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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Born and raised in Waco, Texas, Wade Bowen started his musical career in the band West 84 with longtime friend Matt Miller. In 2002 Bowen decided to head out on his own, self-releasing his debut album âTry Not to Listenâ, and playing up to 250 gigs a year. The hard work eventually paid off as the title track climbed into the Top Ten on the Texas music chart, and the rising star began planning his follow-up. âLive at the Blue Lightâ, and âLost Hotelâ, arrived in 2006; both earned him an audience outside of Texas. âIf We Ever Make It Homeâ, was released in 2008 -- it wound up peaking at number 239 on Billboard's Country albums charts. Before he delivered âLive at Billy Bob's Texasâ, in 2010.
Bowen signed to the Sony-distributed BNA Records for 2012's âThe Givenâ, which went to number nine on the country album charts; its single "Saturday Night", topped out at 39. Not long after its release, though, BNA restructured and Bowen was once again independent. He released an eponymous album in 2014, and commercially it performed just as well as its major-supported predecessor. One year later, he had his greatest success with âHold My Beer, Vol. 1â, a duet album with Randy Rogers; it went all the way to number four. The next year, he released the country gospel-themed âThen Sings My Soul: Songs for My Motherâ, on his Bowen Sounds label. Another collaboration with Rogers, âWatch Thisâ, arrived months later.
In early 2018, Bowen issued the well-received âSolid Ground,â which climbed to 27 on the Billboard country charts, and in 2020 he and Randy Rogers released a sequel to their acclaimed duet LP, appropriately titled âHold My Beer, Vol.2â, Bowen returned in 2021 with the EP âWhere Phones Don't Workâ, then for the first time took on the role of sole producer for his 2022 album âSomewhere Between the Secret and the Truth.â He continued during this prolific period with his tenth studio set, âFlyinâ, which arrived in May 2024 and upon its release he spoke with CountryLineâs Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Michael Ray is a native of Eustis, Florida, who was first introduced to music by his grandfather. Initially inspired by such classic country artists as Porter Wagoner, Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings, by his teens Ray was expanding his taste, listening to more modern artists like Garth Brooks, as well as the eclectic influence of modern radio sounds from rock to hip-hop. By the time Ray graduated high school in 2006, he had decided to pursue his passion for country music.
Forgoing a move to Nashville, Ray instead formed a band and began playing a constant grind of shows all around Southern Florida. He slowly built a loyal following, a fan base that widened considerably after a Lakeland DJ for WPCV-97 Country put his music into regular rotation. Soon Ray was headlining the Orlando House of Blues and selling out shows all over Florida. In 2010, his independently released debut caught the ear of veteran music industry manager Tony Conway, who began helping Ray take his career to a national audience. In 2012, he appeared on the CW talent competition The Next, where he was mentored by Big & Rich's John Rich. Ray was an audience favourite on the show and ultimately took home the top prize. After the show, he signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell, and in 2014 released the hit single "Kiss You in the Morningâ.
His full-length self-titled major-label debut, followed in 2015 on Warner Music Nashville. Well-received, the set made it to number four on the Country Albums chart and spawned two more singles with "Real Men Love Jesus" and "Think a Little Lessâ. Over the next several years, Ray toured extensively before returning to the studio alongside producer Scott Hendricks (Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins). In 2018, he delivered his sophomore album, âAmosâ, which included the Top 20 country single "Get to Youâ, âAmosâ, debuted at five on Billboard's Country Albums charts upon its June release. Shortly afterward, "One That Got Away" became his second Country Airplay Top Ten hit, reaching number three. "Her World or Mine" closed out the albumâs' chart run in 2019, reaching 22 on Country Airplay.
The non-LP single "Whiskey and Rain" followed in 2020. It would wind up anchoring âHigher Educationâ, the EP Ray released in August 2021. Two more EPs, âThe Warehouse Sessionsâ and âThe Bootlegger Sessionsâ, appeared in 2022, offering alternate versions of previously recorded songs. Ray returned with a new single, 2023's dark-toned "Get Her Backâ, and its accompanying EP, âDive Bars & Broken Heartsâ, which also featured a duet with Meghan Patrick on "Spirits and Demonsâ.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Colbie Caillat's childhood was spent in Malibu and Ventura County with her father, Ken, who famously produced the landmark Fleetwood Mac albums Rumours and Tusk. She took piano lessons as a child but lacked significant inspiration until she turned 11 and became enthralled with Lauryn Hill's performance in Sister Act 2. Immediately realizing that she wanted to be a singer, she started taking vocal lessons and soon met Mikal Blue, a producer who had previously worked with Five for Fighting and Carrie Underwood.
