Ted Hewitt is an American country music producer, songwriter, singer, and musician who has written and performed songs for numerous acts including Rodney Atkins, Tracy Byrd, Glen Campbell, Reba McEntire, and others. He co-produced Atkins' 2006 album, If You're Going Through Hell, which was certified platinum by the RIAA. Other popular tracks written or produced by Hewitt include "Love Lessons" by Tracy Byrd (#9 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs) and "Wine into Water" by T. Graham Brown (#44).

Early life and education Hewitt grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and was the child of two professional musicians. His father was an opera singer and actor who appeared alongside Andy Griffith in the Broadway production of No Time for Sergeants. Hewitt learned how to play the guitar at the age of 15. His father died early in his life. Hewitt graduated from Emory College in Atlanta, Georgia before moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 1984. It was there that he began his career in country music.

Career Upon arriving in Nashville, Hewitt worked closely with producers like Buddy Cannon and Country legend Mel Tillis. Tillis signed Hewitt to a publishing contract in 1985. His first cut was called "Leavin' Eyes" which he wrote for Glen Campbell. Hewitt also sang on the recording of the song. After his publishing contract with Tillis ended, Hewitt toured with a range of artists including Vern Gosdin, Suzy Bogguss, and Lee Greenwood.

Hewitt went back to writing and composing in 1992 when he signed a publishing contract with Lee Greenwood. In 1995, he wrote Tracy Byrd's "Love Lessons" which peaked at #9 on Billboard's list of Hot Country Songs. While working for Greenwood, Hewitt also met Rodney Atkins and formed a songwriting partnership that continues to the present day. Hewitt helped Atkins earn a record contract at Curb Records in 1997. The following year, he wrote T. Graham Brown's "Wine into Water" which peaked at #44 on the Hot Country Songs list.

Hewitt produced Rodney Atkins' 2003 album Honesty which peaked at #50 on the Billboard list of Top Country Albums. This ultimately led to Hewitt producing Atkins' 2006 platinum-selling album, If You're Going Through Hell. The album peaked at #1 on the Top Country Albums list and at #3 on the Billboard 200 list and contained four #1 singles. In recognition of the album, Atkins was awarded the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Male Vocalist in 2006. The album was also nominated for Album of the Year, the title track was nominated for Song of the Year, and Hewitt himself was nominated for Producer of the Year.

Hewitt has also produced other albums and tracks for Rodney Atkins including the albums It's America (2009) and Take a Back Road (2011). Most recently, Hewitt produced a 2014 single for Atkins called "Eat Sleep Love You Repeat." In 2014, Hewitt was nominated by the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) for the Best Record Producer award for his work on Brett Kissel's album, Started with a Song. He was again nominated for a CCMA Award in 2017 for Songwriter of the Year for co-writing Brett Kissel's song, "Cool with That." Over the course of his career, Hewitt has also produced and performed on albums for artists like Waylon Jennings, Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, Les Taylor, Alabama, and numerous others.

Selected discography Studio albums As producer Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales threshold) US Country US USHeat CAN Honesty Artist: Rodney Atkins Release date: October 14, 2003 Label: Curb Records 50 — 47 — If You're Going Through Hell Artist: Rodney Atkins Release date: July 18, 2006 Label: Curb Records 1 3 — — US: Platinum It's America Artist: Rodney Atkins Release date: March 31, 2009 Label: Curb Records 3 15 — — US: Gold Take a Back Road Artist: Rodney Atkins Release date: October 4, 2011 Label: Curb Records 3 8 — — US: Gold Started with a Song Artist: Brett Kissel Release date: October 1, 2013 Label: Warner Music Canada — — — 22 "—" denotes releases that did not chart

As vocalist Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales threshold) US Country US USHeat My Kind of Country Artist: Reba McEntire Release date: October 1984 Label: MCA 13 — —US: Gold Voices in the Wind Artist: Suzy Bogguss Release date: October 6, 1992 Label: Liberty Records 31 116 — US: Gold Something Up My Sleeve Artist: Suzy Bogguss Release date: September 21, 1993 Label: Liberty Records 27 121 — US: Gold Craig Morgan Artist: Craig Morgan Release date: May 30, 2000 Label: Atlantic Nashville — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles As songwriter/producer SongYearArtistAlbumRoleNotes "Leavin' Eyes" 1984 Glen Campbell Letter to Home Writer, producer "Cruisin'" 1986 Alabama The Touch Writer "No More Tears" 1994 David Ball David Ball "Love Lessons" 1995 Tracy Byrd Love Lessons US Country #9 "Wine into Water" 1998 T. Graham Brown Wine into Water US Country #44 "Don't Think I Won't"Mark WillsWish You Were Here "She Rides Wild Horses" 1999 Kenny Rogers She Rides Wild Horses "He Rocks" 2000 Wynonna Judd New Day Dawning "Monkey in the Middle" 2003 Rodney Atkins Honesty Writer, producer"Honesty (Write Me a List)" Producer, vocals US Country #4 "Someone to Share it With" Writer, producer "The Man I Am Today" "My Old Man" US Country #36 "Wasted Whiskey"2006 If You're Going Through HellWriter, producer "Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)" Producer, vocalsUS Country #1US Gold"Watching You"US Country #1US Platinum"If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)"US Country #1US Platinum "These Are My People" US Country #1US Gold"Home Sweet Oklahoma"2008Patti Page and Vince GillBest Country SongsWriter, producer "Chasin' Girls"2009Rodney AtkinsIt's America Writer, producer"It's America" Producer, vocalsUS Country #1"15 Minutes"US Country #20 "Farmer's Daughter"2010US Country #5US Platinum "Growing Up Like That" 2011 Take a Back Road Writer, producer "Take a Back Road" Producer US Country #1US Platinum"He's Mine" Producer, vocalsUS Country #23 "Tips" Writer, producer "Lifelines""Cool with That"2015Brett KisselPick Me UpWriter"Wine Into Water"T. Graham BrownForever Changed2016Loretta LynnFull Circle"Nights in the Sun"2017Brett KisselWe Were That Song

References

External links Ted Hewitt on AllMusic