Artist: Hit Singer/Songwriter Skip Ewing
Event: 2025 Carolina Country Music Awards
Venue: The Highlands Country Club - Fayetteville, NC
Date: 12/10/2025
Reviewer: Jennifer Smith
One day you're going about your business and a song comes out of nowhere and stops you in your tracks. That song for me was "The Gospel According to Luke" by Skip Ewing. I remember riding home late one night back the late 80's or early 90's after having dinner with a friend and we were listening to one of a "mix tape" of her favorite songs that she had burned onto a CD. Remember those good old days when you could do that? A song came on, she turned it up and asked me if I had ever heard of Skip Ewing. I told her I hadn't and she said he had recently put out a new cd called "The Coast of Colorado" and she just fell in love with this song. That night was the night I discovered a love of songwriters and discovered one of the best there is to ever put their heart to pen and paper. Through the years and research, I was amazed to find out that Skip was the one who created some of the best and most memorable songs in my playlist:
"Love, Me" - Collin Raye
"You Had Me At Hello" - Kenny Chesney
"Every Other Weekend" - Kenny Chesney & Reba McEntire
"Don't Mind If I Do" - George Strait
"I'm Not Supposed to Love You Anymore", "Someone Else's Star" and "Rebecca Lynn" - Bryan White
"I Would If I Could" - Lainey Wilson (and Ernest too!)
"I Believe" - Diamond Rio
"If I Didn't Have You" - Randy Travis
"Wish You Were Here" - Mark Wills
"Something That We Do" - Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black
"Little Houses" - Doug Stone
"Answer To My Prayers" - Gordon Mote
There are so many more songs including his own amazing songs like "Wyoming", "Knots", "Road Dog" (cool fact, my dog Charlie is in the video), "Just a Kid", "The Way I Am" and "Always You". He just released a great new single, "I Want It All" from a soon to be released album and I can tell you this album will be one hell of a collection of some great music. The days of the Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Don Henley, Elton John, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Dean Dillon style of classic, simple yet long lasting impactful written classics may be slowing down but there are still writers who fall in those ranks out there and Skip Ewing is one of those names that will stay with you. He is a legend in the making.
In 2007, with the advent of social media and the growth of blogs, I felt it in me to do what I could to help those whose names were only found in liner notes or through word of mouth and started "Sound Advice", a promotions site to spread the word about writers as well as new upcoming and veteran artists who weren't getting the attention their music and talent should be. The industry didn't tend to recognize the talent behind the song at the time and the artists trying to build their audiences either didn't have the money to stuff the pockets of the industry "elite" who decide who should be getting the attention, those who weren't in a certain demographic, weren't "radio worthy, didn't have the "right image" to fit the current trend or they have "aged out". Good music is good music regardless of the money behind it, the audience size, the age or appearance of the artist. It's about how a song makes you feel and the impact it leaves with the listener long after the song ends, the radio is silent or the venue doors close. It never gets old and it stays long after the writers and artists are gone. The best songs aren't always on the radio and the best in the industry aren't always the ones standing on the stages winning industry awards. "Sound Advice" morphed into "Lovin' Lyrics" and has played the role of David, standing up in an industry of Goliaths for about 20 years. I will load rocks in my sling and go to battle for these people any day of the week. I want to see artists who have heard "no" for so long realize that the "yes" is out there and it may not be the type of "yes" that results in sold out arenas, multi-million internet streams or a big paycheck. It may be a change in the direction of someone whose life was on the wrong path, it may be the words that someone at rock bottom needed to start the journey upwards, it may be the encouragement needed to start over, and it may literally save a life. Words mean everything. When they are combined with the right notes and the right melody, it is heard by someone and that is the "hit" that matters most. This passion for music lead me right back to Skip.
After connecting with Skip via social media a couple of years ago, I was invited to attend the 2025 Carolina Country Music Awards Christmas Show at the Highlands Country Club in Fayetteville, NC earlier this week where he would be receiving the CCMA Gold Medal and be the featured performer of the evening. I can't even explain how much this meant or how the appreciation for his talent has deepened after spending time with him in person and hearing him sing and the stories behind the songs.
My friend, Tammy, and I arrived at the venue, walked into the foyer, and then into the beautifully decorated ballroom which was full of suits and ties, sparkling Christmas dresses, high heels, new hairdos and holiday finest. Then there was us, standing there in our jeans and gussied up sweaters and thinking "Uh, we aren't blending. LOL". We sat at Skip's reserved table with the best people, Steve the Greek and Rhonda from STG Marketing. Steve and I connected like crazy old friends and laughed literally most of the night. Rhonda was laughing at us, it was great. It's like Skip knew the misfits needed to sit together and it was so much fun. I can't remember a night where I smiled ALL night long. The salad, filet mignon, mashed potatoes, green beans and dark chocolate mousse were AMAZING. I'd like to say a huge thank you to the wonderful wait staff of the night, especially our server William who kept sneaking up behind me and scaring the beetlejuice out of me and making me laugh so hard. He got his payback later when I came back from the restroom and he had his back turned. I win. LOL!
The awards were handed out and Skip took the stage and performed random parts of his hit songs and told the stories before them and it was soooo good. His Christmas portion of the night was exactly what we needed. He sang his rocked out "Better Watch Out", the story of "Christmas Carol" and his songs that celebrated the birth of Jesus, the true joy and reason for the season - "Whenever a Child is Born" and "Just a Kid". These moments truly captivated every person in that room. Being in Fayetteville, the home of Fort Bragg and the 82nd Airborne, he sang his personal version of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as told through the eyes of our service men and women and dedicated it to those who serve "America the Beautiful" every day and being home for Christmas is only in their dreams, combining the lyrics of "America the Beautiful" and the Christmas classic. I won't lie, I had tears. He then asked the room to be part of his Christmas and he started quietly singing "Silent Night" and the whole room sang with him. There probably weren't too many dry eyes in the house. It reminded us of simpler times, the joy and reason for the season, and when the best Christmas gift wasn't the latest iPhone or the latest video games, it was the love of family and the love of a child that changed the world.
As a person, he is the same as his songs, authentic and pure gold. I watched him interacting with new artists in the room like Paige King Johnson (Tour of the Year and Music Video of the Year winner), Jason Lee Cook (Male Artist of the Year winner), Katie Caulder Godowns (Female Artist of the Year winner), Michael Schott (an amazing 14 year old songwriter who won the Entertainer of the Year award), Sophie Taylor (Single of the Year winner for "Back to You"), Whiskey Revelation (Vocal Group of the Year winners) and others in attendance and it was really nice to seeing him truly want to connect with these artists and share his thoughts on writing and performing. He did not overlook a single person in that room who wanted some of his time. He is a rare commodity in this world - his heart is genuine and his need to just write and release music that reaches hearts matters more than the numbers he reaches on the charts is something that's been missing from music for a long time. How can you not support that especially in a world where so much new music is trending towards being easily and artificially created, driven by dollar signs and sadly forgettable? Skip Ewing and the music he writes are none of those things and I, for one, am grateful for that night in that car so long ago.
Music changes lives and I can attest that Skip changed mine. Thank you may be two small words but they can never express the amount of gratitude I have for this songwriter and the gift God gave him.
- Jenn
Please take some time and connect with Skip and if you have a chance, go see him perform. It's worth it.
Website - www.skipewing.com
Social Media - He is on Facebook, Instagram and X
You can find his music on most digital streaming platforms.
Photo Credits: Jennifer Smith / Lovin' Lyrics
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