Stories Behind the Songs

Some songs take the long way home. Jeff Middleton joins us to map that winding route—Jersey kid to Nashville lifer—through a Warner deal with The Dirt Drifters, a thousand-dollar RV that literally went up in flames, and the four-year journey of Drowns The Whiskey from a bus write to a multi-week No. 1 with Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert. It’s a story of grit, timing, and how a better demo can change fate.

We dig into the...

What if the song that changes your life starts with a brief, a laugh, and a note you weren’t sure you could sing? We sit down with songwriter Abram Dean and trace the unlikely trail from church costumes and a middle-school talent win to LA’s genre-blend grind, a Warner publishing deal, and a move to Nashville that felt less like strategy and more like calling.

We unpack the room where “Gonna Love You” took shape for Parmal...

A guitar from his uncle’s country band, open mics before he could legally walk into the bar, and a stubborn ear that learned by listening—Roman Alexander’s road to Nashville wasn’t polished, it was practiced. We sit down to unpack the exact moves that turned a Missouri kid into a touring artist and a credible songwriter: washing cars at an Audi dealership to meet gatekeepers, selling merch on a midnight bus to learn tour life, and ...

Some losses leave us searching for words where there are none. The sudden passing of Brett James Cornelius, along with his wife and her daughter, in a plane crash on September 18, 2025, has left Nashville's music community reeling in grief. This special episode stands as a raw, heartfelt tribute to a songwriter whose pen crafted some of country music's most enduring hits, and whose heart crafted friendships that defined t...

Grammy-winning artist Colbie Caillat sits down for an intimate conversation about the winding road from MySpace sensation to seasoned songwriter. With her trademark warmth and authenticity, she reveals how music was always coursing through her veins—singing at the top of her lungs every morning as a child and eventually being guided toward songwriting by her father's wisdom that it would "be more meaningful."

The first time Abbie Callahan heard Dolly Parton perform live, something clicked. At just 14 years old, watching from the audience with her mother and grandmother, Abbie experienced what she describes as an epiphany: "I saw that and I was like, 'oh, that's what I want to do.'" That moment set her on a path from Iowa City to Nashville, where she's now carving out a distinctive space with what she calls ...

What does it take to go from waiting tables to writing chart-topping hits for country music's biggest stars? In this compelling conversation, songwriter Blake Pendergrass opens up about his remarkable year since his last appearance on the podcast – a year that's seen him secure 15 cuts on Morgan Wallen's latest album (including his first #1 hit), pen songs for Jelly Roll, Tucker Wetmore, and Post Malone, and have eig...

From the rolling hills of Scotland to the hallowed circle of the Grand Ole Opry, Callum Kerr's musical journey defies conventional paths. Our conversation reveals the beautiful synchronicity of events that led this actor-turned-country artist to find his true calling.

Callum shares how his musical awakening happened at 17 when a Texas sports camp job unexpectedly introduced him to country music. "I was just blown...

Cole Taylor's journey from small-town Georgia to Nashville success story perfectly captures the dreams that bring so many songwriters to Music City. Within just nine months of arriving in Nashville, Taylor landed a publishing deal that would launch a career filled with chart-topping hits for country music's biggest stars.

Growing up immersed in a rich musical tapestry—from Alan Jackson's storytelling to Lyny...

Braden Jamison's voice hits you immediately – authentic, rooted in tradition, yet distinctly his own. The Oklahoma native's path to Nashville wasn't straight, having grown up playing four sports simultaneously before making the pivotal decision to quit basketball his junior year to pursue music. That choice led to an unforgettable opportunity: opening for Toby Keith after just one band rehearsal.

After movin...

What does it take to go from a small Louisiana town to writing chart-topping hits for country music's biggest stars in just a few years? Beau Bailey's songwriting journey is as unexpected as it is inspiring.

In this captivating conversation, Beau reveals how a dislocated shoulder from an impromptu boxing match at age 15 led him to pick up guitar and accidentally discover his songwriting gift. His path to Nashvill...

This week I sit down with @ashlandcraft !

From growing up in small-town South Carolina to sharing stages with country icons, Ashland Craft’s journey is as raw and real as her voice. We talk about her time on The Voice, what it taught her about trusting her gut, and how it led her to pack up everything and take a leap of faith in Nashville.

Ashland opens up about the early grind—bar gigs, long nights, and finding her sound i...

In this episode, I sit down with @TheSwonBrothers!

From their Oklahoma roots to writing songs with @BlakeShelton and touring with @CarrieUnderwood, Zach and Colton share the highs, lows, and full-circle moments of their journey in country music.

We dive into the story behind their latest cut with Blake, the emotional writing of “Mamas,” and the crowd reaction that made them believe in their new song “Diamond Rio.” They talk...