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Here is a new song by the recent winner of Puckett's Rising Star, Bill Griese, performed live at Puckett's at the winner's showcase 3/31/14. Grammy-winning songwriters Luke Laird and Barry Dean graciously shared the stage with Bill for this special event, and performed many of their favorite hits for the sold-out crowd in Franklin, TN. The Pucketts Rising Star contest was created and is hosted by husband-and-wife team Keith Mohr and Susan Ross-Mohr, owners of indieheaven.com. Bill was the winner of Puckett's 19th Rising Star Contest, surviving 150 talented entrants to take first-place honors. "How Bout You" (c) 2014 Bill Griese.

Luke Laird's fourteen #1 Billboard singles include Carrie Underwood's "So Small," "Last Name," "Temporary Home" and "Undo It, " Blake Shelton's "Hillbilly Bone" feat. Trace Adkins, Sara Evans's "A Little Bit Stronger," Rodney Atkins's "Take a Back Road," Eric Church's "Drink in my Hand," Chris Young's "You," Little Big Town's "Pontoon," Tim McGraw's "One of Those Nights," Hunter Hayes's "Somebody's Heartbreak," Lady Antebellum's "Downtown," and Brad Paisley's "Beat This Summer." Laird also penned Miranda Lambert's "Baggage Claim" (#3 Billboard charting single), Carrie Underwood's "Mama's Song" (#2 Billboard charting single), Darius Rucker's "Radio" (#6 Billboard charting single), Jason Aldean's "1994," Toby Keith's "Drinks After Work," Lee Brice's "Parking Lot Party," Ronnie Dunn's "I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes," Joel Crouse's "If You Want Some," and co-produced Kacey Musgraves debut album Same Trailer Different Park for Mercury Records and Brett Eldredge's full length debut album Bring You Back for Atlantic Records. Most recently, Laird won the prestigious honor of 2012 BMI Songwriter of the Year and BMI Song of the Year for "Take a Back Road" being the most played BMI country song for 2012. Luke and his wife Beth Laird, are the owners of Creative Nation -- a music publishing and management company that is home to some of music's top songwriters and producers.

Barry Dean landed his first publishing deal with BMG Music Publishing in 2003. In only two short years, Reba McEntire recorded his song "Moving Oleta" for her Room to Breathe album and he had a #16 Billboard single with Martina McBride's "God's Will". In 2011, Dean produced and co-wrote 5 songs with Lori McKenna for her poetically raw and critically acclaimed album Lorraine. In 2012, Dean landed his first Billboard #1 song with Little Big Town's summer smash "Pontoon." In 2013, landed the Jason Aldean top 15 hit "1994" and co-wrote Toby Keith's single "Drinks After Work." His songs have been recorded by Carrie Underwood, Alison Krauss, Jason Aldean, Julianne Hough, Sheryl Crow, Little Big Town, Billy Currington, Hunter Hayes, LeAnn Rimes, Toby Keith, Kellie Pickler, Charlotte Church, Laura Bell Bundy, Ricky Skaggs, Katharine McPhee, Brandon Heath, Sara Evans, Earl Scruggs and Lori McKenna, to name a few, and recently he co-wrote the ConAgra Foods "Child Hunger Ends Here" campaign theme song "Here's Hope" that was recorded by Jay Sean, Jewel, and Owl City to donate over 5 million meals to hungry children in America. Barry is a staff writer and member of Creative Nation.