In this episode, I sit down with ⁠SJ McDonald⁠!

Growing up on her family’s turkey and cattle farm in Virginia, SJ’s journey to Nashville started with selling a steer to buy her first guitar. After moving to Music City in 2017 to attend Belmont University, she discovered her passion for songwriting and spent seven years performing on Broadway, where she sharpened her craft.

From landing her publishing deal at the Key West Songwriters Festival to creating heartfelt songs like “⁠Right Hand Man⁠” and “⁠Good Ol’ Boys⁠,” released by ⁠Mae Estes⁠. SJ’s music is rooted in her upbringing and personal experiences.

We dive into her inspiring story, her advice for navigating the Broadway music scene, and the moments that have shaped her career so far. 

SHOW NOTES:

Keep up with Guest- ⁠@SJMcDonaldMusic⁠

Stay up to date with fresh podcast episodes and Listening Room show dates:

Listen/Subscribe/Follow -⁠ ⁠HERE⁠⁠

SBTSongs TikTok - ⁠⁠@sbtsongs⁠⁠

SBTSongs Instagram -⁠ ⁠@sbtsongs⁠⁠

SBTSongs YouTube - ⁠⁠@sbtsongs⁠⁠

Chris Blair's Instagram - ⁠⁠@chrisblairmusic⁠⁠

Chris Blair's Website -   ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠

The Listening Room's Website - ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠

TLR's Instagram - ⁠⁠@listeningroomcafe⁠⁠

TLR’s TikTok - ⁠⁠@thelisteningroomcafe⁠⁠

A special shout out to our sponsors

Sennheiser -⁠ ⁠https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us⁠⁠

Alclair In-Ear Monitors -⁠ ⁠https://alclair.com/⁠⁠

In this episode, I sit down with singer-songwriter Jenn Bostic.

Jenn Bostic has made a name for herself in country and christian contemporary music as an artist and songwriter, with her heartfelt song “Jealous of the Angels” connecting with listeners around the world. From growing up in a small town in Minnesota, where music became her therapy after losing her dad, to attending Berklee College of Music, Jenn’s journey to Nashville has been one of heart and passion. 

We dive into her story, including her 2022 album You Find a Way, her journey navigating the music industry, and how her faith has carried her through challenges. Jenn also opens up about her dreams to share her music on some of the world's biggest stages and the power of vulnerability in her songwriting.

We discuss her incredible journey, the power of faith, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. 

SHOW NOTES:

Keep up with Jenn Bostic- @Jennbostic

Stay up to date with fresh podcast episodes and Listening Room show dates:

Listen/Subscribe/Follow - ⁠HERE⁠

SBTSongs TikTok - ⁠@sbtsongs⁠

SBTSongs Instagram - ⁠@sbtsongs⁠

SBTSongs YouTube - ⁠@sbtsongs⁠

Chris Blair's Instagram - ⁠@chrisblairmusic⁠

Chris Blair's Website -   ⁠HERE⁠

The Listening Room's Website - ⁠HERE⁠

TLR's Instagram - ⁠@listeningroomcafe⁠

TLR’s TikTok - ⁠@thelisteningroomcafe⁠

A special shout out to our sponsors

Sennheiser - ⁠https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us⁠

Alclair In-Ear Monitors - ⁠https://alclair.com/⁠

In this episode, I sit down with singer-songwriter James Slater!

James Slater has written songs for Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Jamey Johnson, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, and Martina McBride. James has pretty much seen it all. From living in places like Miami, the Panama Canal, and Switzerland, he has so many stories to share. After spending years writing in LA and touring Europe with guys like Huey Lewis and Bruce Hornsby, he ended up settling in Nashville with one really specific goal: to be this city’s “piano man”.

We’re going to dive into his story where we learn how he wrote High Cost of Living (nominated for song of the year) with Jamey Johnson, and In My Daughter's Eyes, released by Martina McBride. He shares many more stories, like how he once ran into Garth Brooks at Pancake Pantry and that time he had three legends—Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, and Rodney Crowell—cut his song, Open Season On My Heart.

We discussed his remarkable career, working with country legends, and how authenticity has shaped his success. He performed a few hits and shared how perseverance and community have influenced his journey with music.

