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Renowned for penning country classics such as Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee,” songwriter Jim McBride has passed away following an unfortunate fall.
WASHINGTON — Jim McBride, the celebrated American country songwriter whose work includes the hit “Chattahoochee” with Alan Jackson, died on January 6 at the age of 78.
His son, Brent, confirmed to the New York Times that McBride succumbed to complications resulting from a fall at his residence in Alabama.
Country music legend Alan Jackson paid tribute on social media, saying, “Jim was a good man and a truly authentic songwriter. He had a deep understanding of country music and his songs resonated with many. We collaborated on some of my most cherished songs, and I can’t imagine my career without his guidance and inspiration in those formative years. Thank you, Jim. Rest in peace.”
Throughout his extensive career, McBride collaborated with numerous artists, contributing to the works of legends like Johnny Cash, Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, and Charley Pride, among others.
His songwriting earned him a spot in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1995.
“He was an established songwriter who had enjoyed a decade of success in country music when he met a young, up-and-coming artist named Alan Jackson,” the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum wrote in a post remembering him.
He later served as president of the Nashville Songwriters Association.
Longtime friend and songwriter Jerry Salley said McBride was “instrumental in helping write America’s Country Music Songbook” in a tribute on Facebook.
“I am in shock. I am devastatingly sad,” he wrote. “Someday we will be writing songs again for eternity.”
McBride’s career launched in 1980 with his hit “A Bridge That Just Won’t Burn,” recorded by Conway Twitty.
After that, McBride wrote five No. 1 singles, 10 Top 10 hits, and more than a dozen Top 40 singles. He won dozens of BMI Awards and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awards.
Some of his most popular hits included: “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow” and “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson, “Whose Heartache Is This Anyway” by Reba McEntire, “If I Keep On Going Crazy” by Mel McDaniel, among many others.
