Stories Behind the Songs

Latest Episodes:

Jim Peterik: Eye Of The Tiger, Vehicle (Rock & Roll LEGEND) Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 10 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair flies to Chicago to sit down in the home studio of rock and roll legend Jim Peterik, a close friend for more than 15 years. This is the man behind "Eye of the Tiger," and he tells it like only he can.

Jim shares the phone call from Sylvester Stallone that changed his life and led to writing "Eye of the Tiger" for the movie Rocky. He also talks about creating the bands The Ides of March and Survivor, and the story behind "Vehicle."

It is one of the best conversations of the early episodes, recorded right in Jim's studio. Here's Jimbo Peterik.

Songs discussed
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)
Vehicle (The Ides of March)

Follow Jim Peterik
Instagram @jimpeterikrocks | jimpeterik.com | Apple Music

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.

Phil Barton: A Woman Like You (Lee Brice), Thomas the Train & many more! Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 9 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Phil Barton. Chris was in the room when Phil got his first #1 award, and he will never forget it.

Phil came to Nashville from Australia, where he already had major success with the children's band Flower Pot Gang, which sold over 400,000 records. He has made almost 90 kids' records, including work for Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Once in Nashville, Phil wrote two songs pretty much every day and then played shows at night. His first #1, "A Woman Like You," written with Jon Stone and Johnny Bulford for Lee Brice, was the first #1 for all three of them. He tells that story and everything that came after.

Songs discussed
A Woman Like You (Lee Brice)

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.

Lost Saints: Hookup to a good time! Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 8 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with the trio Lost Saints, Chris, Afton and Derek. Chris has loved this trio since he first heard them in 2019 in St. Augustine, Florida.

There was some real mastermind thinking behind how Lost Saints became a trio. Each of them shares how they made their way to Nashville, how they met, and how one member more or less kidnapped the others to trick them into hearing how they sounded together. It was a good move.

They tell the story behind their song "Hook Up," talk about how their hard work has paid off, and preview their then-new single, "Catching Fire."

Songs discussed
Hook Up (Lost Saints)
Catching Fire (Lost Saints)

Follow Lost Saints
lostsaintsmusic.com | 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.

J.T. Harding: Songwriter for Keith Urban, Uncle Kracker, Kenny Chesney and more! Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 7 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter and #1 book author J.T. Harding. You may not know the name, but you know the songs, and this might be the funniest conversation in the early run of the show.

J.T. has written hits for Uncle Kracker, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker, the Jonas Brothers, Blake Shelton and many more. He grew up in Detroit, moved to LA to become a rock star, then started coming to Nashville to write songs, and it stuck.

He tells how Linkin Park helped him get a songwriting deal and shares the stories behind "Somewhere With You" for Kenny Chesney, "Smile" for Uncle Kracker and "Alone With You" for Jake Owen. He also recalls meeting Keith Urban in a bathroom at an awards show and how that led to "Somewhere in My Car," with plenty of advice for new songwriters along the way.

Songs discussed
Somewhere With You (Kenny Chesney)
Smile (Uncle Kracker)
Alone With You (Jake Owen)
Somewhere in My Car (Keith Urban)

Follow J.T. Harding
Instagram @jtxrockstar | TikTok @jtxrockstar

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.

The Woods: Worlds On Fire & how the band started Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 6 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with the trio The Woods. Their harmonies blend so well that Chris named them one of his Unsigned Artists of the Month in 2022.

The three talk about how they came together to create The Woods during the pandemic, the story behind their first song, "Worlds On Fire," and the release of "If You Really Love Me."

They also get into how much social media shapes the music industry today. It is a fresh, unique group, and this is a great first introduction.

Songs discussed
Worlds On Fire (The Woods)
If You Really Love Me (The Woods)

Follow The Woods
Instagram @whoarethewoods | TikTok @whoarethewoods | 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.

Chrissy Metz: NBC's "This Is Us" to music to #1 book author! Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 5 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with actress, singer-songwriter and #1 New York Times best-selling author Chrissy Metz. Most people know Chrissy as Kate Pearson on NBC's "This Is Us," but this conversation is about the songwriter and storyteller behind that role.

Chrissy is an Emmy and two-time Golden Globe nominee, and "This Is Us" won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2019. She starred as Joyce Smith in the film "Breakthrough," performed "I'm Standing With You," written by Diane Warren, on its soundtrack, and sang it on the 2019 ACM Awards. Her credits also include "The Last OG," "Superstore," American Horror Story: Freak Show, "Sierra Burgess Is a Loser," "My Name Is Earl" and "Entourage."

