One of the most successful young songwriters in contemporary music, Nashville-based Hillary Lindsey possesses a gift for telling the unvarnished truth, expressing honest emotion and getting to the heart of the human condition. Her intelligence, observant eye and acute compassion are dramatically evident in such songs as the Grammy-winning “Jesus, Take the Wheel” (Carrie Underwood), “Blessed” and “This One’s for the Girls” (Martina McBride), “Simple Life” (Carolyn Dawn Johnson), and “Stronger” (Faith Hill). In 1994, Lindsey headed from her hometown of Washington, GA, to Nashville, pursuing the music business program at Belmont University. Before finishing college, she signed a publishing deal with Famous Music, racking up eight cuts in her first year as a staff writer. The first was “I Won’t Lie,” Shannon Brown’s debut single. In 2002, McBride cut “Blessed,” which became Lindsey’s first chart-topper. The courage to dig deep into her psyche has served Lindsey well. Underwood has taken five of her songs to the top of the charts, and Lady Antebellum hit No. 1 with “American Honey” in 2010. Recent chart successes include “Fearless,” performed by Taylor Swift; “A Little Bit Stronger” by Sara Evans; “Unstoppable” by Rascal Flatts; and “Kiss Goodbye” by Little Big Town. Lindsey received an Academy Award nomination in the Best Original Song category for “Coming Home” from the film Country Strong, and Golden Globe nominations for both “Coming Home” and “There’s a Place for Us,” sung by Underwood, from Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.