It was a beautiful, crisp, October day in Nashville. Due to COVID-19 altering nearly everything about the way we live, the new Notes Entertainment podcast was being recorded outside an Airbnb in a fairytale like garden. Social Distance…check. Outside…check. Occasional construction/bird noises…check.
As I finished setting up, a giant truck pulled into the driveway and stopped. Out stepped the tall, lean, handsome songwriter from Texas. He took long strides with guitar in hand toward the makeshift outdoor studio and I was greeted with a warm smile.
I’ve known Matt Jenkins for the better part of 10 years. We became friends back when Nashville didn’t have more than 7 or 8 neighborhoods, iPods were a thing and local Nashville songwriter bars were numerous. A few things have changed in Matt’s life since those early days. He is now a commercially successful songwriter and is married with four daughters. However, Matt is the same humble, kind and thoughtful person he’s always been.
At 19-years-old, the entertainer arrived in Nashville and was immediately signed to Universal South Records. This only happens to an extremely small percentage of people. He spent a few years navigating the recording industry and released a couple of singles. However, the music business is a rollercoaster ride and his career shifted a few years later.
After a stint on reality TV and playing shows around the country, Matt moved in the direction of a career in songwriting. It didn’t take long to find a strong network of co-writers and friends including Shane McAnally (hit songwriter, producer and star of “Songland”), Josh Osborne (another hit songwriter), Matthew Ramsey (Old Dominion) and Trevor Rosen (Old Dominion) to name a few. He hit the top of the charts for the first time with the Dustin Lynch song “Where It’s At” and has now written six #1 songs to date.
It was a joy to catch up and talk to this proud Texan about his life, career and songs. We spent almost an hour weaving through all things Matt Jenkins set to an amazing soundtrack.
FAMILY: The father of four daughters talked about how they influence what he listens to now, how his wife loves to hear his new songs and how his Dad was a huge influence on his musical journey.
FAITH: God comes up often when Matt expresses gratitude for the blessings in his life. He lives this faith and it shines through in everything he does.
CAREER: The music lover and creator talked about the songs that inspired him, the stories behind songs he wrote and how his career has been anything but ordinary.
LIFE: “You have these moments in life…like having a hit song and having kids…whatever else happens…this moment nobody can ever take away from me. If it all goes to hell. This happened. This was special. This meant something.” -Matt Jenkins
Go to the Notes Entertainment Podcast to hear more about:
- The advice Narvel Blackstock (Nashville Music Executive) gave a teenaged Matt
- The story behind a Matt Jenkins hit song or two
- Matt’s version of “Setting the World On Fire” by Kenny Chesney and Pink
- And more!
The podcast will be available on iTunes soon. In the meantime, listen to the songs you already love or discover new ones discussed in the podcast below (there are plenty from which to choose).
Matt Jenkins Podcast Song List:
- “Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)” by Merle Haggard (written by Merle Haggard)
- “The Impossible” by Joe Nichols (written by Lee Thomas Miller and Kelley Lovelace)
- “Leaving Nashville” – by Charles Kelley or Donovan Woods (written by Abe Stoklasa and Donovan Woods)
- “Heaven” by Jake Owen (written by Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley and Matt Jenkins)
- “The Shade” by Joe Nichols (written by Shane Decker and Troy Jones)
- “Last Call” by Lee Ann Womack (Written by Erin Enderlin and Shane McAnally)
- “Watered Down” by Trace Adkins (written by Matt Jenkins, Trevor Rosen and Shane McAnally)
- “We Went to the Beach” by Little Big Town (written by Matt Jenkins, Chase McGill, Laura Veltz)
- “Church in a Chevy” by Jordan Davis (written by Matt Jenkins, Josh Jenkins and Jordan Davis)
- “Cop Car” by Keith Urban or Sam Hunt (written by Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell and Matt Jenkins)
- “Where It’s At” by Dustin Lynch (written by Cary Barlowe, Matt Jenkins and Zach Crowell)
- “The Song Remembers When” by Trisha Yearwood (written by Hugh Prestwood)
- “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert (written by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas)
- “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt (written by Allen Shamblin and Mike Reid)
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake (written by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin, and Shellback)
- “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper or Danielle Bradbery and Parker McCollum (written by Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and Mark Ronson)
- “Memories” by Maroon 5 (written by Adam Levine, Michael Pollack, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Jonathan Bellion, Vincent Ford, Stefan Johnson and Jordan Johnson)
- “Setting the World On Fire” by Kenny Chesney and Pink (written by Ross Copperman, Matt Jenkins, and Josh Osborne)
