Tim McGraw

Solo Artist

Photo: Office of the Governor of Maryland · CC BY 2.0
Active 1990-present
Origin Delhi, Louisiana
Albums 17
Tracks 214
Most frequent collaborator Byron Gallimore · 213 tracks
Genres CountryCountry PopCountry rock
Singer / Performer
2%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 4 of 214 tracks

Does Tim McGraw write his own songs?

Rarely. Across a 30-year, seventeen-album career, Tim McGraw has written almost none of his material, relying instead on Nashville's professional songwriters. His first credit did not appear until "Train #10" on Let It Go (2007), and even in later years he co-writes only about one track per album. He is one of country's greatest interpreters and song-pickers rather than a songwriter.

By the Numbers

17
Studio Albums
214
Tracks Credited
2%
Self-Written
over 80 million
Records Sold
36
Years Active
289
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 4 / 214 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 214 tracks: how many Tim McGraw wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Tim McGraw has a writing credit2%
2%
98%
Sole author0tracks0%
Co-written4tracks2%
Outside writers210tracks98%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Tim McGraw's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 214 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)2%
Composer (music)2%
Producer85%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Tim McGraw's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 2%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
8%
0%
8%
0%
8%
0%
0%
0%
8%
1993Tim McGraw
1994Not a Moment Too Soon
1995All I Want
1997Everywhere
1999A Place in the Sun
2001Set This Circus Down
2002Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
2004Live Like You Were Dying
2007Let It Go
2009Southern Voice
2012Emotional Traffic
2013Two Lanes of Freedom
2014Sundown Heaven Town
2015Damn Country Music
2017The Rest of Our Life
2020Here on Earth
2023Standing Room Only
Early · 0% written
Mid · 3% written
Late · 3% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

0%
1990s
Tim McGraw, Not a Moment Too Soon +3 more
1%
2000s
Set This Circus Down, Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors +3 more
3%
2010s
Emotional Traffic, Two Lanes of Freedom +3 more
3%
2020s
Here on Earth, Standing Room Only

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Tim McGraw sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Tim McGraw
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

