Clayton Bernard "Clay" Mills is an American songwriter. His credits include the #1 hits " Beautiful Mess" by

Diamond Rio Diamond Rio is an American country music band. The band was founded in 1982 as an attraction for the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, Tennessee, and was originally known as the Grizzly River Boys, then the Tennessee River Boys. It was fou ...

and "

Don't Think I Don't Think About It "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" is a song recorded by American country music artist Darius Rucker, lead singer of the band Hootie & the Blowfish. The song, co-written by Rucker and Clay Mills, was released in May 2008 as Rucker's first singl ...

" by

Darius Rucker Darius Carlos Rucker (born May 13, 1966) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Ca ...

, which won Mills an award from ASCAP. Other

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

artists who have charted with his singles include Andy Griggs and

Trisha Yearwood Patricia Lynn Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is an American singer, actress, author and television personality. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single " She's in Love with the Boy," which became a number one hit on the ''Billboard'' c ...

. Clay has had over 200 songs recorded worldwide, 16 ASCAP awards, and received Grammy nominations for his singles "Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love" and "Beautiful Mess." Along with

Marty Dodson Marty Dodson (born September 17, 1964 in Apple Valley, California) is an American singer-songwriter/producer. He has had songs recorded by artists such as Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Plain White T's, ...

he is the co-founder of the highly successful songwriter training site SongTown.com. In 2022 he was inducted into The Mississippi Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Clay is also the co-author of Mastering Melody Writing, a best-selling book for songwriters.

List of Hit Singles co-written by Mills

— " Beautiful Mess" #1 *

— "

" #1 *

— " History in the Making" #3 *

— " I Got Nothin'" #15 *

Clay Walker Ernest Clayton Walker Jr. (born August 19, 1969) is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You", which reached Number One on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Song ...

— "

Fall Autumn, also known as fall in American English and Canadian English, is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Southe ...

" #5 *

— " Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love" #19 * Andy Griggs — " She Thinks She Needs Me" #5 *

Kimberley Locke Kimberley Dawn Locke (born January 3, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter and television personality. She has recorded in the dance and pop genres, and has targeted the adult contemporary radio format. She was the cohost of the daytime talk s ...

— "

" #1 Dance/AC *

Little Big Town Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group from Homewood, Alabama. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its founding: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman (née Roads), Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbr ...

— "Don't Waste My Time" *

Danielle Peck Danielle Marie Peck (born September 14, 1978) is an American country music artist. Signed to the independent Big Machine Records label in 2005, Peck released her self-titled debut album, which produced the Top 30 country hits "I Don't", " Findin ...

— "I Don't" *

Shelly Fairchild Shelly Fairchild (born August 23, 1977) is an American music recording artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 2004, she released her debut album ''Ride'' in early 2005. It produced the single "You Don't Lie Here Anymore", a No. 35 on the ''Bi ...

— "You Don't Lie Here Anymore" * Taranda Green — "Sky Full Of Angels" #1 Gospel Song —Southern Gospel Song-of-the-Year * The Gastineaus — " Sky Full Of Angels" The Gastineaus (Southern Gospel #1 -2012)

Other major artist recordings co-written by Mills

"One Day You Will" *

Lady Antebellum Lady A (formerly known as Lady Antebellum) is an American country music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006. The group is composed of Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals), Charles Kelley (lead and background vocals, guitar) ...

"Heaven Heartache" Baby Face & Trisha Yearwood "A Lot To Learn About Living" Easton Corbin "Gotta Love It" Joe Nichols "Second Chance" Trisha Yearwood "Sky Full Of Angels" Reba McEntire "Sky Full of Angels" Taranda Greene (2006 Southern Gosple Song of the Year) "Sky Full Of Angels" The Gastineaus (Southern Gospel #1 -2012) "Things I'd Never Do" Darius Rucker "Whenever You Love Somebody" Matt Wertz "Just Drive" Jo Dee Messina "A Strong Shot Of You" Jo Dee Messina "I Did It For The Girl" Lonestar "My Life's Been A Country Song" Chris Cagle "Now I Know What Moma Meant" Chris Cagle "Bohemian" Songs From The Road Band "Will You Be Waiting" Dakota Bradley "Only The Lonely talking" Steve Holy "Homesick" Kristy Lee Cook "Throwaway Day" Adam Gregory "Rush" Jake Matthews "Only The Lonely talking" Danielle Peck "Lay Back Down" Danielle Peck "Kiss You On The Mouth" Danielle Peck "The Good Life" Donny & Marie "I Don't" Judy Torres "Not Even Monday" Cleve Francis "Photo Booth" Carter Twins "I Get That A Lot These Days" Shane Yellowbird "The One And Lonely Me" Tejas Brothers "That's Who I Come From" Diamond Hitch "Sky Full Of Angels" Amber Martin "Sky Full Of Angels" Bill Gaither "You're My Summertime" Sarah Marince "Just Bein' Me" Jaymi Renae "A Brand New Day" Angel Rattay "Don't Let Up" Eli Barsi "You Can Hear A Heartbreak" Kelsey DiMarco

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mills, Clay American country songwriters American male songwriters Living people Year of birth missing (living people)