Luke Robert Laird (born c. 1978 in Hartstown, Pennsylvania)[1] is an award-winning American music Songwriter. He is best known for co-writing singles recorded by Carrie Underwood,[2] Jason Aldean, Eric Church,[3] and Rodney Atkins.
After graduating from Grove City Area High School, Laird moved to Tennessee in 1997 and attended Middle Tennessee State University. In December 2001 he graduated from MTSU with a degree in Recording Industry Management,[4] then became an assistant tour manager for Brooks & Dunn while seeking a publishing contract.[5] In 2002 he signed a publishing deal with Bertelsmann Music Group Publishing and landed his first cut on Lee Ann Womack's There's More Where That Came From album with a song called "Painless" co-written with Bill Luther and Hillary Lindsey.[6]
Laird has had twelve #1 Billboard singles including Carrie Underwood’s “So Small”, “Last Name", “Temporary Home”, and “Undo It”, Blake Shelton’s “Hillbilly Bone” featuring Trace Adkins, Sara Evans’s “A Little Bit Stronger”, Rodney Atkins’s “Take a Back Road”, Eric Church’s “Drink in My Hand”, Little Big Town's "Pontoon", [7] Hunter Hayes' "Somebody's Heartbreak" [8] and Chris Young’s “You”.[4] Laird also co-wrote the top 5 singles “Baggage Claim” by Miranda Lambert and "Mama's Song" by Underwood. Over his career Luke Laird has collaborated with Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Ne-Yo, Luke Bryan, John Legend, Charlotte Church, and many others.[9]
In 2012, Laird was named BMI's Country Songwriter of the Year, having co-written five songs that appeared on the year's most played list.[10] Additionally, his song with Rodney Atkins, "Take a Back Road" was named Song of the Year. [11]
Creative Nation [edit]
In 2011, Laird and his wife Beth Mason Laird[12] founded Creative Nation, a music publishing and management company that is home to Country Music songwriters and producers, including Luke Laird, Barry Dean, Native Run, and Maggie Chapman. The company has partnerships with Universal Music Publishing Group[13] and Pulse Recording.[14] Creative Nation is based in Nashville, Tennessee.[15]
Songwriting discography [edit]
| Year |
Artist |
Album |
Song |
Co-written with |
| 2013 |
Kacey Musgraves |
Same Trailer Different Park |
"Blowin' Smoke" |
Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally |
| "I Miss You" |
Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osbourne |
| "Back On The Map" |
Kacey Musgraves |
| "Keep It To Yourself" |
Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally |
| "It Is What It Is" |
Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark |
| "Step Off" |
Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally |
| Thompson Square |
Just Feels Good |
"Testing The Water" |
Shane McAnally, Hillary Lindsey |
| Joel Crouse |
TBD |
"If You Want Some" |
Joel Crouse, Jamie Houston |
| Brad Paisley |
Wheelhouse |
"Beat This Summer" |
Chris DuBois, Brad Paisley |
| Lady Antebellum |
Golden |
"Downtown" |
Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby |
| Tim McGraw |
Two Lanes of Freedom |
"One of Those Nights" |
Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins |
| 2012 |
Jason Aldean |
Night Train |
"1994" |
Thomas Rhett, Barry Dean |
| Neal McCoy |
XII |
"A-OK" |
Barry Dean, Brett Eldredge |
| Tim McGraw |
Emotional Traffic |
"Halo" |
Jedd Hughes |
| Lee Brice |
Hard 2 Love |
"Parking Lot Party" |
Lee Brice, Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins |
| Carrie Underwood |
Blown Away |
"Nobody Ever Told You" |
Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey |
| "Thank God for Hometowns" |
Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey |
| "One Way Ticket" |
Carrie Underwood, Josh Kear |
| Jennette McCurdy |
Jennette McCurdy |
"Put Your Arms Around Someone" |
Jennette McCurdy, Jessi Alexander |
| "Have To Say Goodbye" |
Jennette McCurdy, Jessi Alexander |
| Luke Bryan |
Spring Break…Here to Party |
"Little Bit Later On" |
Luke Bryan, Ashley Gorley |
| Jay Sean, Jewel, Owl City |
Child Hunger Ends Here (ConAgra Foods) |
"Here's Hope" |
Hunter Hayes, Barry Dean |
| Little Big Town |
Tornado |
"Pontoon" |
Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby |
| "On Fire Tonight" |
Little Big Town |
| Boys Like Girls |
Crazy World |
"Life of the Party" |
Martin Johnson |
| "Shoot" |
Martin Johnson |
| 2011 |
Francesca Battistelli |
Hundred More Years |
"So Long" |
Francesca Battistelli |
| Sara Evans |
Stronger |
"A Little Bit Stronger" |
Hillary Lindsey, Hillary Scott |
| "Life Without Losing" |
Sara Evans, Barry Dean, Andrew Dorff |
| Chris Young |
Neon |
"You" |
Chris Young |
| Jason Michael Carroll |
Numbers |
"Hell or Hallelujah" |
