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Brett Beavers

Brett Beavers (born in Waco, Texas) is an American country music songwriter and producer and the co-author of the book Something Worth Leaving Behind.

Beavers attended Baylor University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary education^[1] in 1985.^[2] He spent the next four years playing bass guitar with Mack Abernathy throughout the United States, honing his skill as a songwriter.^[2] After a year away from the music business, when he married and taught high school science in Tyler, Texas,^[2] he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to join a band with Deryl Dodd.^[3] Shortly after arriving in Nashville, Beavers began touring with Martina McBride as bass player and bandleader, from 1992–1996, and then with Lee Ann Womack from 1997–2005 in the same capacity.^[2] During this time, he started a publishing company and began getting his songs recorded by such artists as Tim McGraw and Billy Ray Cyrus.^[3] In 2005, he stopped performing and touring to pursue songwriting and producing on a full-time basis.^[2] His brother, Jim, is also a Nashville songwriter.^[4]

Much of Beavers' success has been with Dierks Bentley, for whom he produces and co-writes several of his songs, a collaboration that began in 2001.^[5] The partnership has produced several number-one Hot Country Songs, including "Sideways",^[6] "Come a Little Closer",^[7] "Feel That Fire",^[8] and "Every Mile a Memory".^[9] In addition to chart-topping success, the pairing has led to a SOCAN^[10] and NSAI Achievement Award for "What Was I Thinkin'",^[11] a BMI Award Most Performed Song for "Trying to Stop Your Leaving",^[12] and Grammy Award nominations for Best Country Song, "Long Trip Alone"^[13] and Country Song of the Year, "Every Mile a Memory".^[14] The songs that he has written and produced for Bentley have also led to Beavers being honored at the BMI Country Awards every year from 2006–2009.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Along with Tom Douglas, Beavers wrote the inspirational book Something Worth Leaving Behind, based on the song of the same name that they co-wrote for Lee Ann Womack.^[19]