Songs, Stories and A Life in Music

With nearly two dozen smash hits, multiple BMI songwriting awards, a Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as being a member of the Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame, Tim Nichols has earned his place among Nashville's most elite and respected tunesmiths.

In 2004, Nichols co-wrote Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," which stayed at #1 for ten consecutive weeks. In addition to breaking a 30-year record, "Live Like You Were Dying" won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2005. It also won the Song of the Year award from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, BMI Country Awards, ASCAP Country Awards, Billboard, and the Nashville Songwriters Association International. It is the only song to have won every major song award that is presented for country music.

Other Nichols’ hits helped launch the careers of Jo Dee Messina, (Heads Carolina, Tails California) and Broken Bow Records recording artist Dustin Lynch. (Cowboys and Angels) Sony Music artist Chris Young stayed at the top of the charts for three weeks with the Nichols composition, “The Man I Want To Be.”

Recently Cole Swindell put a new twist on the Jo Dee Messina “Heads Carolina” classic by staying at the top of the country charts for five weeks with “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” which also won the iHeart Radio Country Song of the Year.

Other artists to record Nichols’ songs include, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Lee Ann Womack, and Keith Whitley.

Feeling the importance of giving back to the industry and the community, Nichols has served on the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association, the High Hopes Preschool and Pediatric Therapy Clinic, which serves children with special needs in Nashville and surrounding counties of middle Tennessee, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Nashville Songwriter Association International.

When not on Music Row in pursuit of his next hit or entertaining groups with his songs and stories, Tim can be found on keynote stages across the country, sharing what chart-topping songwriters know about creativity, collaboration, and teamwork—so that companies, corporations, and businesses can be at the top of the charts in their own industries.

Our 2026-27 Community Grants application window is open on July 1st and closes Wednesday, September 30.

The bar construction project is scheduled to start next week and wrap up at the end of August. 

 

The 114th President Tim Gill called his first meeting to order as President at the 5528th meeting of the Rotary Club of San Jose. He made the sad announcement that Stew Park had recently passed away, and that a eulogy will be announced at a future date. President Tim had a lot of gratitude to share with the Club today: he thanked to the Club Board for hosting the greeting line, to Bert George for the wine reception, and to Robert Massey and Symphony San Jose for music in the lobby.