Jon Nite (born March 19, 1980) is a Grammy-nominated, CMA and ACM award winning singer/songwriter who has written 16 No.1 hits. Nite's songs have been recorded by artists such as Charlie Puth, Keith Urban, Dan & Shay, Gabby Barrett, Luke Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Phillip Phillips, Dierks Bentley, Chase Rice, Jake Owen, Michael Ray, Brett Young, Darius Rucker, Dustin Lynch, and more. Jon Nite co-wrote the cross-over smash hit, “I Hope (feat. Charlie Puth)” by Gabby Barrett. “I Hope” was a record breaking #1 on not only the Billboard Country Airplay + Hot Country Songs charts as well as a #1 at Top 40, #2 on Hot AC, #3 on Hot 100, + 6x RIAA Platinum certified song in 2022. It received both ACM + CMA nominations for Single of the Year + was the best selling country song of 2020 in the US. Other accolades include Nite’s 2019 Grammy nomination for Best Country Song with Cole Swindell's single "Break Up in the End" which also topped the Country Aircheck chart. In addition, Jon has found a radio home with #1 hits like “We Were Us” by Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, “What She Wants Tonight,” “Knockin’ Boots,” + “Strip It Down” by Luke Bryan, “Beachin’” by Jake Owen, “Living” by Dierks Bentley, “Lady” by Brett Young, “Whatever She’s Got” by David Nail, “Smoke” by A Thousand Horses, “Break On Me” by Keith Urban, "Noise" by Kenny Chesney, “Think A Little Less” by Michael Ray, “If I Told You” by Darius Rucker, "Boy" by Lee Brice, and more. Jon has also had success in the sync world with placements such as The Shack (2017 film), Grey’s Anatomy, True Blood, CSI, The Vampire Diaries, One Tree Hill, Mob Wives, Private Practice, + SEC Football.
Biography
Early life
Born and raised in
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo ( ; Spanish for "yellow") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Potter County. It is the 14th-most populous city in Texas and the largest city in the Texas Panhandle. A portion of the city extends into Randall County ...
, Nite first started songwriting after he saw an ad on TV for a songwriting competition which his friends "dared" him to enter.
“I sent it in. They liked it. All the critiques were relatively encouraging, like maybe you should move to Nashville,” he explained in a 2016 interview with ''Songwriter Universe''. “Some kind songwriter back in the ’90s was listening to my horrible first song and giving me a pep talk. I just got hooked. I started writing as much as possible.”
Following the judges advice, he moved to Nashville from Amarillo when he was 18 years old with his wife and baby, surviving on food stamps and living in a tiny apartment. He explained “I could be poor in Amarillo, Texas or I could be poor in Nashville and at least be close to something that potentially I could have a dream at”. Nite studied at Belmont University's music school from which he eventually graduated.
Early career
As Nite began collaborating with different writers, he was introduced to
Sony Music Publishing
Sony Music Publishing (formerly Sony/ATV Music Publishing) is the largest music publisher in the world, with over five million songs owned or administered as of end March 2021. US-based, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is itself owned ...
songwriter
Ross Copperman, and they wrote their first song together, “Glass”, which was cut by country duo
Thompson Square
Thompson Square is an American country music duo composed of husband and wife Keifer and Shawna Thompson, both of whom alternate as vocalists. They signed to Stoney Creek Records, a sister label of Broken Bow Records, in 2010. The duo has releas ...
and featured on their 2011 self-titled debut album. It became Nite's first hit as a songwriter, peaking at No. 15 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Alongside Copperman, Jon Nite forged his career and created his next few hits, including
Dierks Bentley
Frederick Dierks Bentley (; born November 20, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to Capitol Nashville and released his eponymous debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's ''Modern Day Drifter'', ar ...
's 2012 top five Country Airplay hit “
Tip It On Back
"Tip It on Back" is a song written by Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, and Tully Kennedy and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in August 2012 as the fourth and final single from Bentley's 2012 album '' Home''. This ...
”. Nite has since scored a number of other hits writing with Copperman, including
Luke Bryan
Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan (born July 17, 1976) is an American country music, country singer, songwriter, and television personality. He began his music career writing songs for Travis Tritt and Billy Currington before signing with Capitol Reco ...
’s Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay No. 1 “
Strip It Down”,
A Thousand Horses
A Thousand Horses is an American country music band formed in 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The band is composed of Michael Hobby (lead vocals), Bill Satcher (lead guitar), Zach Brown (guitar and vocals), and Graham Deloach (bass and vocals). Their ...
’ Country Airplay chart-topper “Smoke”,
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is an Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Award ...
's Airplay No. 1 “
Break On Me”,
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 ...
’s Airplay chart-topper “
If I Told You" and
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Coun ...
