Mark D. Sanders
Encyclopedia
Mark Daniel Sanders is an American Country Music songwriter. He has written 14 No. 1 hits, 50 singles, and over 200 cuts, including the famous Lee Ann Womack
single “I Hope You Dance
,” co-written with Tia Sillers.
and the University of California-San Diego. Sanders first wrote songs as a hobby, until March 5, 1980, when he went to Nashville, Tenn. to give his first few songs a shot. Sanders worked jobs such as tour bus driving and substitute teaching until he was able to develop his songwriting into a full-fledged career about a decade later.
In an interview with American Songwriter, Sanders said, “I was 29 and wanted to do something of significance in my life. I couldn’t do anything else. I didn’t want to turn 30 and be aimless. I think some people grow up needing to be creative, it just took me awhile to give myself permission to do it.”
In June 1986, Sanders married Cindy Sasser who he met while they were both working at Hillsboro High School in Nashville, TN. In addition to a successful songwriting career, Sanders has two daughters Kate & Sophie Sanders, a son Dylan Sanders, a stepdaughter Jill Goodwin, and stepson Ethan Goodwin.
, Tracy Lawrence
, and John Anderson brought Sanders 14 No. 1 singles.
“My experience tells me that one out of five songs I demo will get cut, and I’d be really lucky if two of them were recorded,” said Sanders. “It took me 10 years to make enough money to where I didn’t have to worry about next year’s house payment.”
Sanders was nominated for NSAI
Songwriter of the Year in 1995, a year that brought him five No. 1 hits. He was nominated a second time in 1996. Also in 1996, Sanders won an award for Country Song of the Year for the song “No News” by Lonestar. Sanders was also awarded Country Songwriter of the Year in 1997. He also won songwriter of the year in 1995 and 1997 from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
Sanders has held a previous staff position is at Starstruck Publishing, Reba McEntire
’s company located on Nashville’s Music Row, working with many famous artists side by side.
On November 7, 2011, Mark D Sanders released "History & Hope", an album that features him singing 10 of his songs spanning his career.
song “I Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” in 1999, but it was their collaboration on the Womack song that gained them recognition. The song became a No. 1 country hit and Top 20 pop hit for Lee Ann Womack, and received the Grammy Award for "Best Country Song," as well as a Grammy nomination for “Song of the Year.” The song also received CMA & ACM Awards for "Song Of The Year" in 2000. The song stayed atop the Billboard Country chart for five consecutive weeks.
Sillers remembers the ease that came with working with Sanders. “Mark made everything better. He was always great to work with. We wrote the song very quickly finishing the song in just a day or two.”
The song’s popularity led to the release of a book entitled “I Hope You Dance,” another collaboration of Sillers and Sanders. The book contains poems and writings inspired by the song. There is also an “I Hope You Dance” children’s book and journal. Sanders and Sillers later collaborated again on an inspirational book entitled “Climb.”
Other hits by Sanders include “Blue Clear Sky” (with Bob DiPiero) for George Strait
, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” Jo Dee Messina
’s first hit single; and “My Heart Has A History” for Paul Brandt
.
Sanders was recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
. According to American Songwriter, “The Hall welcomed talented writers Kye Fleming and Mark D. Sanders, and from the Songwriter/Artist category, late Country music icon Tammy Wynette
.” The induction ceremony took place at the 39th Anniversary Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony in Nashville on Oct. 19, 2009.
"Kye, Mark and Tammy have made many poignant and enduring contributions to the music world and certainly deserve to take their places among their gifted peers," said Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman Roger Murrah, whose own songwriting credits include hits by Alan Jackson, Alabama and Blake Shelton. "It's an honor for us to recognize them for their outstanding accomplishments."
According to Great American Country, “Mark D. Sanders’ name was frequently in the parentheses beneath hit song titles during the 1990s.”
“If you looked at my songs 15–16 years ago, you would know what I mean. Learning to finish a song is a process. I’ve written so many songs...you just learn things you don’t want to say, things you’ve said before. I try to think of interesting or quirky things that no one else has said,” Sanders told American Songwriter.
“You have to also get out of thinking that your life is the most interesting thing you have to write about. I had to write about myself when I started out, it was therapy. But the older I got the more I realized that my life isn’t that interesting, so I started to write about other stuff.”
Sanders receives inspiration from life all around him. He often gets ideas from book titles and was once inspired by the name of an author herself.
