Stories Behind the Songs

Latest Episodes:

Justin Ebach: #1 writer for Brett Young, Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch, Jordan Davis and more! Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 60 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Justin Ebach. Justin is a two-time SESAC Songwriter of the Year and won a CMA Triple Play Award in 2019 for three #1 hits within 12 months.

His #1s include "Here Tonight" for Brett Young, "Down to One" for Luke Bryan, "Good Girl" for Dustin Lynch, "Singles You Up" for Jordan Davis and "When I Pray for You" for Dan + Shay.

Justin takes us behind the scenes of those songs and many more great stories.

Songs discussed
Here Tonight (Brett Young)
Down to One (Luke Bryan)
Good Girl (Dustin Lynch)
Singles You Up (Jordan Davis)
When I Pray for You (Dan + Shay)

Follow Justin Ebach
Instagram @ebachmusic

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Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

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Michael Lotten: Momma's House (Dustin Lynch), Morgan Wallen & more! Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 59 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Michael Lotten. Michael and Mitchell Tenpenny were writing together before either of them had a deal.

Michael moved to Nashville from Missouri at around 22, working restaurants and playing in cover bands. He shares how Mitchell Tenpenny's "Alcohol You Later" earned him his first publishing deal, and the many cuts that followed.

He tells the stories behind "Momma's House" for Dustin Lynch, "Money on Me" and "Last Drive Down Main" for Morgan Wallen, and "Mistake" for Chris Lane, with a close look at its lyrics. He also digs into a then-new Keith Urban cut released March 1.

Songs discussed
Momma's House (Dustin Lynch)
Alcohol You Later (Mitchell Tenpenny)
Money on Me (Morgan Wallen)
Last Drive Down Main (Morgan Wallen)
Mistake (Chris Lane)

Follow Michael Lotten
Instagram @michaellotten

Watch and listen
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Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

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Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

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Twinnie: 2024 CMT Next Women of Country Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 58 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with UK artist Twinnie, a 2024 CMT Next Women of Country honoree. Twinnie thought she was being asked to play a show, and instead found out she had been named one of CMT's Next Women of Country.

Twinnie grew up on musical theatre stages in England, acted in movies, and danced backup for artists like Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams before moving to Nashville to pursue country music. She shares how she built connections in town, including Jamey Johnson, and the stories behind "The Way I Loved You," her EP "Just Like Earle," inspired by The Chicks' "Goodbye Earl," and "Take a Break."

She also explains what CMT's Next Women of Country means, and talks about her nonprofit, I Know A Woman, which connects female artists to opportunities in the industry.

Songs discussed
The Way I Loved You (Twinnie)
Take a Break (Twinnie)

Follow Twinnie
TikTok @twinnieofficial | Instagram @twinnieofficial | Apple Music

Watch and listen
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links

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Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

The Listening Room
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Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

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Josh Phillips: Dirt Cheap (Cody Johnson), Angels Workin' Overtime (Luke Combs) & more! Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 57 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Josh Phillips. Outside Winners bar, Luke Combs once told Josh, "Man, our angels are working overtime," and that became a song with more than 35 million Spotify streams.

Josh grew up listening to artists he now writes for, including Jason Aldean and Brantley Gilbert. He started singing in biker bars in North Carolina, then played local gigs with Luke Combs, and the two began monthly trips to Nashville to play bars like Winners and Losers. He tells the story behind "Angels Workin' Overtime," written with Luke and Josh Thompson, and why it was a pivotal moment.

After flipping an early 20th century farmhouse with his wife, Josh wrote "Dirt Cheap," which went from a frustrating indefinite hold to a Cody Johnson and Listening Room favorite. If you love it, thank his wife, Jordan; sending it to Cody was her idea. He also talks about his first publishing deal at Warner Chappell Music, co-signed with Brantley Gilbert, and his advice: keep doing what you are doing, and keep playing that guitar.

Songs discussed
Dirt Cheap (Cody Johnson)
Angels Workin' Overtime (Luke Combs)

Follow Josh Phillips
Instagram @imjoshphillips

Watch and listen
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links

Follow Stories Behind the Songs
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Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

The Listening Room
listeningroomcafe.com | Instagram | TikTok
Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

Thanks to our sponsors
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Chris DeStefano: Multiple #1's for Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean & more! Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 56 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with his buddy, hit songwriter Chris DeStefano. Chris is not only an incredible writer but an amazing guitar player with a great voice, and you will hear it when he plays a couple of his songs.

Chris has written for Luke Bryan, Chase Rice, Dan + Shay, Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Morgan Evans, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett, Jason Mraz and many more. He came to Nashville from New Jersey in 2013 and his first write in town became a cut for Eli Young Band. Growing up, he spent 10 to 12 hours a day learning guitar and traveled with his choir.

He dives into "Something in the Water" and "Good Girl" for Carrie Underwood, "I Feel Like Dancing" for Jason Mraz, "Rewind" for Rascal Flatts and "End of a Bar" for Chris Young, and takes us into the writers room with Carrie and Chris. He also talks about the Nashville and LA songwriting communities and his publishing company, Winsongs, home to past guests Emily Shackelton, Jason Duke and Eric Van Houten.

Songs discussed
Something in the Water (Carrie Underwood)
Good Girl (Carrie Underwood)
I Feel Like Dancing (Jason Mraz)
Rewind (Rascal Flatts)
At the End of a Bar (Chris Young)

Follow Chris DeStefano
Apple Music

Watch and listen
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links

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Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

The Listening Room
listeningroomcafe.com | Instagram | TikTok
Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

Thanks to our sponsors
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Josh Melton: #1 Can't Have Mine (Dylan Scott) Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 55 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with his good buddy Josh Melton. If you are thinking about moving to Nashville to chase music, Josh's story of hardship and perseverance is for you.

