Nashville Songwriters with Special Guest Lainey Wilson
Presented By Loud Lemon Foundation, 94.7 QDR, & WRAL TV
The Stories Behind Nashville’s Greatest Hits
The songwriters who created some of country music’s greatest hits will perform live at DPAC in a Special 20th Anniversary Benefit Show on Friday, February 11, 2022. At Nashville Songwriters at DPAC, the writers behind dozens of #1 country hits bring their songs and stories to DPAC to help benefit three local organizations: Kidznotes, a youth orchestra, band and choir program that uses music to encourage children to succeed; The North Carolina Boys Academy, Christian boarding school for teenage boys; and Voyager Academy Friends of the Arts, which aims to increase support for visual and performing arts at the Academy.
This is DPAC’s fourth year hosting this annual Triangle event, which is organized by songwriter and area resident Jeff Outlaw. These ten top country songwriters will sing their hits and share their stories, bringing fans closer to the creative process that has produced some of the biggest hits in country music:
Jeff Outlaw is an published songwriter of twelve years and recently signed a worldwide publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. In addition to collaboratoring with many of the artists participating in this show, Jeff has worked with Phil Vassar, Troy Cartwright, Matt Nathanson, John Legend, Plain White T’s, Kip Moore, Drake White, and Brothers Osborne. His hits include “She’s On Her Way” by Phil Vassar and “Still Ain’t Made It Home” by Casey Donahew. He has created numerous video treatments for music videos with Vassar and served as Creative Advisor for Vassar’s popular show, Songs from the Cellar. He lives in Bahama, NC, with his family.
Lainey Wilson has earned the enthusiasm of the industry, having been named to nearly every “Artist to Watch” list, winning MusicRow Magazine’s Discovery Artist of the Year award and being crowned Billboard’s “Top New Country Artist of 2021,” the Louisiana native is one of Nashville’s hottest and most buzzed-about new artists. Landing her first No. 1 with her PLATINUM Certified “Things A Man Oughta Know,” nearly 10 years to the day after leaving her small farming community in a camper trailer to chase her dreams, she has won over legions of fans with her signature Bell Bottom Country sound and aesthetic, which blends traditional Country with a modern yet retro flare. A prolific and sought-after songwriter (having co-writer credits on songs by artists including Luke Combs and Flatland Calvary), Lainey is a fresh, fierce voice in Nashville, delivering one of the “Top Country Albums of 2021” (Rolling Stone, Taste of Country, and American Songwriter) with her label debut, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. With a rockstar stage presence, her artistry has taken her across the globe, performing for sold-out crowds throughout the US, UK, and Germany with notable names like Jason Aldean, Hardy, Justin Moore, Tyler Farr, Ashley McBryde, Randy Houser, Josh Turner and more. Her current single, “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell is Top 30 at Country Radio and continuing to make a fervent climb up the charts.
Jessi Alexander has written four #1 songs, including “I Drive Your Truck,” recorded by Lee Brice and winner of Song of the Year at the 2013 CMA Awards, 2013 NSAI Awards, and 2014 ACM Awards. A few of her other hits include Blake Shelton’s “Mine Would Be You” and “Drink On It.” Alexander also co-wrote Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb,” which topped the charts and won Best Song from a Movie at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards.
Wynn Varble began writing songs at age 15 and was performing locally in a few country and bluegrass bands by the time he graduated high school. He later moved to Nashville where he signed with Reba McEntire’s Starstruck Music. His songs “Waitin’ on a Woman” by Brad Paisley, “Have You Forgotten?” by Darryl Worley, and “A Little More Country Than That” by Easton Corbin were all nominated for Song of The Year by either the ACMs or the CMAs. Varble was named Songwriter of the Year in 2009 by the Nashville Songwriters Association.
The Warren Brothers are an American songwriting duo who have written hits for several chart-topping country artists and rock bands. Brad and Brett Warren started as recording artists in their hometown of Tampa, Fla., before moving to Nashville. They were CMA nominees for Duo of the Year for six straight years and had Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and a CMA Song of the Year. Among their hits are “Highway Don’t Care” by Tim McGraw, “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith, and “Drink to That All Night” by Jerrod Niemann.
