American Songwriter
149 stories
Debby Boone's Oscar-Winning Hit
Debby Boone's 1977 Oscar-winning song topped charts for ten weeks before becoming a record-breaking hit.
Clayton Edwards · 1m
3 Top 40 Hits From 1970 That Every 70s Kid Still Knows
Three 1970 hits remain iconic for 70s kids today.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
California Country Music Festival Returns with Zach Bryan and Megan Moroney
California Country Music Festival returns in 2027 with Zach Bryan and Megan Moroney headlining after two-year break.
Paige Gawley · 1m
Vietnam War Veterans' 1968 Anthems
Vietnam veterans recall three 1968 songs that eased their trauma.
Em Casalena · 1m
Country Hits Without Nashville Rules
Three 2000s country songs broke Nashville's formula and still charted.
Alex Hopper · 1m
High Schoolers' 1986 Song Knowledge
High schoolers in 1986 knew every word to these four songs.
Kat Caudill · 1m
Biff Rose: Forgotten Singer-Songwriter
Biff Rose, the New Orleans singer-songwriter who opened for Bruce Springsteen and had David Bowie in the audience, died at 85 after a liver cancer battle.
Melanie Davis · 1m
Kelly Clarkson's 'Stronger' Performance Amid Toy Bird Scandal
Kelly Clarkson performs 'Stronger' at Las Vegas event after viral $15,000 toy bird dispute.
Chris Piner · 1m
Cliff Richard's 86th Birthday
Cliff Richard, born in India 86 years ago, dominated UK charts before Beatlemania.
Erinn Callahan · 1m
3 Legendary Albums That Sound Like Their Own Little World
Albums that create immersive worlds: Radiohead's 'Kid A', Stevie Wonder's 'Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants', and The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds'.
Alex Hopper · 1m
90s Songs Modern Fans Love
Three 90s songs that modern music fans still connect with.
Kat Caudill · 1m
Marcia Barrett: Disco Icon Born 78 Years Ago
Jamaican disco legend Marcia Barrett, who sold 150 million records with Boney M., released a cancer-fighting EP in 2003.
Erinn Callahan · 1m
3 Top 40 Hits From 1967 That Every 60s Kid Still Knows
Three 1967 hits remain iconic for 60s kids today.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
Stephen Bishop's Careless Reissue Celebrates 50 Years
Stephen Bishop's 1976 debut album Careless gets a luxe 50th anniversary reissue with remastered tracks and special features.
Jim Beviglia · 1m
3 Top 40 Hits From 1968 That Every 60s Kid Still Knows
Three 1968 hits every 60s kid still knows today.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
Riley Green Gets Adam Levine's Approval
Riley Green's country cover of Maroon 5's 'She Will Be Loved' wins Adam Levine's praise.
Paige Gawley · 1m
Sammy Hagar: Rock Legend Born in California
Sammy Hagar, born in 1947, paused his solo career to front Van Halen's 1980s rock success.
Clayton Edwards · 1m
Patti LaBelle Praises Contestants' Cover of 'On My Own'
Patti LaBelle calls contestants' cover of her and Michael McDonald's duet 'beautiful' after The Voice Battle Round.
Paige Gawley · 1m
Country Songs From 1980s in Grocery Stores
Three 1980s country hits play in shopping malls and grocery stores today.
Jacob Uitti · 1m
F-Bombs in Classic Rock Songs
Four classic rock songs dropped f-bombs without fear.
Jim Beviglia · 1m
Dolly Parton's Teacher Tribute Video
Dolly Parton's posthumous video sends heartfelt message to music teachers.
Chris Piner · 1m
3 1969 Hits Every 60s Kid Knows
Three 1969 songs still resonate with 60s kids today.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
Jean King's 88th Birthday
Jean King, the girl group soprano who sang with Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, and Tom Jones, celebrates 88 years of music.
Clayton Edwards · 1m
80s Pop-Rock Hits That Soundtracked Kids' Lives
Three 1987 pop-rock songs that defined 80s youth culture.
Em Casalena · 1m
Journey Drummer Returns After Medical Emergency
Journey drummer Deen Castronovo made triumphant stage return two days after medical emergency.
Chris Piner · 1m
Shane McAnally's 52nd Birthday
Shane McAnally, the Nashville songwriter behind Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves' hits, turns 52 today.
Erinn Callahan · 1m
Hard Rock Classics of 1986
Four hard rock songs from 1986 that shaped the genre.
Kat Caudill · 1m
Riley Green's Brad Paisley Gesture
Riley Green recalls Brad Paisley's unexpected song request during a tour that changed his career.
Chris Piner · 1m
4 Dance Tracks From 1977 That Could Keep Clubs Open Today
1977 disco hits that would still dominate dance floors today.
