Write You A Song Podcast

Tony Arata: Because Kevin Did It Sep 15, 2023

Tracking down songwriters for this podcast can be challenging. Publishing companies don’t return your email. A songwriter doesn’t return your email. Publishing companies really don't return your emails. But, just when you think it’s time to hang it up, the universe throws you a bone and you get a random email from a podcast listener named Keith, hooking you up with the writer of one of country music’s greatest songs of all time. And a few other hits too. Thanks, Keith!

The Dance is one of those rare songs that transcends its era. It’s one of those songs that, even if you’re hearing it for the ten thousandth time, its simple yet elegant production and lyrics still pack an emotional wallop. BUT...that song and Tony Arata’s whole legendary career –which includes being a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame-might never have happened had it not been for the one single he released as a brief country solo artist in 1986. The song didn’t even chart...but there was this new-to-Nashville guy named Garth who heard it. And liked it. And, well, Tony was already in the middle of spinning the story when I remembered to hit record and he will take it from there. Enjoy!

Johnny Bulford: Musical Pharmacist Aug 10, 2023

If the name Johnny Bulford sounds vaguely familiar, then maybe you used to watch the Colgate Country showdown, a country music talent show sponsored by the toothpaste company. In 2008, he won it and was given a $100,000 check by the evening’s host, Leanne Rimes.

But here's the thing: The Showdown was a singing competition...and as much as Johnny loves to sing- and is good at it – his real passion is in songwriting. A passion he got from listening to the songs of his country music idol, Garth Brooks. And his songs do have a certain “Garthiness” that he’ll explain. So, rather than pursue a singing career, Johnny went to Nashville and started his journey as a songwriter - thanks in no small part to the security a check for $100,000 will give a guy. The result? Radio smashes like Lonely Eyes for Chris Young and Woman Like You for Lee Brice, and keen insight into the creative process that he shares on this month's episode

Sherri Austin: It's a Jobby, Not a Hobby Aug 09, 2023

When you think country music and Australia, the first person who comes to mind is that guy married to Nicole Kidman. But he wasn’t the first. He was beaten to the states by a then teenage girl, who arrived here in the 1980s with her parents. But her first job wasn’t singing, or writing. It was as a character on an iconic 1980s TV show.

If you remember The Facts of Life, think back to the final season and a character named Pippa McKenna.

Pippa was played by Sherri Austin...who would do a little more acting in LA before moving to Nashville in the mid 1990s. In 1997, she signed a recording deal and got some airplay on country radio, including a sad but beautiful ballad called Streets of Heaven that, in 2003, became her biggest hit. But her first love- more than acting, more than singing, was writing, which she continued to do even as she left Nashville for a time in 2005 to sing on the stage in New York city. Returning to Nashville in 2011, she released another album, Circus Girl, which displayed her full talent as a singer/songwriter. But, as Austin will explain, she was drawn more towards writing and performing, and since then has become one of country music’s most respected writers.

Matt Butler: Reckless Son Apr 22, 2023

The goal of most performers is to be so good, their audience is captivated. A captive audience. But ...what if your audience has no choice because they're literally captive?

This episode’s guest isn’t really Country. He’s more folk, or Americana, or whatever you want to call it. I just think he's amazingly talented, with a fascinating story to tell.

I heard about Matt Butler one morning when I heard an interview with him on – full credit here – NPR. They were talking to him about his music, and also his one man show, Reckless Son, which is based on his experiences performing to the incarcerated, first in upstate new york and now, at prisons all over the country. His story drew me in. His songwriting and singing hooked me. His catalogue isn’t large. He’s never had a "hit" record. But his story is unique and perfectly illustrates the power that music, and art, can have when used for something more than just putting gold records on a wall.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that! But that’s not what matt chooses to chase. He is one of those artists who is inspired by something else, something deeper and seemingly less tangible. and I was curious to find out why. And how.

I hope you are too.

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What's This? A Bonus Episode? With a DRUMMER? Mar 27, 2023

A drummer? On a podcast about songwriting? What is this abomination??

Truth is, it's not an abomination at all! An aberration, maybe but a cool one. Or at least, I think it is. I hope you do too.

No, the format of Write You a Song isn't changing. I simply had the opportunity to interview a professional Nashville drummer named Will Johnston, whom I got to know a bit last summer when the artist he tours with, Elvie Shane, did a small show for our radio station. Will and I were talking about the recording process, and we started thinking that some music fans might find it interesting to hear from someone who helps create the finished product that starts when a writer puts pen to paper (or, more likely these days, cursor to screen).