Tim Nichols has written hit country songs for over two decades, leading to many accolades including induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, many BMI awards, as well as recognition from CMA, ACM, and NSAI. Some of his better known hits include Jo Dee Messina’s “Head’s Carolina, Tail’s California,” Dustin Lynch’s “Cowboys and Angels,” and the Grammy® Award winning “Live Like You Were Dying,” by Tim McGraw. He has also collaborated with artists like Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Keith Whitley, and Lee Ann Womack, to name a few.
Jimmy Yeary began his music career singing in churches with his family, playing more than 200 dates a year singing Southern gospel music. In 1994 Jimmy moved to Nashville, where songwriting became his main focus. He began writing for Skyline Music Publishing and later signed with THiS Music. He co-wrote “I Drive Your Truck” with Jessi Alexander and Connie Harrington, and other top hits include “Everything is Gonna be Alright” by David Lee Murphy with Kenny Chesney, “Anywhere With You” by Jake Owen, and “Why Wait” by Rascal Flatts.
Deric Ruttan is a Grammy-nominated, Nashville-based singer/songwriter and a Canadian country music artist. The writer of multiple #1 country songs, Deric has had over 90 songs recorded by other artists, including cuts by Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Justin Moore and David Nail to name a few. Bentley’s chart-toppers “What Was I Thinkin;”, (Billboard #1), and “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do” (Radio & Records #2) are Ruttan co-writes, as are the Eric Church hits, “Guys Like Me” and “Hell On The Heart” (Mediabase #8). In November 2013, Deric celebrated a multi-week #1 when “Mine Would Be You,” recorded by country superstar and The Voice judge Black Shelton, was a three-week number one (Billboard) for the artist. “Mine Would Be You” was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song, and an ACM Award for Song of the Year. In 2016, Deric celebrated his second Blake Shelton #1 hit with the introspective “Came Here to Forget.” In 2017, Country music superstar, Jason Aldean took Deric’s song “Any Ol’ Barstool” to the top of the Billboard and Mediabase charts to become the songwriter’s 4th #1 country single, and in 2020, “Die From A Broken Heart,” by Mercury Nashville duo Maddie & Tae, climbed the charts to become Deric’s 5th #1 song. He lives just outside Nashville, TN with his wife.
Brett Tyler is an incredible writer who co-wrote the current Jameson Rodgers single, “Cold Beer Calling My Name” featuring Luke Combs. His songs are getting tons of action in the Nashville community, with cuts on artists including Maren Morris, Blake Shelton, Hailey Whitters, Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, Jameson Rodgers, HARDY and more. Tyler’s recent cuts include “Old School” by Toby Keith, “Build Me A Daddy” from Luke Bryan, “Hell Right” from Blake Shelton ft. Trace Adkins, and “Broke Boy” from HARDY.
Accessibility
Performances with open captioning are available upon request by e-mailing customerservice@dpacnc.com or by calling 919-680-2787 at least ten business days in advance of the scheduled performance.
Performances with audio description are available upon request by e-mailing customerservice@dpacnc.com or by calling 919-680-2787 at least ten business days in advance of the scheduled performance.
Performances with sign language are available upon request by e-mailing customerservice@dpacnc.com or by calling 919-680-2787 at least ten business days in advance of the scheduled performance.
For other services and accomodations, visit our Accessibility Page here.
Age Requirement
Please note that all guests require a ticket, regardless of age. Children under the age of 6 are not allowed at this performance. Children must be able to sit quietly in their own seat without disturbing other guests.
NEW - Cashless Payments for Snacks and Beverages at DPAC
- Cash is no longer accepted for snack or beverage purchases at DPAC’s lobby bars or snack and beverage stands.
- Snack and beverage purchases now require payment using credit or debit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay or a DPAC gift card.