Kat Caudill · 1m
The Voice Battle Rounds Start
The Voice season 30 Battle Rounds begin with duos facing solo singers.
Chris Piner · 1m
3 Rock Songs From the 1960s That Sound Like Fun
Three 1960s rock songs where bands recorded with too much fun.
Alex Hopper · 1m
Pug Johnson Wins Road Ready Contest
Texas country singer Pug Johnson, 36, competes for $20,000 prize in American Songwriter's 2026 Road Ready Talent Contest.
Paige Gawley · 1m
Indigo Girls Cancel Tour After Bus Driver Death
Indigo Girls cancel shows following bus driver Kirk's death in South Carolina crash.
Chris Piner · 1m
Baby Boomers Remember 4 1973 Country Ballads
Baby boomers still recall four country ballads from 1973 that defined their youth.
Em Casalena · 1m
90s Country Lyrics Every Kid Knows
Classic 90s country lyrics that every generation remembers.
Kat Caudill · 1m
Kacey Musgraves on Dolly Parton's Legacy
Kacey Musgraves says she may never sing Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' again after tribute.
Paige Gawley · 1m
Bob Dylan's 1965 Songs That Changed Songwriting
Three Bob Dylan songs from 1965 reshaped songwriting with literary depth and surreal storytelling.
Em Casalena · 1m
Jack White Reunites With The Raconteurs
Jack White performs with The Raconteurs for first time in seven years at Nashville show.
Paige Gawley · 1m
Rickie Lee Jones' 1979 Hit from Friend's Departure
Rickie Lee Jones turned a friend leaving town into a No. 4 hit in 1979.
Jim Beviglia · 1m
Mike Love Returns to Beach Boys Stage
85-year-old Beach Boys legend Mike Love performs despite health struggles.
Paige Gawley · 1m
1960s Catchy Rock Songs
Three 1960s rock songs that stick in your memory.
Jacob Uitti · 1m
Baby Boomers' 1973 Songs
Baby boomers recall four 1973 songs tied to their formative memories.
Melanie Davis · 1m
4 Glittery Pop Songs From 1985
1985 pop gems you might have forgotten but still love.
Kat Caudill · 1m
Baby Boomers Crying to 1979 Soft Rock
Three soft rock songs from 1979 made baby boomers cry by the radio.
Em Casalena · 1m
Country Hits That Defied 1990s Nashville Rules
Three 1990s country songs broke radio norms without Nashville's formula.
Alex Hopper · 1m
3 Top 40 Hits From 1965 That Every 60s Kid Still Knows
Three 1965 hits every 1960s kid still knows by heart today.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
George Jones Sideman Sonny Curtis Dies
Sonny Curtis, George Jones' pedal steel guitarist, died 7 years ago today after hating the instrument he became famous for.
Erinn Callahan · 1m
Todd Snider's 60th Birthday
Todd Snider, the alt-country pioneer who died at 59, released 17 albums before his tragic death.
Erinn Callahan · 1m
Three 1977 One-Hit Wonders Still Loved Today
Three 1977 one-hit wonders remain popular decades later.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
Kane Brown Bar Lawsuit
Former Kane Brown Nashville bar owner sues for $2.4m over unpaid payments.
Paige Gawley · 1m
Rock Artists' Country Album Success
Three rock stars released one country album each and achieved chart success.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
Mick Jagger Confused by Rolling Stones Hit
Mick Jagger admits he doesn’t understand why 'Tumbling Dice' became a Rolling Stones fan favorite.
Alex Hopper · 1m
Keith Whitley Recorded Randy Travis' Hit
Keith Whitley recorded Randy Travis' hit 'On The Other Hand' before Travis released it as a single.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
Tanya Tucker's 68th Birthday
13-year-old country star Tanya Tucker, born in Texas 1958, stars in her own reality show after 68 years in music.
Erinn Callahan · 1m
Paul McCartney's First Solo Single
Paul McCartney released his first solo single in 1971, becoming a hit without an album.
Gayle Thompson · 1m
1967 Country Lyrics Poetry
Poetic country songs from 1967 reveal deep emotional storytelling.
Alex Hopper · 1m
Glittery Pop Hits From 1986
Four 1986 pop songs you forgot you loved.
Kat Caudill · 1m
Merle Haggard's 1970 Live Album and Fan Beliefs
Merle Haggard's 1970 live album reflected blue-collar fans' beliefs 56 years ago.
Clayton Edwards · 1m
High Schoolers in 1980 Knew These Songs
High schoolers in 1980 knew three songs by heart before MTV.
Kat Caudill · 1m
Warm Sunday Morning Songs From 1985
Three 1985 songs that feel like a peaceful Sunday morning.
Alex Hopper · 1m