CLOSING KEYNOTE BIOS

Stories Behind the Hits – An Exclusive Nashville Singer-Songwriter Experience

Wednesday, November 12, 2025
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM
Karl F. Dean Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by: 
Three of country music’s most celebrated songwriters—Jimmy Yeary, Lee Thomas Miller, and Kelly Archer—bring their #1 hits and behind-the-scenes stories to National Comp 2025 for an unforgettable keynote performance.

Jimmy Yeary

Jimmy Yeary is a Grammy-nominated, CMA and ACM Award-winning songwriter whose music has left a lasting mark on country storytelling. With more than 2,000 songs written and 10 #1 singles, his hits include Kenny Chesney’s “Till It’s Gone” and “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” Tim McGraw’s “I Called Mama,” Jake Owen’s “Anywhere With You,” and Drew Baldridge’s “She’s Somebody’s Daughter.” His poignant anthem “I Drive Your Truck” — inspired by the father of a fallen soldier — earned both the CMA and ACM Song of the Year honors. Jimmy’s songwriting credits also include beloved tracks for Martina McBride (“I’m Gonna Love You Through It”), LeAnn Rimes (“Give”), George Strait (“Cold Beer Conversation”), and Joe Diffie (“In Another World”), among many others. Beyond the charts, he’s known as one of the most engaging speakers in the country, drawing on lessons from his music career to inspire creativity, connection, and purpose in teams and organizations nationwide.

Lee Thomas Miller

Lee Thomas Miller is a four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter whose hits have helped shape modern country music. With 19 Top 20 singles — including seven #1s for artists like Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, and Joe Nichols — his songs have earned 13 BMI Awards, over 30 million radio spins, and hundreds of millions of streams worldwide. He won both the CMA and ACM Song of the Year for Jamey Johnson’s “In Color”, while Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” earned Song of the Year from NSAI and CMA Single of the Year. Beyond chart success, Lee has written for stars such as Chris Stapleton, George Strait, Darius Rucker, and Brothers Osborne, and serves as President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, where he advocates nationally for the rights of American songwriters.

Kelly Archer

Kelly Archer is a Nashville hitmaker originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, whose songs have been recorded by some of country music’s biggest stars, including Jason Aldean, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, and Dustin Lynch. She has earned five #1 singles on the country charts, among them Brett Young’s “Sleep Without You”, Travis Denning’s “After a Few”, Justin Moore’s “Somebody Else Will”, Corey Kent’s “Wild As Her”, and Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood’s “I’m Gonna Love You”. Honored as the Rising Independent Songwriter of the Year at the AIMP Nashville Awards and recipient of a SOCAN Award for her Top 10 Jess Moskaluke hit “Take Me Home”, Kelly is known for her versatility, blending heartfelt storytelling with unforgettable hooks that resonate with artists and fans alike.