Since it's not technically an episode about writing, I'm dropping it as a surprise, bonus episode. First one I've done but, if you like it, it may not be the last.

So if you've ever wondered about the musicians who play on the songs that become a part of a lives well, here's one of 'em. And I hope you enjoy :)

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Ray Fulcher: Writing Stuff To Be Proud Of Feb 17, 2023

Ray Fulcher had no plans on ever becoming a songwriter or a singer. Teaching and coaching. THOSE were his plan. But they got set aside one fateful night Ray went to a club in his college town and saw a young country artist named Eric Church. Seeing and hearing Eric lyrics lit something inside Ray, and that flame was helped along by a second incident of fate the day he met a fellow couch surfer in a friend's Nashville house named Luke Combs. It’s one of the more improbable songwriter success stories we’ve had on this podcast which makes it all the more relatable. Who hasn’t had the notion to put everything aside and bet on yourself? Ray’s bet paid off. And it still is

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Jordan Fletcher: Stupid Optimism Dec 22, 2022

Florida native Jordan Fletcher was a drummer. Is a drummer. Still. But, his hands are usually busy with an acoustic guitar these days.

Jordan came to Nashville to play drums but somewhere along the way, he discovered he was pretty good at writing songs. And singing them. And thanks to what he calls some “stupid optimism”, he decided to go all in as a singer/songwriter.

Nashville though can be a brutal place, even for the talented. And without much happening, Jordan was just about ready to put an end to his music dreams and figure out a new way to support his wife and new child. But then the pandemic hit...and things changed for Jordan and his career. For the better.

His career is still very much in the "just getting started" phase, but thanks to a bit of pandemic-inspired inspiration that ended up at cut on a Riley Green album, and a critically-acclaimed EP released last year, Jordan can stay all in on following his Nashville dream.

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Luke Laird: When The Redneck Angels Sing Sep 24, 2022

It’s truly amazing how one simple, polite gesture can utterly change a person’s life.

As a teenager, songwriter Luke Laird took a family vacation to Nashville. And even though he was already deeply interested in music, he had no idea somebody like him, a young man from Pennsylvania, could do it for a living...until the writer of one of country music’s most iconic songs spent a few moments talking to him following a show the family attended at the legendary Bluebird Café. Without that simple gesture of accessibility, which that writer has probably given a thousand times, Eric Church might never have had songs like Give Me Back My Hometown, Talladega or Drink in My Hand. Carrie Underwood might never have recorded So Small, or Thomas Rhett, T-shirt, Jon Pardi, Head over Boots. Kacey Musgraves might never have won a Grammy for her album Same Trailer, Different Park. And the Nashville songwriting community might never have had one of its most collaborative, creative and encouraging members.

But thankfully, That writer did. Who was it? And what's the rest of Luke's story? Give this month's episode a listen

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Drew Parker: Looking For Those High Five Moments Aug 06, 2022

they say 3 of the most disruptive things a person can go through in life are a job change, a move, and a new child. Drew Parker had 2 of those 3 things happen on the same day his first song went to #1.

Drew's initial country music dream didn't actually include songwriting. He wanted to perform. But it was a chance meeting with another young, unknown performer by the name of Luke Combs that prompted Drew to test out his writing chops and, turns out, they're pretty good. But even with a few monster hits under his buckle, Drew still wants to perform. And he does- with passion, energy, and a voice as country as a dusty dirt road. On this episode, Drew talks writing for others, and himself, and shares some great stories along the way

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Jeff Stevens: A Guy Who Believes In His Gut Jul 02, 2022

Starting in the mid-80s, Jeff Stevens has written some monster country hits, including songs that could fairly be called classics- Carrying Your Love With Me from George Strait, for example. But, as his career has gone on, he hasn’t just gone back to the same well again and again and as such, some of his more recent stuff has actually gotten blowback for not being country enough. If you listen to this podcast at all, you’ll know a few other veteran songwriters have faced the same challenge- and charge. But in a business where you’re only as relevant as your last hit, staying in the writer’s room requires never closing the door on suggestions or ideas, even if it's a suggestion to, say, write with and produce a new artist named Luke Bryan.

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Kent Blazy: The 26th Time Is The Charm May 28, 2022

The podcast is back after a three month hiatus and what a great guest to return with. Kent Blazy was a young songwriter in Nashville but didn't have enough hits to quite make ends meet. So he opened a recording studio and recruited a stable of demo singers who would go on to become some of the biggest stars of 1990s country music and beyond: Joe Diffie, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Billy Dean...and some guy named Garth Brooks, including If Tomorrow Never Comes which was a song idea Garth had that had already been turned down 25 times before he brought it to Kent. It was the first song they wrote together, but it would not be the last.

