Stories Behind the Songs

Latest Episodes:

Ryan Griffin: Dibs, Phases & Red Street Records Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 30 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Ryan Griffin. Ryan went from tour manager for Jason Aldean to co-writing "Dibs" and signing with Jay DeMarcus's Red Street Records.

Born and raised in Florida, Ryan moved to Nashville at 18. He walks through his journey, including co-writing with Kelsea Ballerini, Josh Kerr and Jason Duke, getting signed, tasting the highs of the industry and the tough moments of being dropped.

He tells how he crossed paths with Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, who saw something special in him and brought him onto Red Street Records. He also talks about his EP "Phases" and his single "Heart to Break," and plays a little of it.

Songs discussed
Dibs (Kelsea Ballerini)
Heart to Break (Ryan Griffin)

Follow Ryan Griffin
TikTok @ryangriffinofficial | Instagram @ryangriffinlive | ryangriffin.com

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.

Trannie Anderson: HITS for Lainey Wilson, Reba, Gabby Barrett & more! Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 29 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Trannie Anderson. Trannie started playing shows at The Listening Room with Lainey Wilson in November 2015, and later heard a stadium sing "Heart Like a Truck" back to them.

Trannie grew up in Waco, Texas, playing piano and writing songs from age six. After graduating from Baylor University she moved to Nashville and connected with Lainey Wilson. She has written songs for Lainey, Reba McEntire, Gabby Barrett, Adam Doleac, Walker County and more.

She shares the stories behind her songs, what it was like on the road with Lainey, and a few inside stories about songs coming soon with Dan + Shay and others.

Songs discussed
Heart Like a Truck (Lainey Wilson)

Follow Trannie Anderson
Instagram @trannieanderson | TikTok @trannieanderson | 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.

Ryan Larkins: Cody Johnson, Bill Anderson & Dolly Parton Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 28 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Ryan Larkins. Ryan's #1 for Bill Anderson and Dolly Parton earned him his first Grammy nomination.

Born and raised in Nashville, Ryan started writing songs young and placed in the top three on CMT's "Can You Duet?" He tells the story behind "Someday It'll All Make Sense," talks about a song he wrote that had just been released with Cody Johnson, and shares what happened when he opened for Willie Nelson the week before this conversation.

At the time, Ryan had a new EP on the way, with "Man That Holds the Beer" and "She's the Tough One" already out.

Songs discussed
Someday It'll All Make Sense (Bill Anderson)
Man That Holds the Beer (Ryan Larkins)
She's the Tough One (Ryan Larkins)

Follow Ryan Larkins
ryanlarkins.com | Instagram @ryan.larkins | TikTok @ryan.larkins | 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.

Clay Mills: Diamond Rio, Darius Rucker & SongTown! Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 27 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Clay Mills. Clay found his love of music working the soybean fields of the Mississippi Delta with his family.

At 19, Clay moved to New York to write TV jingles, everything from classical to hip-hop, and placed more than 1,500 of them in commercials and shows before moving to Nashville. He shares the stories behind "Beautiful Mess" for Diamond Rio and "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" for Darius Rucker.

Clay has more than 200 recorded songs, 16 ASCAP awards, a couple of Grammy nominations and a place in the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also pours into new and established writers with his business partner Marty Dodson through their songwriting courses at SongTown.

Songs discussed
Beautiful Mess (Diamond Rio)
Don't Think I Don't Think About It (Darius Rucker)

Follow Clay Mills
Instagram @claymills2 | claymills.com

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.

Neil Medley: Luke Bryan, Josh Abbott Band, Kid Rock & more PLUS his own new project. Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 26 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with Neil Medley, one of the very first friends Chris made in Nashville about 20 years ago. Chris remembers passing the guitar around in Neil's back music room, and Neil's voice has always stood out to him.

Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Neil started his career in marketing before going full time into songwriting about 13 years before this episode, and that move led quickly to his first album cut with Luke Bryan. He talks about "Wasn't That Drunk" for the Josh Abbott Band, featuring Carly Pearce on her first radio release, songs for Kid Rock, Lindsay Ell, Jason Aldean and Tyler Farr, and his first #1, "Made for You," written with Benjy Davis and Joey Hyde for Jake Owen.

He also previews "South End Kid," an album he wrote for himself with him on vocals, released Sept. 29, 2023. Neil says he does not want to be blown away by the speakers, he wants to be pulled into them, and that is exactly how the record felt to Chris. He also shares his take on the male and female ratio on country radio.

Songs discussed
Made for You (Jake Owen)
Wasn't That Drunk (Josh Abbott Band)

Follow Neil Medley
Instagram @neilmedley | 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.

