A Star Behind Carrie Underwood: Luke Laird
Luke Laird has every right to act like a big shot. But since he co-wrote two of Carrie Underwood's latest No. 1 hits, he's indulged in just one luxury. "I paid off my truck," he told me.
This is how brilliant songwriters stay brilliant, I think. They write songs that regular people relate to because they are regular people. Not pretentious or narcissistic. Laird is a seriously normal guy. Just one who has a catalog of about 500 songs under his belt. And one who stays cautiously optimistic. "You never know when you're gonna get another hit," he said about his reluctance to blow all his royalties. "If I ever had too much debt, that would really kill my creativity."
Last year, when Laird sat down with Underwood and writer Hillary Lindsey in a little house on Music Row, they came up with two way-above-average songs. When I asked him if there was a formula to writing hits, Laird said that there are always different angles you can write from. "When we wrote ‘So Small,' it just started as a musical thing," he said. "But then on ‘Last Name,' that came out of a story Carrie told us."
He said writing with Underwood, instead of just for her, was very cool. "We always knew if she was digging the song," he said. She must have dug the whole experience, because in her liner notes from Carnival Ride, Underwood thanks the writers who helped show her the ropes. But Laird appreciates the experience, too. "I can't even describe how validating it is. For music to be my whole life," he said, "and now to have it be my job."
He has been writing since he was just a kid. But it wasn't until after college and his first job as an assistant tour manager for Brooks & Dunn that Laird made it official. Now songwriting is a fulltime job for him, and he says he write five days a week to meet his quota. And will he work with Underwood on her next album? "I'll wait by the phone so I can write for her," he admitted.
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RedMaZ says:
Quick! What chord is he playing?
bresenolouie says:
Luke Laird is a great songwriter. I really love to see Carrie Underwood to co-write songs with Luke Laird and Hillary Lindsey on the third album again so that CARRIE CAN DIVERSIFY in the soft rock sound and grow her “ROOTS”. And maybe they can co-write a similar sound as “Paradise City” and “Sweet Child Of Mine” of Guns N’ Roses.
Kitty says:
To answer your question RedMaZ, he’s playing a G chord.
Deb says:
I hope Luke gets to write again with Carrie. I love So Small and Last Name..both are great songs!
Lauren says:
Come see Luke at 3rd & Lindsley Nov. 17th! He’s playing a benefit concert there! The show is from 6-9pm with TONS of talented songwriters and artists!!!
Hey Lauren says:
What’s the charity on Nov 17? A good cause can always make me make the drive up there for music!
C-natural says:
great post– it’s great finding out more about the songwriters on the albums i love, and carnival ride is definitely one of those albums.
MiaT says:
This guy is a genius! Props to you Luke! and go buy yourself a steak dinner ’cause you are one of the best writers out there!
Sam says:
Keep up the good work nephew. I knew you could do it.
RedMaZ says:
Yes! Give that Kitty a prrrrfect G chord.
grovecityfan says:
I knew Luke when he played b-ball in high school and it is so great to see him finally achieve his dream!! He is the best - also has two great songs on the new Jessica simpson album!