Write You A Song Podcast

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 musi...

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...

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...

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...

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 h...

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 ot...

Paul Overstreet.  There really doesn't need to be any further explanation. Paul. Overstreet. See our website for privacy information.

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' anth...

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 leadi...

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. See our website for privacy information.

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'...

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 fem...

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...

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. See our website for privacy information.

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.  See our website for privacy information.

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 hi...

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 we...

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 G...

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.  See our website for privacy informa...

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...

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, thi...

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 h...

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, Bret...

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 i...

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.  See our websi...