As the collaboration thickened, Jason Reeves entered the picture and lent his artistic know-how to the songwriter's developing skills. She posted several of her finished songs on MySpace, although little response was generated until Caillat uploaded a breezy, hook-laden track named "Bubblyâ. As word of mouth spread, Rolling Stone highlighted her as one of the top female artists on the networking site. For four months, Caillat was MySpace's number one unsigned artist, garnering over 14 million plays in the process. With such an appealing statistic on her rĂ©sumĂ©, record labels began courting her, and she signed to Universal Republic.
In July 2007, Caillat made her major-label debut with âCocoâ, a summertime record suitable for both the coffeehouse and the beach. "Bubbly", topped the singles charts in several formats, transforming the singer from an Internet sensation to a mainstream presence. Caillat celebrated her star success by duetting with Jason Mraz, touring with John Mayer, and collaborating with Taylor Swift. Two years after âCoco'sâ, release, she returned with a second record, âBreakthroughâ. The album went gold and was followed two years later by âAll of Youâ, another summery collection of pop songs written with the likes of Ryan Tedder, Toby Gad, and "Bubbly" co-writer Jason Reeves.
Caillat began work on her next album in 2013, with the first fruit of her labour, "Hold Onâ, appearing in November 2013. An EP called âGypsy Heart (Side A)â, showed up in June 2014 and, as that title suggests, it was the first half of a full-length album called âGypsy Heartâ, which was released in September 2014. Produced in part by Babyface, the album was a conscious shift to popular, radio-friendly material. The album debuted at 17 on Billboard's Top 200 and its biggest single, "Try," peaked at six on their adult contemporary chart.
Caillat parted ways with Republic Records after âGypsy Heartâ, and formed her own label, PlummyLou, with the intent of releasing âThe Malibu Sessionsâ. Recorded prior to âGypsy Heartâ, but rejected by Republic, âThe Malibu Sessionsâ, reconnected Caillat to her beachy sound, and saw release in October of 2016. Caillat started another label, Blue Jean Baby, for âAlong the Wayâ, her 2023 album of contemporary country songs.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Scotty McCreery began singing as a child in Garner, North Carolina. School performances eventually gave way to local competitions, and McCreery won a singing contest in the nearby town of Clayton before trying out for American Idol as a 16-year-old. Auditioning with Josh Turner's "Your Manâ, he made good use of his country twang and deep baritone vocals, prompting the judges to compare him to Randy Travis. McCreery passed the audition, became an audience favourite, and eventually won the competition in May 2011.
McCreery's coronation song was "I Love You This Bigâ, a country ballad that sold nearly 175,000 copies during its first week of release. The song also cracked the country charts at number 32, making it the highest-charting debut single in country music history, and helped stir up anticipation for his full-length album, which he recorded while preparing for American Idolâs summer tour. âClear as Dayâ, appeared in the fall of 2011 from Mercury Nashville, debuting at number one on the Billboard Top 200 the week of its release. It went on to be one of the better-selling latter-day Idol-related records, earning a platinum certification and producing another hit single in "The Trouble with Girlsâ. The following year, McCreery released the seasonal âChristmas with Scotty McCreeryâ, in time for the 2012 holiday season.
In October 2013, he returned with his second official studio album, âSee You Tonightâ. Produced by Frank Rogers, the album moved McCreery into bright contemporary country-pop. It was a success, debuting at number one on Billboard's Country Albums chart and earning McCreery's the Breakthrough Artist Award at the 2013 American Country Awards. In 2015 he issued a new single, "Southern Belleâ, and toured with Rascal Flatts.
In 2017, McCreery signed with Triple Tigers, a new imprint distributed by Sony Nashville. âSeasons Changeâ, his first album for his new label, arrived in 2018 and gave him three number one hits on Billboard's Country Airplay chart: "Five More Minutesâ, "This Is Itâ, and "In Betweenâ. In 2020, he released "You Timeâ, which went to number one on Billboard Country Airplay, setting up the 2021 release of its parent album âSame Truckâ.
In 2022 Scotty McCreery performed at the C2C Festival and chatted with CountryLineâs Stuart Banford in Dublin.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Born in Wisconsin, Ashley Cooke split her time between California and Florida as a child, eventually settling in the Parkland, Florida area. She started writing original songs from a young age and found herself drawn to country as a high schooler, particularly artists like Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, and Rascal Flatts. Upon her high school graduation, she decided to pursue a music career, enrolling in Nashville's Belmont University. There, she won the school's Country Showcase -- previous winners included Brad Paisley and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line --which helped catapult her into Nashville's country music industry after her 2019 college graduation.
Cooke first began building an audience through her social media in 2020, concentrating on her online following during the COVID-19 quarantine. Part of her efforts were focused on building the 615 House collective, but she also concentrated on her own recorded work. That year, she self-released the digital singles "Strangers" -- which was a duet with Daniel Ethridge -- and "Chasin' Youâ. Cooke then teamed with Back Blocks Music, which put out "Jealous of the Sky" in 2020, before releasing "Sunday Morning Kinda Saturday Nightâ, the Roman Alexander duet "Between You & Meâ, "Underâ, and "Already Drank That Beerâ, all leading up to the August 2021 release of the Jimmy Robbins-produced âAlready Drank That Beer Side Aâ.