“I like to find a book where the author writes like country music writers,” Sanders has said. “And sometimes I’ll just walk through a bookstore and look at titles.
(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing: Trace Adkins, 1997 (#1 Country)
A Door: Aaron Tippin, 1997 (#65 Country)
A Matter Of Wine: Mel Tillis, 1983
A River Like You: Vince Gill, 2006
Ain’t That The Way It Goes: Dave Kemp, 1983 (#75 Country)
Another Friday Night: Kenny Chesney, 1996
Anytime: Rick Trevino, 1996
Baby’s Gone: Trace Adkins, 2003
Backslider’s Prayer: Ty England, 1996 Lesley McDaniel, 2000
Better Than It Used To Be: Rhett Akins, 1998 (#47 Country)
The Big Bad Broken Heart: Regina Regina, 1997 Kimberlee Nash, 2003
Blue Clear Sky: George Strait, 1996 (#1 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Bobbie Ann Mason: Rick Trevino, 1995 (#6 Country)
Buckaroo: Lee Ann Womack, 1998 (#27 Country)
Careful What You Wish For: Ricky Lynn Gregg, 2001 Texas Unlimited Band, 2005
Cheatin’ On Her Heart: Jeff Carson, 1998 (#52 Country)
Cold Dog Soup: Guy Clark, 1999
Come Cryin’ To Me: Lonestar, 1997 (#1 Country)
Come Home: Trace Adkins, 2001
Come With Me: Zane Lewis, 2008
Daddy’s Money: Ricochet, 1996 (#1 Country) Country Kickers, 1997
Divine Intervention: Greg Holland, 1994 Jeff Carson, 2001
Don’t Get Me Started: Rhett Akins, 1996 (#1 Country)
Don’t Take Your Love Away From Me: Randy Travis, 1996
Drinkin’ Problem: Lori McKenna, 2007
Fools Hall Of Fame: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1997
Geronimo: Andy Childs, 1993 James T. Horn, 1997
Get A Guitar: Jeff Carson, 1995
Girls Ride Horses Too: Judy Rodman, 1987 (#7 Country)
Hands On Man: Jeff Bates, 2006
Happy As We Wanna Be: Rhett Akins, 1998
Have A Nice Rest Of Your Life: Randy Travis, 1989
Heads Carolina, Tails California: Jo Dee Messina, 1996 (#2 Country)
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter: Reba McEntire, 1995 (#1 Country)
Here’s Hopin’: Kathy Mattea, 1989 Roy Rogers & Randy Travis, 1991
Hills & Hollers: Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, 2005
Hotwired: Shawn Camp, 2006 Porter Wagoner, 2007
House Huntin’: Matthews, Wright & King, 1992 (#68 Country)
I Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere: Martina McBride, 1999
I Hope You Dance: Lee Ann Womack, 2000 (#1 Country/#1 AC /#14 Pop)
NSAI Song of the Year for 2000–2001; 2000 ACM and 2000 CMA Song and
Single of the Year; 2000 Grammy for Best Country Song; 2001 ASCAP
Country Song of the Year; 2001 BMI Country Song of the Year
Sons of the Desert, 2000 Oleta Adams, 2001 Reigning Mercy, 2001 Dennis
Caplinger, 2002 Willie Jolley, 2003 Lisa Otey & the Desert Divas, 2004 Ronan
Keating, 2004 Deborah Lippman, 2005 Tia Sillers, 2005 Glendon Smith
Quintet, 2006 Kim McAbee, 2006 Gladys Knight, 2008
I’m Up For Gettin’ Down Tonight: Clifford Curry, 1985 Savannah, 1985
I’d Rather Ride Around With You: Reba McEntire, 1997 (#2 Country)
I’d Say That’s Right: Clay Walker, 1997
If I Could Live Your Life: Linda Davis & Reba McEntire, 1996
If I’m Ever Over You: Michelle Wright, 1992
If You’ve Got Love: John Michael Montgomery, 1995 (#1 Country)
I’ll Take Care Of You: Kathy Mattea, 1989
I’m Your Man: Jason Sellers, 1997 (#37 Country)
In The Blood: Rob Crosby, 1992 (#48 Country)
It Goes Without Saying: Tim Malchak, 1988 (#35 Country)
It Matters To Me: Faith Hill, 1996 (#1 Country / #74 Pop)
It’s About Time: Julie Reeves, 1999 (#51 Country)
Just Another Heartache: Chely Wright, 1998 (#39 Country)
Just As Dead Today: Shawn Camp, 2006
Knocked Up: Heidi Newfield, 2008
Leaving This Life: Lori McKenna, 2007
Like A Hurricane: Kathy Mattea, 1987 Pat Alger, 1991 The Dillards, 1992
Little Miracles: Jenny Simpson, 1998
Loretta Lynn’s Lincoln: Josh Turner, 2006