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Walker Hayes: Swinging For the Fences Mar 04, 2022

If you listen to this podcast at all, then you’ve heard Walker Hayes' name dropped by a few other writers who’ve collaborated with him- Nicolle Galyon, Josh Jenkins, to name two. There’s a lot of respect in Nashville for him, especially since he’s been there since the early 2000s. But all this time he’s been mostly under the radar. Heck, at one point, he was working at a Costco.

Things started to change when in 2017 when he had a modest hit with You Broke Up With Me and then last year, he crushed it. Fancy Like wasn’t just a hit, it became nothing less than a sensation, with a viral dance, TV commercials. It also sparked some grumbling: country purists didn’t like that Fancy Like was country-rap. And if I’m honest, I started off as one of them. The first few times I listened I thought, aw, what’s this. But then, it sort of sucked me in. Look, spoken word hits are nothing new in country music: Charlie Daniels Uneasy Rider and Devil Went Down to Georgia. CW McCall, Convoy. Big John, Jimmy Dean. Toby Keith, I Wanna Talk About Me, Hank Jr, Born to Boogie. Dirt Road Anthem, Jason Aldean. And that’s how I started to look at Fancy Like. Sure, it isn’t an exact comparison-the rhythm is more urban that backwoods, but the lyrics? They’re as country as -to paraphrase a line from an old Hank Jr song -a 2-job working family, which is basically what Walker and his wife Lanie still were, until the song took off. And..? It’s just fun. Is that such a crime? Most of all, if you listen closely, you'll realize it's a very honest song, which, I’ve since come to find out- and you’re about to- is the only bullseye Walker aims for.

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Josh Jenkins: Surrender To The Musical Gods Jan 27, 2022

If you’re at all familiar with the ocean, you’ll know that while most swells on a given day will be roughly the same size, every once in a while that pattern gets upset when, out of nowhere, a wave twice the size of the others, or even greater, suddenly appears. They’re called rogue waves and while they don’t happen very often, and they can’t be predicted, they cannot be ignored. Our guest this month? He helped write the musical equivalent of a rogue wave last year.

Josh Jenkins is relatively new to mainstream country, but he isn’t new to music. Since they first formed around 2003 in Ft Worth Texas, Josh and his band, Green River Ordinance, has carved out a critically acclaimed spot for themselves in pop-rock and Americana- even touring with big rock acts like Collective Soul, Train and the Goo Goo Dolls. In 2016, they became among the first artists to release an album fully funded by loyal fans, via Kickstarter.

But while he and his bandmates still very much get together to perform, Josh has taken his passion for songcraft and settled into the Nashville songwriting community, where just this last year, he finally scored his first two hit singles. One went #1 the last week of January 2022 and the other was a musical rogue wave.

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Jimmie Allen: Do The Stuff You Don't Want To Do Dec 27, 2021

This month’s guest has wasted little time making the most of his growing career. It hasn’t been that long since he was literally living out of his car on the streets of Nashville. His debut single shot to #1 in November 2018. His 2nd single also went to number 1 and as I put together this podcast, his 3rd single has cracked the top 10. He’s also won awards (2021 CMA New Male Artist). Done TV shows (Dancing With The Stars). Written a children’s book (My Voice Is a Trumpet). Had a couple kids (Naomi and Aayden). Sang with Elton John (The Lockdown Sessions). Started a production company (JAB Entertainment). All while reminding anyone who brings it up that country music isn’t, never has been nor ever should be a space reserved for white artists only.

The lengths it took to set up this interview is a good way to introduce you to Jimmie Allen. It took almost six months before we were able to connect. Once, I managed to pin him down while he was en route to a concert right the day after one of his appearances on Dancing With The Stars. And it was going great until he hit a bad cell service area, and our next chance didn’t come along for another month. That he never gave up on doing this interview- which is such a minor thing in his life – says a lot about who he is.

And that drive, that thing that keeps him daring to dream some really big, challenging dreams while still making sure to connect with some schlep DJ with a podcast...? I think it can all be traced back to challenges he first had to face as a young kid, and the people who helped him overcome them. You put that kind experience together with real talent as a singer and a songwriter, and you’ve got something special.

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Don't say no: Steve Dorff Nov 28, 2021

This month's guest didn't set out to write some of country music's most romantic ballads. But then...Clint Eastwood called.