All this activity, along with the Jimmie Allen duet "Good Goodbyeâ, earned the attention of Big Loud, which signed Ashley Cooke to a record contract and publishing deal in April 2022; both were co-ventures with Back Blocks Music.
In June of 2022 Ashley chatted with CountryLine's Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Kane Brown was born in 1993 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to a white mother and Black father. Initially attracted to R&B, Brown decided to focus on country after winning an 11th grade talent contest with his rendition of Chris Young's "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)â. Brown then began posting videos online of covers of songs by Brantley Gilbert, Alan Jackson, and others. He quickly developed a loyal following, a fan base that helped his own single, "Don't Go City On Meâ, go viral upon its release in 2014. In 2015, Brown released his debut EP, âCloserâ, which reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Country Albums chart. Following âCloserâ, he also released the stand-alone single "Used to Love You Soberâ.
In early 2016, Brown signed a recording contract with RCA/Sony Music Nashville. That December, he returned with his full-length self-titled debut, featuring the singles "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" and "Thunder in the Rainâ. The album debuted at number one on the country charts and peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200. Two more singles, "What Ifsâ, featuring Lauren Alaina, and "Heaven" appeared in 2017.
"Lose Itâ, the first single from Kane Brown's second album, appeared in June 2018. It climbed to number one on Billboard's Country Airplay chart prior to âExperiment'sâ, release in November. âExperimentâ, debuted at number one on Billboard's Top 200 and spawned two more number one Country Airplay singles with "Good as You" and "Homesick" arriving in January and August of 2019, respectively. Also in 2019, he joined DJ Marshmello for the single "One Right Thing" and cracked the Top 20 of the Billboard Country chart with his song "For My Daughterâ.
As âExperimentâ, wound down its album cycle in 2020, Brown released âMixtape, Vol. 1â, in August of that year. The EP was highlighted by the hit single "Cool Againâ. Following the Chris Young collaboration "Famous Friendsâ, Brown teamed up with Blackbear for 2021's "Memoryâ. The number one Billboard Country Airplay solo single "One Mississippi" arrived later that year, opening a series of singles released in advance of his 2022 album âDifferent Manâ. Prior to the September appearance of âDifferent Manâ, "Like I Love Country Music" topped the Billboard Country Airplay Charts, with the promo singles "Whiskey Sour" and "Leave You Alone" helping build anticipation for the record's release. Largely produced by Dann Huff, âDifferent Manâ, was an exercise in genre-fluid country, finding Brown attempting everything from R&B to stripped-down balladeering. He co-wrote all but one of the album's 17 songs. It hit number two on the country chart and five on the Billboard 200.
In February of 2023 Kane chatted with CountryLine's Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
A native of Rogers, Arkansas, Joe Nichols grew up watching his father play bass in a local country band. He himself played in a rock band during his teenage years but soon came back to country, and after high school took a night job as a DJ while supporting himself as a mechanic by day. He met producer Randy Edwards at the latter job, and under Edwards' guidance, he performed regularly and worked on his songwriting.
He landed a record deal with Intersound and released his self-titled debut in 1996, naturally with Edwards producing. The single "Six of One, Half a Dozen (Of the Other)" was a minor hit, but the album didn't sell particularly well. It did manage to earn Nichols a shot with Warner Bros., but several label mergers left him out in the cold, and he worked a series of day jobs around Nashville while looking for a new deal. In 2000, he struck up a songwriting partnership with session guitarist Brent Rowan, and two years later he signed with Universal. His label debut, âMan with a Memoryâ, was released in 2002, and its lead single, the ballad "The Impossibleâ, went to number three on the country charts, also crossing over to the pop Top 30. In the wake of its success, his first album was reissued under the title âSix of One, Half Dozen of the Otherâ.
Another single from âMan with a Memoryâ, "Brokenheartsville," became his first number one country hit in early 2003, and it helped send the album into the country Top Ten. His second album for Universal South, âRevelationâ, and a holiday album, âTraditional Christmasâ, were released in 2004, followed by the Top Ten hit album âIIIâ, in 2005. His next record, âReal Thingsâ, hit the shelves in 2007 and focused primarily on tender country ballads with a smattering of uptempo jams. âOld Things Newâ, followed two years later in 2009. It proved to be another solid hit for Nichols thanks to the singles "Believers" and "Gimmie That Girlâ, and Nichols followed it up in 2011 with the album âIt's All Goodâ. âIt's All Goodâ, performed respectably -- it debuted at 19 on the Billboard country charts -- but it didn't generate a big hit single. After its release, Nichols parted ways with Universal and signed with Red Bow in October 2012. A year later, he returned with the sunny, pop-oriented âCricketsâ.