She tells the story of how she learned to carry a crown before she could wear one, how she became Kate Pearson, and her journey as a singer-songwriter. Chris also talks about her new book with co-author Bradley Collins, a longtime friend of his, "When I Talk To God, I Talk About You," and the line that stretched through the bookstore at her signing.

Songs discussed
I'm Standing With You (Chrissy Metz)

Follow Chrissy Metz
Instagram @chrissymetz | TikTok @chrissymetz

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.

Filmore: Pitbull Tour and Pizza Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 4 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with his friend, singer-songwriter Filmore. Tyler Filmore has opened for Sam Hunt, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina, Dan + Shay and Pitbull, and he has a great story about getting St. Louis pizza onto that Pitbull tour.

Filmore moved to Nashville after attending Mizzou in Columbia, Missouri. Chris first met him through Doug Howard, who led A&R at Lyric Street Records and later became Dean of the College of Music at Belmont University. Filmore was the first independent artist ever featured on the cover of Spotify's Hot Country, signed a major label deal in 2020 and released "State I'm In." He has played festivals like Country Thunder, Stagecoach, CMA Fest and Watershed, and released his second LP, "Mean Something," on Jan. 13, right after this conversation.

He talks about building the Filmore brand, the co-writer who filed a police report for a guitar that was sitting in a closet, signing with Curb Records and later leaving that deal, and how he got his favorite pizza, Imo's, delivered to Pitbull and the crew on tour.

Songs discussed
State I'm In (Filmore)

Follow Filmore
Instagram @filmoremusic | TikTok @filmoremusic | 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.

Elise Hayes: Human Heart, Carly Pearce and Grey's Anatomy Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 3 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Elise Hayes, a friend of more than 10 years. Elise was one of Chris's Unsigned Artist of the Month picks in 2022, and her story runs from front-porch concerts for the neighbors to songs on network TV.

Elise talks about how she went from playing on her porch to becoming the Nashville singer-songwriter and pop artist she is today, and what she learned at Berklee College of Music.

She also shares what it was like on the road with Carly Pearce, the story behind her song "Human Heart," and her film and TV success, with songs placed on Grey's Anatomy, Good Trouble, Charmed, MTV reality shows, Beauty and the Beast and more.

Songs discussed
Human Heart (Elise Hayes)

Follow Elise Hayes
elisehayes.com | Instagram @elisehayes | TikTok @elisehayesmusic | 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.

Matt Rogers: Grammy winning Songwriter Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 2 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with his buddy, Grammy-winning songwriter Matt Rogers. Just after this conversation was recorded, Matt won his first Grammy on Feb. 5, 2023 for "'Til You Can't," the smash he wrote for Cody Johnson.

Matt has songs recorded by Randy Houser, Brett Eldredge, Jimmie Allen, Brad Paisley, Justin Moore, Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch, Chris Young, Dylan Scott, Gary Allan, Mitchell Tenpenny and many more, with four #1 hits in the US and five in Canada.

He tells the stories behind "'Til You Can't," "We Went" for Randy Houser and "The Long Way" for Brett Eldredge, and remembers how he got into songwriting in the first place, back when he was writing two or three songs a day. There is plenty of advice here from a great writer and an even better guy.

Songs discussed
'Til You Can't (Cody Johnson)
We Went (Randy Houser)
The Long Way (Brett Eldredge)

Follow Matt Rogers
Instagram @mtthwrgrs

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 Brooke: Sidetracked, American Idol and Amazing Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

In Episode 1 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Emily Brooke, the very first guest on the show. Emily was one of Chris's Listening Room "Unsigned Artists of the Month," and it felt right to launch the podcast with an artist he believed in early.

This is where Stories Behind the Songs began. Chris explains the idea behind the show: through The Listening Room in Nashville and Pigeon Forge, he gets to see the best singer-songwriters before most people know their names, and he has watched so many regulars on that stage go on to big careers.

Emily shares the story behind her single "Sidetracked," her journey to American Idol and what she learned on that show, and how she got into music in the first place. She is a gifted singer-songwriter and a genuinely great person, and this first conversation is a warm introduction to both.

Songs discussed
Sidetracked (Emily Brooke)

Follow Emily Brooke
emilybrookemusic.com | Instagram @emilybrooke | TikTok @emilybrookemusic | 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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