Raise your hand if you miss the 1990s. The decade was terrific, especially musically speaking. The eclectic era brought music fans everything from alt-rock to grunge to hip-hop to electronic to even some great country tunes. But some of those country songs boasted a twist—they were written by big-name country stars for other big-name country stars.
That’s just what we wanted to explore below. We wanted to dive into three occasions when country stars helped out their peers during the decade. Indeed, these are three country artists from the 90s who wrote songs for others.
Videos by American Songwriter
Alan Jackson
The Georgia-born Alan Jackson is known for songs like “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Chattahoochee”, but Jackson did just keep his talents all to himself. He also penned tunes for others, including the glamorous country icon Faith Hill. Indeed, Jackson wrote Hill’s emotive hit “I Can’t Do That Anymore”, which today boasts several million streams on YouTube alone. The 1996 song also rose up the ranks and hit No. 8 on the Billboard Country charts in 1997.
Garth Brooks
Country artist Garth Brooks is one of the most successful songwriters and performers in the history of the genre. There aren’t many acts that can fill a sports arena, but in the 90s, Brooks was certainly one of them. With his cowboy hat and passionate tunes, Brooks knew how to connect with fans. But he also helped others write songs, including his now-wife Trisha Yearwood. Indeed, Brooks co-wrote Yearwood’s popular, tear-jerker, “Like We Never Had A Broken Heart”. Maybe that’s the secret to a good relationship—collaboration!
Emily Strayer
Emily Strayer, who is one of the founding members of the country group the Chicks, is no stranger to hit songs. Her group is known for tracks like “Wide Open Spaces” and “Cowboy Take Me Away”. But in the late 90s, Strayer co-wrote the song “Must Be San Antone”, which first appeared in 1999 on songwriter Jim Lauderdale’s LP, Onward Through It All. That lively tune was later covered by artist Sunny Sweeney for her 2006 LP, Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
More The List
-
Vancouver-based. Chilliwack – from left; Brain MacLeod; Ab Bryant; Skip Layton; Bill Henderson and Jamie Bowers – were described as taking rock 'n' roll where it's goig back in the San Francisco rock explosion of 1967. but they fizzled because they didn't tour to push record sales. They aren't making that mistake again. -
Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees in New York City, New York (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage) -
Rock music legend Janis Joplin performs at the free Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The festival took place on Max Yasgur's dairy farm, which he rented to event organizers for $75,000. About 450,000 people attended the three day concert, which turned into chaos due to the crowds, heavy rains, and traffic jams. It is nonetheless romantically remembered as a symbol of the liberal spirit of the hippie generation. (Photo by Henry Diltz/Corbis via Getty Images) -
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – AUGUST 30: Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates performs in concert at Etess Arena on August 30, 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Donald Kravitz/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – MAY 1999: (EDITORS NOTE: THIS IMAGE WAS CREATED USING COLOR INFRARED FILM) American rock band Smash Mouth (L – R) drummer Kevin Coleman, vocalist Steven Harwell, guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle pose for a May 1999 portrait in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Berg/Getty Images) -
Left to right: Doug Clifford, Tom Fogerty, John Fogerty and Stu Cook of American rock group, Creedence Clearwater Revival, in New York City, 1970. (Photo by PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage -
CIRCA 1967: Members of the rock band "Youngbloods" pose for a circa 1967 portrait. Original members include Jesse Colin Young, Lowell "Banana" Levinger, Jerry Corbitt and Joe Bauer. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)