Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Tim McGraw Wants To Be With That One Special Someone In The Song “Shotgun Rider”

by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

In 2014, Tim McGraw released “Shotgun Rider” as the third single from his album Sundown Heaven Town.

The song then became another No. 1 hit for McGraw as it sailed on top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs, Billboard Country Airplay, and in the Billboard Country chart in Canada. It also peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100.

RELATED: Discover These Lesser-Known Facts About Country Star Tim McGraw

Not only that, but the song also received a favorable review. Taste of Country’s Billy Dukes, for instance, described the song as “an example of how the singer, producer, and songwriter all need to come together to create beautiful music.”

While Billboard’s Chuck Dauphin called the song “the perfect mix of old-school McGraw with some stirring steel guitar work and a few new sounds with some nifty guitar riffs.”

The Story Behind The Song

Written by Marv Green, Troy Verges, and Hillary Lindsey, “Shotgun Rider” tells the tale of a man who wants his special someone to ride shotgun with him, and he doesn’t want anybody else but her.

“I don’t ever want to wake up lookin’ into someone else’s eyes, another voice calling me baby on the other end of the phone, a new girl puttin’ on her makeup before dinner on Friday night. No, I don’t even wanna know, oh oh. No other shotgun rider, beside me, singin’ to the radio,” the song goes.

When the three songwriters met to write “Shotgun Rider,” they started working on an entirely different song. As Green recalled, it was the title “Hard Act to Follow” that he brought to the table, thinking the theme could lead them to a new song.

“It was like, ‘I hope you never leave because if you did, you’d be a hard act to follow,'” Green said. “It had a negativity or at least a sadness to it. We got into it and were like, ‘No one’s going to listen to this. This is too sad.'”

RELATED: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill – How Did Their Relationship Start?

Thinking the song was too depressing to finish, the three writers started writing another one. They began with one line they had from the previous song, and the rest followed.

“Sometimes songs go where they want to go if you’re willing to let them,” Green said. “I think that was the line that stayed.”

Unbeknownst to Green, Verges, and Lindsey, McGraw had already recorded a different song with the same title for his album Let It Go in 2007. The three writers can’t help but be grateful that the country superstar still chose to record their song.

You can listen to “Shotgun Rider” in the video below.

 

Latest Stories

Zach Bryan performs live on stage in a previous concert, wearing a sleeveless shirt and ball cap, as he announces a surprise $50 Red Rocks show set for August.

Zach Bryan Drops Surprise Red Rocks Show With a $50 Ticket Cap and a Promise to Keep It Real

While everyone else is out here selling pit passes for the price of a mortgage payment, Zach Bryan just dropped a $50 Red Rocks show like it was nothing. On ...

Mark Herndon plays drums on stage with a smile, wearing sunglasses and a bandana, representing his longtime role with country supergroup Alabama despite feeling like an outsider.

He Was Alabama’s Drummer for Years But Mark Herndon Says He Was Never Treated Like He Belonged

He played the beat behind the biggest country band in the world, but they made sure he knew his place. Off to the side. Mark Herndon was the guy in ...

The Dixie Chicks pose in front of an American flag in white T-shirts, with the words "FREE SPEECH" written on their arms—capturing the controversial moment that reshaped their career after 2003.

Whatever Happened to the Dixie Chicks After They Crossed the Line in 2003?

They weren’t canceled. They self-destructed and dared people to cheer for it. Back in 2003, the Dixie Chicks were sitting on top of the world. They were country music’s biggest ...

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard perform on stage together in 2015, each playing a guitar and singing into microphones, proving their legendary status with the success of their album Django and Jimmie.

On This Day in 2015, Willie and Merle Proved They Still Ran the Damn Game With “Django and Jimmie”

You can’t kill country legends, especially when they roll into town smoking pot and topping charts. On June 11, 2015, “Django and Jimmie” officially climbed to Number One on the ...

Hank Williams performs “Lovesick Blues” at the Grand Ole Opry in 1949, standing at the WSM microphone in a pinstripe suit and cowboy hat, holding an acoustic guitar during his historic debut.

On This Day in 1949, Hank Williams Stepped on the Opry Stage and Blew the Damn Roof Off

They tried to keep him out, but when Hank Williams finally hit the Grand Ole Opry stage, country music would never be the same. June 11, 1949. The Ryman Auditorium ...

John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN sit on a front porch singing a heartfelt acoustic rendition of “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” with John playing guitar and all three pouring raw emotion into the harmony.

John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN Team Up for a Soul-Crushing Take on “Go Rest High on That Mountain”

They didn’t win American Idol, but this performance says otherwise. John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN reunited after the American Idol finale to deliver a stripped-down, straight-from-the-gut version of Vince ...

Miss Kay Robertson is struggling after Phil’s death, facing serious health issues and grief that cuts deep after 60 years of love, loss, and shared life.

Miss Kay Robertson ‘Not in the Best of Health’ After Phil’s Death According to Son Willie

She’s been with the same man for sixty years, and now she’s waking up every morning wondering why the damn house is so quiet. Phil Robertson is gone, and Miss ...

Trisha Yearwood performs passionately on stage in a black fringe dress, set to headline a benefit concert in Santa Barbara supporting first responders and wildfire-affected musicians.

Trisha Yearwood Set to Take the Stage in Santa Barbara to Raise Funds for First Responders

Country powerhouse Trisha Yearwood is heading west, and she’s bringing some real heart with her. The three-time Grammy winner has been tapped to headline the 2025 One805LIVE! benefit concert, an ...

Faith Hill beams backstage at CMA Fest 2025 in her first public appearance in two years, wearing a wide-brim hat and leather jacket while chatting with friends.

Faith Hill Stuns With Her First Public Appearance in Two Years After Stepping Out of the Spotlight

It’s been a long time since Faith Hill showed up where fans least expected her, especially without a microphone in hand. CMA Fest 2025 brought out just about everyone in ...

Faith Hill waves to the crowd on stage in a white dress, fueling speculation about her quiet retirement from country music after years of absence from the spotlight.

Did Faith Hill Quietly Step Away From Country Music? The Biggest Sign Yet She’s Retired

There’s going quiet, and then there’s straight-up ghosting a whole genre. Faith Hill hasn’t just taken a break from country music. She’s vanished. One of the biggest names in the ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.