There is no doubt Steve Dorff is talented beyond measure. But how he found country music - or rather, how country music found him- is a tale all to itself.

Sit back and enjoy the incredible story of an incredible artist: composer, arranger, director, lyricist...he can-and has- done it all.

And that's not even counting the theme song to "Growing Pains."

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Patience, Thick Skin, Big Heart: Ashley Gorley Oct 30, 2021

If you were to take just the number 1 country songs Ashley Gorley has written and, supposing their average length is, say, 3:30... played them back to back to back... you’re gonna be listening for just over 3 hours.

With his current tally of #1 songs at a ridiculous 51, Gorley seems to have a gear nobody else has. The awards he’s won and honors he’s received alone take up 16 lines on his Wikipedia page.

Even more remarkable, Ashley didn’t really grow up singing or even playing instruments much. He’s never been in a band. He never sought stardom as an artist. He WAS into music though- MTV, DJ-ing, and studying how songs, melodies and beats are put together. And maybe even more remarkable than all of that..? He’s still humble- still quick to deflect credit to co-writers and artists. And he still loves what he does.

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Making Mom Proud: Matraca Berg Oct 02, 2021

This month’s guest, Matraca Berg, grew up in a musical family. Her mother Icee Berg (yep, real name!) was a songwriter and session singer who at first wasn't crazy that her daughter wanted a career in country music but later became her best teacher. Her stepfather, Dave Kirby, was a songwriter whose credits include the Gene Watson classic I’ve Got Memories to Burn and Charlie Pride’s Is Anybody Goin to San Antone. The family lived in Nashville and often hosted parties featuring writers and singers. So, it stands to reason that being around that kind of environment would kinda rub off on a person. But in Matraca’s case, it was more than just a smudge; she was gifted the talent- and the drive- to have over 50 of her songs recorded, including several that helped female artists to dominate country music in the 1990s like they have never before... or since. She is a CMA and ACM-winning 2008 Nashville Songwriting Hall of Fame inductee who’s quick to give credit to her co-writers, she’s married to Jeff Hanna of the legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and she’s a pretty great solo artist too.

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Tommy Lee James: "Up Tempo, Positive Never Really Worked For Me" Aug 28, 2021

Over 30 years in ANY business is impressive but in the world of songwriting, it's especially notable....even more so when that writer is still very much at the top of their game.
Tommy Lee James was the "bigshot songwriter" our last guest, Ross Copperman, talked about. Ross grew up in the same town as Tommy Lee, and drew inspiration from his success as Ross embarked on his own music career.
But where Ross's country songwriting career has been largely over the last 8 years or so, Tommy Lee's got started back in the late 1980s. And since then, he's written hits for the likes of Brooks and Dunn, Reba, Tim McGraw, and (*checks notes*) One Direction? Yep. He's not only consistent, he's versatile- not at all just staying in a country music lane. And he's got one of 5 new cuts on the latest Taylor Swift album- a song that was lost for 16 years.
In this episode, Tommy Lee James gives a master class in not just achieving, but sustaining success... as well as the importance of proper song labeling when writing with future superstars.

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Ross Copperman: You Have To Win Every Time Jul 31, 2021

30 number one singles as a writer and a producer...six of which he wrote in 2015 alone. He’s been nominated for and won multiple BMI, CMA and ACM songwriter awards He works with the biggest names in Nashville, including songwriters like Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, and artists like Dierks Bentley, Brett Eldredge, Jake Owen and Darius Rucker. He just released an EP of solo material that includes a co-write with Ed Sheeran.

And, he used to party with The Who.

Ross Copperman is this month's guest on Write You a Song

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Niko Moon: Kicking The Ball Down The Field Jul 01, 2021

Singer/songwriter Niko Moon has one foot in the country, and one in the city. He can write as traditional a country hit as anyone (Zac Brown Band's "Homegrown", for example), and he'll show off his Atlanta hip-hop influences on his solo hits, like "Good Time". And while traditionalists may cluck at his more progressive tendencies, Niko himself makes a good case as to why it may not be so much about tradition anymore as it is authenticity, and being true to one's self. A smart, insightful conversation with a smart, insightful artist (who also happens to have a million-watt smile)

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Not Paper Airplanes: Nicolle Galyon May 25, 2021

Sometimes in life, you have to find out what you don’t want to do, before you figure out what you do wanna do. And that’s definitely part Nicolle Galyon's story.

