Just got back from an evening at “The Listening Room” here in Nashville, where they hosted a fundraiser called “Songs for the Cure”. It was incredible evening that raised lots of money in the fight against cancer.

The songwriters on the ticket were some heavy hit makers - who played hit….after hit….after hit…..after hit! Wynn Varble who wrote, “Waitin’ on a Woman” & “Have You Forgotten”…..Kent Blazy who wrote, “Ain’t Goin’ Down Til the Sun Comes Up” & “If Tomorrow Never Comes” for Garth Brooks…….Julie Roberts who sang her hit, “Break Down Here”…….Brian White who wrote, “Watching You” (Rodney Atkins) & “Rough and Ready” (Trace Adkins)…..Arlos Smith who wrote, “Mayberry” (Rascal Flatts) & “Home to You” (John Michael Montgomery)…..and on and on!

I was invited to sing in one of the rounds with Brian White, Arlos Smith, Pete Sallis and a girl named Jamie Smith who is a 4 year cancer survivor! It was exciting and a bit emotional to be part of such a meaningful event. I lost my grandmother to cancer when I was 14 years old. She was being taken care of at our house, and every morning before school, I’d go out and kiss her goodbye. One afternoon at school, I received a message that my grandma had died about 10 minutes after I walked out the door that morning. It was worth the extra minute it took to say goodbye.

Thanks to all the organizers who put this great event together to help raise money to find a cure for cancer. And thanks to Chris Blair, the owner of The Listening Room - the coolest music venue in Nashville!!!

Okay everyone - now that you’ve read the book, I want to hear your thoughts….comments…..favorite stories….and what you “took away” from “The Takeaway!

So feel free to post away!!!!! Your favorite chapter, favorite memory from your childhood years, the moment you moved away from home, whatever you’re feeling….go ahead and spill it!!  

I’ll be sharing your comments with my dad as well, so feel free to write whatever you want!!

Two years ago, I packed up everything I owned, left my family and moved to Nashville.  I moved here to sing….period.  I had never written a song, or even tried to write music before I came here.  Yet somehow, God saw it fit to open doors for me to be able to publish a successful book and write songs with hit songwriters that have now been cut on major projects.  But this afternoon, something happened that I NEVER in a million years would have dreamed of.  I signed my name to a major publishing deal that will now pay me to write music full time.  Unbelievable…