Biscuits & Jam

Cedric the Entertainer and Anthony Anderson Are the Kings of Barbecue

Cedric the Entertainer first rose to national fame as one of The Original Kings of Comedy before starring in films like Barbershop and the hit sitcom The Neighborhood, which he also produced. Anthony Anderson is best known for his Emmy-nominated role on Black-ish, along with films including Hustle & Flow and The Departed. The two met through acting more than 30 years ago and have remained close friends ever since, partly through a shared love of cooking and entertaining. Together, they've built AC Barbecue, a brand dedicated to showing that barbecue is about more than just great food—it’s a centerpiece of African American culture and community. Now they have a new cookbook called AC Barbecue: The Husky and Handsome Guide to Grilling, and they're shining a light on the pitmasters, the history, and the storytelling that has helped define barbecue in America. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Cedric the Entertainer by Jeff Kats / Anthony Anderson by Tommy Garcia Courtesy of FOX Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Willow Avalon Is a Pistol-Packin’ Outlaw

Willow Avalon was born and raised in a part of rural Georgia that she says “felt like the Wild West.” She got her start performing in the Baptist church choir, where she played piano and got her first guitar. Later, she joined her father, the acclaimed musician Jim White, onstage in dive bars. After dropping out of high school, she moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles to New York. She even lived in her car for a while, but eventually her songwriting skills helped land her a record deal—and a shot at a better life. In 2024, Willow released her debut EP, Stranger, and followed it the next year with her first full-length album, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell. Now she's back with her sophomore album, Pink Pocket Pistol. Sid talks to Willow about the story behind the mugshot on the cover of her debut album, her song about Dolly Parton, and how a blackberry honey cobbler made from her grandmother's recipe helped make a lasting first impression at Atlantic Records. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Silken Weinberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clint Black Is Still Killin' Time

Clint Black spent years honing his craft in Texas clubs and honky-tonks before breaking through with his landmark 1989 album, Killin' Time, which became one of the biggest debut country albums ever. Over the course of a career spanning nearly four decades, Clint has sold more than 20 million records and earned countless awards and honors. These days, Clint is as active and creative as ever, writing, performing, touring, and even helping create a Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit celebrating his career. His latest project is his first memoir, Killin' Time: My Life and Music, which offers an intimate look at his journey from working-class Texas musician to country music superstar - with plenty of dramatic stories along the way. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living/ Clint Black Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Earle’s Fearless Heart

Steve Earle is a Grammy-winning songwriter, performer, author, actor, activist, and storyteller whose career has been defined by honesty, grit, and fearless songwriting. Born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, Steve spent most of his childhood in South Texas around San Antonio. After a move to Nashville and years of writing songs for other artists, he released his breakthrough album, Guitar Town, in 1986. With its blend of traditional roots influences and rock-and-roll energy, the record became an instant classic that helped redefine country music for a new era. From there, Steve went on to write and perform songs that have become part of the modern American songbook, celebrated for their vivid characters and masterful storytelling. Now, Steve is celebrating more than five decades as a songwriter with his Fifty-One Years of Songs and Stories tour. Sid talks to Steve about his childhood in South Texas; the tribute album he made for his late son Justin Townes Earle; how he’s shaped his life to better care for his younger son, John Henry, who is autistic; and what it meant to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Episode Art Courtesy of Southern Living /Chinaza Ajuonuma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Encore: Shuai Wang’s Journey from China to Charleston

Chef Shuai Wang was the runner-up on the 22nd season of Bravo’s Top Chef and is the force behind two standout restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina—Jackrabbit Filly and King BBQ—where he brings together the flavors of his childhood in Beijing and the spirit of the South in some pretty unforgettable ways. He grew up just a short walk from Tiananmen Square, in a tiny home with no electricity or running water, where his grandmother often cooked over charcoal. Later, in Queens, New York, his mom taught herself to cook—her first dishes were a little salty, but they were always made with love. And somewhere along the way, Shuai learned that cooking wasn’t just about food—it was about taking care of people. After years working in New York kitchens, he made his way to Charleston and started building something that feels entirely his own. Today, we’re talking about how all those experiences come together on the plate, the family stories behind his cooking, and what it’s been like to share that journey on national TV. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices