the Story Behind

“Eden Before the Fall”

When I was 14 years old — still living and going to high school in Columbia, SC — I met Chuck Cannon through the local chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). Chuck has written hits like, “I Love the Way You Love Me” (John Michael Montgomery), “We Were in Love” and “How Do You Like Me Now” (Toby Keith). A few months later, Chuck and the Executive Director of NSAI, Bart Herbison, convinced my mom to let me go to Washington, D.C. with them to lobby against a restaurant bill that was keeping songwriters from getting properly paid. And eventually, Chuck introduced me to his wife, Lari White. 

I was giddy to meet Lari. As a teenager, I sang along to the radio to “That’s My Baby” and “That’s How You Know” in my bedroom mirror with a hair brush! Lari was a country music star — and I was getting to meet her! She was lovely and such a light. 

When I moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, Lari asked if I’d babysit for them. One thing led to another and Lari and I wrote several times, she recorded demos with me and took me under her wing, as she did with so many young female artists. She was a generous and fabulous mentor. 

Around the same time I was recording my record for Warner Bros., Lari released an independent record of her own called, Green Eyed Soul. “Eden Before the Fall” is from that record. She gave me a copy and I fell in love with that song. She encouraged me to cut it for my Warner Bros. record. 

I was immediately drawn to the soulful melody and the southern imagery. Lari wrote this tune with Gary Nicholson, who happens to be a neighbor of mine now. Lari grew up in Florida and the scenes of Spanish moss and live oaks made me feel like I was back in the Lowcountry of the Carolinas. 

Here’s Lari’s version of “Eden Before the Fall” and other songs by artists who have influenced me over the years on this playlist.