MAB, thanks for mentioning Chris Stapleton. I guess I haven't checked the billboard top 25 in a while. Chris has 2 songs still in the top 25; "Tennessee Whiskey", and "Nobody To Blame". Those are two really great songs. AND, they stand out from the rest of the current "country" songs. Again, radio sure is regional! I don't think I've heard either one of those more than once or twice, if at all, on the country station I listen to here.
Now, if I may, I have a question about some of those "big dog" writers you mentioned. Those guys didn't just drive into town and go to work for the big name producers, publishers, artists. So, pick one writer, and if you can, give us a history lesson oh how he/she "made it" to the big times. How did they get to meet someone already on the inside? Were they trying to be an artist, or just a writer? Did they do writer's nights, like Debbie's, Donnie's, or Lee's?
Really love your history stories!
phil g.