Power ballads didn’t disappear when the lighters went away — they just continued to  evolve.

This week, I’m joined by Terrie Carr of Carr Stereo to explore 10 power ballads released after 2000 — songs that still build slow, hit hard, and aim straight for the chest, even if the glow in the crowd looks a little different now.

From massive choruses to emotional gut-punches, these are the songs that prove the power ballad never lost its place — it just traded Bic lighters for phone screens and kept going. No era restrictions, no genre snobbery — just big feelings, bigger hooks, and the kind of songs that demand you turn them up a little louder than you probably should.

🎙️ Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform—and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review to help more music fans find the show! Then, scroll down to hear all of the songs discussed in this episode. 👇

Sevendust – Angel’s Son

Papa Roach – Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)

Dorothy – Rest In Peace

The Pretty Reckless – Just Tonight

Alter Bridge – Blackbird

Shinedown – I’ll Follow You

Halestorm – Familiar Taste Of Poison

The Struts – Mary Go Round

Velvet Revolver – Fall To Pieces

Mammoth – Take A Bow

Sevendust – Angel’s Son (Original Video)

Papa Roach (feat. Carrie Underwood) – Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)

Seether (feat. Amy Lee) – Broken

Mammoth – Take A Bow (Live at Debonair Music Hall 2025)

Terrie & Lzzy Hale of Halestorm w/ the rose discussed during “Familiar Taste of Poison” (2009)

Brian & Terrie at Shinedown’s Madison Square Garden debut (2025)