Stories Behind the Songs

Latest Episodes:

Keio Stroud: Drumming Up Dreams Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 90 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with drummer Keio Stroud. Keio's career reads like a who's who of country music, and it is rooted in family and faith.

A last-minute gig brought Keio to Nashville and eventually onto stages with Big & Rich and Wade Hayes. He learned to play by ear alongside country radio classics like Brooks & Dunn, and remembers the early "music mafia" days at the legendary Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar.

He shares the time he met Guy Clark in his underwear, hours honing his craft on the road, and great advice about listening as an instrument in itself.

Follow Keio Stroud
Instagram @blacyoda

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

Lauren Hungate: Holy Smokes Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 89 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with songwriter Lauren Hungate. "Holy Smokes" came from a memory of Lauren and her husband parked by a church, and Bailey Zimmerman took it platinum.

Lauren writes for newer artists like MacKenzie Porter, Carter Faith and Lauren Watkins, and household names like Anne Wilson, Carly Pearce and Bailey Zimmerman. She started out as an intern with Capitol Christian, worked Nashville writers rounds, and earned her first publishing deal right before the world shut down in 2020.

She shares performing with Carter Faith at the Opry, joining Carly Pearce on stage at Bridgestone, balancing faith with ambition, and the mentors who helped her, plus songs like "Greener Pastures" and "Coming Home to You (Bigger Houses)."

Songs discussed
Holy Smokes (Bailey Zimmerman)

Follow Lauren Hungate
Instagram @lauren_hungate

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

Will Bundy: Mowing Lawns to Writing Thomas Rhett's #1s Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 88 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with songwriter and producer Will Bundy. Will went from mowing lawns and farming near Bristol, Tennessee, to writing rooms with Riley Green, Thomas Rhett and Ella Langley.

Will learned demo production when he could not afford to hire anyone, carved out his niche as a "track guy," and boldly rented a studio on Music Row while living in Antioch. He has written with hit writers like Brett James, Forest Whitehead and Ashley Gorley.

He shares going on the road with Thomas Rhett and Rhett Akins and how it led to "Half of Me," writing "Truck Still Works" for Brad Paisley, and producing Ella Langley's viral hit "you look like you love me." He also performs "Half of Me."

Songs discussed
Half of Me (Thomas Rhett)
Truck Still Works (Brad Paisley)
you look like you love me (Ella Langley)

Follow Will Bundy
Instagram @willbundy32

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.

Jordan Rager: All Out of Beer Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 87 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Jordan Rager. Jordan snuck into Whiskey Jam night after night to meet people in the business, and it paid off with a #1 for Jason Aldean.

Jordan's first #1 was "All Out of Beer," which Jason Aldean recorded for his 2016 album "They Don't Know." He shares the stories behind a couple of his songs and plays them.

He also talks about growing up with two loves, sports and music, his 10 years in Nashville, and making his upcoming EP.

Songs discussed
All Out of Beer (Jason Aldean)

Follow Jordan Rager
Instagram @jordanrager | 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
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Sail with us on Boots on the Water, Feb. 7-11, 2027.

Victoria Banks: Saints & Angels Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 86 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Victoria Banks. Some in the industry would call Victoria a unicorn: she writes her best songs completely on her own.

Victoria's honors include Canadian Artist and Songwriter of the Year. She shares the stories behind "Saints and Angels" for Sara Evans, later edited and used as a post-9/11 anthem, "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" for Mickey Guyton, and Reba McEntire's "I Can't," which she finally got cut 18 years after it went on hold and saw debut on The Voice.

She also talks about "daring to suck" in co-writes, a decade-long collaboration with Mickey Guyton, and teaching at Belmont, where she gets to be there for the beginning of students' careers. She plays all three songs.

Songs discussed
Saints & Angels (Sara Evans)
What Are You Gonna Tell Her? (Mickey Guyton)
I Can't (Reba McEntire)

Follow Victoria Banks
Instagram @victoriabanksmusic | 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.

Adam Craig: Church Pew or Bar Stool Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 85 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with his good friend Adam Craig, a Listening Room favorite. Adam is a regular on The Listening Room stage, and his catalog runs from Jason Aldean to George Strait.