âCricketsâ, generated two major country hits -- "Sunny and 75" and "Yeah" -- which kept the album on the charts through 2014. In 2015, Nichols released "Freaks Like Meâ, the single that was intended to be the first taste from his eighth solo album, but it didn't generate much attention, nor did its 2016 sequel, "Undoneâ. Following these two singles, Nichols reworked the eighth album, which was released as âNever Gets Oldâ, in July 2017.
In 2019 he spoke about his life and career with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Billy Currington was raised in Rincon, Georgia. Following high school, he made a couple attempts at relocating to Nashville in the hopes of getting a career in music off the ground, finally landing a job at a concrete company while still finding time to play at clubs on the side and work on song demos. When singer Mark Wills put a hold on one of his songs, Currington met and began writing with Wills' producer, Carson Chamberlain, which eventually led to a recording contract with Mercury Records. His first single, "Walk a Little Straighterâ, was released in 2003, and drew heavily on Currington's experiences with an alcoholic father.
A self-titled debut album was released on Mercury Records in 2003. A second album, âDoin' Somethin' Rightâ, followed in 2005 on Mercury Nashville. Three years later, Currington delivered the eclectic, R&B-inflected âLittle Bit of Everythingâ, also on Mercury Nashville. In 2010 he returned with his album, âEnjoy Yourselfâ, featuring the Troy Jones co-written single "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beerâ. That song went to number one, as did "Let Me Down Easyâ, "Love Done Gone", and "Like My Dog", also reached the country Top 40.
Currington returned to action in 2013, releasing the single "Hey Girl", in March and delivering the full-length âWe Are Tonightâ, that September. The album debuted at five on the Billboard Country charts, and spawned the number one hits "Hey Girl", and the title track "We Are Tonightâ. In 2015, Currington returned with âSummer Foreverâ, an album preceded by the single "Don't It" -- a song that reached number four on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart. It was followed by two number one hits in 2016: "It Don't Hurt Like It Used To", and "Do I Make You Wannaâ.
Currington's seventh studio album, âIntuitionâ, was released in 2021 which is when he chatted with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
A native of Nashville, Mitchell Tenpenny grew up in a city and home surrounded by music. His grandmother was Donna Hilley, a president of Sony/ATV Publishing, and through her, he had brushes with such Music City heavyweights as Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman. Inspired by their writing, he decided to pursue country music as a vocation. Picking up the guitar at the age of 13, Tenpenny learned how to play and write. After graduating with a music business degree from Middle Tennessee State University, he set out on his professional career. In April 2015, his debut, âBlack Crowâ, was released and featured cameos from the SteelDrivers, Ace Frehley and Brian "Head" Welch.
As he worked on establishing himself as a performer, Tenpenny gained attention as a songwriter in 2016. He co-wrote Granger Smith's Billboard Country Airplay Top Ten hit "If the Boot Fits", along with Jon Langston's single "All Eyes on Usâ.
Tenpenny signed with Riser House Entertainment in 2017, releasing "Alcohol You Later", in April before the EP "Linden Ave", arrived in July. Both the single and EP showed him following a more soulful direction, one that was reminiscent of the country-R&B of Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett. His 2018 single "Drunk Meâ, then wound peaking at two on the Country Airplay chart -- and set up the December release of Tenpenny's album, âTelling All My Secretsâ, which debuted at number five on the Top Country Albums chart and even cracked the Billboard 200.
He issued the seasonal EP "Neon Christmas", in 2020. "Bucket List", then appeared in early 2021, the first single pulled from "Midtown Diaries", a mini-LP that arrived in September. Just a month later, he released his third album and first full-length Christmas set, âNaughty Listâ. Tenpenny then got harder and louder on âThis Is the Heavyâ, an album delivered in September 2022.
In March of 2023 he performed at the C2C festival and chatted with Stuart Banford in Dublin.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Eric Church grew up in Granite Falls, North Carolina, and began singing as a child. At 13, he started writing songs, later teaching himself to play guitar. After graduating with a degree in marketing, he moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. It took him a year to get a publishing deal with Sony/ATV, after which he started having his songs recorded by other artists, an example being Terri Clark's version of "The World Needs a Drinkâ, Church met producer Jay Joyce, who took an interest in him as a recording artist, and they began making demos. That led to his being signed by Capitol Records Nashville.
Church's debut single, "How 'Bout Youâ, was released in early 2006, and it had reached the country Top 20 by the time Capitol issued his first album, âSinners Like Meâ, in July 2006. The record was both a critical and commercial success, and he followed it up with âCarolinaâ, in 2009, which swung for the contemporary country fences and hit them, scoring two Top Ten singles on the country charts with "Love Your Love the Most", (certified gold) and "Hell on the Heartâ, In 2010, Church scored another gold single with "Smoke a Little Smokeâ, and he won Top New Solo Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards for that calendar year.
