Nashville's top living songwriters: Our response to the NYT list
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Everybody knows Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift are extraordinary songwriters. Their inclusion on the New York Times' list of the 30 best living American songwriters was a no-brainer.
Yes, but: That list still skipped over some of Nashville's top talent. So we constructed a list of our own to spread the love.
Why it matters: Songwriters are the soul of Music City and the lifeblood of the country music industry. It's important to recognize the greats who built Nashville into what it is, one line at a time.
State of play: We've included some of the Nashville's most prominent celebrities on our list, but we also took special care to shine a light on the career songwriters who quietly craft masterpieces from behind the scenes.
Ashley Gorley, a new inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is one of the most successful songwriters in music history. He's had a hand in more than 80 country No. 1s — so far.
- His collection of massive commercial hits includes the Post Malone-Morgan Wallen track "I Had Some Help" and "I Am Not Okay" by Jelly Roll.
Liz Rose worked with Swift to craft her formative early hits, including the masterpiece "All Too Well." She is also one third of The Love Junkies writing supergroup with Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey.
Lori McKenna has already won three Grammys for Best Country Song, including back-to-back wins in 2016 (for "Girl Crush," which she wrote with The Love Junkies) and 2017 (for the Tim McGraw epic "Humble and Kind," which she wrote on her own).
Hillary Lindsey, the third Love Junky, is a powerhouse in her own right. Carrie Underwood has recorded nearly 40 of her songs and Lady Gaga counts her as a close collaborator. Her co-write "Blue Ain't Your Color," recorded by Keith Urban, was one of the top hits of the 2010s.
Miranda Lambert charged out of the gate in 2004 with scorching songs, including "Kerosene," that set a new standard for women in country music. Her fearless songwriting, which ranges from burn-it-down revenge ragers to wistful ballads, made her one of the most awarded artists in country music history.
Gretchen Peters is the unofficial poet laureate of Music Row. She's best known for writing Martina McBride's signature song, "Independence Day," but she has a robust catalogue loaded with vivid imagery and literary depth.
Chris Stapleton blazed to superstardom with a cover of "Tennessee Whiskey," but he has personally crafted some of the best stone-cold country classics of recent memory, including "White Horse," "Traveller" and "Parachute."
Matraca Berg is a Nashville native and Music Row veteran who in 2008 became the youngest person ever inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. "Strawberry Wine," "You and Tequila" and "Wrong Side of Memphis" showcase her skill for spinning longing into gold.
Bob McDill, a 2023 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, helped define modern country's sound with generational megahits like "Song of the South" and "Gone Country."
Reality check: This list is only a sampling of the songwriting geniuses who live among us. Anyone who's ever visited The Bluebird Cafe knows that Nashville's roster of songwriting titans is almost endless.
- Keep sending your recommended additions to us at [email protected]. We'll highlight your top picks in an upcoming newsletter.