Interview: Buddy Cannon
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Saturday, Jul 25, 2026
Location
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Rep. John Lewis Way South
Details
Buddy Cannon began his career playing bass for Bob Luman and Mel Tillis before shifting his focus to composing. His first #1 song was Tillis’s 1978 recording of “I Believe in You.” Cannon also wrote Vern Gosdin’s 1988 chart-topper “Set ‘Em Up Joe” and George Strait’s 1990 #1 “I’ve Come to Expect It from You,” and he won a Country Music Association Song of the Year award for “Give It Away,” recorded by Strait. Cannon started producing in the 1990s and has worked with Kenny Chesney on seventeen albums, including the multi-platinum No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems (2002). Additionally, Cannon has produced Country Music Hall of Fame member Willie Nelson since 2008, including the Grammy-winning releases Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin and A Beautiful Time.