Originally planning for a career in artist management, Galyon moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University. But, she took an interest in the artist/creative side after attending a few songwriter open mic nights, which led to an eventual appearance on NBC’s The Voice in 2012, where she was selected for Adam Levine's team. And during that stint, she says she realized that she didn’t really like being onstage. A lover of writing from early on, The Voice helped her realize that her creative focus should locked in totally and completely on songwriting. It also introduced her to an artist named Miranda Lambert, with whom she would form a friendship and working relationship with. From there, Nicolle Galyon knew what she wanted to do.

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James T Slater: Never Stop Being Curious May 01, 2021

"There's nothing like this town. Songs are in the air". That's how James T Slater sums up Nashville, where he's made his home and his living for past 15+ years. Before that though, he lived and worked in a lot of places- and not necessarily places you'd consider "country": Panama. L.A. Switzerland. He wrote a hit song for a European group and played piano standards at a bar owned by Carroll "Archie Bunker" O'Conner. He wrote and sang a Christmas song that became a smash in the city of Atlanta, and nowhere else, and another one of his songs is the "official song" of Key West. And girlfriend of his once thought the guy he was writing with looked "dangerous"...but he and Jamey Johnson managed to write an honest, uncompromising country classic anyway. Songwriter JT Harding helped arrange this interview and said I would love talking with James. He was right, I did. And you'll love listening to him, too.

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John Rich: The Wizard Of Honky Tonk Oz Apr 01, 2021

"As long as you've got a pencil and a blank sheet of paper, you're still in the game".

Singer/songwriter/producer/entrepreneur/opinionated son of a gun John Rich has been at the top of his game for going on two decades now. But before that, he was adrift, between gigs and without a record or publishing deal. But, with a pencil and a lot of blank sheets of paper, he managed to write "a couple thousand" songs, some of which found their way to new artists like Jason Aldean and Gretchen Wilson. Others became the foundation of an all-bets-are-off album he made with another down-on-his-luck singer/songwriter named "Big" Kenny Alphin. That album, which "Big and Rich" called Horse Of a Different Color, was a last-ditch effort, made more to please themselves at that point than any Nashville record executive. The result was a wild, campy and brash cacophony of country, rock and rap that did nothing less than go on to change Nashville-and country music-forever.

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Aimee Mayo: Talking To The Sky Jan 01, 2021

If Aimee Mayo had never become a successful Nashville songwriter, her story would still be worth telling.

Growing up in a dysfunctional family in Gadsden, Alabama, Aimee dreamed of a life beyond constant personal chaos and somehow, against all odds, she achieved it. Her book recounting that journey, "Talking To The Sky: A memoir about living your best life in a sh*t show" is available now and is an engrossing study in human resilience. It's also really, really well-written. That Aimee is here at all is a testament to her spirit, her talent, and her unwavering faith in a better life than the one she lived growing up.

A successful songwriter of hits for artists like Blake Shelton (Every Time I Hear That Song), Tim McGraw (You're My Best Friend), Kenny Chesney (Who You'd Be Today), Martina McBride(This One's For The Girls), Kelly Pickler (Red High Heels), she is probably best known for co-writing the multi-genre smash, "Amazed" for Lonestar along with now-husband Chris Lindsay and Marv Green. That year Aimee ALSO won the BMI country songwriter of the year award – becoming one of only a handful of female writers to win both- putting her in the company of ladies like Dolly, Loretta and Taylor. Not bad for someone who doesn’t play an instrument and who, for a long time, could only dream of a different life far away from the life she knew growing up.

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Granger Smith: A Lot More Than a Guy Named Earl Dec 11, 2020

Surprise! This is the first extra Write You a Song podcast that is actually a full interview. Granger Smith's image is that of a good ol' country boy- he's got songs galore about pickups and dirt roads. And, of course, he's got his comic alter-ego, Earl Dibbles Jr.

But Granger is a lot more than that. He's a bright, creative, enterprising (Yee Yee Apparel) and above all honest: honest about himself, and about the music business. He's an extremely interesting guy and so, while Adam Hambrick is still the "current" December Write You a Song podcast guest (and absolutely worth the listen if you haven't yet), spend a half hour with Granger, and you'll come away with a new appreciation for his music, and even more so for the man.

