Award-winning songwriters, Veterans and service members will come together to share music at the Songwriting With Soldiers concert on Thursday, Aug. 1, at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium.

The concert will feature musicians performing original songs shared by nonprofit organization Songwriting With Soldiers. Performers include Bonnie Bishop, Gary Burr, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Radney Foster, Mary Gauthier, James House, Will Kimbrough, Georgia Middleman, Gary Nicholson, Maia Sharp and Darden Smith.

Photo courtesy of Stacy Powell

Their songs have been recorded by the likes of Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Cher, Kelly Clarkson, Emmylou Harris, Fleetwood Mac, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, John Prine and Ringo Starr.

“This performance shines a light on two important things – the power of music to help us connect, and the need to listen to today’s veterans and military families. These are the war stories of our times, and they have much to teach us,” said Songwriting With Soldiers co-founder Mary Judd.

Many Veterans struggle with reintegration. Songwriting With Soldiers holds weekend retreats across the country, pairing service members with professional songwriters to craft songs about their experiences in combat and coming home. The creative songwriting process is life-changing for participants as it offers a unique outlet to tell their stories, rebuild trust, release pain and forge new bonds.

The one-hour television special, “Songwriting With Soldiers,” will premiere nationally in prime time on PBS on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at 10 p.m. (check local listings).

The program, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, will be taped for national broadcast on PBS this fall.

Tickets are on sale now for $20 to the general public and are free to active military, Veterans and their families. Tickets are available only at www.songwritingwithsoldiers.org/pbsconcert/.

This collaboration of Songwriting With Soldiers, PBS and WCTE Upper Cumberland PBS is produced by Todd Jarrell Productions and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) with additional underwriting from Sweetwater Music Instruments and Pro Audio.

The information contained on this page is provided only as general information. The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement or support of any of the linked information, services, products, or providers.

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21 Comments

  1. Master August 9, 2019 at 12:20

    Interesting, that good

  2. Bradley P. McClellan July 28, 2019 at 17:22

    Greetings, My name is Pastor Bradley McClellan. I am an Outreach Music Ministry Pastor. I travel around the United States and entertain folks at Senior Living Facilities, Memory Care and many facilities for people who can’t go out into the world because of health issues. I have played several time at the VA Milwaukee at the convalescent floor. Played the VA in Union Grove, Wi. I am a 100% disabled Navy Vet and I love giving to those who have served our country. I play everything from Originals, Contemporary Christian, Country, Rock and 50’s/60’s music. I play for free because the VA Benefit allows me to give back. I am available to play where ever, so please call me and set up a play date. My number is (815) 970-1424. I have played at Opry Mills Mall, Bluebird Cafe and Loves Coffee House in Nashville. I have a sound trac link: (redacted)
    I have a Face Book Page: Word Of God Speak Ministry and Word Of Good Speak Music Ministry .

  3. Lisa A. Ducharme July 28, 2019 at 09:20

    I can’t make it to Nashville, but I need help writing a song! If anyone wants to help me, please let me now.. It is for our military. I have all the information, but I have no idea how to write a song..

  4. Tom Morris July 26, 2019 at 17:54

    My name is Tom Morris, a US NAVY SUBMARINE Veteran. In 2003 my group “3 UP” produced an Album of 12 songs relating to NASCAR and Motorcycle Legends! Our last two songs added to the the “CRANK IT UP” are “Wheels with Fire” our NASCAR offering and “Rock My Throttle” about a Couple who found Romance on an evening Ride! You can check it out on Amazon Music Albums ( 3 UP – Crank it Up) and ( 3-Up – Motorcycle Legends)
    I would love to be a part of this event!

  5. Donnie Morrow July 26, 2019 at 07:22

    I wrote a song in 2006 called in the sky Aaron Tippmann wanted it but I told him no I would love for someone to put it to music.I live in Indiana and I will not have the opportunity to visit Nashville. I also have another one that I wrote on 9/11 when I was in the Navy called Im from a place

  6. Teresa K. Howes July 25, 2019 at 18:12

    During my military career songwriting and performing were important components–and it was my significant other who crafted the tunes–still does–he is not a service member, he is a patriot and supports me with all of his self! I recall one moment in time as my husband relayed his newly written lyrics and acoustic guitar work over the phone–I stood at the pay phone (yes a pay phone) far from home in the rain as lightening flashed around me after a day of field training . . . he wrote to cope with my absence. While I Soldiered on in service–21 years, he served equally by penning lyric, song and tune on his little red Takamine guitar. His first and only album recorded in Nashville and Houston, can be found on iTunes under Floyd Christopher, River of Hope. A piece on that album, You’ve Heard it All Before was dedicated and performed at a military graduation for my peers in 1994. Collaboration is inspiring! I love that Songwriting with Soldiers is happening; we look forward to the PBS Broadcast! Maybe we’ll meet up with you all one day! Hooah! Write on: and put the I Can in Amer I Can. Teresa K. Howes, Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, U.S. Army, Army National Guard retired

  7. Teresa K Howes July 25, 2019 at 17:50

    During my military career songwriting and performing were important components—though it was my significant other who crafts the tunes. I recall my husband sharing his newly written lyrics as I stood listening via pay phone (yes a pay phone) after a day of military training far from home and lightening flashing all around me as I listened and cheered him on. While I soldiered on in my service, he created lyric, song with his red Takamine guitar. His first and only album can be found on iTunes: Floyd Christopher, River of Hope. A piece on that album, You’ve Heard it All Before, was dedicated and performed to military class members with whom I graduated in 1994. Collaboration is always inspiring! I love that Songwriting with Soldiers is happening! Maybe we’ll meet up with that organization one day! “Write on America, and put the I Can in Amer-I-Can! Teresa Howes, Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, U.S. Army/Army National Guard retired

  8. Regina Pargo July 25, 2019 at 17:28

    I’m a desert storm Army Veteran. I’ve written many songs, but one song of mine I would really like people to hear, is about how much God loves them. Many people forget about God, then wonder why there’s so much chaos in the world. If we just rely on Him, we can start the healing process.

