CARTHAGE, Mo. — Some huge steps in faith led Brent Baxter to where he is today as a husband and father, working in his songwriting passion from his home in Carthage, Mo.
Always enthralled with writing and storytelling, Baxter grew up in Batesville, Ark., never knowing his “bad poetry” would someday lead him to co-writing award-winning hit music. To date, some of his most successful works have included big names in the world of music.
“Monday Morning Church” by Alan Jackson in 2004 was a top 5 hit, “When Your Lips Are So Close” by Gord Bamford was a #1 Hit and CCMA Single of the Year. These hits, as well as many more titles from artists including Lady Antebellum, Randy Travis, Joe Nichols and Ray Stevens have all embraced lyrics written by Baxter.
“I love doing this,” Baxter said. “I’ve always loved writing but I remember the Christmas break of 1994 – my buddy got a guitar and took a poem I had laying there and put it to a melody. It was like the light came on – I loved it. It was something people could sing around a campfire. It felt completed – like, now it can go out to the world. Before, it was on a paper no one was going to see. And that’s when I got hooked.”
Baxter finished his undergrad degree in human resource management in 1997 from Arkansas State University, and then his MBA in 1999. It was during this time, however, he and his friend started making trips to Nashville, Tenn. In 2002, Baxter made the move and was completely taken in with the music scene, but eventually something else stole his heart in the Music City.
That’s where he met Emily, a Carthage native who had also moved to Nashville in pursuit of her next life chapter. They were married and lived in Nashville for 16 years.
After a big break with the Alan Jackson song, Baxter signed with Major Bob Music and then more opportunities followed. At first, his songwriting career included a blog, and over time it morphed into his company Songwriting Pro – today, serving approximately 300 members. The organization helps aspiring artists network within the music realm, learn business strategies and stay up-to-date with the ever-changing trends. This is closely tied to the C.L.I.M.B. [Creating Leverage In the Music Business] podcast – hosted by Baxter and Johnny Dwinell.
“It is so fun – I still love geeking out with people over music,” Baxter said. “It’s fun to bring in people who I’m reconnecting with, or even new people I’ve never met. I’m always interested because this is what I want to talk about even after the red button’s not on. I’ve been songwriting for 30 years, and it’s still at the top of what I love talking about.”
But then it was time for the next chapter … and Baxter said he had his hesitations.
“When we heard God calling us to move to Carthage, I didn’t want to. It was a huge uncertainty. But we knew it was what He wanted,” Baxter said. “I had a peace about it. And after God literally put my future wife in my house, you just know the Lord will provide. And He has proved faithful.”
The plan unfolded … A move back to the Midwest, six children and the podcast recently rolled out its 756th episode. Brent and Emily homeschool, and life is sweet on their quiet street in smalltown USA with: Ozzy, 13; Ruby, 10; Wren, 21; Quill, 14; Hazel, 8; and Daisy, 2.
“We make it work pretty well – I still make trips to Nashville, but it’s been great,” Baxter said. “We moved before the pandemic so God knew people were about to get much better at Zoom calls. My love for the music business is something I could do all the time, and so it’s like God put up guardrails for me. I’m able to be here – with my family – helping and involved while I’m also still in my passion.”
That passion isn’t limited to just one genre. Baxter enjoys lyric creating in Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and Contemporary Christian – and everything in between.
“I like coloring with all the crayons,” he said. “And I’m a believer so writing about faith is easy. It’s fun to play with different topics and different vibes – It’s great that I don’t have to be pigeonholed in one type of music … At the end of the day, my favorite thing is working on a song, and everything I do orbits that.”
Find Baxter’s podcast here and learn more about Songwriting Pro here. For all you readers, find his e-book “Hit Songwriting” here.