Love And Gravity: BlackHawk, 1997
Love Like A River: Daylon Wear, 2001
Love Will Carry The Load: Susie Luchsinger, 1995
Love Won’t Wait: The Whites, 1986 (#36 Country)
Macon Love: David Wills, 1984 (#69 Country)
The Man Behind The Wheel: Charlie Floyd, 1993
Many A Mile: Collin Raye, 1992
Many Mansions: Moe Bandy, 1989 (#34 Country)
The Memories Remain: Emmylou Harris, 1983 Barry & Holly Tashian, 1993
Mirror, Mirror: Diamond Rio, 1991 (#3 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Money In The Bank: John Anderson, 1993 (#1 Country)
My Heart Has A History: Paul Brandt, 1996 (#5 Country)
Never Had A Reason To: Reba McEntire, 1996
New Orleans: Oak Ridge Boys, 1999 Toby Keith, 1999
No News: Lonestar, 1996 (#1 Country) — 1997 ASCAP Country Song of the Year
Off My Rocker: Billy Currington, 2002
Off To Join The World: Blaine Larson, 2003 Cowboy Jack Clement, 2004
Oh Carolina: Vince Gill, 1984 (#38 Country)
On Again, Off Again: Nashville Bluegrass Band, 1993
One Love, One You: Oak Ridge Boys, 1987
The Other Side Of This Kiss: Mindy McCready, 1998 (#41 Country)
Preachin’ To The Choir: Jeff Carson, 1995
The Quittin’ Kind: Joe Diffie, 1999 (#21 Country / #90 Pop)
Runnin’ Away With My Heart: Lonestar, 1996 (#8 Country)
Runnin’ Behind: Tracy Lawrence, 1992 (#1 Country)
Save This One For Me: Rick Trevino, 1995 (#45 Country)
See Rock City: Rick Trevino, 1997 (#44 Country) Kentucky HeadHunters, 1997
She’s Still There: Trace Adkins, 1999
Small Towns Are Smaller For Girls: Holly Dunn, 1987
Spinning Straw Into Gold: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1994
Straight To You: Brian McComas, 2003
Talk To My Heart: Joan Kennedy, 1994
That’d Be Alright: Alan Jackson, 2003 (#2 Country / #29 Pop)
That’s A Man: Jack Ingram, 2009 (#15 Country)
That’s Enough Of That: Mila Mason, 1996 (#18 Country)
That’s Me (Every Chance I Get): George Strait, 1997
That’s One You Owe Me: Johnny Cash, 1989
That’s The Way I Feel: Delbert McClinton, 1990
That’s What I Like About Love: Billy Dean, 1993
That’s What Love’ll Get You: Joe Nichols, 2005
The Day That She Left Tulsa (In A Chevy): Wade Hayes, 1998 (#5 Country / #86 Pop)
There You Are: Martina McBride, 2000 (#10 Country / #15 AC / #60 Pop)
They’re Playin’ Our Song: Neal McCoy, 1995 (#3 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Thinking ’Bout Leaving: James & Michael Younger, 1983 Gene Watson, 1983 Butch Baker, 1984 (#56 Country)
This’d Be A Real Good Day: Chad Austin, 2000
Those Hands: Rhett Akins, 1995
Time Is A Bandit: Ricky Skaggs, 1997
Tune Of A Twenty Dollar Bill: Lonesome River Band, 2002 Shawn Camp, 2004 Joey & Rory, 2008
Two Ways To Fall: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1997 Rodney Redman, 2002 Ty England, 1996
Victim Of The Game: Garth Brooks, 1990 Trisha Yearwood, 1991
Vidalia: Sammy Kershaw, 1996 (#10 Country)
Waitin’ For The Day To Break: Shawn Camp, 2006
Walking To Jerusalem: Tracy Byrd, 1995 (#15 Country / #92 Pop)
Way Beyond The Blue: The Bonners, 1988 (#99 Country) Roger Ballard, 1993
The Way Things Are Goin’: Darryl Worley, 2000
What If I Do: Mindy McCready, 1997 (#26 Country)
What More Do You Want From Me?: Rhonda Vincent, 1996 Diamond Rio, 1998
Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy: Chris LeDoux & Garth Brooks, 1992 (#7 Country) Country Dance Kings, 1993
When Her Love Was Mine: Pirates of the Mississippi, 1995
When I Get Where I’m Goin’: Nashville Bluegrass Band, 1993
When Life Hits Hard: Ricky Skaggs, 1997
Willow In The Wind: Kathy Mattea, 1989
Yeah Buddy: Jeff Carson, 1995 (#69 Country)
You Are What You Do: Highway 101, 1993 The Moffatts, 1995
Your Woman Misses Her Man: Chely Wright, 1997
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love....
