Josh Osborne

Lore & Background

The creation of "7 Summers" began with songwriter Shane McAnally, who conceived the title while visiting the beach for his seventh summer with his children. He pitched the idea to Morgan Wallen, who found it interesting and invited Osborne to join the writing process alongside McAnally. During the COVID-19 quarantine in April 2020, Wallen accepted a challenge from Jake Owen to record a demo on Instagram, performing what would become the song's first verse and chorus. Although Wallen was initially uncertain about including the track on his second studio album, the demo gained over 24 million views on TikTok prior to its official release. This overwhelming fan response convinced him to proceed. On August 4, responding directly to a fan on the platform, Wallen announced the song would drop the following week. The final track features suspended chords and layered guitars, with lyrics reflecting on a lost romance from seven summers ago.

In Their Own Story

In April 2020, amidst the COVID-19 quarantine, Morgan Wallen accepted a challenge from fellow musician Jake Owen to record a demo for Instagram. He performed the first verse and chorus of what would become "7 Summers." The raw recording quickly gained traction online, eventually amassing over 24 million views on TikTok before its official release. This viral momentum shifted Wallen's perspective; he had been undecided about including the song on *Dangerous: The Double Album*. On August 4, after a fan posted on TikTok expressing their anticipation for the track, Wallen confirmed it would be released the following week. He later stated that social media played a huge part in his decision, noting how the immediate feedback from fans influenced him to put the song out early.

Reader's Guide

Josh Osborne served as one of the three songwriters for "7 Summers," working alongside Morgan Wallen and Shane McAnally. The trio aimed to incorporate a wistful, bittersweet quality into the lyrics, distinguishing it from lighter songs. Osborne contributed to a composition described as a blend of 1980s style country and soft rock, utilizing ringing suspended chords and layered guitars to create a "shimmering mid-tempo groove." The song was produced by Joey Moi. Released on August 14, 2020, the track debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs and number six on the Hot 100. It broke the single-day Apple Music streaming record for a country song and was later certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA. Osborne's collaboration helped create a fan favorite that Wallen performed live on *Saturday Night Live* and featured in an eight-minute cinematic short film directed by Justin Clough.

Did You Know?

• Josh Osborne co-wrote "7 Summers" with Morgan Wallen and Shane McAnally, who originally came up with the title while at the beach for his seventh summer with his family.
• The song was only included on *Dangerous: The Double Album* after a demo version garnered over 24 million views on TikTok.
• "7 Summers" broke the record for the biggest streaming week for a country song on Apple Music.
• Morgan Wallen announced the official release date of "7 Summers" in direct response to a fan post on TikTok on August 4.
• The track features suspended chords and guitar layering intended to create a maximalist element and a breezy melody.