SHOW NOTES:

Keep up with James Slater- @Jamesslatermusic

Stay up to date with fresh podcast episodes and Listening Room show dates:

Listen/Subscribe/Follow - ⁠HERE⁠

SBTSongs TikTok - ⁠@sbtsongs⁠

SBTSongs Instagram - ⁠@sbtsongs⁠

SBTSongs YouTube - ⁠@sbtsongs⁠

Chris Blair's Instagram - ⁠@chrisblairmusic⁠

Chris Blair's Website -   ⁠HERE⁠

The Listening Room's Website - ⁠HERE⁠

TLR's Instagram - ⁠@listeningroomcafe⁠

TLR’s TikTok - ⁠@thelisteningroomcafe⁠

A special shout out to our sponsors

Sennheiser - ⁠https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us⁠

Alclair In-Ear Monitors - ⁠https://alclair.com/⁠

In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Rowe! 

From navigating a music career during a pandemic to building his community of songwriters centered around faith, we dive into a little bit of it all this week. Jordan tells us about his early days playing drums in church, getting his start on the Georgia acoustic circuit, and how his path eventually led him to Nashville in 2019. That same year, he released his first EP while touring with Chris Janson.

Throughout our conversation, Jordan shares the stories behind some of his most notable songs, like “Mama Ain’t Jesus,” a track inspired by a phone call with Lainey Wilson, and “Good News Sold,” written as a message for anyone facing difficult times. Also discussed in this episode: how Jordan launched Music Row Ministries, a weekly bible study held on Music Row, which was created to build community among artists and songwriters in a faith-driven way. He reflects on how prayer has shaped his career, including the turning point he experienced after a three-day prayer fast that led to unexpected opportunities…

This one is filled with inspiring stories as we explore what it really means to stay true to your passion. Jordan plays a couple of his own songs too and opens up about how faith, perseverance, and community have shaped both his music and life.

SHOW NOTES:

Keep up with Jordan Rowe - @jordanrowemusic 

Stay up to date with fresh podcast episodes and Listening Room show dates:

Listen/Subscribe/Follow - HERE

SBTSongs TikTok - @sbtsongs

SBTSongs Instagram - @sbtsongs

SBTSongs YouTube - @sbtsongs

Chris Blair's Instagram - @chrisblairmusic

Chris Blair's Website -   HERE

The Listening Room's Website - HERE

TLR's Instagram - @listeningroomcafe

TLR’s TikTok - @thelisteningroomcafe

A special shout out to our sponsors

Sennheiser - https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us

Alclair In-Ear Monitors - https://alclair.com/

In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with the incredibly talented Johnny McGuire, who’s had quite the journey in country music. Originally from Dallas, Johnny moved to Nashville in 2012 with the dream of becoming a songwriter. Little did he know, his path would take some unexpected turns, from forming the duo “Walker McGuire” with Jordan Walker to carving out a successful solo career. We dive into his early days in Nashville and how everything changed when he found himself sitting next to Jordan Walker at the Commodore Grille—just a few days after arriving in town.

We also talk about Johnny’s creative process, his experience writing for other artists, and his collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus on “Chevys and Fords.” Plus, Johnny shares the story behind his latest hit, "Already Had It," which was featured in the 2024 movie “Twisters,” and what it was like to hear it on the big screen for the first time. We even dive into his thoughts on country music’s evolution, advice for aspiring artists, and how he’s been staying true to himself while navigating the industry.

Our conversation is packed with insights, laughs, and, of course, some great tunes. Johnny also plays a couple of his own songs and opens up about his creative journey and what keeps him inspired. If you’re looking for some real, honest advice from someone who’s been through it all, Johnny’s got plenty to share. 

