Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music

Jewly Hight is a noted music journalist best known for her work with NPR Music, Nashville Public Radio, The Bitter Southerner and more. She's also a friend of Leah's from their days together in grad school at Vanderbilt Divinity School. In this conversation we talk about how Jewly got into music, her most regrettable tattoo, her feud with the Supertones' singer, clogging, Jelly Roll and so much more. 
--
Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at ‪(629) 204-4264‬.
If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)
If you'd like to make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr
If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.
You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.com
Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.
Buy RTDR merch here.
Do you like coffee? Try Larry's Coffee and support the show. The first time you spend $15, we get $30.

Flamy Grant may be the world's only Christian drag queen songwriter. She's one of the few queer artists to ever top the Christian music category in the iTunes Store. She's also a guest we've wanted to have on the show since before season one launched. We get an update on whether Flamy and Amy Grant have met yet, manifest a few dreams and get to the heart of what keeps Flamy performing in churches. Also, we consider the possibility of approaching drag as a folk art form. 
Flamy also answers questions posed by members of our Patreon community.
--
Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at ‪(629) 204-4264‬.
If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)
If you'd like to make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr
If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.
You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.com
Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.
Buy RTDR merch here.
Do you like coffee? Try Larry's Coffee and support the show. The first time you spend $15, we get $30.

Nina Hagen is a true legend. She's considered an icon of German culture. And she's known as "the Godmother of German Punk." But our interview with her revealed that she also should be considered a longtime Jesus Freak. Her latest album, "Highway To Heaven" was released earlier in 2026.
--
Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at ‪(629) 204-4264‬.
If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)
If you'd like to make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr
If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.
You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.com
Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.
Buy RTDR merch here.
Do you like coffee? Try Larry's Coffee and support the show. The first time you spend $15, we get $30.

Tim Dillinger returns to the podcast to continue our examination of 1985 as a pivotal year in Christian music. This time his focus is on artists who tried to break into the Christian industry, including Donna Summer and Maria Muldaur. He also discusses Lone Justice, Mr Mister, Steve Arrington and Tremaine Hawkins. He also reflects on how the industry in 2026 compares to what was happening in 1985. 
For more on all of these artists, subscribe to Tim's Substack: God's Music Is My Life. 
---
Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at ‪(629) 204-4264‬.
If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)
Or make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr
If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.
You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.com
Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.
Buy RTDR merch here.
Do you like coffee? Try Larry's Coffee and support the show.

Rosie Thomas is a singer-songwriter who came up alongside artists like Damien Jurado, Pedro The Lion and Sufjan Stevens. She was one of the first folk artists signed to Sub Pop Records and had a long-running comedic alter ego named Sheila Saputo. Her most recent music project is Lullabies For Parents.
In this interview she talks about her experience as a child performing in musicals, joining Velour100, working at a daycare with Damien Jurado, signing to Sub Pop, performing at Lilith Fair in 2010, breaking through Sufjan Stevens' defenses and acting alongside Steve Zahn. 
---
Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at ‪(629) 204-4264‬.
If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)
Or make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr
If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.
You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.com
Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.
Buy RTDR merch here.