Andy Beshear Podcast

Episode 26: Brit Taylor, Miles Miller at Bourbon & Beyond
Date: October 2, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This special on-location episode captures unscripted, heartfelt conversations with Kentucky-born country artists Britt Taylor and Miles Miller, set amidst the vibrant backdrop of the Bourbon & Beyond music festival in Louisville. Host Andy Beshear delves into their journeys, creative inspirations, struggles, and Kentucky pride, creating a snapshot of the human stories at the heart of modern country music—and the community festivals that bring them together. Festival producers and tourism leaders also reflect on music’s power to uplift a city and state.

Section 1: Britt Taylor – Kentucky Roots and Country Soul

[00:30–17:14]

Kentucky Pride & The Thrill of Home-State Stages

• [01:48] Andy welcomes Britt Taylor, highlighting her origins in Hindman, Kentucky.
• [02:01] Britt describes her excitement at playing Bourbon & Beyond:

  “Oh my gosh. When they told me I was offered a spot...I freaked out. It was immediate. I don’t even think I looked at the date or anything. That is my home state ... and I will be there with bells on.” — Britt Taylor [02:01]

• [02:25] Discusses the unique, overt pride Kentuckians have in their state, whether at home or traveling.
• [02:45] Andy notes this pride in “our DNA.”

Journey to Music: Perseverance & Full Circle

• [03:11] Britt recounts her 17-year-old move to Nashville, inspired by Kentucky legends:

  “I moved to Nashville... because of Kentucky country artists like Patti Loveless and Loretta Lynn and the whole US 23 Country Music Highway.” — Britt Taylor [03:11]

• Faced early letdowns—bands breaking up, publishing deals falling through—nearly left Nashville.
• Turning point: A mentor linked her to producer David Ferguson, then to Dan Auerbach and Sturgill Simpson; her career revived.
• Britt expresses gratitude for hardships shaping her and instilling empathy and resolve.

Early Musical Discovery

• [04:38] Her mother (“Bug”), a special ed teacher, first heard Britt sing as a shy preschooler at a school festival.
• Britt’s first stage was at age 4 or 5, singing the ABCs.

Eastern Kentucky’s Talent Pipeline

• [05:25] On Kentucky’s musical legacy:

  “US 23 is just loaded with country music artists...the list just goes...Loretta Lynn, Patti Lovelace, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton...none of them sound alike. Everybody has their own unique identity.” — Britt Taylor [05:25]

• The region’s rich culture and music “gave me courage to chase my dreams.”

Authentic Sound & Musical Values

• [07:03] Andy praises Britt’s throwback sound; she reflects on late ’80s influences and bluegrass roots.

  “What I want to do is bring in those acoustic instruments, bring in what sounds like home to me, and that’s what sounds like home.” — Britt Taylor [07:58]

• Song recommendations:

  • “Kentucky Blues”—especially the Sturgill Simpson-produced or bluegrass version [08:04]
  • New single “All For Sale”, a bluegrass-tinged song about Kentucky characters [08:22]

The Nashville Dilemma: Commercial vs. Artistic

• Britt discusses pressure to conform to pop-country, regrets not holding firmer to her roots, but is now making music “her way.” [08:51–09:37]

Grand Ole Opry Dream

• [09:50] Playing the Opry “definitely the Super Bowl” for Britt, fulfillment of a lifelong dream from her early days at the Kentucky Opry.

Community, Giving Back, & Resilience

• [10:38] Reflects on 2022 flooding in Hindman, Kentucky; Britt participated in fundraising for relief.

  “They don’t want a mansion on a hill...They just want what they worked hard for...and it was wiped away. It was important to support however I could.” — Britt Taylor [10:59]

Down-to-Earth Life

• [11:49] Britt relaxes by gardening, hanging with animals—including two miniature donkeys and four pygmy goats—finding “the most Kentucky spot I could find” in Tennessee.

Musical Influences

• [12:28] Patti Loveless’ albums are a frequent listen, especially when returning home to Eastern Kentucky.

Musical Purpose & Aspiration

• [13:09] Britt’s “why”:

  “I’ve always envisioned myself as being a Dolly [Parton] for my hometown...she did so much for Sevierville...if I can ever do that for Knott County, that's my goal, above music.” — Britt Taylor [13:09]

Personal News and Fun Facts

• [13:55] Expecting a baby girl named after her grandmother, Beulah.
• [14:34] Secret superpower: Second degree black belt.