SHOW NOTES:

Other songs from Johnny mentioned in this episode - 

Catch a Break, They Call Me Doc, Shop Radio

CreatiVets - HERE

Operation Song - HERE

Keep up with Johnny McGuire - HERE

Listen/Subscribe/Follow - HERE  

SBTSongs TikTok - @SBTSongs  

SBTSongs Instagram - @SBTSongs  

SBTSongs YouTube - @SBTSongs  

Chris Blair's Instagram - @ChrisBlairMusic  

Chris Blair's Website - ChrisBlair.com  

The Listening Room's Website - ListeningRoomCafe.com  

TLR's Instagram - @ListeningRoomCafe  

TLR’s TikTok - @ListeningRoomCafe  

*A special shoutout to our sponsors*

Sennheiser - https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us

Imperfect Aesthetician - https://www.instagram.com/imperfectaesthetician/

Alclair In-Ear Monitors - https://alclair.com/

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sbtsongs/support

Chris Ruediger joined me on today’s episode of Stories Behind the Songs to share his incredible journey from growing up in Massachusetts to making his mark in Nashville’s thriving music scene. After moving to Music City in 2017 with a passion for being part of the creative process, Chris quickly found himself immersed in the energy of Nashville’s songwriting and artist community. 

In this episode, we dive into Chris’s story, including his first time at The Listening Room where he witnessed Hardy’s raw, unreleased music. We also talk about his venture into creating 615 House, a collaborative space for songwriters and musicians, born out of the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Chris shares his insights on the importance of branding, navigating the ever-changing world of social media, and how consistency and authenticity in content creation are key to making it in today’s music landscape.

From the excitement of seeing artists hit milestones to the hustle of building a career during a global health crisis, Chris offers a candid look at what it takes to succeed. He also talks about the importance of collaboration, creative freedom, and finding your unique voice and brand as a creative.

This episode is packed with valuable advice for anyone looking to break into the music industry or understand what it really takes to build a lasting career. Chris’s passion for music, marketing, community, and the process will inspire anyone chasing their own creative dreams.

Like this  episode? Don’t forget to share it with friends and give us a follow. Because of you,we can continue bringing you the Stories Behind the Songs from the people who are shaping the industry.

SHOW NOTES:

Keep up with Chris Ruediger - HERE

Stay up to date with fresh podcast episodes and Listening Room show dates:

Listen/Subscribe/Follow -  HERE 

SBTSongs TikTok - @SBTSongs 

SBTSongs Instagram - @SBTSongs  

SBTSongs YouTube - @SBTSongs  

Chris Blair's Instagram - @ChrisBlairMusic  

Chris Blair's Website - ChrisBlair.com  /

The Listening Room's Website - ListeningRoomCafe.com  

TLR's Instagram - @ListeningRoomCafe  

TLR’s TikTok - @ListeningRoomCafe  

*A special shout out to our sponsors*

Sennheiser - https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us

Imperfect Aesthetician - https://www.instagram.com/imperfectaesthetician/

Alclair In-Ear Monitors - https://alclair.com/

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sbtsongs/support

In this week’s episode of Stories Behind the Songs, I’m

Russell talks about how he made the move from Texas to

In this episode, you’ll hear all about Russell’s early days and

With wisdom from years of writing and building his career,

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to share it with

SHOW NOTES:

Keep up with Russell Sutton - HERE

Stay up to date with fresh podcast episodes and Listening Room show dates:

Listen/Subscribe/Follow - HERE  

SBTSongs TikTok - @SBTSongs 

SBTSongs Instagram - @SBTSongs  

SBTSongs YouTube - @SBTSongs  

Chris Blair's Instagram - @ChrisBlairMusic  

Chris Blair's Website - ChrisBlair.com  

The Listening Room's Website - ListeningRoomCafe.com  

TLR's Instagram - @ListeningRoomCafe  

TLR’s TikTok - @ListeningRoomCafe  

*A special shout out to our sponsors*

Sennheiser - https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us

Imperfect Aesthetician - https://www.instagram.com/imperfectaesthetician/

Alclair In-Ear Monitors - https://alclair.com/

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sbtsongs/support

Joining us on this week's episode of Stories Behind the Songs is Keio Stroud, a drummer whose journey through the music world is deeply rooted in family and faith—and whose career reads like a who's-who of

Let's dive into his story!

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sbtsongs/support

Lauren Hungate joins us on today’s episode of Stories Behind the Songs.

Lauren has been writing for some exciting newer artists like MacKenzie Porter, Carter Faith, and Lauren Watkins, as well as household names like Anne Wilson, Carly Pearce, and most recently, Bailey Zimmerman.

