Shane McAnally

After a hiatus from music, McAnally returned to songwriting, having his first major success with "Last Call" by Lee Ann Womack in 2008. From the early 2010s onward, McAnally has worked almost exclusively as a songwriter and producer. Artists with whom he has worked include Old Dominion, Midland, and Kacey Musgraves. He has won four Grammy Awards and multiple awards from the Country Music Association (CMA). In 2023, he collaborated with Brandy Clark in writing the musical Shucked.

• Name — Shane McAnally • Birth Name — Shane Lamar McAnally • Alias — Shane Mack • Born — 12 October 1974 • Origin — Mineral Wells, Texas, United States • Genre — Country • Label — Curb • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • record producer • Years Active — * 1986–2000 • 2005–present

• Illustration — McAnally in 2017 Shane Lamar McAnally was born October 12, 1974, in Mineral Wells, Texas. He began performing at local clubs at the age of 12 and appeared on Star Search when he was 14, singing Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch." He moved to Branson, Missouri at 15, then to Nashville at 19. McAnally and music producer Rich Herring recorded a demo of a song that McAnally had written. The song, "Just One Touch", earned McAnally a publishing deal as well as a recording contract with Curb Records. In 1999, McAnally signed with Curb and began recording his first album for the label as well as his first single. "Say Anything" was released in 1999 as his debut single. The song peaked at No. 41 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The follow-up single, "Are Your Eyes Still Blue", became his only top 40 single as a singer, peaking at No. 31. McAnally charted a third and final time with "Run Away", which reached No. 50. All three tracks appeared on a self-titled debut album released on Curb in 2000 before he left the label.

In 2001, McAnally moved to Los Angeles. He composed six songs for the soundtrack of 2007 independent film Shelter, credited as Shane Mack. Returning to Nashville in late 2007, McAnally began writing songs for other artists, starting with "Last Call", released by Lee Ann Womack in 2008. From this point onward, McAnally has been primarily known for his songwriting work. He has also worked as a record producer, for artists such as Kacey Musgraves, Old Dominion, and Midland. He has written and produced songs for Walker Hayes, Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Hunt, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, The Band Perry, Lady A, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Midland, and more. The Academy of Country Music named him Songwriter of the Year in 2014. He also won "Best Country Album" and "Best Country Song" at the 2014 Grammy Awards for his work on Kacey Musgraves's Same Trailer Different Park. In 2015, Billboard named him the Hot Country Songwriter of the Year as well as a Billboard Power Player. McAnally joined industry veteran Jason Owen in early 2017 to relaunch Monument Records as co-presidents. McAnally stars as one of the on-screen talent producers in the NBC television reality series Songland. In 2019, McAnally won the ACM Award for Songwriter of the Year and Grammy Award for Best Country Song for co-writing Kacey Musgraves's "Space Cowboy." Most recently, he was named as one of Billboard's 2020 Country Power Players and chosen as the recipient of the 2020 Billboard Trailblazer Award, held only by previous winners Reba McEntire and Florida Georgia Line. McAnally received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for his work on songs by Brandy Clark, Walker Hayes, Lauren Daigle, Old Dominion, Alex Newell, Niall Horan, Sam Hunt, Carly Pearce, and Chris Stapleton, as well as a nomination for Best Musical Theater Album for his work on Shucked.

McAnally told Yahoo! Entertainment in 2020 that he struggled with his sexuality for many years while working in Nashville, as he knew that no country music singers were openly gay at the time. At the time, he was dating a woman to whom he later came out, although he kept his orientation hidden from others and later referred to his girlfriend as a "beard". After exiting Curb in 2000, McAnally decided to come out while living in West Hollywood, California, a city he knew was more accepting of the gay community. He worked songwriter shows there and chose to return to Nashville due to his enjoyment of music. McAnally received attention as a gay musician in 2013 when he co-wrote and co-produced "Follow Your Arrow" by Kacey Musgraves, a song which features a lyric in support of the gay community. McAnally married his partner of five years, Michael Baum, in September 2012. The couple have three children. In January 2017, the two were legally married by Nashville Mayor Megan Barry.

• Year — Single — Peak chart positions — Album • US Country — CAN Country • 1999 — "Say Anything" — 41 — 46 — Shane McAnally • "Are Your Eyes Still Blue" — 31 — 47 • 2000 — "Run Away" — 50 — 57 • "—" denotes releases that did not chart

• Year — Video — Director • 1999 — "Say Anything" — Chris Rogers • 2008 — "Lie To Me" (as Shane Mack)

McAnally was also a mentor on the songwriting competition series, Songland, which ran on NBC from 2019 to 2020. On Songland, McAnally worked alongside esteemed producers Ryan Tedder and Ester Dean, collaborating with unknown songwriters to craft hit songs. Each "winning" song is recorded by that episode's musical guest and released immediately following the episode. McAnally has described his role on the show as his "wildest dream job that I never knew I wanted." Songs co-written by McAnally as a part of his role on Songland are as follows. • Season — Episode — Producer — Song — Co-writers — Result • 1 — John Legend — Shane McAnally — "We Need Love" — Tebby Burrows, John Legend, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts, Andre Lyon, Imran Avaz, Juan Jose Botero, Marcello Valenzano, Thomas Kessler • Ester Dean — "Something New" — Ollie Gabriel, Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Marty West, Rodney Jones — Top 3 • Ryan Tedder — "Lookin' Up" — Max Embers, Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Andrew DeRoberts, Elliott Marchent, Emily Shearman — Top 3 • will.i.am — Ester Dean — "Be Nice" — will.i.am, Adam Friedman, Martjin Konijenburg, Ryan Merchant, Anish Sood, Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Snoop Dogg, Keith Harris, Lance Tolbert • Shane McAnally — "Boxes" — Josh Logan, Bruce Wiegner, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts, will.i.am — Recorded • Ryan Tedder — "Invincible" — Charisma Divina Dixon, Calvin George Dixon, Ryan Stockbridge, Cody Michael Bolton, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, will.i.am — Recorded • Jonas Brothers — Ester Dean — "Greenlight" — John Brandon Paciolla, Nick Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Zach Skelton • Shane McAnally — "Crowded Places" — Rynn Kempthorn, Emily Fullerton, Michael McEachern, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts — Recorded • Ryan Tedder — "Do You Think of Me" — Rachel Elizabeth Smith, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle — Recorded • Kelsea Ballerini — Ryan Tedder — "Better Luck Next Time" — Kelsea Ballerini, Darius Coleman, Taylor Sparks, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts • Ester Dean — "Crush" — Daniel Wright Goldberger, Jackson Wise, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder — Recorded • Shane McAnally — "Lying (Next To You)" — Jack Newsome, Elsa Curran, Christina Galligan, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts — Recorded • Meghan Trainor — Ryan Tedder — "Hurt Me" — Meghan Trainor, Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Nicole Haley Cohen, Jack Newsome, Mike Sabath, Zach Skelton • Shane McAnally — "Alone" — Josh Wood, Peter Wallevik, Daniel Davidsen, Ruby Spiro, Catie Turner, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts — Recorded • Ester Dean — "We Got Us" — Brandin Jay, Kaylan Mary, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder — Recorded • Aloe Blacc — Ryan Tedder — "Getting Started (Hobbs & Shaw)" — Aloe Blacc, Kyle Williams, Joel Rousseau, Justin Amundrud, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts, JID, Zach Skelton • Ester Dean — "Hero" — Maggie Gabbard, Heather Holley, Stefan Bredereck, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, John Paciolla, Khyre Ryler — Recorded • Shane McAnally — "Same Blood" — Aloe Blacc, Steve Fee, Zachary Kale, Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts — Released as Single • Macklemore — Shane McAnally — "Shadow" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts, Ben Haggerty, Ori Rakib, Aaron Kleinstub, Coyle Girelli • Ryan Tedder — "Unforgettable" — Ben Haggerty, Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Matthew Boda, Callan Searcy, Robbie Nevil — Top 3 • Ester Dean — "Judgments" — Casey Cook, Cameron Stymeist, Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Norma Jean Martine — Top 3 • Leona Lewis — Ryan Tedder — "Solo Quiero (Somebody to Love)" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Leona Lewis, Rosalyn Lockhart, Matthew Fonson, Alessandro Calemme, Alejandro Rengifo, Andres Torres, Juan Magan • Shane McAnally — "When You Fall In Love" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Andrew DeRoberts, Cameron Rafati, Toby Gad — Top 3 • Ester Dean — "Perfect Skin" — Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Dave Pittenger, Olivia Lane, Bonnie Baker — Top 3 • Old Dominion — Shane McAnally — "Young" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey, Katelyn Tarver, Brad Tursi, William Sellers, George Sprung Jr., James Abrahart, Pierre-Antoine Melki, Raphael Judrin, Nick Seeley, Benjamin Hovey, Andrew Tinker • Ester Dean — "Journey" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Jacob Lee Scott — Top 3 • Ryan Tedder — "Where The Road Ends" — Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Isaac Julius-Edwards, Moises Zulaica, Dani Blau, Daniel Sobrino, Andrew DeRoberts — Top 3 • OneRepublic — Shane McAnally — "Somebody to Love" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, JT Roach, Brent Kutzle, Andrew Wells, Kevin Fisher, Jintae Ko, Andrew DeRoberts • Jason Evigan — "Be Somebody" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Jason Evigan, Brigetta Truitt, Brett Truitt, Amanda Zelina — Top 3 • Ester Dean — "Darkest Days" — Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Jason Evigan, Madison Yanofsky, Joe Henderson — Top 3 • Charlie Puth — Shane McAnally — "Pill For This" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Sam DeRosa, Ben Samana, Graham Muron — Top 3 • Ester Dean — "Hate Love" — Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Joel Adams — Top 3 • 2 — Lady Antebellum — Shane McAnally — "Champagne Night" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood, Madeline Merlo, Tina Parol, Patricia Conroy, Andrew DeRoberts, Dave Thomson • Luis Fonsi — Ryan Tedder — "Sway" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Luis Fonsi, Andrew DeRoberts, Filippo Gabella, Mauricio Rengifo, Andres Torres • H.E.R. — Ryan Tedder — "Wrong Places" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, H.E.R., Zachary Powell, Raqual Castro, Darhyl Camper Jr. • Martina McBride — Ester Dean — "Girls Like Me" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Martina McBride, Michael Tyler, Stephanie Chapman, Halie Wooldridge, Dan Swank, Alexis Kristine Shadle • Julia Michaels — Ryan Tedder — "Give It To You" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Julia Michaels, Andrew DeRoberts, Joshua Keegan Bost • Florida Georgia Line — Shane McAnally — "Second Guessing" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley (musician), Andrew DeRoberts, Corey Crowder, Griffen Palmer, Geoff Warburton, Ben Simonetti • Boyz II Men — Ester Dean — "Love Struck" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Christopher Lee, James Gutch, Jerry Duplessis, Raymond Duplessis, Michael Wise, Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman • Ben Platt — Ryan Tedder — "Everything I Did to Get to You" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, David Davis • Usher feat. Tyga — Ester Dean — "California" — Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, Usher, Tyga, Michael Wise, Kaj Nelson Blokhuis, Melvin Hough II, Rivelino Raoul Wouter, Ryan Cambetes