Entrepreneurship and Community Support

• [15:07] Started a cleaning business to fund her first record; recently launched Ridgetone Records in Prestonsburg to lift Appalachian artists:

  “It’s a record label in support of Appalachian talent...the best talent comes from Appalachia.” — Britt Taylor [15:25]

Underrated Song

• [16:21] Suggests “The Best We Can Do is Love”—a song written post-pandemic with Pat McLaughlin, about keeping hope through hardship.

Section 2: Miles Miller – Rhythms of Kentucky & Beyond

[18:29–35:03]

Kentucky Heritage & Viral Beginnings

• [18:54] Andy introduces Miles Miller, highlighting how Miles’ YouTube drum videos led to performances with major artists and a new solo album, Mr. Runaway.
• [19:04] On Kentucky mentality:

  “People from Kentucky have such a unique mindset and view of the world...there’s no place like it.” — Miles Miller [19:04]

• [19:22] Details viral start: posting drum covers for self-assessment; discovered by producer Dave Cobb via MySpace.

Growth from Band Member to Solo Artist

• [20:21] Miles contrasts band drumming with solo artist experiences:

  “With my stuff...you’ve got to find musicians...rehearse all the time...because you’re starting from scratch...but it’s the journey, not the destination.” — Miles Miller [20:36]

The Funkier “Mr. Runaway”

• [21:09] Sought a “funkier, groovier, more drum-based” feel for the sophomore album.
• [21:39] Lead single “Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor” is a “sad song you can dance to.”

Signature Career Moments

• [22:27] Most awe-inspiring show: Grateful Dead’s 60th in San Francisco (70,000+ attendees).

  “Grateful Dead’s music transcends space and time. That was a shock...a bunch of beautiful people, super positive.” — Miles Miller [22:27]

• [23:05] Raised with gospel and strong family-musical ties in Central Kentucky, where “community and music are one.”

Festival Life & Double-Duty

• [24:19] Only artist to perform at Bourbon & Beyond twice in one weekend—solo and with Sturgill Simpson.

Celebrity Peers & Artistic Influence

• Notes mentorship from artists like Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers, describing them as “masters of their craft, but also buddies.” [24:34]

Embracing the Craft

• [25:26] Reflects on his path: college didn’t fit, leaped into music, and everything “lined up.”
• [26:07] On evolving as an artist: likens releasing albums to “sending a kid off to college.”

Battling Nerves and Finding Community

• [26:59] Stage fright (80,000 sets of eyes) becomes familiar with repetition, and crowds become a support system.

Offstage Life

• [27:35] Loves mowing his acre-plus of land (“zero turn, couple hours, greatest way to relax”).

Social Media & Authenticity

• [28:31] Balances the need for “numbers and content” with a commitment to “be yourself and talk about your truth.”

Artistic vs. Commercial Pull

• [29:16] On the balance:

  “We want to be successful...pay the bills...but you want to be true to yourself. You gotta go to sleep in your own head at night.” — Miles Miller [29:16]

Looking Ahead

• [29:45] Future ambitions: “More acreage, more mowing...but just playing music until I'm gone...maybe a Grammy or two.”

Musical Tastes

• [30:29] Current playlist: jam bands like Dave Matthews Band, Fish, Grateful Dead.

Favorite Things & Fun Facts

• [31:13] Favorite sport: Basketball. Team: Kentucky Wildcats.
• [31:40] Food: Thai (“the spicier, the better!”).
• [32:01] No-no fashion trend: “swoopy haircut thing.”
• [32:29] Secret superpower: “Really good at mowing...I do the stripes, I double cut, I weed.”

What Makes a True Friend

• Stays close to childhood friends; values people who are real, supportive, “but tell it to you straight.” [33:12]

Final Pitch

• [34:08] Encourages listeners to try the new album, Mr. Runaway:

  “It’s got everything…you can laugh, you can cry, you can get mad at it, you know, you can love it, you can dance to it. It’s got everything.” — Miles Miller [34:08]

• Performs a live snippet of “Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor”.