Originally from Ohio, Josh shares some truly wild stories about his early days in town, how he got his first publishing deal, meeting his wife while playing bars on Broadway, and the road to his first #1, Dylan Scott's "Can't Have Mine." He takes us into the writers room and remembers hearing it hit #1 over Thanksgiving with his family.

Josh also plays some of his own song "Empty Bottles." Chris remembers hearing it at The Listening Room for the first time and, as a dad, loving it immediately.

Songs discussed
Can't Have Mine (Dylan Scott)
Empty Bottles (Josh Melton)

Follow Josh Melton
Instagram @joshmeltonmusic | YouTube | Apple Music

Watch and listen
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links

Follow Stories Behind the Songs
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Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

The Listening Room
listeningroomcafe.com | Instagram | TikTok
Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

Thanks to our sponsors
Sennheiser | Alclair In-Ear Monitors

Gina Venier: Nora Jane & new artist to watch! Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 54 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Gina Venier, the Listening Room Unsigned Artist of the Month for January 2024. Her ability to tell her own story in "Nora Jane" is just incredible.

Gina moved to Nashville about 10 years earlier and has put in the work networking, co-writing and building her community. She breaks down the lyrics of "Nora Jane" and plays some of it.

She also talks about being invited by ASCAP to play a writers round, playing Pride Fest in Nashville, an Alicia Keys cover she released, and a sneak peek of "Don't Come to My Show." Her country sound has an upbeat pop twist, so check out "50 Bucks" and "Good For You" too.

Songs discussed
Nora Jane (Gina Venier)
50 Bucks (Gina Venier)
Good For You (Gina Venier)

Follow Gina Venier
Instagram @ginavenier | TikTok @ginavenier | Apple Music

Watch and listen
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links

Follow Stories Behind the Songs
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Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

The Listening Room
listeningroomcafe.com | Instagram | TikTok
Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

Thanks to our sponsors
Sennheiser | Alclair In-Ear Monitors

Hannah Ellis: That Girl, Carly Pearce & Russell Dickerson (1 Year Anniversary!) Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 53 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Hannah Ellis to celebrate one year of Stories Behind the Songs. Chris has watched Hannah's career grow on The Listening Room stage since her college days, which made her the perfect guest for the show's first anniversary.

Hannah started writing after looking up Taylor Swift's song credits and learning that she writes her own music. She moved to Nashville from Campbellsville, Kentucky, and her first big cut was "Would You Love Me" on Russell Dickerson's 2017 album "Yours." Since then she has toured with Carly Pearce, Gavin DeGraw and Brett Young, played the Opry eight times, and landed her first top 50 single in 2023 with "Wine Country."

Her 2024 album "That Girl," through Curb Records, is her first full-length record. She explains how playing The Listening Room helped her choose its songs, and her hope that listeners walk away feeling like old friends.

Songs discussed
That Girl (Hannah Ellis)
Wine Country (Hannah Ellis)
Would You Love Me (Russell Dickerson)

Watch and listen
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links

Follow Stories Behind the Songs
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

The Listening Room
listeningroomcafe.com | Instagram | TikTok
Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

Thanks to our sponsors
Sennheiser | Alclair In-Ear Monitors

Ben Williams: Tennessee Orange (Morgan Wallen) Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 52 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with songwriter Ben Williams. Ben has seven cuts on Megan Moroney's debut album, and "Tennessee Orange" was going viral before it was even released.

Ben came to Nashville seven years earlier to attend Belmont, and his early co-writes with Avery Anna produced "Narcissist," his first cut and first song to go to radio. He tells that story and how he met Megan Moroney.

He takes us into the room for "Tennessee Orange" and "I'm Not Pretty," and walks through the buzz when "Tennessee Orange" went #1, earning several awards and a CMA nomination. He also plays an unreleased song he often performs at The Listening Room.

Songs discussed
Tennessee Orange (Megan Moroney)
I'm Not Pretty (Megan Moroney)
Narcissist (Avery Anna)

Follow Ben Williams
Instagram @ben.williams.music | TikTok @ben.williams.music | Publisher

Watch and listen
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links

Follow Stories Behind the Songs
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

The Listening Room
listeningroomcafe.com | Instagram | TikTok
Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

Thanks to our sponsors
Sennheiser | Alclair In-Ear Monitors

Julia Cole: This Ring, CMT Next Woman of Country + Grand Ole Opry Debut Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 51 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Julia Cole. Julia turned a very public breakup into a project she is proud of, and she builds her brand without a major label, making her own graphics and music videos.

From singing at sports events growing up in Houston and winning singing competitions to cutting demos in Nashville and learning to write, Julia walks through the highs and lows of her career, including her Grand Ole Opry debut.

She shares the stories behind "This Ring" and "Bulletproof," her experience being named a CMT Next Woman of Country, touring in Dubai, and co-writing with other songwriters.

Songs discussed
This Ring (Julia Cole)
Bulletproof (Julia Cole)

Follow Julia Cole
juliacolemusic.com | Instagram @juliacolemusic | TikTok @juliacolemusic | Apple Music

Watch and listen
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | chrisblair.com/podcast | All links

Follow Stories Behind the Songs
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Chris Blair: Instagram | chrisblair.com

The Listening Room
listeningroomcafe.com | Instagram | TikTok
Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

Thanks to our sponsors
Sennheiser | Alclair In-Ear Monitors