Songwriter Jerry Chesnut Shares His Stories
Famed songwriter Jerry Chesnut shared a fascinating story over the weekend about writing George Jones' enduring hit, "A Good Year for the Roses." During an interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 26), Chesnut said he had eliminated the landscaping budget on a new property and decided to do the work himself. But the roses he bought didn't grow. When he called the garden shop, he was told that the soil was too damp from all the rain -- specifically, "It's just not a good year for the roses." Chesnut thought to himself, "Now, what if it was a good year for the roses but everything else was falling to pieces?" Ta-da! A country classic was born.
Interviewer Michael Gray said that 20 to 30 Hall of Fame members have recorded Chesnut's songs -- such as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette and Faron Young. I was intrigued that he also helped reignite the career of Jerry Lee Lewis with "Another Place, Another Time," which became his comeback hit -- at a time when very few people believed he'd be able to go country. Lewis learned the song the night before his record company's deadline, cracked the Top 5 with the single, then went on to have 19 more Top 10 hits.
Chesnut also recalled the Porter Wagoner/Dolly Parton duet, "Holdin' On to Nothin'," released before Parton had proven herself as a solo artist. Indeed, RCA label head Chet Atkins didn't even think she'd be able to sell records, but all that changed when that single's sales figures convinced him that she had her own fan base, too. As they say around Nashville, it all starts with a song, and you'd be challenged to find a songwriter in Nashville who can tell a story better than Jerry Chesnut.
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Pete Vowell says:
Jerry,
I am proud to call you a friend. I am happy that an
alumni of Loyall High School has risen to the top of
REAL Country Music world. Congratulations.
Pete Vowell
Loyall, Ky
CARL G ESTES says:
I’M PROUD TO CALL JERRY A FRIEND OF MINE, AS KIDS WE FISHED THE RIVER TOGETHER AND CHASED THE GIRLS, WE CUT WOOD AND SOLD IT FOR A LONG TIME TO BUY A KNIFE AT WESTERN AUTO AND FOUND OUT IT HAD BEEN SOLD PRIOR TO MY GOING TO GET IT AND WE GENERALLY GOT INTO TROUBLE TOGETHER BEFORE I HAD TO MOVE, BUT DESPITE A LIFETIME APART SOMEHOW I FOUND A CONTACT FOR HIM AND DISCOVERED I HAD BEEN LISTENING TO AND SINGING HIS SONGS FOR YEARS NOT KNOWING THIS WAS THE SAME JERRY CHESNUT.
YOU DESERVE THE ACCOLADES JERRY. I LOVE YOU AND CALL YOU BROTHER GOD BLESS YOU. TELL YOUR LADY PAT HELLO FOR ME AND I SAY GOODNIGHT…..CARL ESTES
O. “Ray” Warren says:
I moved to Nashville in the late sixties and worked in the Music Business for the next 12 years. Jerry Chesnut was one of my first new friends there. He is a hoot! I never met anyone that didn’t like him, and his friendship is one to be greatly valued. I will always love Jerry and his sweetie Pat. Congratulations Jerry… You deserve the best of everything. Love you and Pat a bunch. Ray Warren
Debra says:
Thanks Jerry
Your so talented im so proud to call you a friend
Redmaz says:
I’ve been a fan of Jerry Chesnut’s songs for a long time. “A Good Year for The Roses” is a great song. One of the best versions I’ve heard of this song is by Elvis Costello.
Gary Sumpter says:
We both worked at different times at the Florida East Coast Railway where he got the inspiration to write “ONEY” for Johnny Cash. I listen to his music daily and am proud to call him my friend. I like to hear him sing his songs!!
Nina Lawson says:
Jerry
We all are so very proud of you. You are like family to the Lawson’s! and always…..a part of LOYALL,KY.
Love you
Margie Mcgahey says:
It was wonderful to get a retrospective of Jerry’s career
recently at the Hall of Fame’s Ford Theatre. He is an entertainer, best writer, and one of the funniest people I know and love.
Margie and Dale Mcgahey
JUNE WENDELL says:
I JUST HEARD “ANOTHER PLACE, ANOTHER TIME” ON THE IMUS SHOW THIS MORNING AND THOUGHT, WHAT A GREAT SONG. YOU ARE
VERY TALENTED JERRY, AND I AM SO PROUD OF YOU AND PAT. LOVE YOU, JUNE
Donna Chesnut Kidd says:
I enjoyed the show, and am so glad Daniel and I got to come to it! I’m so proud of you, and proud to call you “MY DADDY!”
From your baby daughter,
Donna
Mary L. Sizemore says:
Scottie, Jared, and I are so proud of you and proud to call you cousin. We love you and love it when you visit us in Harlan. We are so glad that the road was named after you. Its been a long time coming but thank goodness it was finally done.
Cuddles says:
It just happened again I know that is not the video I don’t know what cmt is doing but addicted to work is not carrie underwood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karen & Glen says:
Jerry,
We enjoyed all the wonderful stories you told, and your honesty on “The Wonders You Perform”. I loved what you said about finishing a song and making the last verse as good and important as the 1st verse. Glen and I enjoyed it very much.
Karen
T.K. Hilton “Kim” says:
Jerry Chesnut “Yard Bird To Me”
You’re a legend in your on time, Truly a great friend of my dad,mom and I here in “Florida”. You have have always been an inspiration through out my musical career, I’m very proud of you and all of your acomplishments. May all you’re T-R-O-U-B-L-E’s be small ones because It’s Been A Good Year For The Roses.
Sincerly,
T. K. Hilton “Kim”
Bennie Salers says:
Jerry,
You are something else, the Best just don’t quite describe it. We met at the golf tournament in Hattiesburg, Ms and have been friends ever since. During Hurricane Katrina when all hell was breaking loose, you called more than once to check on my family and I and hearing your voice really had a calming down effect on me. Carol and I will always cherish our friendship with you and Pat.
Love You
“Jalapeno”
Aubrey “Oochie” May says:
I remember playing music with “Yardbird” Jerry in St Augustine, FL on WFOY and numerous dance clubs in the mid-50’s. I’m proud of Jerry and his talent and his accomplishments especially Pat. He’s a great guy and a good friend. God bless Jerry and Pat.
A St Augustine Buddy,
Aubrey “Oochie” May
Penny Campbell-Loewen says:
Thanks for sending this to me Jerry. I am very proud to call you my friend. 30 years ago when I first met you, you were bigger than life to me. You still are!
Penny
Mayor Longworth says:
Jerry!
The citizens of Loyall, KY are extremely proud to have the rights to say. I know Jerry he is from the same small town that I am. Wishing you the best and keep up the good work. Come home soon!
Mayor Longworth and the citizens of Loyall, KY
“Holdin’ On To Nothin’” | Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton « 3 CHORDS A DAY says:
[...] Check out his profile at the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, which enshrined him in 1996. And see what he had to say earlier this year about his career and some of his hits, including “Holding On To Nothin’.” “Fan” me on Facebook, get [...]
Gerald Bilger says:
I moved to Nashville wtih my brother-in-law 1966 or 67 to open a distributorship for Compact vaccum cleaners, at the time I was 25 years old. We rented the office on Dickerson Road where your Filter Queen office had been, we had sold Filter Queens in Dallas, and we thought the office was perfect for us. I think we may have talked to you a time or two, wish I had gotted to know you at the time. I became a country music fan while I was in Nashville,and love many of your songs.Proud to say I almost knew Jerry Chestnut.
Gerald Bilger