Section 3: Behind the Scenes at Bourbon & Beyond

Danny Wimmer & Jamie McQueary – Festival Organizers
[35:03–46:03]

Building a Kentucky Festival

• [35:22] Danny Wimmer (founder, Danny Wimmer Presents) and GM Jamie McQueary join to discuss festival origins, why Louisville was chosen (“something rising here”), and focus on community involvement.
• [36:42] Jamie:

  “It's really about falling in love with the people and wanting to showcase the culture to the world…instead of making a product that leaves Kentucky, it's bringing...people into Kentucky.” — Jamie McQueary [36:42]

• [38:26] Attendance: Over 400,000 people over eight days—the second-largest Louisville event after the Kentucky Derby.

Logistics & Impact

• Building a “city” each year for attendees; festival employs thousands and supports local businesses.
• DWP Foundation gives back to local institutions (UofL, Kroger, Dare to Care, and more).
• Commitment to “making this Kentucky’s festival,” not just an out-of-town production.

Diversity, Recognition, & Looking Ahead

• Proud of steps to support diversity/local causes; festival won Festival of the Year, beating out established events like Lollapalooza/Coachella in 2024 [43:33].

Section 4: Louisville Impact & Tourism (Cleo Battle, Louisville Tourism CEO)

[47:01–51:32]

• [47:21] Cleo Battle explains the large-scale impact of tourism in Louisville:

  “$4.2 billion economic impact here in Jefferson County, 70,000 folks employed in hospitality.” — Cleo Battle [48:13]

• Tourism is the “first step for economic development”; festivals are talent and business magnets.
• [49:23] Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life combine to become the city’s biggest events after the Derby, drawing 400,000 annual visitors—70% from out of state.
• [50:42] Why visit Louisville? The bourbon experience, Churchill Downs, Muhammad Ali Center, Slugger Museum—“experiences you can’t get anywhere else.”

Memorable Quotes

• “Kentucky loves Kentucky...there’s just a different kind of pride in Kentucky than anywhere else.” — Britt Taylor [02:25]
• “Hard times really create some empathy. And I think that you're given in life what you need to become who you're supposed to be. So I wouldn’t change a thing.” — Britt Taylor [03:11]
• “The best talent comes from Appalachia.” — Britt Taylor [15:25]
• “It’s the journey, not the destination.” — Miles Miller [20:36]
• “Who doesn’t like a sad song you can dance to?” — Miles Miller [21:46]
• “People out there are there with you, they’re not there against you...it literally is a community.” — Miles Miller [26:59]
• “I want this festival to feel like Kentucky’s festival. And the ways you do that...it’s not a one-way thing.” — Danny Wimmer [41:01]
• “19 million visitors a year come to Louisville every year.” — Cleo Battle [51:31]

Key Segments & Timestamps

• [00:30] — Opening and Britt Taylor intro
• [02:01] — Britt Taylor on KY festival pride
• [03:11] — Britt on Nashville struggles/mentor breakthrough
• [05:25] — On U.S. 23’s musical legacy
• [07:03] — Throwback sound/musical identity
• [08:22] — New single: All For Sale
• [10:38] — Hindman flood relief
• [13:09] — Musical “why”/Dolly Parton model
• [15:25] — New Appalachian record label
• [16:21] — Underrated song recommendation
• [18:54] — Miles Miller intro
• [20:36] — Solo vs. band gig comparison
• [22:27] — Grateful Dead concert memory
• [28:31] — Social media’s impact
• [29:16] — Commercial vs. authenticity in music
• [34:08] — Mr. Runaway album plug
• [35:22] — Festival founders on vision & impact
• [38:26] — Festival attendance/logistics
• [41:01] — Foundation work/community impact
• [47:21] — Louisville tourism’s economic role
• [49:23] — Festival as a city-defining event
• [50:42] — Reasons to visit Louisville

Tone & Style

Friendly, genuine, and down-to-earth. The conversations stay “real,” mixing local pride, honest reflection on challenges, and humor—from “hollers” and miniature donkeys to zero-turn mowers and the art of mowing stripes.

This recap gives new listeners a vivid sense of the episode’s themes, guests’ journeys, and the cultural spirit of Bourbon & Beyond—and Kentucky itself.