Julia Cole: Day Late & A Buck Short, Grand Ole Opry & CMA Fest 2025

On this episode of Heart of the Gulch, host Tony Mendoza sits down with country artist Julia Cole during CMA Fest 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Known for powerful songs like Day Late & A Buck Short, Best Worst Ex, and Homecoming Queen, Julia Cole has become one of country music's fastest-rising independent artists, earning nearly 500 million global streams while building one of the genre's most passionate fan communities, the #ColeTeam.

In this interview, Julia opens up about the deeply personal inspiration behind Day Late & A Buck Short, explaining how the song was born from healing after a called-off engagement and rediscovering her confidence. She shares why vulnerability has become one of the greatest strengths in her songwriting and how authentic storytelling continues to connect with fans around the world.

Tony and Julia also discuss her unforgettable performance at the CMA Fest Stadium Show, her journey to making her Grand Ole Opry debut, being recognized as a CMT Next Woman of Country, and the incredible road that took her from competing as a Texas 6A athlete to becoming an internationally touring country music artist.

Throughout the conversation, Julia reflects on the importance of family, perseverance, and surrounding yourself with people who believe in your dreams. She also shares what continues to motivate her as she builds her career, releases new music, and connects with audiences across the country.

If you're a fan of country music, female country artists, Nashville singer-songwriters, Grand Ole Opry performers, CMA Fest, Texas artists, and authentic conversations about resilience and personal growth, this interview is one you won't want to miss.

About Tony Mendoza

Tony Mendoza is a Nashville-based media personality, television host, executive producer, journalist, podcast host, and digital strategist best known as the creator and host of Heart of the Gulch. Through hundreds of in-depth interviews with country music artists, entertainers, and industry leaders, Tony has become known for authentic conversations that explore the stories behind today's biggest names and rising stars.

His work covers major events including CMA Fest, Country Radio Seminar (CRS), and Nashville's year-round music scene. In addition to hosting, Tony oversees every aspect of Heart of the Gulch's production, including creative direction, video production, editing, SEO strategy, and digital publishing, helping build one of Nashville's fastest-growing independent country music platforms.

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