Songwriting Challenge 2026 Launch: Write a Traditional Country Song

Our songwriting challenge for 2026 is to write a traditional country song. To help us launch this challenge, we were joined by singer-songwriter and music educator Blair Packham. Thanks Blair!

We talked about:

• Phil has an issue with Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen, and The Famous Blue Raincoat album
• Why mathematics and literature have more in common than you may think | Ideas | On Demand | CBC Listen
• Challenging the Tyranny of 440 hz
• Typical characteristics of a traditional country song:
  • Simple “campfire” chords
  • Stories about the past or regret (unlike pop songs, which are primarily concerned with “now”)
  • Lyrics are the most important thing
  • A story with a specific time and place
  • A strong, central idea
  • There’s no guessing as to what the song is “really about”
  • They don’t usually have a bridge
• I Can’t Help it if I’m Still in Love With You by Hank Williams – download the lyrics to follow along
  • a verse-refrain structure
  • how country was considered “old-timey” in 1951 when this song came out
  • simple, relatable story and a 3-chord song
• Mama Tried by Merle Haggard – download the lyrics to follow along
  • Merle Haggard was considered an “outlaw” in the 1960s Nashville establishment
  • How this sounds more modern than Hank Williams
  • A more detailed story in a 4-chord song
  • It’s not necessarily autobiographical

Stay tuned to the podcast and our dedicated webpage for this challenge to get the date for submitting YOUR traditional country song to the challenge and have it featured on the podcast.… Read the rest