Industry Celebrates Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris’ ‘Chasing After You,’ A Hit Many Years In The Making
Pictured: Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris were surprised with an RIAA 2X Platinum “Chasing After You” plaque during the song’s recent No. 1 party on the BMI Nashville rooftop. (L-R): Steve Hodges (Sony Music Nashville), Jerry Flowers, Brinley Addington, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Ken Robold (Sony Music Nashville). Photo: Steve Lowry
Nearly seven years after it was written by Jerry Flowers and Brinley Addington, the Nashville music industry gathered last Tuesday (May 31) to celebrate “Chasing After You,” the hit duet recorded by husband and wife Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris.
In addition to being several years old, the steamy track hitting the top of the charts marked several momentous occasions. “Chasing After You” is Addington’s first No. 1 song, and is Hurd’s first as an artist. It’s also one of the very few outside songs Hurd and Morris have ever cut.
BMI hosted the celebration on their rooftop patio. ASCAP was also in attendance.
BMI’s MaryAnn Keen led the celebration. “Some of my favorite things about this industry are the people and the relationships, and the great songs that have a journey of their own,” Keen said. “This song is all the best parts of this town.”
Keen spoke about BMI writer Addington, who she has been friends with since 2008. “We’ve dreamed of the moment when he would get his first No. 1,” she said.
ASCAP’s Kele Currier was on hand to speak about Flowers. “Jerry is celebrating his fifth No. 1 today,” she said, taking the crowd through Flowers’ history as a member of the Capitol Records band The Ranch up to his current role as a hit songwriter and band leader for Keith Urban.
Pictured (L-R, seated): Jerry Flowers, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Brinley Addington; (L-R, standing): Lee Griffin (Mojo), Jeff Tweel (Mojo), Ariana Vargas (Mojo), Teddy Reimer (producer), Steve Hodges (Sony Music Nashville), Ashley Gorley (Tape Room), Noah Dewey (Anthem), Courtney Crist (Anthem), Aaron Eshuis (producer), Janet Weir (House of 42/Red Light Management), MaryAnn Keen (BMI), Tim Wipperman (Anthem). Photo: Steve Lowry
The first publisher presentation came from Anthem’s Courtney Crist, who helped sign Addington to HoriPro and now works with Flowers. She told more of the backstory between the popular “Chasing After You” demo that has been floating around Music Row for seven years, saying that it had been on hold by what felt like every artist in town at one point.
“The first time I heard it was in 2015, my first day at HoriPro, when Ryan put his phone up to my ear and said, ‘Listen to this song,'” she said. “I asked him who he wrote it with and he said, ‘I didn’t. Brinley and Jerry did.’
“He then tells me I need to sign Brinley because one day he’s going to cut it. So we did, and he did,” Crist said. “When you hear Ryan endorse a song or writer, you listen. Both you and Maren are such incredible songwriters, but you always champion your friends, Nashville and songwriters in general.”
Tape Room’s Ashley Gorley spoke about Flowers. “Jerry is one of the most musically talented, sweetest people I’ve ever gotten the chance to work with,” he said. “This song is timeless—which we’re thankful for because it took a little bit of time before it got its life at country radio. It truly is one of those that I think will be played forever.”
Mojo Music & Media’s Jeff Tweel spoke on the company’s involvement in the song. “I was not involved in the day-to-day operations when this happened,” he admitted. “But I want to congratulate Brinley on our behalf, we still have your great catalog with us.” Tweel also gave a shout out to Keithan Melton for his involvement in the success of “Chasing After You.”
Sony Music Nashville’s Steve Hodges was on hand to represent the radio promo team’s success. He spoke about the song’s impressive stats. “It was one of the biggest records of the year airplay wise,” he said, before inviting Ken Robold up to the stage to present Hurd and Morris with a surprise double Platinum plaque.
Pictured (L-R, seated): Jerry Flowers, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, and Brinley Addington with their MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coins; (L-R, standing): MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson and LB Cantrell. Photo: Steve Lowry
Next up to speak were the songwriters. Flowers kicked things off by thanking his co-writer. “This is the first song we ever wrote together,” he said. “It was one of those songs that came so quick. And it was one of those overnight successes, too. Only took seven years.”
Flowers recognized his publishers and his family before Addington stepped up to the mic.
“I’ve wanted to do this for a while,” he said. “Longer than seven years but that’s what it took.”
If Addington grows tired of being a hit songwriter, he could certainly pursue comedy. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand as he thanked Flowers, Hurd and Morris, his team, supporters and family with both wit and sincerity.
“To everyone in here and everyone who is not here that ever encouraged me, thank you,” Addington said. “If you didn’t encourage me or told me no, thanks. That pushed me too.”
Morris was up next. “I heard this six or seven years ago and it became one of those demos that became Music Row famous,” she said. “It’s gone through so many evolutions over the years and I am so proud that during COVID we said, ‘Let’s take one more stab at it.'”
Morris recognized the fact that “Chasing After You” is an outside song. “Once in a blue moon, an outside cut will go No. 1. I need to listen to this advice, too: artists can write songs, but every once in a while, for God’s sake can you just let the professionals do it for you?”
When Hurd started to speak, he called “Chasing After You” producers Aaron Eshuis and Teddy Reimer up to recognize them for their work. “If you want a hit record made in Nashville, Tennessee right now, pick one of these two,” Hurd said.
Hurd was emotional when it was his time to speak. “I might need my glasses in case my eyes get sweaty,” he joked when he started.
“I imagined this day since I signed my record deal,” Hurd said. “I imagined it very differently. I thought I’d be up here by myself with a song that I had written. But there’s no such thing as a solo artist is what I have found out. I mean, look at all of you in this room, look at the people on this stage, think about our bands and tour managers.”
Hurd thanked Morris for sharing in the song with him, the songwriters, and his team.
“I love being a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee and I’m so thankful for all of the people who have cut my songs, but getting to do both… I tell everybody that what I do is like a pair of shoes. There’s a left foot and a right foot and I can’t imagine being just a writer or just an artist at this part of my life. I love them both so much.”
