John Paul White's Pepper Steak

​John Paul White joins Sid Evans to discuss how times were simpler but not necessarily better when he was growing up, and that exact feeling comes through in his song "The Good Old Days."

Get to Know John Paul White

​John Paul White grew up on the Northern side of the Tennessee/Alabama border. As he began performing in bands in high school, he soon made friendships with David Hood, Spooner Oldham, and other Muscle Shoals legends. In 2011, John Paul's career exploded along with musical partner Joy Williams - together known as the Civil Wars - as they released their debut album Barton Hollow, winning two Grammys. Since the duo split up in 2014, John Paul has been busy with his record label, Single Lock, and his most recent album, The Hurting Kind.

What John Paul White Talks About in This Episode

*Growing Up in North Alabama

*Favorite Family Dishes

*Holidays at Grandma's

*Early Musical Experiences

*Grammy Win with The Civil Wars

*New Music

Quotes from John Paul White

"My mom was definitely the cook in the family. She was actually more of an artist with the way she cooked. There were no recipes or "tablespoon of this, teaspoon of that," which is what I need. My wife is the same way. I'm a great sous chef."

"Merle Haggard for one, because I would venture to say it's my dad's favorite artist. Merle could do it all: he could out-write most, he could play his guitar.

The second would be Johnny Cash. You felt every word that came out of him, you believed every single thing, every emotion that he gave you. You believed it like it was his life story.

And Patsy Cline. She was the elegant side of it. She and Jim Reeves both showed me a more sophisticated side to where I came from and what I grew up around."

About Biscuits & Jam

In the South, talking about food is personal. It's a way of sharing your history, your Family, your culture, and yourself. Each week Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living, sits down with celebrity musicians to hear stories of how they grew up, what inspired them, and how they've been shaped by Southern culture. Sid takes us back to some of their most cherished memories and traditions, the family meals they still think about, and their favorite places to eat on the road.

Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.

Get a transcript of the full interview with John Paul White.