Stories Behind the Songs

Latest Episodes:

Faren Rachels: Bell Bottom Country & The Rug Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 80 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Faren Rachels. Faren got a FaceTime call from Lainey Wilson right after Lainey won a Grammy, while Faren was on the couch in a face mask.

A longtime friend and co-writer of Lainey Wilson, Faren has cuts including "Weak-End" and "This One's Gonna Cost Me" on Lainey's 2022 album "Bell Bottom Country." She also shares her own 2023 single, "The Rug," written with Austin Goodloe and Lydia Vaughan.

She talks about not wanting to join the "artist rat race," touring with Luke Combs where she played with Brantley Gilbert and Willie Nelson, playing arenas in a writers round format, and starting her own Nashville songwriters' girls club.

Songs discussed
The Rug (Faren Rachels)
Weak-End (Lainey Wilson)
This One's Gonna Cost Me (Lainey Wilson)

Follow Faren Rachels
Instagram @farenrachels | TikTok @farenrachels | YouTube | Apple Music

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

Sammy Arriaga: Miami Music & the COUNTRY SIDE Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 79 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Sammy Arriaga, a friend for more than 10 years. Sammy grew up in Miami's R&B and EDM scene and blends it with country storytelling, a mix his EP title "Banjos 'n' Bongos" sums up as his motto.

Sammy talks about his 2021 album "Boots x Beats," with songs like "COUNTRY SIDE" and "take my phone," and tells the story behind his single "The Boat." He plays it, along with "COUNTRY SIDE," one of his popular Spanish covers, and an unreleased fan favorite.

He also covers 615 House, touring the UK with Gareth, keeping artistic integrity while writing for short attention spans, and the advice he would give his younger self: lead with humanity over ambition.

Songs discussed
The Boat (Sammy Arriaga)
COUNTRY SIDE (Sammy Arriaga)

Follow Sammy Arriaga
Instagram @sammyarriaga | TikTok @sammyarriaga | sammyarriaga.com | 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.

Carly Pearce: Every Little Thing (THROWBACK!) Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 78 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair opens the archives to mark a year and a half of the show with a special throwback: his very first podcast conversation, recorded in February 2017 with his good friend Carly Pearce. Carly had just put her first single out to radio, and it is a joy to hear where her story began.

Carly talks about being named one of Rolling Stone's top 10 artists to watch, her first single, "Wasn't That Drunk" with the Josh Abbott Band, and her debut solo single, "Every Little Thing," released the week before this conversation. She also remembers busbee, her producer and an industry icon, who passed away in September 2019.

She has come so far since then, and Chris is constantly texting her about how proud he is.

Songs discussed
Every Little Thing (Carly Pearce)
Wasn't That Drunk (Josh Abbott Band)

Follow Carly Pearce
Instagram @carlypearce | TikTok @carlypearce | carlypearce.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.

Jenna LaMaster: Drunk Thoughts Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 77 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Jenna LaMaster. Jenna went from 14-hour days on a ranch outside Nashville to signing a publishing deal with Shelter Music in the middle of the pandemic.

Jenna has several cuts with Ashland Craft, including "Your Momma Still Does," written with Jonathan Singleton and released in 2021. She also tells the story behind her own 2023 release, "Drunk Thoughts," written with Lee Starr and Whitney Duncan.

She talks about growing up in a competitive rodeo family in Northern California, building her camp with writers like Lainey Wilson and Faren Rachels, and deciding which songs to keep for herself. She plays some of "Your Momma Still Does" and "Drunk Thoughts."

Songs discussed
Drunk Thoughts (Jenna LaMaster)
Your Momma Still Does (Ashland Craft)

Follow Jenna LaMaster
Instagram @jennalamaster | TikTok @heyitsjennalamaster | jennalamaster.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.

Rachel Thibodeau: Billy Currington's "Good Directions" with Luke Bryan! Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 76 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with hit songwriter Rachel Thibodeau. Rachel started a publishing company with John and Martina McBride just because she had the guts to ask.

You may know her from her long collaboration with Luke Bryan, with whom she wrote Billy Currington's hit "Good Directions" from his 2005 album "Doin' Somethin' Right." She also has several cuts with Martina McBride and is developing new artist Styles Haury.

She talks about writing one-on-one with Luke, recording at Blackbird Studio, mentoring young female writers, and seeing her first #1 sign on Music Row. She plays some of "Good Directions" and a sneak peek of Styles's next single.

