Project Description
Bill Anderson
Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry titan Bill Anderson is the rare songwriter whose first major label cut went to No. 1 on the charts, was named Song of The Year and sparked a writing career that is currently in its seventh decade. The song, “City Lights,” was written when Anderson was a 19-year old Georgia disc jockey and became a career-defining hit for Ray Price in 1958. The song opened doors for him in Nashville, leading him to signing with BMI and Tree Publishing. Anderson was far from a one-hit wonder. He followed “City Lights” with country standards like “Tips Of My Fingers,” the GRAMMY-nominated “Once A Day,” “Saginaw, Michigan,” “That’s What It’s Like To Be Lonesome,” “I Missed Me,” “Cold Hard Facts Of Life,” which earned him another GRAMMY nomination, “Mama Sang A Song,” the crossover smash, “Still,” and countless others. He was voted country Songwriter of the Year six times during his first decade in Music City. His success continued into the 1970’s with award-winning hits like “Slippin’ Away,” “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” “I May Never Get To Heaven,” and the disco-flavored, “I Can’t Wait Any Longer.” The 1980’s saw Anderson’s chart-topping career take a hiatus as he became a TV network game show host, spokesman for a national restaurant chain and a nonstop touring Grand Ole Opry performer. In the 1990’s he came roaring back with a vengeance, however, as he seriously turned to co-writing for the first time. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, his collaborations with the newer generation of Nashville tunesmiths resulted in hits like “Wish You Were Here,” the GRAMMY-nominated “Two Teardrops,” “A Lot Of Things Different,” for Kenny Chesney, “Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn),” for Vince Gill and two CMA Song Of The Year trophies for “Whiskey Lullaby,” with Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and George Strait’s “Give It Away,” in 2005 and 2007 respectfully. He continues to write today with songs like Brad Paisley’s “Dying To See Her.” For more information, visit BillAnderson.com.
Media Assets
Recent News
Bill Anderson to be First Lifetime Achievement Honoree by South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame
Country Music Hall of Fame member, Songwriters Hall of Fame member and ACM and CMA-award-winning entertainment titan, Bill Anderson, will be honored with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award by the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame. Anderson was inducted by the organization in 1994, and will be the first Lifetime Achievement Award honoree on April 25, 2024.
ICYMI: GRAND OLE OPRY MEMBER BILL ANDERSON’S 62ND ANNIVERSARY, LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER IN SHOW’S HISTORY
Country Music Hall of Fame member, Songwriters Hall of Fame member and entertainment titan, Bill Anderson, was recognized for his indelible 62 years as the longest-serving member in Grand Ole Opry history. Many of Anderson’s Opry family and friends including Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson and Jeannie Seely paid tribute to him throughout the show.
Whisperin’ Bill Anderson Releases ‘1984,’ Available to Stream for the First Time
Prolific songwriter and country music titan, Whisperin' Bill Anderson releases 1984, a ten-song collection he recorded nearly 40 years ago for Swanee Records, available to stream for the first time. This is the 75th album release for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame member, whose illustrious career has spanned through an impressive seven decades. Anderson's prior album release featured a duet with Dolly Parton, "Someday It'll All Make Sense," which inspired the 2023 GRAMMY® nominated bluegrass version.
Whisperin’ Bill Anderson Releases ‘1984,’ Available to Stream for the First Time
Prolific songwriter and country music titan, Whisperin' Bill Anderson releases 1984, a ten-song collection he recorded nearly 40 years ago for Swanee Records, available to stream for the first time. This is the 75th album release for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame member, whose illustrious career has spanned through an impressive seven decades. Anderson's prior album release featured a duet with Dolly Parton, "Someday It'll All Make Sense," which inspired the 2023 GRAMMY® nominated bluegrass version.
Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum Extends Exhibit “Bill Anderson As Far As I Can See” Through September
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has extended its exhibition Bill Anderson: As Far as I Can See through Monday, Sept. 25. The exhibit opened in December 2021 and was originally scheduled to close this month.
Bill Anderson Receives First GRAMMY® Nomination as an Artis
Country music titan Bill Anderson receives his first-ever GRAMMY® nomination as an artist in the Best American Roots Performance category for "Someday It'll All Make Sense" (Bluegrass Version) with Dolly Parton. This is Anderson's fifth nomination overall, after previously being nominated as a songwriter for "Once A Day" recorded by Connie Smith, "Cold Hard Facts of Life" recorded by Porter Wagoner, "Two Teardrops" recorded by Steve Wariner and "Give It Away" recorded by George Strait.