Email contact for questions and booking inquiries

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jack White and Keith Urban appear in a new ad for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

The 30-second clip, titled The Soundtrack of America, features the two Tennessee transplants, as well as a black-and-white clip of the late Johnny Cash. White appears in concert, while Urban is shown walking off the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

The spot shows several other well-known music sites in the state, including Beale Street and Sun Studio in Memphis, Knoxville's Tennessee Theatre and Nashville's Bluebird Cafe.

The ad is voiced by country songwriter Rivers Rutherford, whose hits include Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton's When I Get Where I'm Going, Gary Allan's Smoke Rings in the Dark and Tim McGraw's Real Good Man. Mission Bells, a song by Nashville-based indie-rock band the Apache Relay, plays as the music bed.

According to the Department of Tourist Development's website, the state's tourism industry employs more than 146,000 people and generated a $16.16 billion impact on the state's economy in 2012.

Original Article in USA Today

Behind the Songs

Hits don't just happen . . or maybe they do. So, how does Rivers come up with an idea for a song? ...Each song is different and so is the story behind it. Here are a few of those stories.

Check back often to learn a little about how some of Rivers' biggest hits and favorite tunes got their start.

Southern Style - Darius Rucker

Tim (James) had the idea for "Southern Style" and we took it to Darius backstage at a show somewhere in Pennsylvania. I can't speak for Darius or Tim, but my inspiration for this song is my wife, Ali. She tells the story of her first day at Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) with her hair all piled up big and her makeup on just right (laughs). She said she walked out of her dorm, looked around at all the pretty Ole Miss girls and said to herself, I'm gonna need to get a sense of humor in a hurry! She is a beautiful woman with a beautiful heart and she truly doesn't "believe in strangers/only sinners with a Savior."

Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You - Brooks & Dunn, #1 (6 Weeks)

While shaving one morning, thinking about the day’s events, it occurred to me that I was writing with the great songwriter Tom Shapiro. So, I started humming, hoping something would present itself. When I got to his office, we talked for a little while then got around to business. “You got anything?” he asked. I played this little verse I had going - he said he had an idea that might work for it. I thought “there ain’t nothin’ bout you that don’t do somethin’ for me” was a little clumsy for a title but in the interest of time, I jumped on in and we wrote the song. We decided that we enjoyed working with each other and that if we kept it up, we just might write a real hit. The song we so easily dismissed has been the most successful song either of us has ever written and the biggest single of Brooks and Dunn’s career.

Hear the clips

Listen: Brooks & Dunn Cut | Listen: Demo

Real Good Man - Tim McGraw, #1 Song

At a party one evening my friend Claudia walked up to my wife and said, “I just love Rivers, and I’ll tell you why: Cause he’s a bad boy, but he’s a good man”.

My wife pulled me aside and asked, “who is this woman, and why does she know so much about you?”

I laughed and explained that she was a friend and not to worry about it cause she just put one of the kids through college!

Hear the clips

Listen: Tim McGraw Cut | Listen: Demo

Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man - Andy Griggs, Top 5 Record

We were putting some hardwood floors down in the house and had to move out while the work was being done. We packed up our three children and moved in with some good friends. Four adults, 5 children, and two dogs don’t leave much room for a loving, young couple.

Demonstrations of affection were limited to quick hugs, so suffice it to say, I was frustrated. I wrote “Tonight I Want To Be Your Man” one day, played it for my wife that night, and nine months later we had our fourth child.

Hear the clips

Listen: Andy Griggs Cut | Listen: Demo

Raise Him Up - Randy Travis

My oldest daughter was lying in a coma at Vanderbilt Hospital when a good friend and co writer of mine arrived and handed me a sketch of a song we had started. I told him that it was not a good time for me to think about working, but he insisted I take this piece of paper. I remember absentmindedly shoving the paper into my back pocket and muttering something like, “see ya”.

A few days later I found that typewritten sheet and glanced over it. It didn’t take me long to see why he had insisted I look it over. When my daughter completely recovered I got back together with my friend and finished “Raise Him Up”.

Hear the clips

Listen: Randy Travis Cut | Listen: Demo

[Click on the song titles below for an MP3 clip]

• Singles are $1.99/each and available as digital downloads.
• Digital Albums are $15.99.
• Physical CDs are $19.99 w/ FREE U.S. Shipping.

"Rebel Best" CD Single (clip)

For all the Ole Miss fans who enjoy hearing this song played on the jumbotron at Rebel football games.

1) Rebel Best

(Partial List)

+ When I Get Where I'm Going - Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley

+ Southern Style - Darius Rucker

+ These Are My People - Rodney Atkins

+ Stealing Cinderella - Chuck Wicks

+ So I Sang - Darius Rucker

+ Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You - Brooks & Dunn, #1 (6 Weeks)

+ Real Good Man - Tim McGraw, #1 Song

+ If You Ever Stop Loving Me - Montgomery Gentry, #1 Song

+ Homewrecker - Gretchen Wilson, # 1 Song

+ I Want To Live - Josh Gracin, Top 5 Record

+ Unconditional (Title Cut) - Clay Davidson, Top 5 Record

+ Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man - Andy Griggs, Top 5 Record

