Book of John

tim mcgraw has a new record out.  

one of my dear friends, jenn, has the title track, 'two lanes of freedom'.

another of my friends and respected co-writers has an incredibly moving song on this record called 'book of john'.

this is what music is all about people.  this.

what a beautiful way to honor your beautiful mom.  i'm so proud of you, greg.

listen/buy here.

(from greg)

A lot of my close friends already know this story, but for those interested in where The Book Of John came from and why it is such a personal sounding song, here's the rest of the story… Last year I was visiting at the hospital with my mom in Boston while she was battling cancer and my dad asked me and my brother to run home and get them a few items, sweatshirts, overnight bag, etc. . When I went into his closet (first time ever) I noticed a shelf of keepsakes, pictures, etc. The private collection that everyone has somewhere tucked away, that you see every day, that reaffirms who you are, what you love, that all at once lifts you and grounds you. There were pictures of mom from the 1970's, a bunch of us kids climbing on my dad, his parents, sports memorabilia, etc

The day I got back to Nashville I had my first co-write with Jon Nite. A tremendous writer. I was so emotional given the circumstances of mom's illness and the difficult trip I had just come back from. Being the great writer that he is, we went ahead and wrote the song that was in the room that day, which was Book Of John based on the experience of getting to know a loved one at a whole new level by discovering their hidden scrapbook after they've died. That's right, a death ballad on a first time co-write.

Months went by and later that spring mom passed away. The day after she passed, I was in her office, tears flowing, going through her photo albums gathering pictures for the memorial service and came across a black binder filled with her 'private' collection of awards, letters, pictures of her and dad as kids, etc. the Book of Mom if you will. So at the exact moment that I'm flipping through the pages weeping (literally the EXACT moment), my phone starts vibrating and it's Jon sending me a text that Tim had called for a lyric on Book Of John.

Two days later on the day of Mom's funeral, Tim recorded it. Tim friggin recorded it on the day of her funeral, are you kidding me? As happy as one is about a McGraw cut, it's taken me a while to hear the song again after Mom died, but I have to say... it sounds pretty great to hear it again now. I hope that knowing this story you will enjoy it as well. Thanks Jon.Thanks Tim. And of course thanks Mom. .

Tuesday's Best and Country Music Condiments

this just in:  my children are slightly narcissistic.  

the only time josh and i had their full attention today while we skyped was when we showed them a picture of themselves.  true story.  at least they think they're as good looking as i do.  maybe we can check self confidence off of the list of things we'll need to work on once they get here.  hooray?

see?  look at that laser beam focus.

in other self-centered news, josh and i attended the academy of country music honors last night.  essentially, achievement awards were given out to celebrate the careers of some of the greatest contributors to our story telling, big haired, late night trouble causing, early sunday morning repenting genre.  frank liddell, alan jackson, kenny chesney, roger miller, bobby braddock, billy sherrill, emmy-friggin-lou harris, rickey skaggs, aubrey haynie, dwight yoakam... the list goes on and on.  we saw performances from pioneers and rookies alike: rodney crowell, buddy miller, hunter hayes, ashley monroe, randy houser, clint black, will hoge, and the newly and awesomely bald kellie pickler (check out why here, and a big hey girl heeeeey to my stylist, debbie, who buzzed kellie's head).  

but my favorite moment of the night? vince gill accepting the career achievement award.  that man never ceases to leave me inspired to stay true to my craft, work hard, and create the music that i believe i'm supposed to.  he also delivered my favorite line of the night referring to current country radio. "people keep talking about how country they are.  i can't wait to hear how country they are".

let me give you that one again:

"people keep talking about how country they are.  i can't wait to hear how country they are".

that's a little country music condiment we like to call boomsauce, kids.  

vincey poo.

happy tuesday's best!

m

Sinatra (No Relation to Frank)

breaking news : it feels like fall in nashville.  fiiiiiiiinally.  you can now expect a solid month of me being in a (mostly) great mood.  sleeping with the windows open and oversized sweaters and scarves and bonfires and new soup recipes and changing leaves and, my favorite, boots + leggings.  because any day you can get away with not wearing pants is a good day.

so yes, fall is here.  and this weekend we rang it in, framily style.  my friend, jason, has the first track on the new little big town record.  if it's not a single off of this record i'll scream.  gobs of country music goodness.  everybody go get pavement ends right.now.  to celebrate his success we toasted the occasion with a a few adult beverages and a giant posterboard of the liner notes with his name on it.  

the man of the evening

we filled it up and everyone behaved themselves.
not a sharpie mustache in sight. 

josh and i snuck out early to meet friends of ours that were in town from ashveille, north carolina for a late dinner.  don & alex are always a guaranteed good time.  plus they are the reason that josh and i met... so when they say 'family sized portions of italian food?', you say 'yes'.

saturday morning josh and i drove 3 hours north for a quick weekend away as part of our vacation-our-butts-off-before-we-adopt-4-kids initiative.  our destination?  louisville, kentucky.  our mission?  to see my good friend and bandmate, steve sinatra (no relation to frank although i've been known to tell girls he is his grandson when i'm playing wing woman), play drums for hunter hayes.

this is one of the only pictures i have of us at a show where my butt isn't directly covering his face.  you're welcome.

saturday evening was one of those moments that slaps you across the face with some perspective.  i watched one of my friends play an arena.  an arena.  full of 17,000 people. his mug was plastered on a 20 foot tall screen as thousands of shrill teenage girl voices screamed in my ears.  

18 year old megan would think 29 year old megan has it pretty damn good.

um yea, the stage picked up and moved across the audience.
i was absolutely certain it was going to fall.  8 cables my, *ahem*, ass.

this kid.  local hero.  had a sign that said "carrie, be my first kiss".
congratulations, son.  you just peaked.

love x 4

local brew.

how was your weekend?!

xo,

m

May Days

today is june 12th and i am just now catching my breath from may.  that lil' month had me traveling all over the country this year and i loved every minute of it.

what: key west songwriter's festival

why: because we songwriters have really hard jobs and need to get away every now and then (lie)

what really happened: i played a one hour show during the course of a 5 day vacation

  

what: mother's day

why: because it was my first (sort of) one

what really happened: ol' fashioned southern overeating

what: asheville, north carolina writer's retreat

why: because i have reeeaaaaally generous friends

what really happened: guitar time, wine, food, wine, great songs, wine, wine wine wine

what: southern california

why: my boyfriend booked one of his artists at the ranch and YOU MUST GO THERE ONE DAY 

what really happened: country music in california, two stepping, one of the best meals of my life that sent my inner fat kid to foodie heaven, new friends, a much too short visit with an old friend, brunch on the beach, and even more wine than north carolina

the in between: surprise wedding fun, ascap at night, mister darlin snuggle, bgv's at rachel loy's cd release party, jameson ep release also known as the most fun ever. 

phew.  may, you were lovely.

365 Days Of Country Music

meesa hayes.

she is gorgeous.  she has a gigantic heart.  she likes over sized sweaters.  she has hair worth mentioning.  she has a knack for finding treasures at goodwill.  she will pray for you when you are anxious.  she will take travel mugs full of wine to opryland hotel with you to sit on santa's lap because you don't have a picture of you doing so from when you were little and everyone needs a picture of them on santa's lap. 

see?

 she is the best.  and she is back.

365 days of country music.  you will love this blog.  gobs of country music goodness.  oh, and i made a guest appearance this week.

you're welcome.