âChiefâ, was Church's major breakout album: upon its July 2011 release, it debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. Soon afterward, "Drink in My Hand", climbed to the top of the country charts, becoming Church's first number one single. Its popularity was eclipsed in the summer of 2012 by "Springsteenâ, a ballad that also reached number one on the country charts but additionally crossed over to the pop Top 20. Two other singles were pulled from âChiefâ, -- "Creepin'", and "Like Jesus Does", -- and the LP won Album of the Year at the 2012 CMA Awards. Chief also earned him his first Grammy nominations, for Best Country Album as well as Best Country Song and Solo Performance for "Springsteenâ.
The Outsiders arrived after considerable anticipation and acclaim in February 2014 and became his second album to hit number one on both the country and overall charts. The Outsiders racked up five hit singles -- the biggest were the ballads "Give Me Back My Hometown", and "Talladegaâ, both of which reached number one on Billboard's U.S. Country Airplay chart -- and while "Like a Wrecking Ballâ, remained on the charts, Church released a brand-new full-length album, âMr. Misunderstoodâ, as a surprise in the first week of November 2015. âMr. Misunderstoodâ, debuted at number two on Billboard's Top 200 and country charts, eventually earning a gold certification and winning CMA's Album of the Year in 2016. It was around this time he chatted with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Brett Young was born and raised in Orange County, California, and was a teenager when he first developed a love for music and learned to play guitar. His main interest though was baseball, and he was being scouted by the majors during his high school days, but his baseball career came to an end in college when a serious elbow injury spoiled his pitching arm, and he began exploring music again. Influenced by Gavin DeGraw, Young began writing songs and making use of his rich, soulful voice. By 2007, he was appearing regularly at California listening rooms, and he'd released his first record, a self-titled EP. In 2011, Young released a second independent effort, âMake Believeâ, and âOn Fireâ, followed in 2013. After Young's first decade in the business, he'd appeared at some of California's most prestigious venues, including the Troubadour, the Roxy, and the Viper Room, and had opened for the likes of Colbie Caillat and Katy Perry.
As Young began bringing forward the country-influenced side of his music, he left California for Nashville and celebrated the move with an EP titled âCountry in Californiaâ. Young's new sound attracted the attention of the powerful Nashville-based label Big Machine Label Group, which signed him to a record deal. Young's debut for the label, a six-song EP titled âBrett Youngâ, was released in February 2016. His single "Sleep Without You", fared well on both the country and pop charts, reaching number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another hit, "In Case You Didn't Knowâ, followed before the release of his full-length Big Machine debut in February 2017. The album hit number two on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, eventually going platinum.
This is Brett Young in conversation with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Hailing from Philadelphia, Mississippi, Hardy was born Michael Hardy. He headed to Nashville in the early 2010s with the intention of breaking into the country music industry. First, he attended Middle Tennessee State University as a student in their Recording Industry Management program; he wound up graduating with a degree in songwriting from the college. While he was studying, he self-released an EP called âRedneck Recipeâ, in 2013; he also posted his songs to the Internet.
Hardy landed his first charting hit with "Up Downâ, a song he co-wrote with Brad Clawson and CJ Solar. Morgan Wallen recorded it with the support of Florida Georgia Line, taking it to number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after its November 2017 release. Things began to happen swiftly for Hardy after that. FGL recorded "Simple" -- a tune Hardy wrote with the duo, along with Mark Holman.
âThis Ole Boyâ, Hardy's debut EP, was produced by Joey Moi -- the producer behind FGL's hits -- and was issued in October 2018. âWhere to Find Meâ, arrived on its heels in January 2019. September brought the release of âHixtape, Vol. 1â, a country variation on a hip-hop mixtape featuring cameos by Cole Swindell, Morgan Wallen, and Thomas Rhett. "One Beerâ, a single pulled from âHixtape, Vol. 1â, featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, became Hardy's first Country Airplay single in 2020, leading to its appearance on âA Rockâ, Hardy's debut full-length album. Arriving in September 2020, âA Rockâ, also featured the hit "Give Heaven Some Hellâ, which reached 11 on Country Airplay in 2021.
In 2021, Hardy appeared on the Dierks Bentley single "Beers on Me", and Brantley Gilbert's "The Worst Country Song of All Time". On his own, he released âHixtape, Vol. 2â, and a cover of Puddle of Mudd's "Blurryâ, telegraphing his move toward hard rock in 2022, a transition marked by the Billboard Hard Rock chart-topper "Sold Outâ. Despite his rock success, Hardy also concentrated on the country market, reaching the Country Airplay Top Ten with the Lainey Wilson collaboration "Wait in the Truckâ. He brought these two musical personalities together on the 2023 double album âThe Mockingbird & the Crowâ; the former represented his country side, the latter his rock personality. Upon its release, Hardy chatted with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Jordan Davis was surrounded by music from a young age as both of his parents played instruments and he sang in his church choir. The middle of three children, he learned to play guitar around the age of 12 in between baseball and football games. Jordan's uncle, Stan Paul Davis, was a professional songwriter who composed two hits for Tracy Lawrence 1992's "Today's Lonely Fool", and 1997's number two hit "Better Man, Better Off". After graduating Louisiana State University with an Environmental Science degree, Jordan moved to Nashville in 2012, and secured a recording contract with Universal Music Group Nashville in 2016.