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Adam Hambrick: Small Batch Songwriting Nov 26, 2020

Growing up in Corinth, Mississippi, country singer/songwriter Adam Hambrick loved to sing, but held himself back from the spotlight because he felt that kind of modesty was more in line with the roots and values of his small-town, and the people who lived there. It wasn't until he went to college that he started to assert himself as a musician and decided fully that he should give a career in music a try. Moving to Nashville, he initially stayed in the background, albeit as a successful songwriter, with big hits for artists like Justin Moore and Dan and Shay. But with his first chart hit as a singer, Rockin All Night Long (released in 2018), Adam is stepping up to the microphone himself and good thing, because he's blessed with an uncanny vocal range that belongs on radio. Thing is, his songwriting range is just as uncanny: he compares his talent to those of small-batch bourbon makers: he sees what he does as a craft, which is probably why he can pen stone-cold country songs as Old Habits for Justin Moore and Miranda Lambert, but also be fully present in contemporary country, as his work with Dan and Shay and Lindsay Ell demonstrate. It's a combination that gives his artistry uncanny potential, and it'll be exciting to see how his career develops in the years to come.

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TerryMcBride: Play Somethin' Country Oct 31, 2020

In the 1990s and early 2000s, no other songwriter collaborated with Brooks and Dunn more than Terry McBride. He even became Ronnie Dunn's travel pal, riding from gig to gig on various tours on Ronnie's bus. Together, they came up more than 20 songs, some of which became stone-cold classics, including Play Somethin' Country and Cowgirls Don't Cry. And if that's all McBride was known for, that'd be just fine. But he's a lot more than that: he's fronted his own successful band (McBride and The Ride), he's just released his first solo material in 20 years, and the biggest hit he's ever written isn't even country....although that's how it started.

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Tia Sillers And Shannon Labrie: Firewalkers Oct 03, 2020

Little different episode this month. For the first time, there are two guests. One is a recently-nominated Nashville Songwriting Hall of Fame candidate who wrote one of the most inspiring songs ever recorded, Tia Sillers. And the last 15 minutes or so, we welcome a young singer-songwriter named Shannon LaBrie, with whom Tia collaborated on a new album called "Building", which is out now. The songs Shannon and tia wrote are bold and creative, and you'll love Shannon's voice.

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Mom, Metal and Country Music: Devin Dawson Aug 29, 2020

Singer/Songwriter Devin Dawson's debut album, "Dark Horse", was one of the most critically acclaimed country albums when it was released in 2018. Although it yielded only one top ten hit, "Put It All On Me", the album's daring mixture of country, rock, americana and even 70s songwriter pop was something different, and introduced a new, gutsy songwriter not afraid to address the vulnerabilities and challenges of being someone off to the side...the Dark Horse. Since then, Devin has toured with Tim McGraw, helped co-write one of 2019's biggest hits, Blake Shelton's God's Country, and along with fellow young songwriters like Hardy and Mitchell Tenpenny, is on the forefront of a new generation of country singer/songwriters who are poised to shift Nashville in a new direction, while still respecting its longstanding traditions. **Heads up: this particular podcast contains a few mild curse words**

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Rodney Clawson: "Dare To Suck" Aug 01, 2020

Rodney Clawson is one of the most unusual country songwriters to guest on Write You a Song. He's also one of the most successful. A farmer in Texas most of his life, songwriting was never even a consideration until one day he got a call from a friend who'd moved to Nashville. Annually, he writes about 160 songs but claims he only gets "10-12 good ideas a year". Among those good ideas: songs that have gone on to become massive hits, like May We All for Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean's Burnin' It Down and Amarillo Sky, Kenny Chesney's American Kids, Luke Bryan's Drunk On You and Bartender for Lady A. And that's just skimming the surface.

His is one of the most unlikely songwriting success stories you'll ever hear...and that's not even counting that when he was in colleged he coached a kid named John Rich on a high school basketball team. Give it a listen and see why he says if you want to be good, sometimes you have to "dare to suck".

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Brett Eldredge: The Heart of the Heartland Jul 01, 2020

In 2017 Singer/songwriter Brett Eldredge was at the top of his game. 5 #1 songs, several more in the top 10, a massive and entertaining presence on social media, TV appearances, Christmas albums and then .... he shut it all down. For 3 years he worked on refocusing his life and somewhere during that process, a new album started to come together, one that Brett hoped would showcase more than any other who he is and where he's from. The album is called "Sunday Drive" and it's out July 10 and on this episode of Write You a Song, Brett talks about the journey he took to make it, both figuratively and literally.

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Paul Overstreet: Who Cares What 'They' Think May 29, 2020

Paul Overstreet.

There really doesn't need to be any further explanation.

Paul. Overstreet.

