Episode 8: Garth Brooks & Ashley McBryde take us to songwriting school

The first seven installments of The USA TODAY NETWORK's Country Mile podcast were taped in some of Nashville's most storied, intimate rooms – with just a few lucky folks on hand to hear some of country music's most influential artists talk about the moments that made their careers.

Episode 8 – well, Episode 8 is a party. Thousands of country music fans packed into Belmont University's Curb Event Center to hear one of country's biggest stars ever, Garth Brooks, and one of its most exciting voices, Ashley McBryde, talk about the songwriting craft. There are lots of laughs, a few tears and a wealth of career advice for any aspiring writer.