February | 2021 | Country Music Success Stories

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I didn’t come to Nashville having played bars for 10 years. I was a total green horn. So I learned a lot. It’s a blast, it’s like perpetual adolescence. -Karen Staley

Welcome to the success story of a woman whose songs have been played on radio more than 12 million times (and counting) with downloads at about 20 million! Karen Staley is in a league of her own as a Nashville quadruple threat who sings, plays, writes and produces. Her love of music started in high school when she hurt her back and had to give up playing varsity sports. Karen’s music teacher noticed she was floundering, handed her a guitar and taught her the chords to Annie’s Song by John Denver. Karen Staley never put that guitar down and her 30 year success story has included writing number one songs like Take Me As I Am, Hey, Baby Let’s Go To Vegas and Keeper of the Stars. She knows what it is like to tour and play to gigantic crowds with Reba, Faith Hill, Terri Clark, Patty Loveless and more. Born in Weirton, West Virginia and raised near Hookstown, PA, Karen is an iconic, hit songwriter with a tireless work ethic and a heart of gold. This interview was recorded in Karen’s home where her music room is lined with gold records and guitars just waiting to be played. With honesty and plenty of humor, Karen says: “In 30 years of writing, I’ve never had writer’s block. God gives me something every time.” Press that download button now for priceless stories about being a part of the early days of the Bluebird Cafe and a treasure box full of songwriting advice.

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I first wrote poetry and got it published in the high school year book and it gave me a little bit of positive feedback that somebody must like what I do. The minute I got a guitar, I just started trying to put the two together and started writing songs instead of poetry. -Kent Blazy

As Jacy and I made our way up the hill to Kent Blazy’s house, I couldn’t help but wonder how his climb, his success story as a singer/songwriter and guitarist had unfolded in Nashville. In this interview, Kent explains how he traded cigarettes for the chance to learn guitar licks from a kid who lived a few blocks away from his home in Lexington, Kentucky. With a guitar in his lap, Kent turned his poems into songs and decided to make music his life. By the time he arrived in Nashville, Kent already had lots of experience as a singer, guitarist and songwriter and began creating opportunities for himself to succeed, including building a recording studio in his home. His life changed the day Garth Brooks walked into his studio. You see, Garth was hoping he could earn some money as a demo singer. It wasn’t long before they decided to take a shot at co-writing and on February 1, 1988 they wrote the song that changed the trajectory of their careers. Inspired by their wives, If Tomorrow Never Comes would get Garth a record deal and become their first of 7 number one songs. Kent would go on to write many more number ones for other artists, too. Now the newest member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Kent Blazy is a platinum-selling hitmaker who takes the art of songwriting very seriously with a sharp focus on always being prepared. For a tutorial on becoming the kind of songwriter people want to write with, hit that download button. #kentblazy #garthbrooks #countrymusic #nashville

Country Music Success Stories

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Monthly Archives: February 2021

Karen Staley

Kent Blazy