Country Music Success Stories

I really want to help artists who want to help themselves. If you give me 100%, I'm gonna give you 100%. If you're only in at 20, that's all I can meet you at.  – Kara DioGuardi  When you've got record sales of 160 million worldwide, the chances are pretty high that you know the … Continue reading Kara DioGuardi: Grammy Nominated Songwriter (Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Britney Spears) & former American Idol judge →

When I set my mind out to do something, I do it.  – H. Jack Williams  For this episode, we're at Anthem Entertainment in Nashville with singer/songwriter H. Jack Williams.  Anthem is one of the world's leading independent music and entertainment content and services companies with publishing, production, the iconic Anthem Records, Film & Television, … Continue reading H. Jack Williams: Singer / Songwriter – Kevin Coster, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Greg Allman, Peter Gabriel. →

Dear God, please send me a southern, good looking Christian millionaire who I can be in love with and he can be in love with me…and there I was, having dinner with Glen Campbell.  — Kim Campbell  Welcome to part two of our interview series on the life and music of Glen Campbell, recorded before … Continue reading Glen Campbell Tribute: Part Two – An Exclusive Interview with Glen's wife, Kim Campbell →

There was never a more wonderful human being on the planet than Glen Campbell. – Mike Borchetta  Generations of artists count Glen Campbell as one of the greatest artists who ever lived. He was gifted with the kind of voice that connected to the lyric and the listener in a memorable way. Experts say that Glen … Continue reading Glen Campbell Tribute: Part One – TK Kimbrell, Mike Borchetta & Julian Raymond →

Manifesting your dreams and visualizing your success works.  We're proof of that.  -Candy & Jacy  This episode is a little bit different from the others.  While together in Palm Springs, California for a west coast swing of interviews, we decided to sit down with cozy blankets and glasses of vodka and soda to talk about … Continue reading Candy & Jacy: Manifesting & Wish Boards →

Did I change somebody's life, or change somebody's day or help somebody to survive cancer because of this song that was a joy to write? That's everything. – Lindy Robbins  Our trip to Los Angeles was a blast.  We had lunch in Beverly Hills,  walked up and down Rodeo Drive like we were Julia Roberts … Continue reading Lindy Robbins – Multi-platinum selling & award-winning songwriter →

Being a producer is a lot like directing a film.  You want to have a look at the bigger picture.  You need to be able to zoom out and help the artist get a picture of where they've always wanted to go. -Anthony Resta  We're back from our west coast swing where we were searching … Continue reading Anthony Resta – Platinum Selling Producer, Composer & Musician →

Somebody from an 11 dollar house in Alabama has cut some of the biggest records in the world and if that can happen for me, it can happen for you.  – Jim Vest    We can hardly wait for you to hear this interview with Jim Vest:  musician, producer, songwriter, and leader of the legendary … Continue reading Jim Vest – Award-winning Steel Guitarist, Producer & Author →

There are a lot of parallels between the French wine industry and the country music industry. The vintners will cut back the vines to make them suffer in order to produce the best grapes.  There is a part of this town that wants you to suffer a little bit. You've got to pay your dues. … Continue reading Pam Lewis – Nashville Publicist & Preservationist →

I appreciate the moment. I learned many years ago that happiness is the appreciation of what is happening. – Jim Messina    We were beside ourselves as we headed to the home of Jim Messina.  There we were  in Jacy's silver Toyota Corolla, winding our way down country roads just outside of Nashville, singing Your … Continue reading Jim Messina of Loggins and Messina: up close & personal with an icon →

Be a good hang. Don't bring dark energy into the room and be kind to people. Love the music so much, it loves you back.  – Bobby Tomberlin  We're kicking off 2022 with a trip to Curb WORD on Nashville's famous Music Row.  This iconic songwriter's think-tank is owned by music industry giant Mike Curb … Continue reading Bobby Tomberlin – Grammy, CMA, and ACM nominated songwriter: Blake Shelton, Diamond Rio, Faith Hill, Dolly Parton →

For this episode, Jacy and I got to thinking about our favorite answers to the questions we always ask during our interviews with country music icons. We decided to put together a “best of” episode that featured singers and songwriters answering the question: tell me about the first time you ever heard yourself on the … Continue reading Their First Time on the Radio: Sara Evans, John Schneider, Crystal Gayle, Jamie O'Neal & more →

“You and I” just stuck out to me as a title, so I just wrote it down on a piece of paper with some other titles because I was really just learning how to write songs. – Frank Myers  From a career that began as a singer with a guitar on stages large and small … Continue reading Frank Myers : Grammy Award-Winning songwriter, Lonestar, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill →

When I had the chicken pox, I went on stage. When I had a cracked rib, I went on stage. And that is the old Vaudeville saying “the show must go on.”   – Jamie O'Neal  Music Row is pretty magical. The streets that make up this iconic area of Nashville are lined with old … Continue reading Jamie O'Neal: Grammy Nominee, ACM & Billboard award-winning artist →

We love it so much.  We love our fans, we love what we do, and it is exhausting, but I think it's a calling on our lives where, we have to do this. This is part of our blood. It's our calling. – Lily Isaacs   In this interview, we settle into the living room … Continue reading Lily Isaacs of The Isaacs →

The appeal of music for me was playing the music. When you start playing, and that music is blowing by you, around you. It is the most amazing, glorious feeling.  – Sonny LeMaire    In this episode, we sit down with Sonny LeMaire, bass player, singer/songwriter for the iconic group Exile.  Taped in Sonny's cozy … Continue reading Sonny LeMaire of Exile →