single “I Hope You Dance
I Hope You Dance (song)
"I Hope You Dance" is a crossover country pop song written by Mark D. Sandersand Tia Sillers, and recorded by country singer Lee Ann Womack along with Sons of the Desert...
,” co-written with Tia Sillers.
Early life
Mark Daniel Sanders was born in Los Angeles, Calif. on September 7, 1950. While majoring in literature, Sanders also enjoyed playing basketball and surfing at Fullerton CollegeFullerton College
Fullerton College is the oldest community college in continuous operation in California, having been established in 1913. Current enrollment is 22,014.- History 1913 to 1972 :...
and the University of California-San Diego. Sanders first wrote songs as a hobby, until March 5, 1980, when he went to Nashville, Tenn. to give his first few songs a shot. Sanders worked jobs such as tour bus driving and substitute teaching until he was able to develop his songwriting into a full-fledged career about a decade later.
In an interview with American Songwriter, Sanders said, “I was 29 and wanted to do something of significance in my life. I couldn’t do anything else. I didn’t want to turn 30 and be aimless. I think some people grow up needing to be creative, it just took me awhile to give myself permission to do it.”
In June 1986, Sanders married Cindy Sasser who he met while they were both working at Hillsboro High School in Nashville, TN. In addition to a successful songwriting career, Sanders has two daughters Kate & Sophie Sanders, a son Dylan Sanders, a stepdaughter Jill Goodwin, and stepson Ethan Goodwin.
Career
After spending a successful decade writing in Nashville, Tenn., Sanders’ career began to skyrocket in the early 1990s. Songs by artists Diamond RioDiamond Rio
Diamond Rio is an American Country music/Christian music band formed in 1984 in Nashville, Tennessee. Since its foundation, the group has comprised the same six members: Gene Johnson , Jimmy Olander , Brian Prout , Marty Roe , Dan Truman , and Dana Williams...
, Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence is an American country music artist. He started at a country music restaurant called "Live At Libby's" where owner Libby Knight would help local talent find their way into country music...
, and John Anderson brought Sanders 14 No. 1 singles.
“My experience tells me that one out of five songs I demo will get cut, and I’d be really lucky if two of them were recorded,” said Sanders. “It took me 10 years to make enough money to where I didn’t have to worry about next year’s house payment.”
Sanders was nominated for NSAI
NSAI
NSAI may refer to:*Nashville Songwriters Association International, songwriting preservation and education society*National Spatial Address Infrastructure, a United Kingdom government initiative...
Songwriter of the Year in 1995, a year that brought him five No. 1 hits. He was nominated a second time in 1996. Also in 1996, Sanders won an award for Country Song of the Year for the song “No News” by Lonestar. Sanders was also awarded Country Songwriter of the Year in 1997. He also won songwriter of the year in 1995 and 1997 from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
Sanders has held a previous staff position is at Starstruck Publishing, Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
’s company located on Nashville’s Music Row, working with many famous artists side by side.
On November 7, 2011, Mark D Sanders released "History & Hope", an album that features him singing 10 of his songs spanning his career.