+ Smoke Rings In The Dark - Gary Allan, Top 10 Record

+ Shut Up And Drive - Chely Wright, Top 15 Record

+ Man Of Me - Gary Allan, Top 15 Record

+ When The Lights Go Down - Faith Hill, Top 20 Record

+ Good Way To Get On My Bad Side - Tracy Byrd/Mark Chesnuitt, Top 20 Record

+ Girls Gone Wild - Travis Tritt, Top 30 Record

+ That’s a Woman - Mark Wills, Top 40 Record

+ It’s All How You Look At It - Tracy Lawrence, Top 40 Record

+ Jesus Was A Country Boy - Clay Walker, Top 40 Record

+ Bring It On - Keith Harling, Top 40 Record

+ Ain’t Nobody Gonna Take That From Me - Collin Raye, Top 40 Record

+ Heavy Liftin’ - Blake Shelton, Top 40 Record

+ A Boy Like You - Trick Pony, Top 40 Record  

Rivers Rutherford Inks Publishing Deal With Kane Brown's Verse 2 Music

CMA World Songwriters Series in New York

TheBoot.com - Nashville Songwriter Book

Newschannel 5: Jamie Lynn Spears shares her 'Journey' into Country music

RollingStone.com - Songwriter Spotlight: Rivers Rutherford

CountryMusicMatters.com - Rivers Rutherford shares the story behind "Ladies Love Country Boys" - a CMM Exclusive

MaverickCountry.com ("Mavrick Tube" section)

USA Today - Jack White, Keith Urban Apache Relay Tennessee Tourism

NSAI: Legislative Bulletin

2024

Franklin Theatre Songwriters Series Presents: Rivers Rutherford with special guests Rhys Rutherford and Joybeth Taylor - Thursday, June 20th at 7:30pm Central

NEWS ARCHIVE

2023

2021

ONE NIGHT ONLY. Hotel Paso del Norte welcomes award-winning singer-songwriter, Rivers Rutherford and friends concert in the Ballroom.

- Rivers Rutherford Inks Publishing Deal With Kane Brown's Verse 2 Music

https://musicrow.com/2021/06/rivers-rutherford-inks-publishing-deal-with-kane-browns-verse-2-music/

- BIG NEWS! Rivers Rutherford writes new single with Darius Rucker and Tim James called "Southern Style".

"Southern Style" is an honest look at life in the South featuring big harmonies, an imminently singable melody, and vivid lyrical word pictures.

The single, "Southern Style", sung by Rivers Rutherford, is available for download in the Music section of this website.

The single, "Southern Style", sung by Darius Rucker, is available on iTunes in his album by the same name.

Check them both out!

The Story Behind the song:

"Tim (James) had the idea for 'Southern Style' and we took it to Darius backstage at a show somewhere in Pennsylvania. I can't speak for Darius or Tim, but my inspiration for this song is my wife, Ali. She tells the story of her first day at Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) with her hair all piled up big and her makeup on just right (laughs). She said she walked out of her dorm, looked around at all the pretty Ole Miss girls and said to herself, I'm gonna need to get a sense of humor in a hurry! She is a beautiful woman with a beautiful heart and she truly doesn't 'believe in strangers/only sinners with a Savior.'"—Rivers

Hits & Demos
There's some good stuff here. #1's, Top 10's and more. We thought you might enjoy listening to Rivers' original demo of these songs!

    When I Get To Where I'm Going   [ Brad Paisley Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    She Don't Tell Me To    [ Montgomery Gentry Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    Ain't Nothing 'Bout You   [ Brooks & Dunn Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    Real Good Man   [ Tim McGraw Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    Homewrecker   [ Gretchen Wilson Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    If You Ever Stop Loving Me   [ Montgomery Gentry Cut  |  Original Demo]
    When The Lights Go Down    [ Faith Hill Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    I Want To Live    [ Josh Gracin Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man    [ Andy Griggs Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    Unconditional    [ Clay Davidson Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    Smoke Rings In The Dark    [ Gary Allan Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    Shut Up And Drive    [ Chely Wright Cut  |  Original Demo ]
    Raise Him Up    [ Randy Travis Cut  |  Original Demo ]

Rivers loves to travel and bring his guitar out on the road. For booking information, please complete and submit the form below.

Franklin Theatre Songwriters Series Presents: Rivers Rutherford with special guests Rhys Rutherford and Joybeth Taylor - Thursday, June 20th at 7:30pm Central

Biography

With a name like Rivers Rutherford, it's no surprise this soulful storyteller and recent Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Famer was destined to become one of music's most talented and accomplished singer-songwriters. Having grown up in the shadow of Elvis' Graceland homestead in Memphis, Rutherford came out of the gates swinging at 21 years old, landing his first cut with American legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson (aka The Highwaymen). What followed were a dozen #1 hits, multiple Grammys, CMA and ACM nominations, and over 20 ASCAP awards, including both of the coveted awards for Country Song Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year, all of which have firmly established Rutherford's position within the upper echelon of Nashville's most lauded songwriters.

You'll see Rivers' name on #1 songs by Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton (for the stunning and Grammy-nominated duet "When I Get Where I'm Going"), Rodney Atkins, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Trace Atkins, and Brooks & Dunn—penning the duo's most successful single ever "Ain't Nothin' ‘Bout You, which spent 6 weeks at #1 and won both Billboard's and ASCAP'S Song Of The Year. Rivers has also enjoyed success with Country giants the likes of Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, George Jones, Toby Keith, Faith Hill, Hank Williams Jr., Gary Allan, and hosts of others.

Known for his gritty southern style, Rutherford is unapologetic about his faith, devotion to his family, and making great music. His decades long career, the countless hits to his credit and his ability to write music that is timeless is a testament to a man that has come to be respected as an artist in his own right.

Currently signed to Verse 2 Music (a Sony Music Publishing joint venture helmed by Kane Brown and Kent Earls), Rivers continues to write with and for the biggest names in country music. He's also returned to his early troubadour roots and maintains a rigorous touring schedule (over 50 dates a year), bringing his rip-roaring brand of no-holds-barred entertainment to audiences all over the world who come to hear his familiar hits straight from the source. With a persona that is at once direct, raw, and impassioned, Rivers possesses the shrewd skills of a storyteller who is capable of cutting right to the heart of the matter—a trait that leaves his talent both unique and timeless.