If you've ever felt deeply moved or deeply seen by a song's lyrics, you can thank a songwriter. That's especially true in country music, where the words seem to pull on your heartstrings a little harder as the steel guitar plays, and someone like Hank Williams or Merle Haggard sings about heartbreak, love, and everything in between.
Flip through the slideshow to look at 20 of country music's most iconic songwriters, from legends like the aforementioned Williams and Haggard to newer hitmakers like Shane McAnally and Natalie Hemby.
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