Nashville' Actors Prove Singing Chops at CMA Songwriters Series

The big event in Nashville this week was the 49th annual CMA Awards, of course, but the next night the five leading men of ABC's Nashville — Chris Carmack, Will Chase, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson and Sam Palladio — again walked the red carpet.



The actors, four of whom also write their own music, played both original tunes and those that have appeared on the show (and in some cases, the two were one and the same). Chase is the one actor and singer who doesn't write, and told reporters on the red carpet earlier in the evening that he prefers performing and doesn't harbor secret songwriter fantasies. In addition to singing, Chase functioned as the evening's emcee, and was later dubbed "banter guy" as he kept the sold-out audience entertained while Esten (who plays "Deacon Claybourne") tuned his guitar. Highlights included Chase's rendition of "If I Drink This Beer," a song Luke sang on the show, and "He Ain't Me," a cheeky Esten original.

Joining the Nashville guys were hit songwriters Chris Gelbuda, Trent Dabbs, Travis Meadows and Jonathan Singleton. Gelbuda told Rolling Stone that he saw some of elements of his own life played out in the characters on the show, particularly "Avery Barkley" (played by Jackson). He took those emotions into account while penning the wistful "History of My Heart" — which he performed with Jackson Thursday night.