George Strait11%
Kenny Chesney20%
Billy Ray Cyrus47%
Florida Georgia Line63%
Toby Keith80%
Sheryl Crow88%
Zac Brown Band96%
2%Tim McGraw
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Welcome to the Club
Tim McGraw
Written by André Pessis, Steve Seskin
Outside writers
Memory Lane
Tim McGraw
Written by Joe Diffie, Lonnie Wilson
Outside writers
Two Steppin' Mind
Tim McGraw
Written by Buddy Brock, John Northrup
Outside writers
Don't Take the Girl
Not a Moment Too Soon
Written by Craig Martin, Larry W. Johnson
Outside writers
Indian Outlaw
Not a Moment Too Soon
Written by Tommy Barnes, Gene Simmons, John D. Loudermilk
Outside writers
Not a Moment Too Soon
Not a Moment Too Soon
Written by Wayne Perry, Joe Barnhill
Outside writers
Down on the Farm
Not a Moment Too Soon
Written by Jerry Laseter, Kerry Kurt Phillips
Outside writers
I Like It, I Love It
All I Want
Written by Mark Hall, Jeb Stuart Anderson, Steve Dukes
Outside writers
She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart
All I Want
Written by Chris Waters, Tom Shapiro
Outside writers
Can't Be Really Gone
All I Want
Written by Gary Burr
Outside writers
Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It
All I Want
Written by Jerry Laseter, Kerry Kurt Phillips
Outside writers
All I Want Is a Life
All I Want
Written by Stan Munsey, Tony Mullins, Don Pfrimmer
Outside writers
It's Your Love
Everywhere
Written by Stephony Smith
Outside writers
Everywhere
Everywhere
Written by Mike Reid, Craig Wiseman
Outside writers
Where the Green Grass Grows
Everywhere
Written by Jess Leary, Craig Wiseman
Outside writers
Just to See You Smile
Everywhere
Written by Mark Nesler, Tony Martin
Outside writers
One of These Days
Everywhere
Written by Marcus Hummon, Monty Powell, Kip Raines
Outside writers
Please Remember Me
A Place in the Sun
Written by Rodney Crowell, Will Jennings
Outside writers
Something Like That
A Place in the Sun
Written by Rick Ferrell, Keith Follesé
Outside writers
My Best Friend
A Place in the Sun
Written by Bill Luther, Aimee Mayo
Outside writers
My Next Thirty Years
A Place in the Sun
Written by Phil Vassar
Outside writers
Some Things Never Change
A Place in the Sun
Written by Walt Aldridge, Brad Crisler
Outside writers
Grown Men Don't Cry
Set This Circus Down
Written by Tom Douglas, Steve Seskin
Outside writers
Angry All the Time
Set This Circus Down
Written by Bruce Robison
Outside writers
The Cowboy in Me
Set This Circus Down
Written by Al Anderson, Craig Wiseman, Jeffrey Steele
Outside writers
Unbroken
Set This Circus Down
Written by Annie Roboff, Holly Lamar
Outside writers
Real Good Man
Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
Written by George Teren, Rivers Rutherford
Outside writers
Watch the Wind Blow By
Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
Written by Anders Osborne, Dylan Altman
Outside writers
She's My Kind of Rain
Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
Written by Tommy Lee James, Robin Lerner
Outside writers
Red Ragtop
Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
Written by Jason White
Outside writers
Live Like You Were Dying
Live Like You Were Dying
Written by Craig Wiseman, Tim Nichols
Outside writers
Back When
Live Like You Were Dying
Written by Jeff Stevens, Stan Lynch, Stephony Smith
Outside writers
Do You Want Fries with That
Live Like You Were Dying
Written by Casey Beathard, Kerry Kurt Phillips
Outside writers
My Old Friend
Live Like You Were Dying
Written by Craig Wiseman, Steve McEwan
Outside writers
Drugs or Jesus
Live Like You Were Dying
Written by Brett James, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Troy Verges
Outside writers
Last Dollar (Fly Away)
Let It Go
Written by Big Kenny, William Kenneth Alphin
Outside writers
Let It Go
Let It Go
Written by Aimee Mayo, Bill Luther, Tom Douglas
Outside writers
Nothin' to Die For
Let It Go
Written by Craig Wiseman, Lee Thomas Miller
Outside writers
I Need You
Let It Go
Written by David Lee, Tony Lane
Outside writers
Southern Voice
Southern Voice
Written by Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas
Outside writers
It's a Business Doing Pleasure with You
Southern Voice
Written by Brett James, Chad Kroeger
Outside writers
Still
Southern Voice
Written by Lee Brice, Kyle Jacobs, Joe Leathers
Outside writers
Better Than I Used to Be
Emotional Traffic
Written by Ashley Gorley, Bryan Simpson
Outside writers
Right Back Atcha Babe
Emotional Traffic
Written by Dave Pahanish, Joe West
Outside writers
One of Those Nights
Two Lanes of Freedom
Written by Luke Laird, Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins
Outside writers
Highway Don't Care
Two Lanes of Freedom
Written by Mark Irwin, Josh Kear, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
Outside writers
Southern Girl
Two Lanes of Freedom
Written by Jaren Johnston, Rodney Clawson, Lee Thomas Miller
Outside writers
Truck Yeah
Two Lanes of Freedom
Written by Chris Janson, Danny Myrick, Preston Brust, Chris Lucas
Outside writers
Shotgun Rider
Sundown Heaven Town
Written by Marv Green, Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges
Outside writers
Meanwhile Back at Mama's
Sundown Heaven Town
Written by Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele
Outside writers
Diamond Rings and Old Barstools
Sundown Heaven Town
Written by Barry Dean, Jonathan Singleton, Luke Laird
Outside writers
Lookin' for That Girl
Sundown Heaven Town
Written by Mark Irwin, James T. Slater, Chris Tompkins
Outside writers
Humble and Kind
Damn Country Music
Written by Lori McKenna
Outside writers
How I'll Always Be
Damn Country Music
Written by Chris Janson, Jamie Paulin, Jeremy Stover
Outside writers
Top of the World
Damn Country Music
Written by Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins, Jon Nite
Outside writers
Speak to a Girl
The Rest of Our Life
Written by Shy Carter, Dave Gibson, Joe Spargur
Outside writers
The Rest of Our Life
The Rest of Our Life
Written by Steve Mac, Johnny McDaid, Ed Sheeran, Amy Wadge
Outside writers
I Called Mama
Here on Earth
Written by Marv Green, Lance Miller, Jimmy Yeary
Outside writers
Standing Room Only
Standing Room Only
Written by Craig Wiseman, Tommy Cecil, Patrick Murphy
Outside writers