I think I am known as a nice guy.  It's more important to be a great person than it is to be a hit songwriter.  -Chris Lindsey  In this episode, we're heading back to Aimeeland, a famous recording studio just outside of Nashville for an interview with Grammy nominated hit songwriter, Chris Lindsey. In this … Continue reading Chris Lindsey →

Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves because the creation of Country Music Success Stories combines both of our talents and checks all of our boxes! -Candy O'Terry & Jacy Dawn Valeras We've been getting lots of messages from listeners (and please keep ‘em coming @countrymusicsuccessstories). They tell us that they love hearing about the country … Continue reading Candy & Jacy →

Find something you like doin' so much, you'd do it for nothin' and then learn to do it so well that they'll pay you and then you've got it made. That's how I feel about performing. – Bill Anderson If you want to get someone's attention, just whisper! Whispering Bill Anderson has been getting people's … Continue reading Whispering Bill Anderson →

I've always expected great things and I've asked people to do the same. It's a mindset. If you expect bad things to happen, they will. I don't think anybody would disagree with that. Therefore, if you expect great things to happen they will. -John Schneider Music Row is just a road in Nashville, but it … Continue reading John Schneider →

I grew up on a farm with the clothes line in the backyard and I knew that millions of Americans would relate to that. As much as I love New York and L.A, I am really a spokesperson for middle America and the girl next door. -Sara Evans Every trip to Nashville is filled with … Continue reading Sara Evans →

Your identity is not about how well you're doing on the charts, that's your job, you have to treat that as your career and keep it separate. Your identity has to be bigger than, “I'm a star” because that star can fade fast. -Collin Raye Words of wisdom from multi-platinum selling artist, Collin Raye. With … Continue reading Collin Raye →

When I saw my name on that first record, it just lit something up inside of me. -Aimee Mayo Meet Aimee Mayo, award-winning songwriter and survivor. In this interview, we drive down a country lane just outside of Nashville and find our way to AimeeLand, the studio where Aimee and her husband Chris write and … Continue reading Aimee Mayo →

Pay attention to trends, but never be a follower.  Be a leader, not a follower. Push the envelop, but don't let it break. I like to stay in front of the curve, but I never like to be too cool for the room. -Tony Brown  Just when Jacy and I think we've experienced the best … Continue reading Tony Brown  →

Fame is not a decision you make. It's a lot more work, and it's a lot of fairy dust. -John Berry Let's turn back time to 1979 when singer/songwriter/guitarist John Berry had big dreams and the patience to see them through. A brilliant singer with a gift for storytelling and the ability to connect with … Continue reading John Berry & Robin Berry →

I'm like this anonymous Oz behind the curtain guy nobody ever knows. The face of the songs are the artists who record them. -Steve Dorff If you are a songwriter or a composer, this episode is for you! Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018, Steve Dorff was born to do what he … Continue reading Steve Dorff →

I was only 15 when I climbed out my window and ran away to Memphis with 60 cents in mypocket. I look around at my life now and I realize that it all started with just 60 cents. -TG Sheppard Incredible as it seems, TG Sheppard was a runaway teen with a lifelong dream of … Continue reading TG Sheppard →

Relationships are everything and in Nashville they are made of gold. When Jacy introduced me to Naomi Judd and we interviewed her at their compound in Leipers Fork, Tennessee, her husband Larry Strickland was sitting on a couch in the recording studio, just listening quietly. But when he spoke, his rich, deep voice filled the … Continue reading Larry Strickland →

I didn't come to Nashville having played bars for 10 years. I was a total green horn. So I learned a lot. It's a blast, it's like perpetual adolescence. -Karen Staley Welcome to the success story of a woman whose songs have been played on radio more than 12 million times (and counting) with downloads … Continue reading Karen Staley →

I first wrote poetry and got it published in the high school year book and it gave me a little bit of positive feedback that somebody must like what I do. The minute I got a guitar, I just started trying to put the two together and started writing songs instead of poetry. -Kent Blazy … Continue reading Kent Blazy →

There's always growth, there's always somewhere to go to in music, a place you have not reached. Every time I've stuck my neck out musically, I've been rewarded. -Lori McKenna In this episode, we sit down with two-time Grammy winning singer/songwriter Lori McKenna for a conversation about humble beginnings, persistence, and the importance of developing … Continue reading Lori McKenna →

I'm proud that I'm still here in this business. It's what I've loved to do. Success is in your mind. It's only in your mind. -Crystal Gayle This episode brings us to Music Row in Nashville and the offices of Gayle Enterprises for an interview with Crystal Gayle. Jacy has known the Grammy-winner since she … Continue reading Crystal Gayle →

There's something very special about sitting on the back porch, overlooking the Cumberland River, listening to the cicadas and talking about country music! In this interview, we are at the home of Jeannie Seely, Grammy winner and 53- year member of the Grand Ole Opry. Make no mistake about it, this 80 year old trailblazer … Continue reading Jeannie Seely →

Barry Gibb called me and says “Hey, Kell, I”m gonna be singing Islands in the Stream at Kenny Rogers Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Are you available to sing that song with me? And you know what I said? Hold on a second and let me check my schedule!” -Kelly Lang The … Continue reading Kelly Lang →

I've been through an alphabet of tragedies and trials and I'm still here. I wasn't sure I was going to make it at all. But I just kept going like the little engine that could. I said to myself: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. –Naomi Judd What does … Continue reading Naomi Judd →