EP. 112 From Ranch Life To The Road, Olivia Harms Shares How Tradition Shapes Her Music

If you miss steel guitar, two-step tempos, and songs born from real work and long roads, you’ll love this one. We welcome Olivia Harms—a ranch-raised artist carrying the torch for true country western honky tonk—who opens up about life on a cattle ranch, the Bakersfield legends who shaped her ear, and why she proudly swims against the pop-country current. From Oregon roots to Texas bars, from George Strait shoutouts to Buck Owens sparkle, Olivia lays out how her sound came to be and why it connects on a Friday night dance floor.

We dig into her latest single, Sent From Above, a heartfelt nod to her California cowboy and the kind of love story that writes itself when the details are honest. Olivia also breaks down her writing routine—voice memos, fast-falling hooks, and the stubborn songs that take three sessions—and how playing more than 200 shows a year becomes the best A/B test a songwriter can ask for. Then the curveball: a phone call from Taylor Sheridan that led to The Road on CBS and Paramount Plus with Blake Shelton and Keith Urban. Olivia shares the whirlwind of being handpicked, touring by bus, performing originals for arena crowds, and finding the right fans in a sea of shiny distractions.

You’ll also meet her band, the Roadrunners, hear about life in tiny Vina, California, and catch a first-ever live performance on the show: This Ain’t My First Rodeo. It’s a window into her core—clean tele twang, straight-ahead storytelling, and a voice that rides the line between Bakersfield grit and Texas charm. If you came for tradition, you’ll leave with a new favorite.

If this episode hits your country-loving heart, tap follow, leave a five-star review, and share it with a friend who still believes in honky tonk. Your support helps more ears find the music that never went out of style.