Jason Michael Carroll, Jeremy Spillman |
| Steven Moakler |
Watching Time Run |
"Best Thing" |
Steven Moakler |
| Eric Church |
Chief |
"Drink in My Hand" |
Eric Church, Michael P. Heeney |
| "Hungover & Hard Up" |
Eric Church |
| "Over When It's Over" |
Eric Church |
| Rodney Atkins |
Take a Back Road |
"Take a Back Road" |
Rhett Akins |
| Lauren Alaina |
Wildflower |
"Funny Thing About Love" |
Lauren Alaina, Brett James |
| Hunter Hayes |
Hunter Hayes |
"Somebody's Heartbreak" |
Hunter Hayes, Andrew Dorff |
| Miranda Lambert |
Four the Record |
"Fine Tune" |
Natalie Hemby |
| "Baggage Claim" |
Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby |
| 2010 |
Katharine McPhee |
Unbroken |
"Last Letter" |
Katharine McPhee, Barry Dean |
| "Anybody's Heart" |
Katharine McPhee, Barry Dean |
| Sarah Buxton |
Sarah Buxton |
"Big Blue Sky" |
Jedd Hughes |
| Blake Shelton |
Hillbilly Bone |
"Hillbilly Bone" (featuring Trace Adkins) |
Craig Wiseman |
| Amy Grant |
Somewhere Down the Road |
"Overnight" |
Amy Grant, Natalie Hemby, Audrey Spillman |
| Laura Bell Bundy |
Achin' and Shakin' |
"Boyfriend?" |
Laura Bell Bundy, Barry Dean |
| "Everybody" |
Laura Bell Bundy, Mike Shimshack |
| Clay Walker |
She Won't Be Lonely Long |
"People In Planes" |
Barry Dean |
| Trace Adkins |
Cowboy's Back In Town |
"Don't Mind If I Don't" |
Ashley Gorley |
| Little Big Town |
The Reason Why |
"Shut Up Train" |
Hillary Lindsey, Chris Tompkins |
| Charlotte Church |
Back to Scratch |
"Unravelling" |
Charlotte Church, Barry Dean |
| "Suitcase" |
Charlotte Church, Barry Dean |
| "The Story of Us" |
Charlotte Church, Barry Dean |
| 2009 |
Emerson Drive |
Believe |
"That Kind of Beautiful" |
Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson |
| "Your Last" |
Lisa Carver |
| Mitchel Musso |
Mitchel Musso |
"Get Out" |
Lindy Robbins, Matthew Wilder |
| Holly Williams |
Here with Me |
"Keep the Change" |
Hillary Lindsey |
| Carrie Underwood |
Play On |
"Mama's Song" |
Carrie Underwood, Kara DioGuardi, Marti Frederiksen |
| "Undo It" |
Carrie Underwood, Kara DioGuardi, Marti Frederiksen |
| "Temporary Home" |
Carrie Underwood, Zac Malloy |
| "Play On" |
Carrie Underwood, Natalie Hemby |
| 2008 |
Phil Stacey |
Phil Stacey |
"Find You" |
Busbee |
| Crystal Shawanda |
Dawn of a New Day |
"Try" |
Hillary Lindsey, Edward Hill |
| Jessica Simpson |
Do You Know |
"You're My Sunday" |
Jessica Simpson, Hillary Lindsey |
| "Sipping On History" |
Jessica Simpson, Hillary Lindsey |
| 2007 |
Carrie Underwood |
Carnival Ride |
"So Small" |
Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey |
| "Last Name" |
Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey |
| "Twisted" |
Brett James, Hillary Lindsey |
| Tim McGraw |
Let It Go |
"Put Your Lovin' On Me" |
Hillary Lindsey |
| Rascal Flatts |
Still Feels Good |
"Help Me Remember" |
Hillary Lindsey, Edward Hill |
| 2005 |
Lee Ann Womack |
There's More Where That Came From |
"Painless" |
Hillary Lindsey, Bill Luther |
References [edit]
- ^ Chiodo, Pete (June 1, 2010). "Hit-song writer and former local Laird enjoys Nashville music scene". The Meadville Tribune.
- ^ Mansfield, Brian (October 18, 2009). "Carrie Underwood's 'Temporary Home': The story behind the song". USA Today.
- ^ Waterman, Doug (February 15, 2012). "The Story Behind The Song: Eric Church, 'Drink In My Hand'". American Songwriter.
- ^ a b Allen, Eric (July 6, 2011). "Luke Laird: One of Music City’s Top Songwriters is also an MTSU Alum". The Murfreesboro Pulse. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ "Luke Laird". Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ Landauer, Janelle (March 23, 2008). "Luke Laird Chases His Dream of Becoming A Songwriter –– And Scores BIG With 'So Small'". Country Music Online. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ Parker, Eric (September 4, 2012). "Little Big Town Earns First No. 1 Single". MusicRow.
- ^ Wyland, Sarah (April 3, 2013). "Hunter Hayes to Premiere New Song on ACM Awards". Great American Country.
- ^ "Luke Laird - Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ "2012 BMI Country Awards". Broadcast Music, Inc.
- ^ Paulson, Dave (October 30, 2012). "2012 BMI Country Awards honor Tom T. Hall, Dallas Davidson, Luke Laird". The Tennessean.
- ^ "POWER PLAYERS: 30 UNDER 30: Beth Mason Laird, Director of writer/publisher relations, BMI Nashville". Billboard. August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Universal Music Publishing Group Re-Signs Nashville Hit-Maker Luke Laird To New, World-Wide Publishing Agreement" (Press release). Universal Music Publishing Group. March 6, 2012.
- ^ http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=261468
- ^ "About". Creative Nation.
