5 Songs You Didn’t Know Lari White Wrote
Following Lari White's death in January of 2018, after a brief battle with cancer, messages of love and sorrow came pouring out of Nashville. To country fans not familiar with older country music, White's name may not be familiar -- after all, her last major-label album was released in 1998, and her last charting country single came the following year -- but the singer, songwriter, producer and actress was deeply embedded in the country music community.
Even if they don't know White's name, country fans are likely familiar with the albums the White has produced and the songs she's written. White worked with, among others, Travis Tritt and Toby Keith throughout her life. Read on to learn more about five of the songs White co-wrote during her 52 years on earth.
"The Lonely"
Sung by Toby Keith"The Lonely" appears on Keith's Blue Moon album, released in 1996. Co-written by White, her husband Chuck Cannon and Mark Jones, the song leads the album.
"Helping Me Get Over You"
Sung by Travis TrittFrom Tritt's 1996 album The Restless Kind, "Helping Me Get Over You" was co-written by White and Tritt, and the two also sing the song together. Tritt released the song as a single in 1997, and it peaked at No. 18 on the country charts.
"I Want to Be the One"
Sung by LonestarWhite co-wrote "I Want to Be the One" with her husband, Chuck Cannon, and Gary Nicholson. It is the fourth track on Lonestar's I'm Already There album, released in 2001.
"In the Middle of the Night"
Sung by Pat GreenWritten by White, Green and Chuck Cannon, "In the Middle of the Night" appears on Green's 2009 album What I'm For. It's the record's final song, Track No. 10, and was not released as a single.
"I Will Not Say Goodbye"
Sung by Danny Gokey"I Will Not Say Goodbye" appears on Gokey's My Best Days, his first album after appearing on American Idol. Written by White, her husband Chuck Cannon and Vicky McGehee, the song earned a spot in the Top 40 (No. 32) on the country charts.