The Stories & Inspirations Behind the Songs: Noah Kahan, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Cooke and more!

Every great song has a story. In this compilation episode of Off the Record, host Lisa Konicki talks with songwriters Gabe Simon, Ashley Cooke, Niall Horan and Jo Dee Messina as they explore the inspiration behind some of their most meaningful songs. From unexpected songwriting breakthroughs to deeply personal moments, listeners will hear how their experiences became music.Simon shares how Noah Kahan's "The Great Divide" began with a riff that made them realize "we had something magical," while Cooke recalls writing "Baby Blues" during a hungover songwriting retreat that unexpectedly produced one of her favorite songs. Horan also opens up about how "End of an Era" took on new meaning after the loss of Liam Payne, calling the writing session "like a therapy session for the three of us."Messina goes on to reveal the heartfelt stories behind "Don't Let Them Hide Your Beautiful" and "Let Me Love You," sharing how conversations about family and faith inspired both songs. This episode an intimate look at the creative process of several songwriters and the moments that enable them to create music fans love.Let’s go Off the Record for our stories behind the song episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices