May 2, 2023
Beth Nielsen Chapman is a songwriter’s songwriter. She
began writing before she had any idea that it could be a career; it
was just something that came naturally to her. When she first
started out, there was no way to possibly imagine just how
important songs would become in her journey - both professionally
and personally.
Here she talks about that journey, which includes writing songs for
Martina McBride, Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, Crystal Gayle, Juice Newton, Bette Midler, and most
famously co-writing Faith Hill’s hit song “This Kiss”. She has
released sixteen albums as a solo artist as well.
Along the way, she also talks about processing grief and loss
through music (and making music through grief). We spoke only weeks
after her second husband, Bob passed away. Her first husband,
Ernest, died in 1994. She also tells the stories behind many of her
hit songs, and lays out her philosophy of creativity and craft,
including what it means to “write from the center of your truth,”
channeling humanity’s “collective wisdom” and what it means to have
“investment without attachment” in songwriting.
Beth’s most recent album,
Crazy Town came out in 2022.
www.third-story.com
www.wbgo.org/podcast/the-third-story
www.patreon-com/thirdstorypodcast