John Spong
Texas Monthly
Austin, TX, United States
Contact John
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by John:
Willie Nelson’s New Album—His 150th—Honors Another Country Legend
Willie Nelson covers ten songs written by his late friend Harlan Howard in ‘I Don’t Know a Thing About Love.’ → Read More
More Than 600 Episodes in, ‘Austin City Limits’ Is Still an Austin Show at Heart
Decades after Willie Nelson performed on the pilot, the show is now a national institution—but not too national. → Read More
Willie Nelson’s Latest Captures Him Performing Alongside Another Guitar Legend
‘Live at Budokan’ is a mythical lost recording of Willie at the height of his powers. → Read More
Remembering Willis Alan Ramsey’s Seminal (and Sole) Album
On the fiftieth anniversary of his eponymous 1972 record, five renowned singer-songwriters—including Jimmy Buffett and Lyle Lovett—celebrate Willis Alan Ramsey. → Read More
Lucifer on the Sofa With Diamonds
A Spoon fanboy overthinks the new record, classic rock, cowboy hats, and Jeff Bezos. → Read More
Ode to a Fact-checker
Texas Monthly remembers Chester Rosson, a longtime staffer and resident gentle soul. → Read More
‘The Willie Nelson Family’ Takes Us to Church
The Nelson clan’s new gospel album meets the grief and trauma of the pandemic with spirit and hope. → Read More
“One by Willie,” Episode 1: Margo Price on “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground”
In the first episode of our new series, the Grammy-winning artist talks about writing sad songs and tells a great dirty joke she learned from Nelson himself. → Read More
“That’s Just the Way Willie Rolls”
A portrait of the man, in the words of those who know him best. → Read More
A Spoon Fanboy's Notes
Spoon is my favorite band. Spoon has a new album out. It is my favorite Spoon album. That is all. → Read More
Remembering Will Spong
I always knew that the work my dad did as an Episcopal priest and grief counselor was important. But I didn’t understand how important until the birth of my son. → Read More
The Hit List
A playlist of late-seventies and early-eighties country pop made popular by Urban Cowboy. → Read More
Urban Cowboy Turns 35
It was part musical, part dance movie, and part love story, and in June 1980 it unleashed an unprecedented fervor for country music, Western wear, and, yes, mechanical bulls. More than three decades later, the film’s stars (including John Travolta, Debra Winger, Mickey Gilley, and Johnny Lee) and many Gilley’s regulars recall the movie that made America fall in love with Texas. → Read More
A Gringo Anniversary
How my wife and I got more than we bargained for on a trip to Boquillas. → Read More
The Greatest Lawyer Who Ever Lived
He’s the brashest, most generous, most foul-mouthed trial attorney in the country. And at 89, Joe Jamail can still command a courtroom, mother%*!$#@. → Read More
The Greatest Lawyer Who Ever Lived
He’s the brashest, most generous, most foul-mouthed trial attorney in the country. And at 89, Joe Jamail can still command a courtroom, mother%*!$#@. → Read More
Bottle Rocket
Lone Star was just a brew for dads and cowboys, until Jerry Retzloff helped turn it into the coolest beer in the country. → Read More
Phil Collins Donates His Expansive Alamo Memorabilia Collection to the General Land Office
It might yet be the craziest thing he’s done for the Texas landmark. → Read More
Phil Collins Donates His Expansive Alamo Memorabilia Collection to the General Land Office
It might yet be the craziest thing he’s done for the Texas landmark. → Read More
Phil Collins Donates His Expansive Alamo Memorabilia Collection to the General Land Office
It might yet be the craziest thing he’s done for the Texas landmark. → Read More