Previously Featured in 2018
Kelly Lovelace
Kelley Lovelace was born in Paducah, Kentucky but was primarily raised in Hixson, Tennessee on the outskirts of Chattanooga. He currently lives in Franklin, Tennessee just a few miles south of Nashville.
Kelley served in the United States ARMY, where he obtained the rank of specialist (E-4) before receiving an honorable discharge. As a cum laude graduate of Belmont University, Kelley began working and writing at Larry Butler’s music publishing company, Perdido Key Music. In just three years he became President of this publishing company, owned by Shug Baggott, and dubbed it Music Alley before choosing to write songs full time and landing a song writing deal with EMI Music Publishing.
As a writer, he has had many songs recorded by artists such as Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenney Chesney, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, Randy Houser, Hunter Hayes, Joe Nichols, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreary, Terri Clark, Montgomery Gentry, and many others. Among these recordings are 23 Top 10 Billboard / R&R / Mediabase hits, 16 of which have reached the #1 position. Kelley has also received Song of the Year nominations for “He Didn’t Have To Be,” co-written with and recorded by Brad Paisley, from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and the TNN Music Awards. Kelley’s first Grammy nomination came in 2002 in the category of Best Country Song for “The Impossible” recorded by Joe Nichols, co-written with Lee Miller.
Neil Thrasher
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Neil Thrasher has been surrounded by music his whole life. Influenced by both sides of his family, Neil grew up watching his father perform professionally as part of The Thrasher Brothers; it was only natural that Neil would do the same. After a few years of recording his own music, other artists began recording songs he had written. As fate would have it, it was then that songwriting became his passion. He devoted his career to being a full time songwriter and eventually was named “2004 ASCAP’s Songwriter Of The Year”.
Thrasher’s songs have been recorded by some of music’s most successful acts including: Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Montgomery Gentry, Reba McEntire, David Nail, Diamond Rio, Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Billy Ray Cyrus and many others. His #1 hits include: “There Goes My Life” (Kenny Chesney); “Fast Cars and Freedom”, “Take Me There”, “Why Wait”, and “Banjo” (Rascal Flatts); “Tattoos On This Town”, “Fly Over States”, and “Night Train” (Jason Aldean) and “How Country Feels” (Randy Houser). In 2010 Neil was awarded “GMA’s Country Song of the Year” for “Somebody Like Me” recorded by Jason Crabb. Neil was honored with “ASCAP Country Song Of The Year” in 2013 for “How Country Feels” by Randy Houser.
When not writing, producing, or singing on the next project, you will most likely find Neil out on the golf course, hunting, or spending time with his wife, Lana, and two daughters, Ali and Emma Grace.
Watch Neil Thrasher on YouTube
Paul Overstreet
As a songwriter, Paul Overstreet has written and co-written over 35 top ten songs and multiple #1 hits, his first being George Jones’ “Same Ole Me.” Many artists have recorded his songs, including Randy Travis singing “On the Other Hand,” “Digging up Bones,” and “Forever and Ever, Amen.” Alison Krauss has recorded “When You Say Nothing at All,” The Judds have sung “Love Can Build A Bridge,” and Kenny Chesney had huge success with “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” Other hits have been recorded by Glen Campbell, Pam Tillis, Mel Tillis, Travis Tritt, Michael Martin Murphey and countless others. Overstreet has also written and recorded many songs himself. His own albums have produced nine top 10 hits including his first number one song as a performer, “Seein’ My Father in Me.”
Overstreet, along with co-writers, has earned two Grammy Awards, his first for “Forever and Ever, Amen” and the other for “Love Can Build a Bridge.” BMI honored Overstreet as Songwriter of the Year for five consecutive years from 1987-1991, and he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Foundation Hall of Fame in 2003.