• Title — Details • Shane McAnally — * Release date: October 24, 2000 * Label: Curb * Formats: CD, cassette

McAnally has produced or co-produced the following works: • Year — Artist — Type — Project • 2013 — Kelly Clarkson — Track — "Tie It Up" • Kacey Musgraves — Album — Same Trailer Different Park • 2014 — Sam Hunt — | Album — Montevallo • Old Dominion — Track — "Dirt on a Road" • EP — Old Dominion EP • 2015 — Kacey Musgraves — Album — Pageant Material • Track — "A Spoonful of Sugar" • Old Dominion — Album — Meat and Candy • Jake Owen — Track — "Real Life" • 2016 — Midland — EP — Midland EP • Jake Owen — Album — American Love • Artists of Then, Now & Forever — Single — "Forever Country" • 2017 — Candi Carpenter — Single — "Burn the Bed" • Walker Hayes — Album — boom. • Midland — On the Rocks • Old Dominion — Happy Endings • 2018 — Walker Hayes — Single — "90's Country" • Little Big Town — "Summer Fever" • Old Dominion — "Make It Sweet" • Teddy Robb — "Lead Me On" • Brandon Ratcliff — "Rules of Breaking Up" • 2019 — Aloe Blacc — Track — "Same Blood" • Walker Hayes — Single — "Don't Let Her" • John Legend — Single — "We Need Love (from Songland)" • Midland — "Mr. Lonely" • Brandon Ratcliff — Track — "Number in My Phone" • Teddy Robb — Track — "Tell Me How" • Single — "Really Shouldn't Drink Around You" • Old Dominion — Album — Old Dominion • 2020 — Kelsea Ballerini — Single — "The Other Girl" (with Halsey) • Walker Hayes — "Trash My Heart" • Lady Antebellum — "Champagne Night" (From Songland) • Kylie Morgan — "Break Things" • Kylie Morgan feat. Walker Hayes — Track — "Cuss a Little" • Carly Pearce — Single — "Next Girl" • Old Dominion — Tracks — Old Dominion: Band Behind the Curtain • Brandon Ratcliff — EP — "Sometimes Always Never" • Teddy Robb — Teddy Robb - EP • 2021 — Walker Hayes — EP — Country Stuff • Midland — EP — The Last Resort • Kylie Morgan — Track — Love, Kylie • Old Dominion — Album — Time, Tequila & Therapy • Track — "All I Know About Girls" • "Hawaii" • Single — "I Was on a Boat That Day" • Carly Pearce — Album — 29: Written in Stone • EP — 29 • Track — "Dear Miss Loretta" • Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde — Single — "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" • Tigirlily — Track — "My Thang" • EP — Tigirlily EP • 2022 — Walker Hayes — Track — "Drinking Songs" • "AA" • "Life With You" • "Delorean" • "Fancy Like" • "Country Stuff" (featuring Jake Owen) • "I Hope You Miss Me" • "Briefcase" (featuring Lori McKenna) • "Make You Cry" • "What If We Did" (featuring Carly Pearce) • Sam Hunt — "Water Under The Bridge" • Midland — Album — "The Last Resort: Greetings From" • Track — "Longneck Way To Go" • "The Last Resort" • Kylie Morgan — "Independent With You" • "Love Like We're Drunk" • Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde — "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (Acoustic) • Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton — "9 To 5 (From The Still Working 9 To 5 Documentary)" • Kelsea Ballerini — Album — SUBJECT TO CHANGE • 2023 • Sam Hunt — Single — "Start Nowhere" • Old Dominion — EP — Memory Lane (Sampler) EP • Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton — Single — We Don't Fight Anymore