Discography 17 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Tim McGraw214 tracks
BG213Byron Gallimore, 213 tracks JS70James Stroud, 70 tracks DS57Darran Smith, 57 tracks BW19Brad Warren, 19 tracks 18Faith Hill, 18 tracks BW18Brett Warren, 18 tracks TD14Tom Douglas, 14 tracks CW11Craig Wiseman, 11 tracks BL9Bill Luther, 9 tracks AM9Aimee Mayo, 9 tracks CL7Chris Lindsey, 7 tracks LM7Lori McKenna, 7 tracks BB6Brett Beavers, 6 tracks MG6Marv Green, 6 tracks JT6James T. Slater, 6 tracks JJ6Jaren Johnston, 6 tracks RC6Rodney Clawson, 6 tracks KK5Kerry Kurt Phillips, 5 tracks BJ5Brett James, 5 tracks TV5Troy Verges, 5 tracks JK5Josh Kear, 5 tracks HL5Hillary Lindsey, 5 tracks LL5Luke Laird, 5 tracks MI5Mark Irwin, 5 tracks JN5Jon Nite, 5 tracks TM4Tony Mullins, 4 tracks TM4Tony Martin, 4 tracks SB4Steve Bogard, 4 tracks BD4Bob DiPiero, 4 tracks RR4Rivers Rutherford, 4 tracks CB4Casey Beathard, 4 tracks LT4Lee Thomas Miller, 4 tracks LM4Lance Miller, 4 tracks WP3Wayne Perry, 3 tracks TB3Tommy Barnes, 3 tracks JS3Jeff Stevens, 3 tracks MN3Mark Nesler, 3 tracks KC3Kim Carnes, 3 tracks JS3Jeffrey Steele, 3 tracks AS3Anthony Smith, 3 tracks TL3Tony Lane, 3 tracks AG3Ashley Gorley, 3 tracks AD3Andrew Dorff, 3 tracks JO3Josh Osborne, 3 tracks SM3Shane McAnally, 3 tracks JS3Jonathan Singleton, 3 tracks JY3Jimmy Yeary, 3 tracks SS2Steve Seskin, 2 tracks JD2Joe Diffie, 2 tracks LW2Lonnie Wilson, 2 tracks JV2Jerry Vandiver, 2 tracks RW2Reese Wilson, 2 tracks EH2Ed Hill, 2 tracks JL2Jerry Laseter, 2 tracks JB2Joe Barnhill, 2 tracks SM2Stan Munsey, 2 tracks TS2Tom Shapiro, 2 tracks SD2Steve Dukes, 2 tracks DD2Deryl Dodd, 2 tracks SM2Steve Mandile, 2 tracks PV2Phil Vassar, 2 tracks SS2Stephony Smith, 2 tracks MH2Marcus Hummon, 2 tracks GT2George Teren, 2 tracks RC2Rodney Crowell, 2 tracks MC2Mark Collie, 2 tracks ES2Even Stevens, 2 tracks BR2Bruce Robison, 2 tracks LO2Lore Orion, 2 tracks AP2Angelo Petraglia, 2 tracks LR2Liz Rose, 2 tracks SM2Steve McEwan, 2 tracks DS2Darrell Scott, 2 tracks TN2Tim Nichols, 2 tracks CS2Chris Stapleton, 2 tracks KJ2Kyle Jacobs, 2 tracks JL2Joe Leathers, 2 tracks BD2Blair Daly, 2 tracks DP2Dave Pahanish, 2 tracks JW2Joe West, 2 tracks AA2Angie Aparo, 2 tracks BS2Bryan Simpson, 2 tracks RA2Rhett Akins, 2 tracks BH2Ben Hayslip, 2 tracks JB2Jim Beavers, 2 tracks JS2Jennifer Schott, 2 tracks CT2Chris Tompkins, 2 tracks CJ2Chris Janson, 2 tracks BD2Barry Dean, 2 tracks JS2Jeremy Stover, 2 tracks JA2Jessi Alexander, 2 tracks JR2Jimmy Robbins, 2 tracks SC2Shy Carter, 2 tracks CM2Chase McGill, 2 tracks NS2Nathan Spicer, 2 tracks AP1André Pessis, 1 track BB1Buddy Brock, 1 track JN1John Northrup, 1 track CB1Clay Blaker, 1 track FD1Frank Dycus, 1 track BD1Brad Davis, 1 track BM1Billy Montana, 1 track PN1Paul Nelson, 1 track KB1Kenny Beard, 1 track EC1Earl Clark, 1 track JV1Jim Vest, 1 track AP1Arti Portilla, 1 track JS1Joyce Shoaf, 1 track DJ1Doug Johnson, 1 track MH1Michael Higgins, 1 track KH1Kent Henderson, 1 track RA1Randy Archer, 1 track SG1Stephen Grauberger, 1 track DF1David Frasier, 1 track GS1Gene Simmons, 1 track on Kiss's page JD1John D. Loudermilk, 1 track JF1Jim Foster, 1 track MP1Mark Petersen, 1 track CM1Craig Martin, 1 track LW1Larry W. Johnson, 1 track DP1Don Pfrimmer, 1 track CW1Chris Waters, 1 track GB1Gary Burr, 1 track VS1Van Stephenson, 1 track MH1Mark Hall, 1 track JS1Jeb Stuart Anderson, 1 track BL1Bill LaBounty, 1 track RB1Rand Bishop, 1 track JL1Jess Leary, 1 track SE1Skip Ewing, 1 track DS1Don Sampson, 1 track MP1Monty Powell, 1 track KR1Kip Raines, 1 track GL1Gary Loyd, 1 track MR1Mike Reid, 1 track TJ1Tony Joe White, 1 track JC1Johnny Christopher, 1 track BL1Billy Lawson, 1 track AC1Allen Chancey, 1 track FV1Frank Vinci, 1 track KB1Kris Bergsnes, 1 track WA1Walt Aldridge, 1 track BC1Brad Crisler, 1 track GB1Greg Barnhill, 1 track RF1Rick Ferrell, 1 track KF1Keith Follesé, 1 track WJ1Will Jennings, 1 track PL1Patty Loveless, 1 track HK1Hillary Kanter, 1 track RB1Rory Bourke, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 288. BG Byron Gallimore · JS James Stroud · DS Darran Smith · BW Brad Warren · BW Brett Warren

