Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis have each built reputations as strong songwriters, but when this Texas twosome combined their talent to create "Beautiful Lie," the result was powerful.
Released five weeks ago, the album marks just the fourth time that the husband and wife have recorded together. The couple will stop in Songbirds North on Thursday, July 25, on their "Beautiful Lie" tour.
Willis' voice has been described as "heartache meets honky-tonk." She has earned multiple Austin Music Awards, including 1999's Album of the Year for "What I Deserve," and she was a 1993 Academy of Country Music nominee for Top New Female Vocalist.
Anyone not familiar with Robison will still know his music. His hits have included "Angry All the Time," recorded by Tim McGraw, and "Travelin' Soldier," sung by the Dixie Chicks. George Strait cut "Wrapped" and "Desperately," which climbed to No. 2 and No. 6 on Billboard's country charts, respectively.
Robison produced Willis' 2018 album, "Back Being Blue."
» Robison and Willis are one of five big acts at Songbirds this weekend. Hometown son Roger Alan Wade takes the stage on Friday night in Songbirds North for an evening of songs and stories.
It was announced last week that Wade will be one of several local artists featured by WTCI-TV 45, the local PBS station, as part of its look ahead to the Sept. 15 airing of new Ken Burns documentary "Country Music."
Also scheduled to be featured on the local show will be Angel Snow, James Rogers, Tom Morley and Laura Walker. (More detail will follow in the coming weeks, according to WTCI's Jennifer Crutchfield.) The Wade segment was filmed last week at Mayo's on Brainerd Road.
Wade and his cousin, actor Johnny Knoxville, co-host the weekly show "Big Ass Happy Family Jubilee" on Sirius XM's Outlaw Country channel. He has written songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr., who took Wade's song "Country State of Mind" to No. 1 in 1986.
His own albums include "Bad News Knockin'," "Too Fat to Fly," "All Likkered Up" and "Deguello Motel." He is as equally adept at writing funny songs - such as "If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough" - as he is writing something as powerful as "Cowboy Angel."
» Maria Jordania from Lvndr sings Friday night in Songbirds South.
» Nashville songstress Angel Snow shares the stage with Justin Wade Tam from Humming House at Saturday's early show in Songbirds North. And if you feel like dancing, check out the Neon Moon '90s country tribute show at 9 p.m. Saturday.
If you go
› Where: Songbirds Guitar Museum, 35 Station St. (South), 41 Station St. (North)› For more information: 423-531-2478KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON› When: 7 p.m. Thursday, July 25 (N)› Admission: $30ROGER ALAN WADE: AN EVENING OF SONGS AND STORIES› When: 7 p.m. Friday, July 26 (N)› Admission: $12 in advance, $15 day of showMARIA JORDANIA WITH NO PRESSURE› When: 9 p.m. Friday, July 26 (S)› Admission: $10 in advance, $12 day of showANGEL SNOW WITH JUSTIN WADE TAM OF HUMMING HOUSE› When: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 27 (N)› Admission: $15 in advance, $20 day of showNEON MOON: ULTIMATE ‘90S COUNTRY TRIBUTE WITH DALTON DOVER› When: 9 p.m., Saturday, July 27 (S)› Admission: $15