Meet Nashville Songwriter Thad Cockrell

Thad Cockrell is a tough musician to pin down because he’s so good at so many styles. His 2008 To Be Loved runs the Nashville gamut: honky-tonk detours, straightforward guy-and-guitar stuff, and a take on Gospel music that Neil Young would appreciate. Meeting the humble (and hilarious) musician confirms what his songs suggest. “I want to write songs I don’t know how to write,” he says. “That’s when I know I’m close to the good stuff.”

Listen to Our Favorite Songs

• "Great Rejoicing" from To Be Loved —Listen Now
• "Pride (Won't Get Us Where We're Going" from To Be Loved
• "Rosalyn" from To Be Loved
• "Taking the View" from Warmth & Beauty
• Listen to all on iTunes 

His Nashville Hero:
“I’m not sure I’ve had a more important teacher musically than Willie Nelson’s body of work.”

Wishes He Had Written:
Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” (written by the band)

Next Up:
An album with his Nashville-based band, Leagues. He also hopes to write more crowd-pleasing, sing-along songs. “Our generation needs its ‘Lean on Me.’ ”