Davis's debut single, "Singles You Up", came out in mid-2017. It hit number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in April 2018. His debut album, âHome Stateâ, was released around the same time and the second single "Take It from Me", reached number two on the Country Airplay chart in March 2019. The album's third single, "Slow Dance in a Parking Lot", also topped the Country Airplay chart.
Another new single called "Almost Maybes", wound up climbing into the Country Airplay Top Ten in 2020, it featured on a self-titled EP that appeared in May of that year. A second EP, âBuy Dirtâ, arrived in May of 2021 featuring the title-track duet with Luke Bryan; the single hit number one on the Hot Country Songs Chart. "Buy Dirt", also went on to be named Song of the Year at the 2022 CMA Awards.
Davis reached number one again in 2022 with "What My World Spins Aroundâ, the first single from his second album, âBluebird Daysâ. It arrived in February 2023, and the following month Jordan chatted with Stuart Banford at C2C Dublin.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Hailing from Macon, Georgia, Jason Aldean fell under the spell of country music and first sang in public when he was 14 years old. He began pursuing a music career on a full-time basis following his graduation from high school and, with his father as a booking agent, was soon gigging in college towns throughout the Southeast and up and down the Eastern Seaboard.
Aldean independently financed an eight-song CD during this period to sell at shows, recording it in Nashville in 1996. Michael Knox spotted Aldean at an Atlanta showcase a year or two later and signed the singer to a songwriting contract with Warner-Chapell Publishing, which allowed Aldean to move to Nashville in 1998. When a couple of recording deals fell through and his songwriting contract was about to expire, Aldean was on the verge of giving up on the music business when he attracted the attention of the independent label Broken Bow Records, which released his debut album, simply called âJason Aldeanâ, in 2005. Aldean returned to the studio in January 2007 to work on his follow-up release, âRelentlessâ.
âWide Openâ, followed in 2009 and produced three number one singles. Aldean upped the ante with 2010's âMy Kinda Partyâ, an album that was even bigger than its predecessor thanks to the number one singles "Don't You Wanna Stay", "Dirt Road Anthemâ, and "Fly Over Statesâ, plus "Tattoos on This Town", and "My Kinda Partyâ, both of which peaked at number two.
All of this raised expectations for âNight Trainâ, Aldean's fifth album, which arrived in the fall of 2012. Featuring the hit singles "Take a Little Ride", "Night Trainâ, and "When She Says Babyâ, âNight Trainâ, was another number one hit for Aldean. He followed it up in 2014 with âOld Boots, New Dirtâ, which partially due to the momentum of the hit single "Burnin' It Downâ, also generated three other Top Ten hits -- "Just Gettin' Startedâ, "Tonight Looks Good on Youâ, and "Gonna Know We Were Here" -- that kept it on the charts into 2015. The next year, he delivered his seventh studio album, âThey Don't Knowâ.
In October 2017, while Aldean was on-stage performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip, a gunman began firing on the assembled crowd, resulting in the deadly mass shooting that took the lives of many of the singer's fans. The following weekend on Saturday Night Live he performed a cover of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Downâ. In January 2018 he released "You Make It Easyâ, the lead single from his âRearview Townâ, album. Completed prior to the Vegas tragedy, âRearview Townâ, appeared in April 2018, and spawned four Country Airplay Number Ones -- that kept the album on the airwaves into 2019. In November of that year, Aldean returned with his ninth album, â9â, and just before its release he chatted with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Lady A formed after members Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood met in Nashville, and after a few months of performing around the area, they signed with Capitol Nashville in 2007. The bandâs first single, "Love Don't Live Hereâ, peaked at number three on the country charts. A self-titled debut album followed in April 2008, featuring the chart-topping single "I Run to Youâ, which also enjoyed crossover success as a Top 40 pop hit.
Within a year-and-a-half, Lady A's debut had gone platinum and earned a Grammy nomination, and the group enjoyed their newfound success while putting the finishing touches on a second album. âNeed You Nowâ, appeared in early 2010, and its title track became the bandâs highest-charting song to date, topping the country charts and peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It eventually sold over three million copies. The album experienced similar success, going gold during its second week of release, and reaching platinum status soon after. The band took a break from recording a third studio album in order to attend the Grammys, where they took home five awards.
Lady Aâs third studio album, 2011's âOwn the Nightâ, generated a hit single right out of the box, "Just a Kissâ, which became the trio's fastest-rising single yet and crossed over, topping Billboard's adult contemporary chart. Their next single, "Dancin' Away with My Heartâ, reached number two on Billboard's country chart. Lady A then released the holiday album âOn This Winter's Nightâ, in the fall of 2012; the record entered the Billboard Top Ten upon its release and was certified gold in the U.S.
