Stories Behind the Songs

Latest Episodes:

Taylor Austin Dye: "Ride or Dye" Out of These Hills Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 40 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Taylor Austin Dye. Taylor went from a homebody solo writer in East Kentucky to an artist with a devoted fan base she calls the "Ride or Dyes."

Taylor moved to Nashville in 2018 and has grown immensely across the board, from socials to streams. She had just released her debut album, "Out of These Hills," that September and was busy touring and writing, with new releases on the way.

Check out her radio single "Rest in Peace" and "Bible Belt" from the album.

Songs discussed
Rest in Peace (Taylor Austin Dye)
Bible Belt (Taylor Austin Dye)

Follow Taylor Austin Dye
TikTok @tayloraustindye | Instagram @tayloraustindye | tayloraustindye.com | 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.

Rusty Gaston: CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 39 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down in "the listening room" at Sony Music Publishing with its president and CEO, Rusty Gaston. Sony's team meets in that room every day to listen to every song their writers wrote the day before, and it was very cool to see.

You have heard plenty of guests mention their publishers. Here, Rusty explains what a music publisher actually does and what his role looks like at the top of Sony Music Publishing. Whether you are an aspiring songwriter, an established artist or simply love music, this one is for you, with behind-the-scenes stories from the writers' rooms, moments with country stars and icons, and how the hits come together.

Rusty believes in championing artists and songwriters, and you can feel how much he cares about them just by sitting in the same room. He was named 2023 Country Power Players Executive of the Year, and his writers and artists, including Cole Swindell, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney and Ashley Gorley, keep winning awards year after year.

Follow Rusty Gaston
Instagram @sonymusicpub | sonymusicpub.com | Instagram @rustygaston

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.

Trailer Flowers: Good Things out of Sh!t Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 38 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with Brooke and Jack, the country duo Trailer Flowers. Their tight harmonies and empowering lyrics give them a unique edge, and they are some of the most talented and genuine artists in Nashville.

You might have seen them on America's Got Talent singing "Who You Are," a song they wrote to remind listeners that they are enough. They also have a single called "Daughter of the King."

Brooke and Jack talk about fitting into an industry that is always changing, balancing success with authenticity, and their next steps in Music City.

Songs discussed
Who You Are (Trailer Flowers)
Daughter of a King (Trailer Flowers)

Follow Trailer Flowers
Instagram @trailerflowers | TikTok @trailerflowers | 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.

Bonner Black: I'm Not Your Girl (Special Halloween Edition) Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 37 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with indie pop singer-songwriter Bonner Black for a special Halloween episode. Chris is dressed as Hannah Montana and Bonner is dressed as Billy Ray Cyrus, so you know this one is fun.

Bonner grew up thinking she would be a ballerina, then found her passion for songwriting. In high school she made trips to Nashville to play shows, and at 17 she left high school and moved to town.

Her songs pair emotional lyrics with upbeat, danceable sound. She talks about her writing process, what inspires her, and how she stays motivated, never taking herself too seriously and staying true to her art. Her releases "Catch 22" and "I'm Not Your Girl" show off that Southern melodic style with pop production, and you might hear a sneak peek of her next single, "17."

Songs discussed
I'm Not Your Girl (Bonner Black)
Catch 22 (Bonner Black)

Follow Bonner Black
Instagram @bonnerblack | 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.

Emily Shackelton: Hits for Carly Pearce, Reba, Jana Kramer & more Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 36 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Emily Shackelton. Emily wrote "Every Little Thing," Carly Pearce's first solo single and her first #1, and her advice to her 8-year-old self is "keep going and trust God."

Emily grew up in a very small town in Minnesota surrounded by music and was encouraged early to follow what she loves, which turned out to be songwriting. She talks about the times she doubted her career in Nashville, and how every time she turned to her faith the right doors opened. Soon after moving to town she won a BMI songwriting competition.

She shares stories about writing for ABC's "Nashville," starting to work with Liz Rose, and writing many more songs for Carly Pearce. She has also written for Reba McEntire, Jennifer Nettles, Sara Evans, Jana Kramer, Cassadee Pope, Lauren Alaina, Mickey Guyton, David Cook, Seth Ennis and more, and she released two songs of her own, "Beloved" and "Our God Sustains."