Milestones
Sanders’ major career achievement, however, would be his collaboration with Tia Sillers on the Lee Ann Womack song “I Hope You Dance.” The duo had previously written the Martina McBrideMartina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
song “I Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” in 1999, but it was their collaboration on the Womack song that gained them recognition. The song became a No. 1 country hit and Top 20 pop hit for Lee Ann Womack, and received the Grammy Award for "Best Country Song," as well as a Grammy nomination for “Song of the Year.” The song also received CMA & ACM Awards for "Song Of The Year" in 2000. The song stayed atop the Billboard Country chart for five consecutive weeks.
Sillers remembers the ease that came with working with Sanders. “Mark made everything better. He was always great to work with. We wrote the song very quickly finishing the song in just a day or two.”
The song’s popularity led to the release of a book entitled “I Hope You Dance,” another collaboration of Sillers and Sanders. The book contains poems and writings inspired by the song. There is also an “I Hope You Dance” children’s book and journal. Sanders and Sillers later collaborated again on an inspirational book entitled “Climb.”
Other hits by Sanders include “Blue Clear Sky” (with Bob DiPiero) for George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee Marie Messina , known professionally as Jo Dee Messina, is an American country music artist. She has charted nine Number One singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two...
’s first hit single; and “My Heart Has A History” for Paul Brandt
Paul Brandt
Paul Rennée Belobersycky is a Canadian country music artist, known professionally as Paul Brandt. Growing up in Calgary, he was a pediatric RN at the time of his big break...
.
Sanders was recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
. According to American Songwriter, “The Hall welcomed talented writers Kye Fleming and Mark D. Sanders, and from the Songwriter/Artist category, late Country music icon Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
.” The induction ceremony took place at the 39th Anniversary Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony in Nashville on Oct. 19, 2009.
"Kye, Mark and Tammy have made many poignant and enduring contributions to the music world and certainly deserve to take their places among their gifted peers," said Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman Roger Murrah, whose own songwriting credits include hits by Alan Jackson, Alabama and Blake Shelton. "It's an honor for us to recognize them for their outstanding accomplishments."
According to Great American Country, “Mark D. Sanders’ name was frequently in the parentheses beneath hit song titles during the 1990s.”
Inspiration and technique
Sanders attributes his writing abilities to self-editing and having faith in his writing.“If you looked at my songs 15–16 years ago, you would know what I mean. Learning to finish a song is a process. I’ve written so many songs...you just learn things you don’t want to say, things you’ve said before. I try to think of interesting or quirky things that no one else has said,” Sanders told American Songwriter.
“You have to also get out of thinking that your life is the most interesting thing you have to write about. I had to write about myself when I started out, it was therapy. But the older I got the more I realized that my life isn’t that interesting, so I started to write about other stuff.”
Sanders receives inspiration from life all around him. He often gets ideas from book titles and was once inspired by the name of an author herself.
“I like to find a book where the author writes like country music writers,” Sanders has said. “And sometimes I’ll just walk through a bookstore and look at titles.
No. 1 Hits