’s Top 10 hit “
Noise
Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference arise ...
”.
Another regular co-writer has been
Jimmy Robbins. Together, they've written
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is an Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Award ...
and
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Leigh Lambert (born November 10, 1983) is an American country singer and guitarist. Born in Longview, Texas, she started out in early 2001 when she released her self-titled debut album independently. In 2003, she finished in third place o ...
’s “
We Were Us
"We Were Us" is a song written by Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy Robbins, and Jon Nite and recorded by New Zealand-born Australian country music singer Keith Urban as a duet with American country music singer Miranda Lambert. It was released in September ...
” and
Jake Owen
Joshua Ryan Owen (born August 28, 1981), known professionally as Jake Owen, is an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor. Signed to RCA Nashville in 2006, he released his debut studio album, '' Startin' with Me'', that year.
This ...
’s “
Beachin’” (co-written with Jaren Johnston). Both songs reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. His other collaborations with Robbins include
David Nail
David Brent Nail (born May 18, 1979) is an American country music artist, and frontman of the band ''David Nail & The Well Ravens''. In 2002, he debuted the single "Memphis" from an unreleased album for Mercury Records Nashville. Five years lat ...
’s Country Airplay chart-topping “
Whatever She’s Got” as well as
Chase Rice
Chase Rice (born September 19, 1985) is an American country music singer, songwriter and reality television personality. He first came to prominence in 2010 while he was a contestant on '' Survivor: Nicaragua'', where he was the runner-up to J ...
's “
Gonna Wanna Tonight
"Gonna Wanna Tonight" is a song recorded by American country music artist Chase Rice. It was first released to digital retailers as the first promotional single from his third studio album, '' Ignite the Night'', on July 22, 2014 and was released ...
” and
Michael Ray's “
Think A Little Less
"Think a Little Less" is a song recorded by American country music artist Michael Ray. It was released on April 25, 2016 as the third single from Ray's major-label debut album. This song was written by Barry Dean, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins, and ...
”, which both peaked at No. 2 on the Country Airplay charts. Alongside Josh Osborne, the pair also wrote
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...
's top five Airplay hit “
Top Of The World”.
Present career
Among the other artists Nite has had songs recorded by are
Frankie Ballard
Frank Robert Ballard IV (born December 16, 1982) is an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist. He has released two albums each for Reprise Records and Warner Bros. Records, and has charted eight singles on the Hot Country Songs ...
,
Lee Brice
Kenneth Mobley Brice Jr. (born June 10, 1979), known professionally as Lee Brice, is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Curb Records. Brice has released five albums with the label: '' Love Like Crazy'', '' Hard to Love'', ...
,
The Three,
Brett Eldredge
Brett Ryan Eldredge (born March 23, 1986) is an American country music singer, songwriter and record producer, signed to Warner Music Group Nashville. Eldredge has had five No. 1 singles on the ''Billboard'' Country Airplay chart, three of ...
,
Love and Theft,
Maddie and Tae
Maddie & Tae are an American female country music duo composed of Maddie Font (née Marlow) and Tae Kerr (née Dye), both of whom are singers, songwriters, and guitarists. The duo was signed to the revived Dot Records in 2014. Their debut album, ...
,
Chase Rice
Chase Rice (born September 19, 1985) is an American country music singer, songwriter and reality television personality. He first came to prominence in 2010 while he was a contestant on '' Survivor: Nicaragua'', where he was the runner-up to J ...
,
Dallas Smith
Dallas Hendry Smith (born December 4, 1977) is a Canadian singer and songwriter, who performs both as a solo country music artist and as lead singer for the hard rock band Default. He is currently signed to Big Loud Records. Smith is the curr ...
,
Cole Swindell
Colden Rainey Swindell (born June 30, 1983) is an American rock music singer and songwriter. He has written singles for Craig Campbell, Thomas Rhett, Scotty McCreery, and Luke Bryan, and has released four albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashvil ...
,
Leah Turner and
Waterloo Revival.
His awards include a CMA Triple Play honor, which he received for writing three No. 1 hits in a calendar year (“Smoke”, “Strip It Down” and “Break On Me”).
Nite additionally earned a 2019 Grammy nomination for Best Country Song, an ACM Nomination for Country Song of the Year, and an NSAI award for Song of the Year following his work on Cole Swindell's chart-topping ballad "Break Up In The End". Nite's recent No.1s include: “I Hope” by Gabby Barrett, “What She Wants Tonight” by Luke Bryan, and “Living” by Dierks Bentley.
