Did you know some of the most iconic songs in American music were written by Alabama songwriters? From Hank Williams Sr. in Montgomery to Lionel Richie in Tuskegee, from the Muscle Shoals sound to Jimmy Buffett on the Gulf Coast — Alabama’s storytellers have shaped music across every genre.

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast: Music Accelerator, we feature Alabama-born hit songwriter Jamey Johnson. Jamey opens up about writing his Grammy-winning song “In Color,” the struggles that fueled That Lonesome Song, and the tough decision to include “High Cost of Living” on the record.

Narrated by Tim Scott — Hatch podcast producer, Alabama native, and 25-year music industry veteran — the episode traces Alabama’s deep songwriting tradition and connects Jamey’s story to the larger history of the state’s music.

You’ll hear about:

• WC Handy, the “Father of the Blues,” born in Florence in 1873.
• Hank Williams Sr.’s Montgomery roots and timeless heartbreak ballads.
• Muscle Shoals writers like Dan Penn, Donnie Fritts, and Arthur Alexander.
• Lionel Richie, Brittany Howard, Jason Isbell, Mac McAnally, Jimmy Buffett, and more.
• And how Jamey Johnson carries this legacy forward with songs that are plainspoken, personal, and true.

👉 To learn more about the Hatch Music Accelerator — and how we’re supporting Alabama music and mentoring new artists — visit 119collective.hatchfairhope.com.