This week, we look back at 2025. We met some fascinating people, like Aaron Dowdy of country rock band Fust. Also, central Appalachia continued to recover from Hurricane Helene. From the beginning, the recovery brought people together. And, we made a trip to Hillbilly Hotdog to take on "The Homewrecker."
LISTEN: Our Song Of The Week Celebrates The Life And Music Of John Prine
Listen
Share this Article
This week on Mountain Stage we’re celebrating some of the finest musicians to step foot on the Mountain Stage, but it’s bittersweet as they all left us in 2020.
John Prine made three appearances on Mountain Stage over the years. Our Song of the Week was recorded during his second visit to the show on April 27, 1997 in Huntington, West Virginia. He passed away from complications stemming from Covid-19 in April of 2020. As host, Larry Groce stated in this week’s broadcast “John’s songs had a blue-collar sensibility that cut through the core of human emotions.” Hear “Souvenirs” and five other tunes from John Prine on this week’s special broadcast.
John Prine – Souvenirs, live on Mountain Stage
In addition to John Prine, this special show celebrates Tony Rice, Justin Townes Earle, Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver, and other musicians who left us in 2020. We hope you’ll tune in on one of these NPR affiliates as we pay our respect.
1 of 4
Adam Schlesinger, co-founder of power-pop group Fountains of Wayne
BRIAN BLAUSER
2 of 4 — Billy Joe Shaver
Billy Joe Shaver performing on Mountain Stage.
Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
3 of 4 — Tony Rice
Tony Rice performing on Mountain Stage in 2004
Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
4 of 4 — Justin Townes Earle
Justin Townes Earle performing on Mountain Stage in 2019
Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates and a look behind-the-scenes.
The governor and the state attorney general have both issued letters of support for the new WOTUS rule to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. General William H. “Butch” Graham, Jr.
West Virginia's nearly $200 million federal award will help the state transform its rural health care system, but won't replace the pending $1 billion in annual Medicaid cuts.
West Virginia is set to receive a nearly $200 million federal award for the state’s 2026 Rural Health Transformation Fund. It’s designed to transform rural health care, but against the backdrop of staggering cuts to Medicaid. There are significant questions about what the new program can accomplish – and how rural hospitals in the state may fare in the months and years ahead.