Jon Nite is a Grammy-nominated, CMA and ACM award winning singer/songwriter who has written 16 No.1 hits. Nite's songs have been recorded by artists such as Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Gabby Barrett, Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile, Phillip Phillips, Chase Rice, Jake Owen, Michael Ray, Brett Young, Darius Rucker, Dustin Lynch, and more. In 2019 "Break Up in the End" by Cole Swindell lead Nite to receive a Grammy Nomination for Best Country Song, an ACM Nomination for Country Song of the Year, and an NSAI award for Song of the Year. Nite's recent No.1s include: “I Hope” by Gabby Barrett, “What She Wants Tonight” by Luke Bryan, “Break Up in the End” by Cole Swindell and “Living” by Dierks Bentley.
#1 Hits
* "
Strip It Down" – Recorded by
Luke Bryan
Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan (born July 17, 1976) is an American country music, country singer, songwriter, and television personality. He began his music career writing songs for Travis Tritt and Billy Currington before signing with Capitol Reco ...
* "
Break On Me" – Recorded by
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is an Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Award ...
* "
We Were Us
"We Were Us" is a song written by Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy Robbins, and Jon Nite and recorded by New Zealand-born Australian country music singer Keith Urban as a duet with American country music singer Miranda Lambert. It was released in September ...
" – Recorded by
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is an Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Award ...
and
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Leigh Lambert (born November 10, 1983) is an American country singer and guitarist. Born in Longview, Texas, she started out in early 2001 when she released her self-titled debut album independently. In 2003, she finished in third place o ...
* "
Beachin’" – Recorded by
Jake Owen
Joshua Ryan Owen (born August 28, 1981), known professionally as Jake Owen, is an American country music singer, songwriter, and actor. Signed to RCA Nashville in 2006, he released his debut studio album, '' Startin' with Me'', that year.
This ...
* "
Whatever She's Got
"Whatever She's Got" is a song recorded by American country music artist David Nail. It was released in May 2013 as the first single from Nail's third studio album, ''I'm a Fire''. The album was released on March 4, 2014. The song was written by ...
" – Recorded by
David Nail
David Brent Nail (born May 18, 1979) is an American country music artist, and frontman of the band ''David Nail & The Well Ravens''. In 2002, he debuted the single "Memphis" from an unreleased album for Mercury Records Nashville. Five years lat ...
* "
Smoke" – Recorded by
A Thousand Horses
A Thousand Horses is an American country music band formed in 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The band is composed of Michael Hobby (lead vocals), Bill Satcher (lead guitar), Zach Brown (guitar and vocals), and Graham Deloach (bass and vocals). Their ...
* "
If I Told You" – Recorded 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 ...
* "
Think A Little Less
"Think a Little Less" is a song recorded by American country music artist Michael Ray. It was released on April 25, 2016 as the third single from Ray's major-label debut album. This song was written by Barry Dean, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins, and ...
" – Recorded by
Michael Ray
* "
Wasting Gas" – Recorded by
Dallas Smith
Dallas Hendry Smith (born December 4, 1977) is a Canadian singer and songwriter, who performs both as a solo country music artist and as lead singer for the hard rock band Default. He is currently signed to Big Loud Records. Smith is the curr ...
* "
Break Up In The End" – Recorded by
Cole Swindell
Colden Rainey Swindell (born June 30, 1983) is an American rock music singer and songwriter. He has written singles for Craig Campbell, Thomas Rhett, Scotty McCreery, and Luke Bryan, and has released four albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashvil ...
* "
Living
Living or The Living may refer to:
Common meanings
*Life, a condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms
** Living species, one that is not extinct
*Personal life, the course of an individual human's life
* ...
" - Recorded by
Dierks Bentley
Frederick Dierks Bentley (; born November 20, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to Capitol Nashville and released his eponymous debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's ''Modern Day Drifter'', ar ...
* "
I Hope" – Recorded by
Gabby Barrett
Gabby Barrett Foehner (born March 5, 2000) is an American country music singer. She finished third on the 16th season of ''American Idol''. Her debut single " I Hope" was the first top 10 Hot Country Songs debut by an unaccompanied woman sinc ...
*"
What She Wants Tonight
"What She Wants Tonight" is a song by American country music singer Luke Bryan. Co-written by him along with Hillary Lindsey, Ross Copperman, and Jon Nite, it is the second single from his seventh studio album, '' Born Here Live Here Die Here'', ...
" – Recorded by
Luke Bryan
Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan (born July 17, 1976) is an American country music, country singer, songwriter, and television personality. He began his music career writing songs for Travis Tritt and Billy Currington before signing with Capitol Reco ...
*"
Lady
The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...
" – Recorded by
Brett Young
Songwriting discography
Singles
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nite, Jon
Living people
Songwriters from Texas
Musicians from Amarillo, Texas
1980 births