Songwriters Behind the Headliners

This special event highlights the craft behind the music — the stories, inspiration, and creative process that bring the songs to life. The perfect night out for the longtime music lover, or those simply looking for a unique, low key live music experience.

Proceeds to benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Casey Beathard 

After making the decision of choosing music over “the family business” of football, Casey Beathard moved to Nashville to begin his career. Beathard has now written #1 records for Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Eric Church, Trace Adkins, Justin Moore, Zach Williams, Rodney Atkins, Lee Ann Womack, Tracy Lawrence, Tracy Byrd, Chris Stapleton, Billy Ray Cyrus, Billy Currington and more. He has also received many accolades throughout the years including BMI’s Songwriter of the Year in 2004 and 2008, NSAI’s Songwriter of the Year in 2008, two Grammy nominations and an ACM Song of The Year nomination for “Don’t Blink.

Mark Nesler 

Mark Nesler writes honest, heartfelt country songs in the spirit of the country music greats. Artists that have benefited from his songwriting talent are George Strait and Tim McGraw in particular. McGraw had a six week #1 single with the Nesler penned song “Just to See You Smile” on his multi-platinum selling “Everywhere” album.  George Strait has two #1 singles, thanks to the songwriting talent of Mark Nesler: “Go On” and “Living And Living Well.” Nesler also co-wrote Darryl Worley’s #1 hit, “I Miss My Friend.”  Other hit singles include: “For You I Will”- Aaron Tippin, “Heaven In My Women’s Eyes” and “Just Let Me Be In Love”- Tracy Byrd, “Why, Why, Why”- Billy Currington, American Idol finalist Bucky Covington’s debut single, “A Different World,” and Keith Urban’s #1 single release, “You Look Good In My Shirt.” He also wrote Billy Currington’s #1 hit, “Let Me Down Easy” and Josh Turner’s hit, “Time Is Love”, Billboard’s most played country single of 2012. Mark continues to write every day and is one of Nashville’s most successful and respected songwriters and artists.

Jo Smith

Jo Smith was named to Rolling Stone’s 10 New Artists You Need to Know in 2017 and CMT’s Next Women of Country 2018, making her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2013, and becoming a Highway Find on Sirius XM’s The Highway in 2017. Jo was the opening act on Blake Shelton’s All About Tonight Tour, Chris Young and Thomas Rhett’s Liquid Neon Tour, and Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley’s Locked and Reloaded Tour. After moving to Montana in 2020, she released her first independent project Wyoming, featuring Vince Gill on the title track. As “Wyoming” attests, Jo has “been able to keep ahold of that traditional timeless thing that makes music last.” Her music possesses a timeless beauty that grows out of uncanny ability to tell stories that balance the emotional depths of traditional country and soul with a deep desire to deliver songs passionately to fans searching for songs that express universal feelings of longing, loss, hope, and love.