Jason Duke: Kelsea Ballerini's Dibs & Keith Urban! Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 25 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with songwriter Jason Duke. A former wrestler from just outside Nashville, Jason turned songwriter and wrote Kelsea Ballerini's smash "Dibs."

Jason tells how he walked out of a college class three years in to change his major, and how he started in the business as a song plugger, the person who pitches writers' songs to artists and labels. He also talks about balancing writing, bartending and family life.

He shares the story behind "Dibs" and other songs he has written for artists like Keith Urban.

Songs discussed
Dibs (Kelsea Ballerini)

Follow Jason Duke
Instagram @jasonduke

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.

Kelly Archer: HITS for Brett Young, Justin Moore, Chris Lane & more! Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 24 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Kelly Archer. Kelly drove more than 20,000 miles back and forth from Canada to keep her Nashville dream alive, and she was about to head home for good right before her first #1.

Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Kelly has had songs recorded by Jason Aldean, Dustin Lynch, Eli Young Band, Montgomery Gentry, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Cassadee Pope and many more. She first dipped her toe into songwriting by rewriting a popular song as a kid, and her eclectic taste opened her mind to many ways of writing.

She tells how she got talked into staying in Nashville, and how shortly after she had her first #1 with Brett Young's "Sleep Without You." She also shares the stories behind "Somebody Else Will" for Justin Moore and "For Her" for Chris Lane, plus lessons learned and great advice.

Songs discussed
Sleep Without You (Brett Young)
Somebody Else Will (Justin Moore)
For Her (Chris Lane)

Follow Kelly Archer
Instagram @kellyarchermusic

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.

Mark Irwin: Alan Jackson's first #1 Hit, Tyler Farr, Tim McGraw & Taylor Swift... Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 23 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Mark Irwin. Mark wrote Alan Jackson's first #1, and once got a $5,000 check from Garth Brooks for not recording his song, before Garth recorded it anyway.

Mark has been in Nashville for more than 25 years. He wrote "Here in the Real World" for Alan Jackson, "Redneck Crazy" for Tyler Farr and "Highway Don't Care" for Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, plus songs for Jimmy Buffett, Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Randy Travis and more.

He also talks about how, after all these years, he gets inspired by young artists and writers, working closely with AJ Kross, Davis Loose and Cam Newby.

Songs discussed
Here in the Real World (Alan Jackson)
Redneck Crazy (Tyler Farr)
Highway Don't Care (Tim McGraw)

Follow Mark Irwin
Instagram @markirwin62 | 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.

Justin Wilson: HITS for Mitchell Tenpenny, Randy Houser, Dustin Lynch, Michael Ray & more! Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 22 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Justin Wilson. Justin loves to put a smile on people's faces, and Chris once shaved his head at a festival in Florida to raise $10,000 for charity.

Originally from north Georgia, Justin has around 80 songs recorded and more than 20 radio singles. He tells how he found his way to Nashville and the stories behind "Drunk Me" for Mitchell Tenpenny, "We Went" for Randy Houser, "Momma's House" for Dustin Lynch and "Kiss You in the Morning" for Michael Ray.

He has also written for Blake Shelton, Lee Brice, Granger Smith, Morgan Wallen, Craig Campbell, Tyler Farr, the Swon Brothers and more, and he credits Bobby Pinson and Brett James for helping him along the way.

Songs discussed
Drunk Me (Mitchell Tenpenny)
We Went (Randy Houser)
Momma's House (Dustin Lynch)
Kiss You in the Morning (Michael Ray)

Follow Justin Wilson
Instagram @justinwilsonmusic

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.

Jordan Walker: Walker McGuire to When It Rains It Pours (Luke Combs) Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 21 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with songwriter Jordan Walker, a Listening Room regular. Jordan's favorite number is 2, so he moved to Nashville on 2/22/2012, and "When It Rains It Pours" went #1 on his birthday.

Jordan, from Texas, has been around music his whole life, even though he got kicked out of his high school choir his senior year. He met Johnny McGuire and formed the duo Walker McGuire, and he tells the story behind their song "Til Tomorrow." He writes with a great group that includes Mitchell Tenpenny, Adam Doleac, Devin Dawson and Andy Albert.

He also shares how he met Luke Combs in a bar, back when he was driving a car that would not even start, and how that friendship led to "When It Rains It Pours," which hit #1 on Oct. 29, 2017. Plus the story behind "Backseat Driver," an unreleased song about what kids say from the back seat that Chris, as a dad, absolutely loves.

Songs discussed
When It Rains It Pours (Luke Combs)
Til Tomorrow (Walker McGuire)

Follow Jordan Walker
Instagram @jordanwalker2

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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