Matraca Berg's stirring, powerful songs have helped her remain one of Music City's most successful songwriters for more than two decades. Berg's Billboard #1 hits include "Wild Angels" (Martina McBride), "You Can Feel Bad" (Patty Loveless), "XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)" (Trisha Yearwood), "The Last One to Know" (Reba McEntire) and "Strawberry Wine" (Deana Carter), among others. Other artists who have cut her songs include the Dixie Chicks, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Ray Price, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson. As a recording artist, Berg charted a handful of singles herself in the 1990s.

Born February 3, 1964, in Nashville, Tennessee, Matraca Maria Berg is the daughter of the late Icee Berg, a respected Nashville songwriter and session singer. Surrounded by friends and relatives in the music business, Matraca Berg spent much of her childhood in and around Nashville's musical community. Her aunts Sudie, Clara and Coleida Callaway were regulars on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance in Kentucky, and her uncle Jim Baker played steel guitar for Mel Tillis. In addition to being heavily influenced by her family, Berg idolized Johnny Cash, Bobbie Gentry, Kris Kristofferson and Dolly Parton.

Berg began experimenting with writing ditties on her aunt's piano as early as age five. Berg's mother, who wrote songs for 4-Star Music and spotted her daughter's blooming talent, eventually became Berg's writing ally and one of her staunchest supporters. In 1982, at age 18, Berg co-wrote her first Billboard #1 hit with legendary songwriter Bobby Braddock. The success of the song, "Faking Love," performed by T.G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks, proved to be too much too soon for the aspiring songwriter, who eventually relocated to Louisiana to play music in area bands. Some two years later, Berg returned to Nashville with a new set of life experiences and a fresh perspective, eager to resume her songwriting career.

In 1987, Berg's composition "The Last One to Know" (Reba McEntire) reached the top country spot in Billboard, validating her early success and sparking a remarkable run of hits throughout the 1990s and into the next century. Her fearless songs gave a powerful voice to women within the genre, providing hits for developing artists such as Deana Carter, Patty Loveless and Trisha Yearwood, as well as for seasoned singers like McEntire. Berg took home the CMA's coveted Song of the Year award in 1997 for "Strawberry Wine." In 2007, Berg's hit song "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today," performed by Gretchen Wilson, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song.

In 1990, Berg established herself as a recording artist with her debut album Lying to the Moon, followed by The Speed of Grace (1993) and Sunday Morning to Saturday Night (1997). In 1999, RCA released the compilation album Lying to the Moon & Other Stories.

Berg was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008. She continues to pursue her songwriting career while also finding work as a session singer. Berg recently toured the UK with Gretchen Peters and Suzy Bogguss as part of the Wine, Women & Song concert series. She is finishing work on a new album.

The Poets and Prophets series honors songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music history. Previous Poets and Prophets honorees include Bobby Braddock, Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, John D. Loudermilk, Bob McDill, Curly Putman, Whitey Shafer, Jeffrey Steele and Craig Wiseman.

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