- If you happen to arrive at DPAC with cash only, guests may purchase a DPAC gift card in $20 increments at our Entry Lobby Guest Services window. These gift cards can then be used at any lobby bar or snack and beverage stand.
Content Advisory
DPAC offers a diverse selection of entertainment. Not all productions will appeal to or be appropriate for every guest or for all ages. Ticket buyers should take responsibility for making informed decisions regarding their purchases. We recommend visiting the official website of each show to learn more about the show you are coming to see at DPAC. If you ever have questions about the content or appropriateness of a show, please contact us at GuestServices@dpacnc.com.
COVID-19 Vaccination & Test Requirements
For this event, guests 12 years-of-age and older are required to provide documentation of full COVID-19 vaccination status or as an alternative, documentation of a recent negative COVID-19 test.
- Vaccination:
- Guests should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least two weeks after final dose) AND provide record of vaccination prior to entry for the event.
- Negative COVID-19 Test Result:
- Unvaccinated guests must have received a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test within 72-hours of the event date AND provide record of a negative result prior to entry for the event.
- Currently, there is not a vaccination requirement or test requirement for guests 11 years-of-age and younger.
Please visit Vaccination or Negative Test Requirements for more information.
Doors Open
Our lobby doors open 60 minutes prior to show time.
Event Schedule
6:30 PM- Lobby Doors & Seating Area Opens
7:30 PM- Performance Begins
* Please note all times are approximate and subject to change without notice.
Face Covers
Face covers will be required for this event.
- The City of Durham and Durham County have reinstituted a requirement that face covers be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status.
- Face covers should be worn by guests as you approach the entry doors, in lobbies, restrooms and in the seating area.
- Exceptions apply when a guest is actively eating or drinking.
- More information on this government order may be found via this link: Durham City and County Officials Announce New Face Cover Requirements
- Help protect live shows with your responsible and respectful cooperation of this requirement.
Inclement Weather
All performances scheduled at DPAC normally take place as planned. For more information on our inclement weather policy, please visit INCLEMENT WEATHER FAQ.
Photography / Video Recording
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Photography and video recording using mobile phones is permitted at this event; however, flash photography is prohibited
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We ask that you be courteous to guests behind and around you. Please know that any obtrusive use (such as holding the phone where it can block the view of other guests) or video recording longer than a single song is prohibited.
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GoPro’s, tablets, and cameras of any kind are prohibited at all DPAC events
Safety First - Bag Check
For your safety, all guests and their bags are subject to inspection before entry. This inspection may include the use of metal detectors. Restricted items include, but are not limited to, Alcohol, Cameras, Glass Bottles, and Weapons of any kind. In addition, we will also now restrict backpacks and any oversized bags larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 10 inches (about the size of a standard milk crate). Safety first is our goal. Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback at GuestServices@DPACnc.com.
Tickets
- Most tickets buyers purchase right from our website using the Buy Tickets button on this page.
- In addition to purchasing online, DPAC offers several other ways to purchase the seats you want to the best Broadway, concerts, comedy, family shows and special events in North Carolina.
- Our computerized ticket system enables you equal access to great DPAC seats whether you buy online, by phone, or in person at DPAC.
- For more details, visit our Purchase Seats page for complete information on purchasing great seats for all events at DPAC.
- All tickets for DPAC events are fully digital and only accessible via your mobile device. A mobile ticket is the safest, most convenient, and flexible way to receive and manage your tickets while increasing protection against fraud. To learn more about mobile entry, please visit our Mobile Entry FAQ.
Video Screens
Currently, this event has not approved using our video screens. Please feel free to check back closer to the event for updates. If approved, we will post notice here.
For many concert, comedy, and special events at DPAC, we offer added views of the stage with two big screens (size: 16’ x 9’) hung to the sides of the stage or above the stage. These big screens can add to the visual experience of our concert, comedy, and special events and give guests seated farther from the stage what we like to call “a tenth row view”. Approval to use these screens always rests with the visiting show and about half of all concert and comedy events do use these screens.