Tim Nichols

Induction Year: 2017

Birth Name: James Timothy Nichols

Birth Date: 08-05-1958

Place of Birth: Portsmouth, Virginia

Tim Nichols was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and raised in Springfield, Missouri. After college, Tim and his band moved to Nashville. By 1984 he was signed to Ronnie Milsap’s publishing company.

Tim’s first hit was 1990’s “I’m Over You” by Keith Whitley, which reached #3 on the Country chart shortly after his death in 1989. After a stint on BNA Records in the duo Turner-Nichols, Tim’s songwriting took off with hits such as “Brotherly Love” by Keith Whitley & Earl Thomas Conley, “Heads Carolina, Tails California” by Jo Dee Messina, “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” by Trace Adkins, “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” by Lee Ann Womack and “That’d Be Alright” by Alan Jackson.

In 2004, his “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw swept the awards with the 2004 Grammy for Best Country Song, the 2004 CMA Song and Single of the Year, the 2005 ACM Song and Single of the Year, the 2005 ASCAP Country Song of the Year and the 2005 BMI Country Song of the Year.

Recent hits from Tim include “A Baby Changes Everything” by Faith Hill, “The Man I Want To Be” by Chris Young and “I Got The Boy” by Jana Kramer.

"(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing"

(written with Mark D. Sanders)

Trace Adkins1997 #1 country

"A Baby Changes Everything"

(written with Craig Wiseman, K.K. Wiseman)

Faith Hill2008 #1 adult contemporary, #36 country
 

"All Is Fair In Love And War"

(written with Robert Byrne)

Ronnie Milsap1992 #11 country
 

"Brotherly Love"

(written with Jimmy Stewart)

Moe Bandy1989 #53 country
Billy Dean1990 
Keith Whitley & Earl Thomas Conley1991 #2 country
 

"Cowboys And Angels"

(written with Josh Leo, Dustin Lynch)

Dustin Lynch2012 #2 country, #40 pop
 

"Girls Lie Too"

(written with Connie Harrington, Kelley Lovelace)

Terri Clark2004 #1 country

"Heads Carolina, Tails California"

(written with Mark D. Sanders)

Jo Dee Messina1996 #2 country
Danielle Bradbery2013 #23 country
 

"I Got The Boy"

(written with Connie Harrington, Jamie Lynn Spears)

Jana Kramer2015 #5 country
 

"I Still Miss You"

(written with Keith Anderson, Jason Sellers)

Keith Anderson2008 #2 country
 

"I Wanna Do It All"

(written with Rick Giles, Gilles Godard)

Terri Clark2003 #3 country, #38 pop
 

"I'd Rather Ride Around With You"

(written with Mark D. Sanders)

Reba McEntire1997 #2 country
 

"I'll Think Of A Reason Later"

(written with Tony Martin)

Lee Ann Womack1999 #2 country, #38 pop
 

"I'm Over You"

(written with Zack Turner)

Keith Whitley1990 #3 country

"Live Like You Were Dying"

(written with Craig Wiseman)

2004 Grammy for Best Country Song; 2004 CMA Song & Single of the Year; 2005 ACM Song & Single of the Year

Tim McGraw2004 #1 country, #4 adult contemporary, #34 pop
 

"Nobody Gonna Tell Me What To Do"

(written with Tony Mullins, Craig Wiseman)

Van Zant2005 #16 country
 

"She Only Smokes When She Drinks"

(written with Connie Harrington, Tony Martin)

Joe Nichols2003 #17 country, #72 pop

"That'd Be Alright"

(written with Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers)

Alan Jackson2003 #2 country, #29 pop
 

"That's The Kind Of Mood I'm In"

(written with Rick Giles)

Patty Loveless2000 #13 country, #71 pop
 

"The Man I Want To Be"

(written with Brett James)

Chris Young2010 #1 country
 

"Tryin' To Hide A Fire In The Dark"

(written with Billy Dean)

Billy Dean1993 #6 country
 

"Two Night Town"

(written with Brett James)

Jason Aldean2014 #18 country
 

"Vidalia"

(written with Mark D. Sanders)

Sammy Kershaw1996 #10 country
 

"You're Not In Kansas Anymore"

(written with Zack Turner)

Jo Dee Messina1996 #7 country

Tim Nichols

Induction Year: 2017