Salvation South

Alabama musician, painter, and podcaster Abe Partridge talks about snake-handling — and faith, forgiveness, and how to reach an understanding with people you’ve written off.

A Tennessee poet brings us five works. All of them speak to small matters that every Southerner holds dear.

Abe Partridge’s “Alabama Astronauts” adventure taught him a lot about loving his neighbors. It’s got lessons to teach us, too.

The Mississippi-born trumpeter and composer, now 81, is a musical pioneer whose work stands alongside the achievements of Southerners like Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters and Hank Williams.

Listen to more of the Mississippi master’s music.

Opening your ears to sounds you’ve never heard is always a good thing.

A poem about friendship and secrets in a country club locker room.

Sugar worships Loretta Lynn, even named her dog after Loretta’s husband. She dreams of being the next big Nashville singing star. There’s just one problem: Sugar is almost completely deaf.

When we’re kids, Christmas can produce precious memories that will last our entire lives. Chuck shares his favorite.

A poem about a Southern home — and why you might never leave it. Especially at Christmastime.

The Wright brothers made their first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, 117 years ago. A man named Ora Jones traveled 500 miles from Asheville to cover the historic moment. He almost got the job done.

Some folks can’t cook the traditional Southern Christmas dinner. So one year, one of them tried spaghetti. Everyone loved it, including the cats.