In May 2013, Lady A issued âGoldenâ, their fourth full-length studio album. Preceded by the hit single "Downtownâ, the album entered the Billboard charts at number one. The trio quickly followed Golden with "747", in the fall of that year; the record's first single "Bartender", became a Top Ten smash prior to the album's release. "747", also produced two other modest hits -- "Freestyle" and "Long Stretch of Love".
Lady A took a hiatus in 2016, with Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott both pursuing solo projects, and then returned in the summer of 2017 with the soft and mellow busbee-produced âHeart Breakâ, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.
The band returned to Ireland to perform at Dublinâs 3Arena in October 2017 and chatted with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
A native of Alabama, Riley Green grew up with an equal interest in sports and music. Since first releasing his self-titled EP in 2018. His songs like the No. 1 hit âThere Was This Girlâ, the heart-tugger âI Wish Grandpas Never Diedâ and his chart-topping collaboration with Thomas Rhett, âHalf of Meâ, have made Riley synonymous with what Country music does best: making listeners feel something with his no-gimmick, relatable writing, and classic feel.
Riley is riding a wave of success after being named the Academy of Country Musicâs 2020 New Male Artist of the Year, and serving as direct support for both Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs, the latter joins Riley on his current single âDifferent âRound Hereâ. His new album âAinât My Last Rodeoâ, produced by Dann Huff, is more of the signature sound Riley Greenâs fan have come to know and love from the good olâ boy who still lives in his hometown of Jacksonville. The new project is heavily influenced by the rural, small town and slower way of life at home and time spent with his family.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Brad Paisley was born on October 28th, 1972, in Glen Dale, West Virginia. His passion for music began at age 8, when his grandfather gave him his first guitar. By the age of 12, the young musician was singing in church and playing in his first band. Paisley eventually secured a regular slot on Jamboree USA, a popular country music radio show. He was so popular with listeners that he was invited to join the program as a full-time musician, opening for acts such as The Judds and Roy Clark.
After two years at West Virginia's West Liberty State College, Paisley transferred to Belmont University in Nashville. At Belmont, he studied under the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers scholarship and met Frank Rogers and Kelley Lovelace, both of whom would help Paisley later in his career. A week after graduation, Paisley signed with EMI Records as a songwriter.
He made his debut as a solo artist after signing with Arista. He released his first album, âWho Needs Picturesâ, in 1999. The record produced the No. 1 hits "He Didn't Have to Be", and "We Dancedâ. The album sold more than 1 million copies and catapulted Paisley to fame. The next year, the Academy of Country Music (ACM) named him the Best New Male Vocalist, and the Country Music Association (CMA) granted him their prestigious Horizon Award.
In February 2001, Paisley was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Several months later, he received his first Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist. He also released his second album, Part II (2001), which featured his unforgettable No. 1 single "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishing Song)â.
Paisley's next album, âMud on the Tiresâ (2003), was also highly successful, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard chart and featured an acclaimed duet with Alison Krauss, called "Whiskey Lullabyâ.
Paisley's 2005 effort, âTime Well Wastedâ, included a collaboration with Dolly Parton "When I Get Where I'm Goingâ. which won the CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year in 2006. The album also scored Paisley both ACM and CMA Awards for Best Album. That same year, Paisley embarked on a successful tour, with rising star Carrie Underwood serving as his opening act.
His next release, â5th Gearâ (2007). Reaching the top spot on the country album charts, the album featured several No. 1 hit singles, including "Onlineâ, "Letter to Me" and "I'm Still a Guyâ. Paisley also took home several major awards that same year, winning the ACM Award for Top Male Vocalist and the CMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year. He also won his first Grammy Award for the instrumental track "Throttleneckâ.
In October of 2019 he returned to Ireland to play Dublinâs 3Arena and chatted with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Born on September 1st, 1985, in Jackson, Mississippi, music became Charlie Worshamâs main interest at a young age. He started on the banjo and was good enough by the age of ten to play on-stage at the Ryman Auditorium with bluegrass great Jimmy Martin, and after winning a Junior National Banjo Championship at the age of 12, he played on-stage at the Grand Ole Opry, an accomplishment for a musician of any age. He consequently learned to play fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, and while living and working as a musician in Nashville was always his goal, he opted to attend the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston following his graduation from high school.
Eventually Worsham did relocate to Nashville, where he worked on his songwriting and did session work. He also joined the critically lauded and respected Nashville band KingBilly, remaining with the group for nearly three years before deciding to go solo. Signing with Warner Bros. Records, he began recording a debut album. A single from the project, "Could It Be", which Worsham co-wrote, was released early in 2013 and reached 28 on Billboard's Country charts.