Adam shares the stories behind "Church Pew or Bar Stool" for Jason Aldean, "Close Your Eyes" for Parmalee, and George Strait's 2024 single "MIA Down in MIA," plus an unreleased Cody Johnson cut written with Jordan Walker and Matt Rogers.

He also talks about past publishing and record deals, moving to Nashville to be an artist, playing the Opry, writing for a "viral moment," and trying to impress songwriting icon Dean Dillon. He plays some of "Church Pew or Bar Stool" and "MIA Down in MIA."

Songs discussed
Church Pew or Bar Stool (Jason Aldean)
Close Your Eyes (Parmalee)
MIA Down in MIA (George Strait)

Follow Adam Craig
Instagram @adamcraigofficial

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.

Cody Hibbard: What Does It Mean To Be Country? Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 84 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Cody Hibbard. Cody learned to play on a pawn shop guitar, and he is proud of who he is and where he comes from.

Cody had just released his second full-length album, "Long Ride in a Short Bed," with songs like "Rollin'" and "Set in My Ruts." He dives into the title track and "Had It Been a Boy," and plays some of both.

He also talks about solo writing versus co-writing, finding people in Nashville who push him as a writer, and landing a deal with Sony.

Songs discussed
Long Ride in a Short Bed (Cody Hibbard)
Had It Been a Boy (Cody Hibbard)

Follow Cody Hibbard
Instagram @codyhibbard_ | 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.

Craig Campbell: Living on the Outskirts of Heaven Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 83 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Craig Campbell. Craig started out as a correctional officer, and was discovered playing "The Stage" on Broadway.

Craig grew up in a musical family and spent his time playing bars and bands on Broadway until a record deal came. He shares how he wrote his debut single, "Family Man," while starting his own family, how "Fish" shaped his career, and how he wrote "Outskirts of Heaven" with Dave Turnbull in just two hours.

He also talks about writing for Garth Brooks and Trace Adkins, his project "Almost Greatest Hits," featuring re-records and new songs, his restaurant Grindstone Cowboy, and plays an unreleased track.

Songs discussed
Outskirts of Heaven (Craig Campbell)
Family Man (Craig Campbell)
Fish (Craig Campbell)

Follow Craig Campbell
Instagram @craigcampbelltv | Grindstone Cowboy | 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.

Danny Myrick: "She's Country" - From Mississippi to Music Row Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 82 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, during the very first The Listening Room ‘on-the-road’ show, with hit songwriter Danny Myrick. Danny helped get Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, Eddie Vedder, Brandi Carlile and Chris Stapleton onto the same album.

Danny tells the stories behind classics like "International Harvester" for Craig Morgan and "She's Country" for Jason Aldean. He also talks about his friendship with the late Leslie Jordan and how they made the album "Company's Comin'," and how he unintentionally convinced Eddie Vedder that "maybe there is a God."

He shares what he is working on now with exciting newcomers and bigger artists, the changing industry, coming up with original guitar licks, and how his greatest success has come since turning 40.

Songs discussed
She's Country (Jason Aldean)
International Harvester (Craig Morgan)

Follow Danny Myrick
Instagram @dannymyrick | 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.

Rebecca Lynn Howard: Forgive and The Loving Mary Band Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 81 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Rebecca Lynn Howard. Her 2002 single "Forgive" is a crowd favorite at The Listening Room, and Faith Hill almost cut it before Rebecca knew it was meant for her.

Rebecca has cuts with Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood and John Michael Montgomery. She tells the story behind "Forgive," and her 2024 single "Hoedown," written with Nathan and Stephanie Chapman.

She also talks about her longtime friendship and collaboration with Lee Brice, the influence of Trisha Yearwood, and playing bass in The Loving Mary Band, featured on Steven Tyler's 2016 album "We're All Somebody From Somewhere." She performs "Forgive" and "Hoedown."

Songs discussed
Forgive (Rebecca Lynn Howard)
Hoedown (Rebecca Lynn Howard)

Follow Rebecca Lynn Howard
Instagram @rebeccalynnhoward | Instagram @lovingmaryband | 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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