Have you ever wondered what inspired your favorite songs? What gave the songwriters the spark of an idea that would turn into a radio hit or become part of the soundtrack to your life?
Award winning music biographer Jake Brown's new book, Nashville Songwriter Vol. II: The Inside Stories Behind Country Music's Greatest Hits, explores just that. The book tells in-depth stories behind the songs — from Little Big Town's "Girl Crush" to the Rhett Akins '90s favorite "That Ain't My Truck" — straight from the songwriters who penned them.
The book features interviews with Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, Cole Swindell and more of Music City's most respected songwriters.
Nashville Songwriter Vol. II: The Inside Stories Behind Country Music's Greatest Hits is out on Oct. 15 and in honor of its release,Wide Open Country is sharing the stories behind the songs written by one of Nashville's best.
Ross Copperman, who's written songs for Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge, Jake Owen and more, shares the stories behind Bentley's anthemic love song "Woman, Amen" and more.
Copperman says "Woman, Amen," which he wrote with Bentley and Josh Kear, began with a "traditional, kind of gospel progression." Watch Copperman tell the whole story below.
On writing "Woman, Amen":
"Woman, Amen" wasn't the first time Copperman had struck gold with Bentley. He also co-wrote the steamy 2016 hit "Black" with Bentley and Ashley Gorley. Copperman says the song spawned from a text from Bentley with a voice memo featuring part of the song's chorus.
On writing "Black":
Read More: Dierks Bentley's 'The Mountain' is an Exercise in Clear-Eyed Positivity
Not every song goes on to become a hit, but that doesn't make them any less impactful. Case in point, Bentley's gorgeous and moving "Here on Earth" from his 2014 album Riser. Copperman wrote the tune with Bentley and Ryan Tyndell on Bentley's tour bus. Copperman says the song remains one of his favorites. It's also loved by a certain international rock star.
On writing "Here on Earth":
You can order Nashville Songwriter Vol. II: The Inside Stories Behind Country Music's Greatest Hits here.
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