Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters

The 2-time Grammy nominee Eric Clapton called “one of the great singer-songwriters” joins us to talk about his 1970s classic "On and On," writing hits like the Oscar-winning “Separate Lives” for Phil Collins, and the unexpected rootsy influences on his new album. Plus, he explains why his stepdad forbid him from playing guitar in the house; why he didn't like Barbra Streisand's version of his song; how he ended up getting his guitar smashed in Animal House; and why good songwriting requires heartbre

Five-time Grammy winner Marty Stuart discusses what he learned from Johnny Cash about the craft of songwriting; the three people he considers THE standard of country songwriting; the album that cost him a record deal, a band, a manager, and a publicist; how a photo of Louis Armstrong gave him a sense of mission for his band; why his greatest songwriting motivation is a deadline; and the reason he used to send Harlan Howard and Ralph Mooney $100 at the start of every year.

Alice Randall, a Harvard-educated novelist, professor, and songwriter, is the only African-American woman to have written a #1 country hit. She joins us to talk about how she concluded that country lyrics are the modern day equivalent of 17th Century Puritan sermons; the reason that Steve Earle cussed her out; why it's harder to be a woman in country music than to be black; and her theory that country music should be defined as three chords and four specific truths.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Rodney Crowell joins Scott to chat about a remarkable career that has yielded classic songs such as “Til I Gain Control Again,” “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” “Ashes By Now,” “After All This Time,” and “Shame on the Moon.”  

Pulled from deep in our archives, we present the long-lost final interview with two-time Grammy nominee and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Curly Putman, who wrote "Green, Green Grass of Home," "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "My Elusive Dreams," "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," and many others. 

Kendell Marvel built his career as a behind-the-scenes songwriter for Gary Allan, Chris Stapleton, Jake Owen, Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton, and George Strait before reinventing himself as a gritty Southern troubadour and making an album with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. 

The sixteen-time Grammy nominee and three-time winner joins us to talk about why reading is more important than listening to records; the book Townes Van Zandt loaned him that transformed his view of writing; the concert that inspired Steve to write "Guitar Town;" what he really thinks of the "Copperhead Road" line-dancing phenomenon; the first song he wrote after a long period of drug addiction and homelessness; and who he says is THE badass country singer/songwriter in Nashville today.

The three-time Grammy winner, two-time ACM Songwriter of the Year, and star of NBC's Songland joins us to talk about a few of his 40 #1 hits, including "Mama's Broken Heart," "American Kids," "Vice," "Body Like a Back Road," and more. Plus, Shane goes deep on his collaborations with Kacey Musgraves and contemplates the tricky balance between critical and commercial success. He also reveals who he calls his favorite singer of all time and which of his songs he suspects other songwriters don’t like.

Matthew Sweet joins us to unpack his process of writing power pop gems like "Girlfriend," "The Ugly Truth," "Sick of Myself" and many others. Plus, we get the lowdown on how a postcard from Michael Stipe altered his musical future; why he says being a solo artist is lonely; what happened when he suggested that he and Susanna Hoffs write an album together; and the song he collaborated on with a Saturday Night Live legend that led to another SNL legend covering one of his very earliest recordings.

Buddy Cannon, the frequent Willie Nelson collaborator, award-winning producer, and co-writer of the CMA and ACM Song of the Year "Give It Away," joins us to talk about getting his first four cuts in two days; how his first charting single became a #1 hit; why he had to tell Kenny Chesney he couldn't produce his early albums; the time he freaked out when his musical hero called him on the phone; and how he and Willie Nelson only co-write via text message.

Best known as one half of the legendary folk rock duo Indigo Girls,  Grammy award winner Emily Saliers joins us to discuss her remarkable career; why she would change the opening line of her best-known song if she were writing it today; the criticism that most plagued Indigo Girls when they were starting out; how she tries to stretch herself by writing material that might not come as naturally; why she's always dreamed of having a country artist cover one of her songs; and her fierce love of hip hop!

The Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductee who’s been called The Father of Nashville Rock talks about a successful career that’s seen his songs covered by everyone from Martina McBride to The Beatles. From "Soldier of Love" to "Everlasting Love" to recording as "Alvin" with the Chipmunks to what he really thought of U2's interpretation of his classic song, Buzz dives deep on a fascinating and varied career.

The Grammy nominee and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer joins us to talk about “Rub It In” (Billy "Crash" Craddock), "Way Down" (Elvis Presley), “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” (Reba McEntire), and his new memoir, Permission to Fly.

The two-time Grammy nominee and alt.country pioneer joins us to discuss his career as an eclectic and fiercely independent singer songwriter; why he never moved to Nashville; how he got a record deal by writing a manifesto; the song he wrote for his celebrity crush; the concept album he never made; the insider details he learned from Tom Brumley; and which of his songs he doesn't want to play anymore. Plus, Robbie performs live and acoustic!

CMA and ACM Song of the Year winner Larry Weiss chats about his amazing career from the Brill Building to "Bend Me Shape Me" to "Hi Ho Silver Lining" to "Rhinestone Cowboy" and more. Plus, up-and-comer Jenny Tolman stops by to preview her cool new record!