In this Slate Plus exclusive, host Chris Molanphy welcomes country music journalist and historian Brian Mansfield, who explains how superproducer Robert John “Mutt” Lange and superstar Shania Twain reshaped Nashville in the 1990s. In her partnership with the studio mastermind, Twain pivoted from her largely overlooked debut album to an arena-rock sound that proved so popular, it altered the sonic signature of country music and compelled other artists to emulate Twain and Lange’s approach. Mansfield also unpacks some of the politics behind Nashville songwriting and production, and how Twain’s legacy continues to be felt today.
\nAlso: Chris tests a Slate Plus listener’s music knowledge, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and offers a sneak peek at the next episode of Hit Parade. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
\nPodcast production by Kevin Bendis.
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