Boudleaux and Felice Bryant

Arriving in Nashville in 1950, the songwriting duo became the first full-time independent songwriters in that musical city. In the course of their long careers, they created classic hits that pushed the boundaries of country music into the realms of pop and rock. Songs like “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” “Love Hurts,” and “Rocky Top” inspired young musicians everywhere. By the late 1990s, the Bryants had written as many as 6,000 songs and had sold more than 350 million copies worldwide.

They were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972, the National Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986, and in 1991 they became members of the Country Music Hall of Fame- a rare occurrence for songwriters who were not also performers.

The Bryants' writing style was unique in that they combined elements of country, pop, and rock and roll to create a distinct sound. As such, their songs have been covered by a wide variety of artists, ranging from the Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, Emmy Lou Harris, Simon and Garfunkel, George Harrison, Cher, Rod Stewart, Phish, and Bob Dylan.