As the hit songwriter behind some of country music’s biggest songs like George Strait’s “I Saw God Today”, Eric Church’s “Hell Of A View”, Trace Adkins’ “Just Fishin’”, Scotty McCreery’s “Five More Minutes”, Parker McCollum’s “Handle On You” and so many more, there’s no denying that Monty Criswell is a gifted storyteller. Surviving stage three colon cancer has inspired him to share both his life lessons and the stories behind his songs in his new live show, “An Evening with Monty Criswell” at the Franklin Theatre on
November 16.
As a songwriter, what was it like getting your first #1 song on the radio?
My first number one was “I Saw God Today” with George Strait, so it was a big one and we went to every award show - CMA, ACM, Dove, GRAMMYs. We won CMA Single of the Year and that kind of broke the dam for me and they just started coming after that. I have spent from 39 years old on enjoying the fruits of a long, long, long wait.
What is the quickest song you've ever written?
I always joke songs are like babies. It doesn't matter how fast the baby comes out, it doesn't mean the child's going to be brilliant.
“I Saw God Today” took six months to write, but I've had two really big hits that were real quick. “Just Fishin’” by Trace Adkins was one of them: that song was really fast and the only reason it took three hours is because we went to lunch. Then “Handle On You” with Parker McCollum, that was just about a verbatim, line for line, “boom, boom, boom” kind of thing. So both of those were very, very fast songs and both of them ended up being number ones.
Do you still have an artist that you dream of recording one of your songs?
Jason Aldean is somebody I haven't had a cut on. I've known Jason for a long time. I met him before he ever had a single come out and he was always so nice and so gracious. Even to this day, if I see him anywhere, he'll come all the way over and say “Hey, man, how's it going? Just checking in.” He's the same guy right now that he was when I met him years ago, which speaks volumes about him. That would be a bucket list cut for me.
What inspired you to create your show “An Evening with Monty Criswell”?
I had never thought of doing this. It was not on my radar. But when I was playing corporate shows, I kept having people come up to me saying. “You tell really great stories about these songs. Have you ever thought about doing like a life coach, keynote address about this stuff?” Then during my cancer treatment, I was assigned a case manager from my healthcare company and all summer last year we talked every two weeks. Halfway through the process, she goes “Have you ever thought about doing a life coach thing?” And I was like, “You’re the 8th person that said it to me.” I started thinking, Well, maybe that's my little wink, wink from above to focus on that. So I started writing a script and then it started coming together.
Tell me about your show and what audiences can expect.
You can basically break the show into three sections: how I grew up and became a songwriter, the stories behind the hits—what inspired the songs, how they were written, how some of the lines ended up being like they were—and then overcoming adversity.
They'll be fun to listen to because you'll get to hear them in a way that you normally haven't heard. It’ll make you cry. It'll make you laugh a lot. It'll break your heart and inspire you.
You recently beat your battle with cancer. How has that changed your outlook on both life and songwriting?
It was an edifying process. I always try to be a really good friend. I learned to be an even better friend. I learned to not worry about the little things. There are things now that I used to worry about that make me laugh because they just don’t matter. I decided to be pickier about the songs I wrote, to try to do something I'm really proud of, and just try to be there for other people. I just don't worry about small stuff. If we're going to leave a legacy, go love somebody and love your kid, love your husband, your wife, whomever. Love your friends, because that will last long after you're gone. How you made them feel, they'll pass that down.
What do you hope people take away from your show?
I hope they take away to take care of themselves, to be patient with everybody, to love each other a little more, to fight when you have to fight to, to be a better friend, to be a better family member. Trace [Adkins] was a great friend to me. He's cut 19 songs of
mine throughout the years and I couldn't ask for a better friend. During my battle with cancer, he would call me every other day. I finally told him “Look, I know you're on the road. I know you don't have time to call and check on me all the time,” and he goes
“Monty, it don't take no time to love somebody.” I thought that was one of the greatest things anybody ever said to me. That it really doesn't take any time to pick up the phone and call or text or say a prayer for somebody or to be invested in them, to let them know
that you love them and that you're thinking about them and praying for them. The very top thing I want people to know is if you never had to be thankful for a second chance at life, promise me you won't waste the first one, because it really will make a difference.
What is the best way for people to purchase tickets to the show at the Franklin Theatre?
Tickets can be purchased by visiting FranklinTheatre.com. A portion of all ticket proceeds will benefit cancer patients at Vanderbilt.
"I always joke songs are like babies. It doesn't matter how fast the baby comes out, it doesn't mean the child's going to be brilliant."
"It really doesn't take any time to pick up the phone and call or text or say a prayer for somebody or to be invested in them, to let them know that you love them and that you're thinking about them and praying for them."