- “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” – Trace Adkins
- “Blue Clear Sky” – George Strait
- “Come Cryin’ to Me”, “No News” – Lonestar
- “Daddy’s Money” – Ricochet
- “Don’t Get Me Started” – Rhett Akins
- “Heads Carolina, Tails California” – Jo Dee Messina
- “I Hope You Dance” – Lee Ann Womack
- “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter” – Reba McEntire
- “If You’ve Got Love” – John Michael Montgomery
- “It Matters to Me” – Faith Hill
- “Money in the Bank” – John Anderson
- “Runnin’ Behind” – Tracy Lawrence
- “They’re Playin’ Our Song” – Neal McCoy
- “Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy” – Chris LeDoux & Garth Brooks
(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing: Trace Adkins, 1997 (#1 Country)
A Door: Aaron Tippin, 1997 (#65 Country)
A Matter Of Wine: Mel Tillis, 1983
A River Like You: Vince Gill, 2006
Ain’t That The Way It Goes: Dave Kemp, 1983 (#75 Country)
Another Friday Night: Kenny Chesney, 1996
Anytime: Rick Trevino, 1996
Baby’s Gone: Trace Adkins, 2003
Backslider’s Prayer: Ty England, 1996 Lesley McDaniel, 2000
Better Than It Used To Be: Rhett Akins, 1998 (#47 Country)
The Big Bad Broken Heart: Regina Regina, 1997 Kimberlee Nash, 2003
Blue Clear Sky: George Strait, 1996 (#1 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Bobbie Ann Mason: Rick Trevino, 1995 (#6 Country)
Buckaroo: Lee Ann Womack, 1998 (#27 Country)
Careful What You Wish For: Ricky Lynn Gregg, 2001 Texas Unlimited Band, 2005
Cheatin’ On Her Heart: Jeff Carson, 1998 (#52 Country)
Cold Dog Soup: Guy Clark, 1999
Come Cryin’ To Me: Lonestar, 1997 (#1 Country)
Come Home: Trace Adkins, 2001
Come With Me: Zane Lewis, 2008
Daddy’s Money: Ricochet, 1996 (#1 Country) Country Kickers, 1997
Divine Intervention: Greg Holland, 1994 Jeff Carson, 2001
Don’t Get Me Started: Rhett Akins, 1996 (#1 Country)
Don’t Take Your Love Away From Me: Randy Travis, 1996
Drinkin’ Problem: Lori McKenna, 2007
Fools Hall Of Fame: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1997
Geronimo: Andy Childs, 1993 James T. Horn, 1997
Get A Guitar: Jeff Carson, 1995
Girls Ride Horses Too: Judy Rodman, 1987 (#7 Country)
Hands On Man: Jeff Bates, 2006
Happy As We Wanna Be: Rhett Akins, 1998
Have A Nice Rest Of Your Life: Randy Travis, 1989
Heads Carolina, Tails California: Jo Dee Messina, 1996 (#2 Country)
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter: Reba McEntire, 1995 (#1 Country)
Here’s Hopin’: Kathy Mattea, 1989 Roy Rogers & Randy Travis, 1991
Hills & Hollers: Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, 2005
Hotwired: Shawn Camp, 2006 Porter Wagoner, 2007
House Huntin’: Matthews, Wright & King, 1992 (#68 Country)
I Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere: Martina McBride, 1999
I Hope You Dance: Lee Ann Womack, 2000 (#1 Country/#1 AC /#14 Pop)
NSAI Song of the Year for 2000–2001; 2000 ACM and 2000 CMA Song and
Single of the Year; 2000 Grammy for Best Country Song; 2001 ASCAP
Country Song of the Year; 2001 BMI Country Song of the Year
Sons of the Desert, 2000 Oleta Adams, 2001 Reigning Mercy, 2001 Dennis
Caplinger, 2002 Willie Jolley, 2003 Lisa Otey & the Desert Divas, 2004 Ronan
Keating, 2004 Deborah Lippman, 2005 Tia Sillers, 2005 Glendon Smith
Quintet, 2006 Kim McAbee, 2006 Gladys Knight, 2008
I’m Up For Gettin’ Down Tonight: Clifford Curry, 1985 Savannah, 1985
I’d Rather Ride Around With You: Reba McEntire, 1997 (#2 Country)
I’d Say That’s Right: Clay Walker, 1997
If I Could Live Your Life: Linda Davis & Reba McEntire, 1996
If I’m Ever Over You: Michelle Wright, 1992
If You’ve Got Love: John Michael Montgomery, 1995 (#1 Country)
I’ll Take Care Of You: Kathy Mattea, 1989
I’m Your Man: Jason Sellers, 1997 (#37 Country)
In The Blood: Rob Crosby, 1992 (#48 Country)
It Goes Without Saying: Tim Malchak, 1988 (#35 Country)
It Matters To Me: Faith Hill, 1996 (#1 Country / #74 Pop)
It’s About Time: Julie Reeves, 1999 (#51 Country)