Worsham switched directions on his 2017 sophomore set âBeginning of Thingsâ, emphasizing his sense of humour, storytelling, and penchant for soul. In 2019, Worsham released a witty single, "I Hope I'm Stoned (When Jesus Takes Me Home)", which found him backed by Old Crow Medicine Show. Worsham has also sat in on sessions for Vince Gill, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, and Carrie Underwood.
Now as he releases his new project âCompadresâ, he chats with Stuart Banford.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Born in New York City, Caroline Jones grew up in Connecticut and developed a love of music at an early age. When she was nine, she asked her parents to enrol her in singing lessons and at ten years old she wrote her first song. Jones also took piano lessons, and after mastering the keyboard, she learned to play guitar, banjo, and Dobro. She was 16 when she visited Nashville for the first time and attended a songwriters' night at the famous Bluebird Café. This experience then influenced a move to Florida and she began studying the compositional styles of country artists she admired, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Hank Williams.
While honing her songwriting skills, she relocated to New York City, and began performing regularly at schools and colleges as part of The Heart Is Smart, an educational program that encourages young people to use music and songwriting as a means of expression. She also became the host of Art & Soul, a satellite radio show in which she chats with fellow musicians about the art and craft of songwriting.
In January 2011, Jones issued her first album, a self-released effort titled âFallen Flowerâ, which was soon followed by âNice to Know Youâ in January 2012, âClean Dirtâ in March 2012 and her fourth album, âThe Heart Is Smartâ, in September 2012. In 2016, she teamed up with acclaimed producer Ric Wake, whoâs credits include working with artists such as Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. One of the first fruits of their collaboration was "Tough Guys", a song about female empowerment in a male-dominated world; it was released as a single in October 2016, and quickly turned Jones into one of country music's rising stars. She built on this momentum through touring as an opening act for the Zac Brown Band.
Her appearance at a hurricane benefit concert put her in contact with the late Jimmy Buffett, who liked her style and signed her to his label Mailboat Records. Mailboat released her album, âBare Feetâ, in March 2018; The effort was her first to chart on Billboard, landing in the Top 20 on the Heatseekers, Independent, and Country Sales lists. Buffett, notorious for having no openers, brought Caroline out as an opening act and special guest in 2018 and 2019. Then following the pandemic, another major break came in 2022 when she was asked to join the Zac Brown Band as a permanent member.
Here she chats with Stuart Banford as she prepares to release new solo material.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'The CountryLine Songwriter Series', is where you'll hear from some of the most successful artists and songwriters working in Nashville today. Country music is all about storytelling and this is where you'll discover the stories from the people themselves of how they managed to find their way into such a competitive industry and rise to the top. What motivates and inspires them and what they've learnt along the way.
Born in Waldron, Arkansas and raised in Mammoth Spring, Ashley McBryde first showed an interest in music when she was just three years old when she tried to play her father's guitar. Her parents then decided to buy her one of her own and after learning to play it, years later she wrote her first song at 17. Initially, she was shy about performing in front of people, and it wasn't until she enrolled at Arkansas State University (where she played in the marching band) that she began performing her songs for those outside her immediate family.
In 2005, McBryde recorded a self-titled album's worth of songs, and released it herself the following year. Since she was a teenager, her dream had been to go to Nashville and break into the music business and in 2007 she made the move and relocated to Music City. She assembled a band and played any club or bar that would have her and began making a name for herself. In 2010, she and her band won a state-wide "battle of the bands" competition in Tennessee and in 2011, she released her second album, âElseboundâ, again through her own label. More touring through the south followed, and in addition to headlining her own club dates, McBryde was opening shows for such stars as Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton and Hank Williams, Jr.
In 2016, she put out an eight-song EP, âJalopies & Expensive Guitarsâ, this helped build a buzz around her music, and country star Eric Church began singing her praises, describing her as a "whiskey-drinkin' badass" and joining her on-stage to duet on her song "Bible and a .44â. After this more and more people began to take notice, and she finally broke through with the single "A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega", which found an appreciative audience on streaming services and led to her making her first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in June 2017.
A year later, she returned with her major-label debut, âGirl Going Nowhereâ. The album earned McBryde her first Grammy nomination, for Best Country Album. At the beginning of 2019, she closed out that album cycle with the release of the title track as a single -- it earned Grammy nominations for Best Country Song and Solo Performance -- and at the end of the year, she launched her second album âNever Willâ, with the hit single "One Night Standardsâ.
In March of 2022 she returned to the UK and Ireland to perform at the C2C Festival and chatted with Stuart Banford in Dublin.
CountryLine brings country music to the world through our radio stations, a TV show that reaches 90 million homes, countless interviews with massive stars and great live sessions. Download the CountryLine app to experience all this in one place:
· Live shows from the biggest names in country
· Interviews with our favourite artists
· News and gossip direct from music city itself
· Movies; TV shows
· Access to country musicâs legends and the stars of tomorrow
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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