The Phone Call That Changed Everything: Lessons From Songwriter Reggie Hamm’s Journey

By Clay Mills, SongTown Co-founder

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my longtime friend and hit songwriter Reggie Hamm in the SongTown studio. If you know Reggie’s story, you know it’s filled with twists, turns, near misses—and moments of undeniable magic. But during our conversation, one story in particular stuck with me. It was a reminder of how life—and music—can shift in an instant.

Reggie was literally walking out the door to join the Marines when the phone rang. A last-minute call from a fellow songwriter led to a co-write that would change his life—and ultimately cement his place as one of Nashville’s most versatile and successful writers.

That One Phone Call

Reggie had reached a breaking point. He was waiting tables, chasing a dream that wasn’t giving much back, and felt like music might not be in the cards. But just as he was stepping into a new life path, the universe had other plans.

“I was heading to the recruiting office,” Reggie told me, “and just as I turned the knob, the phone rang. A songwriter named Niles Borup asked if I could fill in for someone who was snowed in. I said yes—and that session changed everything.”

It’s a story of surrender. Of letting go. And then having something even greater show up.

Creative Breakthroughs Require Readiness

What struck me most was how Reggie described that session—not just as a great co-write, but as a creative awakening. He walked into that room a different writer than he was when he walked out.

“It felt like I cracked a code,” he said. “Like I had been trying to unlock something for years and suddenly, I found the key.”

The Road Isn’t Straight—But It’s Worth Walking

Reggie went on to have massive success in Christian, pop, and country music. He even released his own artist project, poised for a breakout moment—until life changed again. The adoption of his daughter with special needs shifted his focus away from the spotlight and into the deeper work of caregiving and fatherhood.

He thought his music career was behind him… until another opportunity came knocking.

“My wife told me to enter a songwriting contest for American Idol,” Reggie said. “I wrote a song called ‘The Time of My Life.’ I didn’t expect anything. But it won.”

That song became a #1 hit for David Cook and was performed on the American Idol finale and at the Olympics. And once again, music had pulled him back in.

What I Took Away From Our Conversation

Reggie’s story reminded me of a few powerful truths we songwriters often forget:

• Letting go can open the door to your biggest breakthroughs.
• You don’t need to feel ready—you need to say yes.
• It’s okay to step away from music if life calls for it. The music will wait for you.
• Your story—no matter how imperfect—is your greatest asset.
• Writing with honesty and emotion always outlasts writing with formulas.

Today, Reggie channels much of his energy into Operation Song, a nonprofit where he writes songs with military veterans as a form of therapy. He’s rediscovered the joy and healing in songwriting—not for charts or awards, but for connection and truth.

“I’ve fallen back in love with the process,” he told me. “Not chasing hits—just chasing something real.”

And if there’s one thing I hope you take from Reggie’s story, it’s this:

You never know which song, or moment, or phone call might change everything.

Keep showing up. Keep writing. And stay open to the magic.

Write on!
Clay