In addition to his accolades as a recording artist, actor, game show host, author and entertainer, Bill Anderson is one of the most successful songwriters in country music history with hits spanning over five decades. Anderson wrote many of his own hits and wrote or co-wrote the country classics "City Lights" (Ray Price), "Once a Day" (Connie Smith), "Saginaw, Michigan" (Lefty Frizzell), "The Tip of My Fingers" (Eddy Arnold, Roy Clark, Steve Wariner) and "When Two Worlds Collide" (Roger Miller, Jim Reeves). His more recent hits include "A Lot of Things Different" (Kenny Chesney), "Give It Away" (George Strait) and "Whiskey Lullaby" (Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley).

James William Anderson III was born on November 1, 1937, in Columbia, South Carolina. As a toddler, young Bill was instantly attracted to music; his parents later told him that he "could find hillbillies on the radio" long before he could tie his shoelaces. Throughout his childhood, Anderson was drawn to country music's descriptive narratives and accessible melodies, and was playing guitar by age 12. Possessing a deep love for the English language and writing, Anderson became the sports editor for his hometown newspaper and began working as a stringer for the Atlanta Constitution while still in high school. He also formed a band, and the group took first place in his school's talent show on the strength of one of his self-penned songs.

Anderson attended the University of Georgia, earning a degree in journalism. While there, he financed his studies by working as a DJ (WJJC-Commerce), sports writer (DeKalb New Era) and performer. In 1957, while still in college, Anderson recorded his own composition, "City Lights," for Texas-based TNT Records. The song eventually made its way to Ray Price, who took his own version to the top of Billboard's country chart the next year.

Anderson immediately moved to Nashville, Tennessee, signed to Decca Records, and began his long string of hit recordings, many of which he wrote –"Mama Sang a Song," "Still," "Bright Lights and Country Music," "I Get the Fever" and "My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)," among others. He also played a large role in launching Connie Smith's career and wrote her debut hit, "Once a Day," as well as several Top Ten follow-ups including "Cincinnati, Ohio." Other artists who have cut Anderson's songs include James Brown, Elvis Costello, Aretha Franklin, Ivory Joe Hunter, George Jones, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dean Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Porter Wagoner, Lawrence Welk, Kitty Wells, Faron Young and many more.

After a nearly two-decade-long hiatus from professional songwriting, Anderson's name turned up again on the country charts in 1995 with Vince Gill's "Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn)," which Anderson co-wrote with Gill. A songwriting renaissance followed. Anderson rounded out the twentieth century with a pair of hits, "Wish You Were Here" by Mark Wills and the Grammy-nominated "Two Teardrops" by Steve Wariner.

In 2001, Anderson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and won a CMA Vocal Event of the Year Award with a song he co-wrote, "Too Country," which was recorded by Brad Paisley with Anderson, George Jones and Buck Owens. Anderson's songs continue to populate current country charts, including Sugarland's "Joey," which he co-wrote with the duo. Other contemporary artists who have cut his songs include Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols and Jon Randall.

Anderson is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and has earned CMA's Song of the Year Award twice: in 2005 for "Whiskey Lullaby"; and in 2007 for "Give It Away." He has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961.

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

The Poets and Prophets series is made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund. These programs are also made possible, in part, by grants from the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and by an agreement between the Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.

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