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Jessi Alexander: Decatur County Red May 01, 2020

Songwriter Jessi Alexander joined us during the 2nd week of the Covid 19 quarantine- which also happened to be the week when her solo album dropped. Busy homeschooling her kids and trying to promote a new record, she still found time to talk on the podcast about smash hits she's written for others, including Drive Your Truck for Lee Brice, Mine Would Be You for Blake Shelton, and Miley Cyrus' anthem, The Climb.

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Drew Kennedy: Music You're Invited To Find Mar 28, 2020

Texas singer/songwriter Drew Kennedy is a bit of a departure from the normal line-up of commercially successful country songwriter guests on this podcast. But just because he hasn't had a mainstream radio hit yet doesn't mean he isn't talented, successful or without fans. He's an Americana troubadour, and more than happy to share his tales from the road- and where he hopes that road might be leading.

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Neil Thrasher: New Again Feb 29, 2020

Songwriter Neil Thrasher discusses hits he's written for Reba, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts and others and talks about staying relevant and why, 25 years into his career, it all feels new again.

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Marv Green: Words Inspire Melody Feb 01, 2020

In an easy, laconic style that you'd expect from someone born and raised in Southern California, songwriter Marv Green (Amazed, Shotgun Rider, True, Creepin') talks about journeying from the laid-back life of a west coast beach town to becoming one of Nashville's most in-demand writers. As with any good story of success, there's talent, hard work, luck...and a good book every now and then doesn't hurt, either.

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Lindsay Ell: Long Road To The Starting Line Dec 28, 2019

Even though she's only 30 years old, Lindsay Ell has spent most of her life getting to the point she's at right now: poised to take the next step as a singer, songwriter and pretty sick guitar player. Deviating from most previous podcasts, this interview focuses on an artist who only recently had her first #1 single ("What Happens In A Small Town" with Brantley Gilbert) and is unlike any other female artist in country music in that she can not only sing and write, but she's also a legitimately talented guitar player in a genre filled with many legendary male guitarists, but very few women. Over 35 minutes she talks about what it's taken to get here, what she's learned along the way, and why, as good a singer and guitarist as she is, being a skilled songwriter is still of paramount importance to her--even though, as in the case of "Small Town", she's not above recording songs by others.

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Shane McAnally: Authentic and Real Nov 29, 2019

If country music's songwriting community has one common denominator, it could very likely be Shane McAnally. With over 40 #1 songs since breaking through in 2010 with Kenny Chesney's Somewhere With You (which he co-wrote with JT Harding), McAnally has emerged as gifted a writer and producer as Nashville has ever seen. Seemingly without effort, he navigates between pushing the style of contemporary country music (Sam Hunt), while still giving plenty of attention to country's traditional roots (Midland). He's also comfortable working with artists who aren't so easily labeled (Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark). And he is undeniably country music's most high-profile songwriter: as a coach on NBC's breakout songwriting TV show Songland, McAnally has demonstrated for the rest of America not only his talent for turning a phrase, but his innate ability to work with others to bring out their best.

And while he makes his success look easy, it isn't, nor has it been, and that makes his accomplishments all that more impressive.

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BobDipiero: "It's a fine line between stupid and 1/2 million dollars" Nov 01, 2019

Bob DiPiero is a genuine Nashville songwriting legend, with over 1000 songs recorded, not to mention dozens of top tens and number ones. In this episode of Write You a Song, the Songwriting Hall of Famer shares his journey from Midwest rock n roller to the guy to the guy who wrote some of the most biggest, most iconic country songs of the past 40 years.

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Brandy Clark Follows Her Arrow Sep 28, 2019

Singer/songwriter Brandy Clark has released 2 critically acclaimed albums and scored a handful of hits writing for other artists, including Kacey Musgraves. But she hasn't yet had the widespread commercial success other songwriters have had, and believe it or not, that's just fine with her.

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Country Music Highway: Josh Osborne, A Writer's Drive For Success Aug 31, 2019

A Grammy, a CMA, an ASCAP and a Music Row Award...plus numerous #1 and top ten hits...those are just at the tip of songwriter Josh Osborne's resume iceberg. One of the most sought-after songwriters in a city full of them, Osborne's road to success wasn't easy or quick. But along the way he learned a lot, and he's never stopped learning. In this podcast, hear how Osborne has managed to establish himself as one of country music's most creative, versatile and prolific writers.