Songs discussed
Every Little Thing (Carly Pearce)
Beloved (Emily Shackelton)
Our God Sustains (Emily Shackelton)

Follow Emily Shackelton
Instagram @emilyshackelton

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.

Cliff Cody: Julie Roberts, Halfway to Hazard & Key West livin' Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 35 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down in Florida with singer-songwriter Cliff Cody. Cliff traded Friday night football in Odessa, Texas, for songwriting in Nashville and, eventually, the stages of Key West.

Cliff grew up in Odessa, home of Friday Night Lights, playing football but always loving music. He moved to Nashville at 20, started writing great songs, then moved to Key West to keep writing and build his own brand as an artist.

Cliff has written songs for Julie Roberts, Josh Thompson, Halfway to Hazard and more, and you can catch him regularly in Key West at places like The Smokin' Tuna and Hogsbreath Saloon.

Follow Cliff Cody
cliffcody.com | Instagram @cliffcody | TikTok @cliffcody | Instagram @chrisblairmusic | 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.

Arlis Albritton: Songs for Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson + more and St. Augustine Songwriters Festival Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 34 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down in St. Augustine, Florida, with his longtime friend Arlis Albritton, founder of the St. Augustine Songwriters Festival, where Chris hosts the main stage every year. This one goes beyond songwriting into the parts of the business we do not always get to see.

Arlis, originally from Florida, has written songs for Diamond Rio, Jamey Johnson, Luke Bryan, Parmalee, Josh Thompson, Keith Anderson, Halfway to Hazard, John Michael Montgomery and many more. On the management side, he has managed acts like Jamey Johnson and Kenny G.

Recorded at the end of September during the festival, they talk about what it takes behind the scenes to start and grow a festival, and stories from the road as a manager.

Follow Arlis Albritton
Instagram @arlisalbritton | arlisalbritton.com | St. Augustine Songwriters Festival | 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.

Dylan Altman: HITS for Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, Jason Aldean + more! Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 33 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Dylan Altman. Dylan knew music was his calling the moment he saw the video for Van Halen's "Jump," and his story of getting sober is one of the most honest in the show's run.

With a blues and rock background, Dylan has written #1s for Tim McGraw, Jake Owen and Jason Aldean, plus cuts for Eli Young Band, Trace Adkins, JT Hodges, Eric Paslay, Jonathan Jackson and more. He shares the full story behind Jake Owen's "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," his journey in the industry, and his struggles with sobriety. He is now four years sober and doing better than ever.

He is also booking shows with his blues band and getting ready to release a show with his daughter where they cook with songwriters and special guests and then play music.

Songs discussed
Barefoot Blue Jean Night (Jake Owen)

Follow Dylan Altman
Instagram @dylanaltmanmusic

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.

Cameron Bedell: Songs for Jimmie Allen (Down Home) + more! Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 32 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with his good friend, songwriter Cameron Bedell. Cameron's path to a publishing deal started at a restaurant, serving hit songwriters and country artists.

Cameron came to Nashville from Wichita, Kansas, to attend Belmont University, and grew up singing in show choirs and barbershop quartets. Relationships from that restaurant job led to his publishing deal with Liz Rose Music four years later.

He shares the story and meaning behind "Down Home," the #1 he wrote for Jimmie Allen, and how culture shaped it. He also talks about producing for Tiera Kennedy, a song he wrote for Hailey Whitters, and the many ways he stays connected to the industry.

Songs discussed
Down Home (Jimmie Allen)

Follow Cameron Bedell
Instagram @cameronbedell | TikTok @cameronbedell

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.

Kristian Bush: How he started Sugarland, his writing/producing + more! Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 31 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with Kristian Bush of Sugarland. Kristian is one of music's most versatile artists, and also one of its kindest and most humble.

From his early days learning music through the Suzuki method to adventures in rock, country and beyond, Kristian shares his first record deal at 22, how he kept a record deal through his entire career, meeting Jennifer Nettles and the origins of Sugarland, and his work producing artists like Lindsay Ell.

He tells the stories behind "All I Want to Do," "Baby Girl" and "Babe," and talks about his work with "Jawaiian" music and how he keeps learning from others.

Songs discussed
All I Want to Do (Sugarland)
Baby Girl (Sugarland)
Babe (Sugarland)

Follow Kristian Bush
Instagram @kristianbush | TikTok @kristianbushmusic | sugarlandmusic.com | Instagram @sugarland | 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.

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