offers a reminder that some of the most compelling stories in music arrive after decades of craft.
