Career
Originally a solo artist for Curb Records in 1999, McAnally charted three singles on Hot Country Songs, including the Number. 31 "Are Your Eyes Still Blue", before becoming a songwriter and producer. He has written and produced songs for Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Hunt, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert.
The Academy of Country Music named him Songwriter of the Year in 2014.
McAnally is a frequent collaborator of Kacey Musgraves, having co-produced both of her studio albums (Same Trailer Different Park and Pageant Material) and co-written most of the songs on them. He has also produced for Sam Hunt, Kelly Clarkson, Old Dominion, and Jake Owen.
McAnally began performing at local clubs at age 12 and appeared on Star Search when he was 14, singing Dan Hill"s "Sometimes When We Touch." He moved to Branson, Missouri at age 15, then to Nashville at 19. McAnally and music producer Rich Herring recorded a demo of a song that McAnally had written.
The song, "Just One Touch", earned McAnally a publishing deal as well as a recording contract with Curb Records.
In 1999, McAnally signed with Curb and began recording his first album for the label as well as his first single. "Say Anything" was released in 1999 as his debut single. The song peaked at Number.
41 the United States Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The follow-up single, "Are Your Eyes Still Blue", became his first top 40 single, peaking at Number. 31. McAnally charted a third and final time with "Run Away", which reached Number.
50.
Songwriting
Six of McAnally"s songs appear in the award-winning 2007 independent film Shelter, credited as Shane Mack. McAnally returned to Nashville and began writing songs for other artists, starting with "Last Call", released by Lee Ann Womack in 2008.
In 2010, he had his first Number.
1 on Hot Country Songs as a songwriter with Kenny Chesney"s "Somewhere with You". Other songs that McAnally has written that have reached Number. 1 on the country charts include "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" by Luke Bryan.
"Alone with You" by Jake Owen.
"Come Over", "American Kids", and "Wild Child" by Kenny Chesney. "Better Dig Two" by The Band Perry.
"Say You Do" by Dierks Bentley. "Leave the Night On" and "Take Your Time" by Sam Hunt.
He also co-produced Hunt"s major-label debut album Montevallo with Zach Crowell.
McAnally is closely associated with Kacey Musgraves, having co-written several songs on both of her major-label albums, Same Trailer Different Park and Pageant Material, in addition to co-producing both albums with Musgraves and Luke Laird. Broadway Shows
In 2013, McAnally and Brandy Clark wrote the music and lyrics for a new, original Broadway musical inspired by the television classic, Hee-Haw. The book was written by Robert Horn and "Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical debuted in Dallas at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in September 2015.