In this episode, we explore her story, from starting out as an intern with Capitol Christian, navigating Nashville writers’ rounds, and earning her first publishing deal right before the world shut down in 2020. She shares what it was like to perform alongside Carter Faith at the Opry, join Carly Pearce on stage at Bridgestone, and have her songs cut by rising stars like Anne Wilson and MacKenzie Porter. Her song “Holy Smokes” released by Bailey Zimmerman just went platinum and she recounts the inspiration behind it—a memory with her husband parked by a church, blending the sacred with the everyday.

Tune in as she reflects on balancing faith with ambition, the mentors who helped her succeed, and advice for other young songwriters on how to navigate Nashville and make the most of every writing room. With standout songs like “Greener Pastures” and her latest single, “Coming Home to You (Bigger Houses),” this episode will inspire and entertain anyone passionate about music.
If you liked this episode, make sure to share it with your friends and give us a follow. It is our mission to bring you the Stories Behind the Songs from the songwriters themselves and it's because of YOU that we get to keep going.

SHOW NOTES:

Keep up with Lauren ⁠⁠- https://www.instagram.com/lauren_hungate/profilecard/?igsh=MTBtdjFzMnFsZ2R5eA==

Stay up to date with fresh podcast episodes and Listening Room show dates:

Listen/Subscribe/Follow - ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sbtsongs

SBTSongs TikTok - @SBTSongs  

SBTSongs Instagram - @SBTSongs  

SBTSongs YouTube - @SBTSongs  

Chris Blair's Instagram - @ChrisBlairMusic  

Chris Blair's Website - https://www.chrisblair.com/

The Listening Room's Website - https://www.listeningroomcafe.com/

TLR's Instagram - @ListeningRoomCafe  

TLR’s TikTok - @TheListeningRoomCafe  

*A special shout out to our sponsors*

Sennheiser - https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us

Imperfect Aesthetician - https://www.instagram.com/imperfectaesthetician/

Alclair In-Ear Monitors - https://alclair.com/

Our guest on Stories Behind the Songs this week is Will Bundy!

From a small town near Bristol, TN, Will has such a cool story that was so much fun to get into. We dive deep into his journey from mowing lawns and farming to producing demos that landed him in writing rooms with some of Nashville’s biggest names right now like Riley Green, Thomas Rhett, and Ella Langley, as well as hit songwriters like Brett James, Forest Whitehead, and Ashley Gorley. 

In this episode, you’ll hear about how he hustled to learn demo production when he couldn’t afford to hire anyone, carving out his niche in the industry as a “track guy”, his bold decision to rent out a studio on Music Row while living in Antioch, and writing his recent cut with Brad Paisley, “Truck Still Works”. He also shares stories about going on the road with Thomas Rhett and Rhett Akins and how that led to one of his career-defining songs, “Half of Me”. 

With recent cuts for both Luke Bryan and Brad Paisley, PLUS producing the viral hit “you look like you love me” by Ella Langley, Will Bundy is a great example of how hard work, strong relationships, and sticking with it truly pays off. Make sure to watch to the full episode for some invaluable advice to young songwriters, and a performance of his hit with Thomas Rhett and Riley Green, "Half of Me”.

If you liked this episode, make sure to share it with your friends and give us a follow. It is our mission to bring you the Stories Behind the Songs from the songwriters themselves and it's because of YOU that we get to keep going.

SHOW NOTES:

Keep up with Will Bundy ⁠⁠- https://www.instagram.com/willbundy32?igsh=cjk5Zm91Y3pnMmp4

Stay up to date with fresh podcast episodes and Listening Room show dates:

Listen/Subscribe/Follow - ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sbtsongs

SBTSongs TikTok - @SBTSongs   https://www.tiktok.com/@sbtsongs

SBTSongs Instagram - @SBTSongs  

SBTSongs YouTube - @SBTSongs  

Chris Blair's Instagram - @ChrisBlairMusic  

Chris Blair's Website - https://www.chrisblair.com/

The Listening Room's Website - https://www.listeningroomcafe.com/

TLR's Instagram - @ListeningRoomCafe  

TLR’s TikTok - @TheListeningRoomCafe  

*A special shout out to our sponsors*

Sennheiser - https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us

Imperfect Aesthetician - https://www.instagram.com/imperfectaesthetician/

Alclair In-Ear Monitors - https://alclair.com/

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sbtsongs/support