In the heart of Nashville, country music veteran Skip Ewing sits comfortably—not on the laurels of his past success, but in the momentum of a compelling new chapter. Known for penning some of country’s most beloved hits, Ewing’s return to radio with his fan-favorite single “Road Dog” marks both a homecoming and a fresh stride forward.
“I think when somebody’s thinking about Skip Ewing, it’s like a resurgence for me,” he shared during our conversation. After stepping away from the industry for nearly a decade to work with horses and explore a deeply personal spiritual journey, Ewing is once again making waves. This time, on his own terms.
Ewing has written hits for legends like Randy Travis (“If I Didn’t Have You”), George Strait (“Don’t Mind If I Do”), and Clint Black (“Something That We Do”), not to mention contributions to the catalogs of Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band. But his recent musical contributions prove he’s far from done.
Current Radio Singles
The story behind his song “Would If I Could” is just as serendipitous as it is special. Co-written with country songwriting giant Dean Dillon in the 1990s, the track resurfaced through Apple Music’s “Lost & Found” series, where Lainey Wilson first gave it new life. “They nailed it, as far as I was concerned,” Ewing said. Then ERNEST came along, asking Lainey to record it again—this time as a duet. He also released a solo version, which became the No. 1 most added song at country radio upon its debut.
“It’s always a little surreal,” Ewing admitted about having multiple songs on the charts simultaneously. Still, he views each piece individually: “I guess I don’t lump them together.”
Ewing believes part of the song’s success lies in its authenticity. “Pretty much anyone who hears that song will know it’s a country song. There’s no question about whether it’s country or not.”
With “Road Dog”, he leans into storytelling from a new perspective—that of the dog. “It’s fun. If you like dogs, you’re going to relate to this song,” he laughed, adding, “At our house, dog hair is a fashion statement.”
Despite his years away from the spotlight, Ewing never truly stopped writing or playing, since music is so ingrained in him. The break was about stepping back from the business of music to focus on personal growth and authenticity. “A horse never asks me about Kenny Chesney,” he joked. “It cares about the energy. How it feels.”
Watch the Video for “Road Dog”
Continuing His Journey
Now, he’s focused on writing songs that feel true to him, without chasing radio trends. “If I’m going to write, let me write what I wanna write, in the way that I wanna write it,” he explained. That mindset has resulted in songs that strike deep emotional chords, something he attributes to focusing on human connection. “When I’m writing, I’m thinking, ‘How can I open the doors to let you put your life in the song?’” He also said a good song has to have elements of what we share as humans.
Ewing also emphasized the power of live performance, calling shows a once-in-a-lifetime moment. “When people come see a show, they’re experiencing songs I’ve written and new music—and it’s so fun to have that happen.”With “Road Dog” gaining traction and momentum building behind him, Skip Ewing is once again proving that good songs—and good storytellers—never go out of style. “It’s like the gates have opened,” he said, smiling.
