Transform Your Songs In 90 Days

I Ran Over Jack White's Corn Hole

co-writing advice music industry relationships nashville music story reconnecting with collaborators songwriter networking tips songwriting career growth Jan 13, 2026

I’m sure you don’t see “I ran over Jack White’s cornhole” every day in your inbox. But I’m serious. This isn’t a metaphor.

I legitimately ran over Jack White’s cornhole.

How We Got Here

A few weeks ago I was at a Nashville mixer for a music licensing agency. Warm night, great crowd, “El Diabolo” in hand. An artist/co-writer I hadn’t seen in ages walked in. Instant catch-up. We promised to book a new write, so I pulled up my calendar.

She said, “Hey, do you remember our song To Feel?”

“Of course—it’s still one of my favorites.”

“Same. I still listen to it.”
(pause)
“Um… did you know you ran over Jack White’s cornhole?”

Record scratch. “Jack White’s… cornhole?”

Yup.

Turns out the house/studio where we recorded was shared with a few songwriters. One knew Jack well enough to borrow his cornhole set for a party. They set it at the end of the driveway. I arrived, parked, and apparently nicked it. My friend touched up the scuff so her roommate—and Jack—wouldn’t notice. (So no bad blood with Mr. White.)

Funny? Absolutely. But there are two lessons buried in this wonderfully weird Nashville moment.

 

Lesson 1: Don’t park like a rock-and-roll wrecking ball

When you pull up to a friend’s place, maybe don’t parallel park within inches of a certified guitar hero’s lawn game. 😅

Lesson 2: Stay connected to the people you make great art with

The real takeaway wasn’t the driveway incident—it was the reconnection. We had no idea why we stopped writing together. Life. Calendars. Drift. But one conversation brought the creative spark right back.

In music, relationships are everything. Great songs and great opportunities usually come from people who know you, trust you, and have already made something with you.

A 5-Minute Challenge (Do it now)

  1. Think of one collaborator you haven’t talked to in a while—someone you made something you’re proud of with.

  2. Reach out: “Hey! I was just thinking about the time we worked on [song]. Want to catch up soon?”

  3. Set a date on the spot—coffee, Zoom, or a casual brainstorm.

  4. Keep it fun. Take the pressure off; follow the energy.

  5. Repeat monthly. Keep your network warm on purpose.

At the end of the day, the music business isn’t just about what you create—it’s about who you create it with. Conversations, connections, and trust open doors, spark ideas, and lead to the collaborations that move careers.

Challenge accepted? Reach out to that person now—and reply to this email telling me you did it. I’ll hold you accountable.