Songs discussed
Good Directions (Billy Currington)

Follow Rachel Thibodeau
Instagram @rachelthibodeaumusic | 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.

Lexie Hayden: Countin' Rainbows Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 75 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Lexie Hayden. As an intern, Lexie was put on the spot to sing live on the Bobby Bones radio show, and she has the stories to prove it.

Lexie talks about her 2020 release "You Heard Right" and why she was excited to put out her first full-length album, this time not during a pandemic. She also shares her writing partnership with Priscilla Block, who she met when Priscilla was a server at The Listening Room, and the story behind Priscilla's hit "My Bar."

She performs "My Bar" and an unreleased song from her upcoming project, "Call It a Crush."

Songs discussed
My Bar (Priscilla Block)

Follow Lexie Hayden
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.

Bryan White: God Gave Me You Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 74 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with 90s country star Bryan White. Long before they met, Chris was learning Bryan's songs on guitar to impress the girls in his college dorm.

Bryan talks about some of his biggest songs, including "Someone Else's Star" and "Rebecca Lynn," and songs he has written for artists like Diamond Rio. He also gets into writing uptempo songs when you are used to writing sad ones, unlikely chord progressions and key changes, having a hit outside the US, and singing a duet with Shania Twain.

He performs a bit of "Sittin' on Go" and his personal favorite, "Dustbowl Dreams," written with Allen Shamblin, which reconnected him with his Oklahoma roots.

Songs discussed
Someone Else's Star (Bryan White)
Rebecca Lynn (Bryan White)
Sittin' on Go (Bryan White)

Follow Bryan White
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
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Keesy Timmer: Yeah Boy! (Kelsea Ballerini) Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 73 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with his buddy, songwriter Keesy Timmer. Keesy has been writing with Kelsea Ballerini since she was a teenager, and "Yeah Boy" earned a shout-out from Taylor Swift herself.

Keesy shares how "Yeah Boy," written with Kelsea and Forest Glen Whitehead, started from a funny moment with Kelsea. He also talks about "Smoke on My Jacket" for rising artist Zach John King, and plays some of both songs.

He also covers his time in the band Telluride, the struggles of being a songwriter today, signing with Average Joes Entertainment, and giving back by volunteering with music therapists, in prisons, and with organizations like Operation Song and Redemption Song.

Songs discussed
Yeah Boy (Kelsea Ballerini)
Smoke on My Jacket (Zach John King)

Follow Keesy Timmer
Instagram @keesytimmer

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

Matt McKinney: "Did you know Tulsa spelled backwards is a slut?" Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 72 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with songwriter Matt McKinney. Matt got his start at The Listening Room, not on the stage but as a server.

Since then he has landed cuts like "Part of It" for Jordan Davis and a handful of songs on Elle King's 2023 album "Come Get Your Wife," including "Tulsa" and "Lucky," written closely with Elle.

He talks about a song going viral on TikTok, a writing camp in Nashville that looks out for each other, and landing a deal at Sony with Rusty Gaston. He plays some of "Part of It" and "Weatherman," an unreleased fan favorite at The Listening Room that may be his favorite song he has written.

Songs discussed
Part of It (Jordan Davis)
Tulsa (Elle King)
Lucky (Elle King)

Follow Matt McKinney
Instagram @mattmckinneywrites

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.

Adam Hambrick: How Not To (Dan+Shay), Somebody Else Will (Justin Moore) and more! Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 71 of Stories Behind the Songs, host Chris Blair sits down at The Listening Room in Nashville with singer-songwriter Adam Hambrick. Two of Adam's biggest cuts, "How Not To" and "Somebody Else Will," were both almost cut by Rascal Flatts first.

Adam has huge artist cuts and an artist career of his own. He tells the stories behind "How Not To" for Dan + Shay and "Somebody Else Will" for Justin Moore, and talks about his 2023 debut full-length album, "Free Country," and his 2018 single "Rockin' All Night Long," which has several million streams.

He also shares getting called on stage by Justin Moore to sing "Small Town USA," learning to tell a hit from just another song, the realities of record and publishing deals, and celebrating hard at Tin Roof after getting a cut. Plus a full performance of "Oxford," a fan favorite on The Listening Room stage.

Songs discussed
How Not To (Dan + Shay)
Somebody Else Will (Justin Moore)
Rockin' All Night Long (Adam Hambrick)

Follow Adam Hambrick
adamhambrick.com | Instagram @adamhambrick | TikTok @adamhambrick | YouTube | 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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