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Episode 11: Kelley Lovelace, Four Bars And The Truth Aug 01, 2019

Kelley Lovelace is best known as Brad Paisley's longtime songwriting collaborator and yes, they've written a lot of hits together. But Brad is just one of several artists who've benefited from Kelley's skills. Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood and Joe Nichols have all scored #1 songs thanks to Kelley. This month, he shares his journey becoming one of Nashville's most sought-after collaborators, as well as a few stories behind the songs and, you'll hear the first song he and Brad ever wrote together...but which Brad never recorded.

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Chris Janson, "Certified Weirdo" Jun 28, 2019

He calls himself a "certified weirdo", and while, yes, that might be true, Chris Janson is also, without a doubt, a certified musical genius: at age NINE he learned to play music in less than a week... and he's been doing it ever since. He's written some pretty huge songs, too, including "I Love This Life" for Locash and "How I'll Always Be" for Tim McGraw...as well as "Buy Me a Boat" and "Drunk Girl" (among others) for himself. He's one of the youngest members of the Grand Ol' Opry ever...and his career is, really, just getting started. Hear the method to his madness, and the madness to his method, on this month's Write You a Song

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Episode 9 JT Harding May 31, 2019

A famous biological father (whom he'd never met until he was grown) is just one of the many fascinating things about this month's guest, JT Harding. Listen as he talks about that, his many hits (including "Somewhere With You" for Kenny Chesney and "Sangria" for Blake Shelton) and what it was like to be an assistant in his early years to ... Marilyn Manson.

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Episode 8 Lee Thomas Miller May 01, 2019

Songwriter Lee Thomas Miller shares the stories behind hits like The Impossible, You're Gonna Miss This and what it's like to write with artists such as Brad Paisley and Brothers Osborne. Also, in a special extra episode segment at the end of the main interview, Mr. Miller also discusses the issue of songwriter royalties and copyright laws and the threat currently posed by digital music platforms to working songwriters in all genres of music.

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Episode 7 Liz Rose Mar 31, 2019

From helping a young Taylor Swift find her voice as a songwriter, to soaring success writing songs for Little Big Town, Gary Allan, and others, Liz Rose has one of the most unique songwriter stories you'll ever hear, not the least of which is--she doesn't play music.

Hear one of the more unlikely Nashville success stories from one of country music's most sought-after collaborators, this month, on Write You a Song.

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Girl Going Somewhere: Ashley McBryde Mar 01, 2019

Eric Church called her a "badass".

Eric Church is right.

Recently nominated for a Grammy and up for two awards at the Academy of Country Music awards next month, Ashley McBryde might be one of the most exciting new country singer/songwriter you haven't yet heard of.

But if you have heard of her, You know what we're talking about.

She's smart, funny, honest and wildly talented and we're stoked to have her as our guest on this month's Write You A Song.

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Write You A Song Episode 5 Brett James Jan 31, 2019

Songwriter Brett James talks about writing hits with Carrie Underwood... and what makes her such a creative songwriter in her own right. He also shares stories behind hits like "Man I Want To Be", "Something in the Water" and how a night out in the Islands with Kenny Chesney led to writing two number one singles, back to back. If you're an aspiring songwriter, or just interested in the craft, Brett's a great and engaging guest!

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Write You A Song Episode 4 Brice Long Jan 01, 2019

With huge hits for artists like Jon Pardi, Randy Hauser and Gary Allan, you might think a songwriter can sit back a little and enjoy their success. Not so, as Brice Long explains in this episode of Write You A Song. Growing up on a farm in Kentucky--plus years of grinding it out by writing album cuts for artists like George Strait and Randy Travis--gave Brice a work ethic he says is every bit as important as finding that creative spark and fanning it into a flame

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Write You A Song, Episode 3, Tim Nichols Dec 03, 2018

So you think songwriting sounds like a pretty great gig, eh? It is, but are you up for the challenges? Songwriter Hall of Famer Tim Nichols (Live Like You Were Dying, Heads Carolina, Tails California, I'm Over You, I Only Want You For Christmas) shares the joys and the challenges of songwriting, and why your previous success does not necessarily guarantee success in the future.

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Write You A Song Episode 2 with guest Jeffrey Steele Oct 30, 2018

Country Songwriting Hall Of Famer Jeffrey Steele talks about his craft and how some of his biggest hits for artists like Rascal Flatts and Montgomery-Gentry came to be. He also discusses how he really became a songwriter after nearly losing his voice, and shares a few of the things he thinks are important for every aspiring songwriter to know.

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Episode1 Brett Warren: There Are No Rules Sep 26, 2018

Tom talks with Brett Warren, one half of the hit song writing duo The Warren Brothers, who came to Nashville to be country stars but ended up becoming one of the most successful songwriting teams of the last decade.

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