Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, this songwriter is responsible for some of the most genre bending hits in country music. He co-wrote and co-produced Sam Hunt’s album ‘Montevallo,’ including "Body Like a Back Road," which has shattered records for the most consecutive weeks on top of the Billboard‘s hot country songs chart as the longest running #1 by a solo artist in history. This CMA Triple Play Award winner has written and produced multiple chart-topping songs for artists such as Carrie Underwood, Dustin Lynch and Keith Urban. And The Writer Is... Zach Crowell!
Ep. 32: Ashley Gorley
He's written 35 #1 singles and had more than 300 songs recorded by artists such as Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, and Darius Rucker. He was named the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year in 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, Billboard Country Songwriter of the Year 2013 and 2016, the NSAI Songwriter of the Year 2013 and 2016, and has received the CMA Triple Play Award nine times in his career (presented to a songwriter who has penned three #1 singles in 12 months). In 2011, he partnered with Combustion Music and Warner Chappell Music to begin his own publishing venture, Tape Room Music. And The Writer Is...This Year's ASCAP Country Songwriter of The Year Ashley Gorley!
Ep. 31: Nicolle Galyon
This Kansas native and Belmont University alum signed with Warner Chappell Nashville shortly following her graduation. She earned her first #1 song with “We Were Us” performed by Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert. Later partnering again with Lambert, she won the ACM’s 2015 ‘Song of the Year’ and the CMA’s 2014 ‘Single of the Year’ for "Automatic." She co-wrote and co-produced RaeLynn's album 'Wild Horse', which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. This marked the first time in 10 years a female has co-produced an album that debuted #1 on the Country Album chart. She has also penned hits for Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Kenny Chesney, and Kelsea Ballerini. She is a huge advocate for the songwriting community, making frequent trips to Washington D.C. with the Nashville Songwriters Association International to meet with lawmakers and use her voice to push female producer and songwriters forward. And The Writer Is... Nicolle Galyon!
Ep. 30: Rhett Akins
This writer has not only been a successful solo artist, with his #1 hit “Don’t Get Me Started” but has also written chart toppers for some of country music’s biggest names. He’s had 28 #1 singles (and counting), was named the #4 Billboard Country Songwriter, and has earned BMI’s Songwriter of the Year award twice. He co-wrote Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee,” which became the highest selling digital debut by a country male solo artist. He’s won six CMA Triple Play Awards (presented to a songwriter who has penned three #1 singles in 12 months) and this year it was announced that he’s had at least one song in the Country Airplay charts every week for the past seven years straight. And The Writer Is… Rhett Akins!
Ep. 29: Thomas Rhett
Kicking off CMA Week, this guest has been breaking charts and blurring genres since the start of his career. Raised on tour with his father and influenced by country, rock and hip-hop, songwriting and performing came naturally to this unstoppable artist. Only eight months into his first publishing deal, he contributed to Jason Aldean's 4x-platinum album 'My Kinda Party' with his song, "I Ain’t Ready To Quit." He went on to pen hits for artists such as Florida Georgia Line, Scotty McCreery, Joe Nichols, and Lee Brice. "Die A Happy Man," the single off of his sophomore album 'Tangled Up' won BMI Country Song of The Year and was nominated for the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Country Song. His latest album 'Life Changes' debuted at #1 on Billboard and features smash hits such as "Unforgettable" and "Craving You feat. Maren Morris." And The Writer Is...Thomas Rhett!