Country Hitmaker Lee Thomas Miller Signs With SMACKSongs

Jessica Nicholson
·3 min read
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Lee Thomas Miller, a writer on hit country songs including “In Color” (Jamey Johnson) and “You’re Gonna Miss This,” (Trace Adkins) has signed a publishing deal with SMACKSongs.

Over three decades, Miller has become one of country music’s most prolific songwriters, as well as one of the songwriting industry’s biggest champions. He has earned 13 BMI radio performance awards and earned such Billboard Hot Country Songs hits including “The World,” which was co-written and recorded by Brad Paisley. Miller has also earned three Grammy nominations, as well as four NSAI “Songs I Wish I Had Written” honors. “In Color” was named song of the year by both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, while “You’re Gonna Miss This” earned song of the year titles at the ASCAP and NSAI Awards and single record of the year at the ACM Awards. Miller has also had songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Thomas Rhett, Brothers Osborne and more.

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Miller was previously signed to a publishing deal with UMPG Nashville.

“One of the first songwriters to welcome me in the publishing business 15 year ago was Lee Thomas Miller,” Lee Krabel, senior vp of publishing at SMACK, said in a statement. “I’m incredibly excited to get the opportunity to work with Lee again at SMACK. He is simply one of the best songwriters to ever come to Nashville. Looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together!”

“It is an honor to begin the next chapter of my career writing songs at SMACK. Not only have I been a fan of Shane McAnally’s songwriting his entire career, I also love what he and Robin Palmer have built in this publishing company,” Miller said in a statement. “I could not be more impressed with their team and the close ties I have to them already. I worked with Lee Krabel for many years early in his career and Robert Carlton’s late father Jeff Carlton gave me my big break when he signed me to my first publishing deal in the 90’s. Lee and Robert are impressive publishers now who have surrounded themselves with quality professionals as well as humans. I have to think Jeff is smiling today and would tell me I’m in good hands. Everything about this feels right.”

“This one is really special. Lee is one of the truly great songwriters in this town,” added Robert Carlton, president at SMACK. “He could go anywhere but the fact that he entrusted SMACK with this next chapter of his career is a big win for all of us. Personally, it hits a sentimental note for me because my dad gave Lee his first deal. I grew up listening to Lee’s catalog and demos as a kid. His songs are as relevant and as timely now as they were back then. I know my dad has got to be looking down proud to have a hand in this signing.”

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