  9. Teresa K Howes July 25, 2019 at 15:38

    During my military career songwriting and performing were important components.I can recall my husband sharing his newly written lyrics as I stood listening via pay phone (yes a pay phone) after a day of military training far from home. While I soldiered on, he created lyric and song. His first and only album can be found in iTunes Floyd Christopher, River of Hope—You’ve Heard it All Before was dedicated to a military class with whom I graduated. My husband performed originally in 1994. Collaboration is always inspiring I love that Songwriting with Soldiers is happening! Write on America, putting the I Can in American! T Howes

  10. Gary Shweid July 25, 2019 at 15:16

    Too bad you can’t include Terry Kelly “A pittance of time” and J.P Cormier, ” Hometown Battlefield”
    Two Canadians who wrote and recorded two VERY poignant songs about Veterans.

    Looking forward to the concert – on TV – Cannot make it back to Nashville.
    Gary
    USAF 66-73

  11. Teresa Wetzel July 25, 2019 at 10:37

    My dad served in Korea &wrote a song about it and has lots of stories he has told all of my life. I have written some of these down & I would love for someone to talk with him or listen to the song or whatever. He is 88 now & has dementia but he still cries &talks about things that happened &he still sings the song. I believe it would be worth the time. How do I go about something like this! Thanks &God bless!

  12. Teresa Wetzel July 25, 2019 at 10:22

    I love this idea! My dad was in the Korean war & wrote a song while he was there. My daddy is 88 now and has dementia. I would give anything for someone to hear it &I’m sure they would record it! He has lots of stories about what happened over there. I wrote some of it down for him. How would I go about getting someone to talk to him or whatever? Thanks &God bless!

  13. Jimmy Mac July 25, 2019 at 10:16

    My music and Vietnam story at http://www.jim-mac.com.

  14. Tania Lewis July 25, 2019 at 09:38

    My wife Tania Lewis, a Navy veteran co-wrote a song with Joseph Berkeley Manuel called the “The Call,” would be great to perform at the event.

  15. Teresa K Howes July 25, 2019 at 09:36

    Good morning! I just received this information about the PBS special—thank you for making this happen—powerful stuff. I am a veteran and retired. My husband, supported my military career, he is an extraordinary songwriter, vocalist and acoustic guitarist. Some examples: while completing a very challenging military course in 1993 I would call him on a pay phone (I know—do you remember pay phones?) and he would play his latest creation . . . Music is a main ingredient to our relationship and one of the elements that connected us throughout my Soldiering, including wartime experiences: he would mail a CD of an artist that particularly moved him and I would listen to it over and over to maintain an emotional connection to my husband while serving in a foreign land. He wrote pieces and performed for many military events. To include a piece, “You’ve Heard It All Before.” This piece was inspired, performed and dedicated to my military classmates in 1994. He recorded in Nashville and Houston. His music can be found in iTunes under Floyd Christopher, River of Hope. I hope one day he/we can collaborate with others in the Veteran in furthering musical/creative freedom and expression.—write on! Continue putting the I can in America-I-Can

  16. Gregory Lewis Reece July 25, 2019 at 09:23

    I am a US veteran of the Viet Nam war. I have written a song titled “Where Is Christmas This Year” and it deals with a solider who has been critically injured and through that injury he has lost the dreams and aspirations he once had. Finally a small miracle happens that allows him to start his healing process. The song can be viewed on my website at glrproductions.com.
    Thanks

  17. Gregory Lewis Reece July 25, 2019 at 09:18

    My name is Gregory Reece and I am a US veteran. I have written a song titled “Where Is Christmas This Year” that deals with a wounded solider and his struggles to regain the dreams and aspirations that he once had. Finally a small miracle happens that allows him to start his healing process. The song can be found on my website glrproductions.com. I hope you enjoy it.

  18. GARY D Mason July 25, 2019 at 05:54

    U right I writer and perform..thanks for sharing

  19. GARY D Mason July 25, 2019 at 05:53

    I am veteran and songwriter too..good post..

  20. Novel Feron Harris July 24, 2019 at 23:53

    My name is novel Harris I go by Juney Mac, I am a us veteran. I wrote a song about the army and what i experienced. It’s called fallen soliders look it up on YouTube, I also made a video to go along with it.

    I would love for it to be heard by many people, that would fullfill my dreams! Thank you!

  21. Al Jiron July 24, 2019 at 23:32

    I am a disabled vet in Colorado. I also am a Pastor. I have written worship songs and a country song about my wife and fulltime caregiver. It’s called ” Living the vow”.
    I would like to get it to someone that might use it.
    Pastor Al Jiron
    Lochwood Christian Fellowship

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