The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will feature songwriter Luke Laird in the next installment of its in-depth interview series Poets and Prophets. The series features songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music. The program will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater and is included with museum admission.

Originally from Hartstown, Pennsylvania, Laird moved to Tennessee after high school to attend Middle Tennessee State University. In the more than 25 years since, he has become one of country music’s most sought-after songwriters. After graduating from MTSU with a degree in recording industry management in 2001, he took a job as assistant tour manager for Country Music Hall of Fame member Brooks & Dunn. The following year, Laird signed his first song-publishing contract.

He has written more than 20 #1 songs since 2007, when Carrie Underwood reached the top of the country chart with “So Small,” which she co-wrote with Laird and Hillary Lindsey. Laird’s biggest hits include Eric Church’s “Drink in My Hand,” Sara Evans’ “A Little Bit Stronger,” Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins’ “Hillbilly Bone.” As a producer, Laird has worked with Brett Eldredge, Mickey Guyton, Thomas Rhett and others. He co-produced Kacey Musgraves’ albums Same Trailer Different Park (which won a Grammy for Best Country Album) and Pageant Material; in addition, he contributed six songs that he co-wrote to each album. He also co-wrote the Grammy-winning song “Space Cowboy” on Musgraves’ third major-label album, Golden Hour.

Laird’s other accolades include six Country Music Association Triple Play Awards and the Academy of Country Music’s Songwriter of the Year award. In 2011, Laird and his wife, Beth Mason Laird, co-founded Creative Nation, a music publishing, management, artist development and record company. He released his debut solo album, Music Row, in 2020.

This interview will be illustrated with vintage photos, film and recordings. After the program, Laird will sign commemorative Hatch Show Print posters.

Previous subjects of the museum’s Poets and Prophets series include Pat Alger, Al Anderson, Bill Anderson, Matraca Berg, Bobby Braddock, Gary Burr, Wayne Carson, Buzz Cason, Jerry Chesnut, Hank Cochran, Roger Cook, Rodney Crowell, Sonny Curtis, Dean Dillon, Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Kye Fleming, Jerry Foster, Dallas Frazier, Red Lane, Dickey Lee, John D. Loudermilk, Shane McAnally, Bob McDill, Lori McKenna, Roger Murrah, Paul Overstreet, Dan Penn, Gretchen Peters, Curly Putman, Mike Reid, Allen Reynolds, Liz Rose, Mark D. Sanders, Don Schlitz, Whitey Shafer, Allen Shamblin, Billy Joe Shaver, Red Simpson, JD Souther, Jeffrey Steele, Sonny Throckmorton, Sharon Vaughn, Jim Weatherly, Jimmy Webb, Billy Edd Wheeler, Norro Wilson and Craig Wiseman. Videos of previous Poets and Prophets programs can be found here.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum collects, preserves and interprets country music and its history for the education and entertainment of diverse audiences. In exhibitions, publications, digital media and educational programs, the museum explores the cultural importance and enduring beauty of the art form. The museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and is among the most-visited history museums in the U.S. The Country Music Foundation operates Historic RCA Studio B®, Hatch Show Print® poster shop, CMF Records, the Frist Library and Archive and CMF Press. Museum programs are supported in part by Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and Tennessee Arts Commission

More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.