Just Another Heartache: Chely Wright, 1998 (#39 Country)
Just As Dead Today: Shawn Camp, 2006
Knocked Up: Heidi Newfield, 2008
Leaving This Life: Lori McKenna, 2007
Like A Hurricane: Kathy Mattea, 1987 Pat Alger, 1991 The Dillards, 1992
Little Miracles: Jenny Simpson, 1998
Loretta Lynn’s Lincoln: Josh Turner, 2006
Love And Gravity: BlackHawk, 1997
Love Like A River: Daylon Wear, 2001
Love Will Carry The Load: Susie Luchsinger, 1995
Love Won’t Wait: The Whites, 1986 (#36 Country)
Macon Love: David Wills, 1984 (#69 Country)
The Man Behind The Wheel: Charlie Floyd, 1993
Many A Mile: Collin Raye, 1992
Many Mansions: Moe Bandy, 1989 (#34 Country)
The Memories Remain: Emmylou Harris, 1983 Barry & Holly Tashian, 1993
Mirror, Mirror: Diamond Rio, 1991 (#3 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Money In The Bank: John Anderson, 1993 (#1 Country)
My Heart Has A History: Paul Brandt, 1996 (#5 Country)
Never Had A Reason To: Reba McEntire, 1996
New Orleans: Oak Ridge Boys, 1999 Toby Keith, 1999
No News: Lonestar, 1996 (#1 Country) — 1997 ASCAP Country Song of the Year
Off My Rocker: Billy Currington, 2002
Off To Join The World: Blaine Larson, 2003 Cowboy Jack Clement, 2004
Oh Carolina: Vince Gill, 1984 (#38 Country)
On Again, Off Again: Nashville Bluegrass Band, 1993
One Love, One You: Oak Ridge Boys, 1987
The Other Side Of This Kiss: Mindy McCready, 1998 (#41 Country)
Preachin’ To The Choir: Jeff Carson, 1995
The Quittin’ Kind: Joe Diffie, 1999 (#21 Country / #90 Pop)
Runnin’ Away With My Heart: Lonestar, 1996 (#8 Country)
Runnin’ Behind: Tracy Lawrence, 1992 (#1 Country)
Save This One For Me: Rick Trevino, 1995 (#45 Country)
See Rock City: Rick Trevino, 1997 (#44 Country) Kentucky HeadHunters, 1997
She’s Still There: Trace Adkins, 1999
Small Towns Are Smaller For Girls: Holly Dunn, 1987
Spinning Straw Into Gold: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1994
Straight To You: Brian McComas, 2003
Talk To My Heart: Joan Kennedy, 1994
That’d Be Alright: Alan Jackson, 2003 (#2 Country / #29 Pop)
That’s A Man: Jack Ingram, 2009 (#15 Country)
That’s Enough Of That: Mila Mason, 1996 (#18 Country)
That’s Me (Every Chance I Get): George Strait, 1997
That’s One You Owe Me: Johnny Cash, 1989
That’s The Way I Feel: Delbert McClinton, 1990
That’s What I Like About Love: Billy Dean, 1993
That’s What Love’ll Get You: Joe Nichols, 2005
The Day That She Left Tulsa (In A Chevy): Wade Hayes, 1998 (#5 Country / #86 Pop)
There You Are: Martina McBride, 2000 (#10 Country / #15 AC / #60 Pop)
They’re Playin’ Our Song: Neal McCoy, 1995 (#3 Country) Bob DiPiero, 2001
Thinking ’Bout Leaving: James & Michael Younger, 1983 Gene Watson, 1983 Butch Baker, 1984 (#56 Country)
This’d Be A Real Good Day: Chad Austin, 2000
Those Hands: Rhett Akins, 1995
Time Is A Bandit: Ricky Skaggs, 1997
Tune Of A Twenty Dollar Bill: Lonesome River Band, 2002 Shawn Camp, 2004 Joey & Rory, 2008
Two Ways To Fall: Barry & Holly Tashian, 1997 Rodney Redman, 2002 Ty England, 1996
Victim Of The Game: Garth Brooks, 1990 Trisha Yearwood, 1991
Vidalia: Sammy Kershaw, 1996 (#10 Country)
Waitin’ For The Day To Break: Shawn Camp, 2006
Walking To Jerusalem: Tracy Byrd, 1995 (#15 Country / #92 Pop)
Way Beyond The Blue: The Bonners, 1988 (#99 Country) Roger Ballard, 1993
The Way Things Are Goin’: Darryl Worley, 2000
What If I Do: Mindy McCready, 1997 (#26 Country)
What More Do You Want From Me?: Rhonda Vincent, 1996 Diamond Rio, 1998
Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy: Chris LeDoux & Garth Brooks, 1992 (#7 Country) Country Dance Kings, 1993
When Her Love Was Mine: Pirates of the Mississippi, 1995
When I Get Where I’m Goin’: Nashville Bluegrass Band, 1993
When Life Hits Hard: Ricky Skaggs, 1997
Willow In The Wind: Kathy Mattea, 1989
Yeah Buddy: Jeff Carson, 1995 (#69 Country)
You Are What You Do: Highway 101, 1993 The Moffatts, 1995
Your Woman Misses Her Man: Chely Wright, 1997