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

McGraw carries a writing credit on 4 of 214 tracks across 17 albums, and never on his own. That is not a hole in the data; it is the country model working as intended, where the singer picks songs and professional writers supply them. Brad and Brett Warren lead the credit list at 19 and 18 tracks, with Tom Douglas on 14 and Craig Wiseman on 11. His four credits are scattered one apiece across Let It Go (2007), Emotional Traffic (2012), Sundown Heaven Town (2014) and Standing Room Only (2023). Thirteen albums carry no McGraw credit anywhere.

Quick Facts

  • FamilyMarried to fellow country star Faith Hill since 1996
  • Number onesHas scored 25 No. 1 singles on the US country charts
  • AwardsWon three Grammy Awards, 11 CMA Awards, and 14 ACM Awards
  • Chart-topping albumsTen of his seventeen studio albums topped the Top Country Albums chart
  • Hall of FameInducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2026
  • ActingHas acted in films like The Blind Side and the TV series 1883

Creative Fingerprint

A career-long interpreter: McGraw wrote almost none of his hits, taking a rare co-write only from Let It Go (2007) onward.

The Story

Tim McGraw is one of the best-selling country artists of all time, a Louisiana-born singer who became a Nashville superstar starting with his 1994 breakthrough Not a Moment Too Soon. Like most mainstream country stars, he built his catalogue on songs supplied by professional Nashville songwriters rather than his own pen, choosing and interpreting material rather than writing it. He co-writes only occasionally, and his strength is as a vocalist and song picker across a run of platinum albums. Married to fellow country star Faith Hill, he has also moved into acting alongside his long recording career.

Awards & Recognition

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (2026)
Three Grammy Awards
11 CMA Awards and 14 ACM Awards
25 No. 1 singles on the US country charts
Has sold over 80 million records worldwide

Frequently Asked Questions Tim McGraw

Does Tim McGraw write his own songs?
Rarely. Across a 30-year, seventeen-album career, Tim McGraw has written almost none of his material, relying instead on Nashville's professional songwriters. His first credit did not appear until "Train #10" on Let It Go (2007), and even in later years he co-writes only about one track per album. He is one of country's greatest interpreters and song-pickers rather than a songwriter.
Who wrote "Live Like You Were Dying"?
"Live Like You Were Dying" was written by Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols, not by Tim McGraw. It became his most acclaimed hit and won the CMA and Grammy for its writers.
Did Tim McGraw write "Humble and Kind"?
No. "Humble and Kind" was written entirely by Lori McKenna. McGraw's 2016 recording took it to No. 1 and won McKenna the CMA Song of the Year.
How many albums has Tim McGraw released?
This catalogue covers seventeen studio albums, from his 1993 self-titled debut through Standing Room Only (2023), including the 2017 duet album The Rest of Our Life with Faith Hill.
Has Tim McGraw ever co-written his songs?
Occasionally, and only later in his career. He has a handful of co-writes such as "Train #10," "Keep On Truckin'," "I Will Not Fall Down," and "Nashville CA/L.A. Tennessee," but the overwhelming majority of his catalogue was written by others.
How many records has Tim McGraw sold?
Tim McGraw has sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling country artists of all time.
Is Tim McGraw married to Faith Hill?
Yes. Tim McGraw married country star Faith Hill in 1996, and the two have recorded numerous duets, including the 2017 full-length album The Rest of Our Life.
Has Tim McGraw won a Grammy?
Yes. He has won three Grammy Awards, along with 11 CMA Awards and 14 ACM Awards, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2026.
Who produces Tim McGraw's albums?
Byron Gallimore has produced or co-produced nearly all of Tim McGraw's albums, usually alongside McGraw himself and, in the 1990s and 2000s, James Stroud and guitarist Darran Smith.

Sources

Wikipedia: Tim McGraw Wikipedia: Tim McGraw discography