Ellis writes away

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 – Born and raised in the small town of Monterey, La., Ross Ellis moved to Nashville after graduating college. The Sony Nashville recording artist has been writing songs ever since, including "Neon Church" for Tim McGraw.

To showcase his catalog of songs and offer fans some at home entertainment while we shelter in place to fight COVID-19, he launched "Ross Writes" on April 9. Performing daily at 6 p.m. CT on Facebook and Instagram Live. Ellis shares a different song he's written during each performance.

"This is something I'd been thinking about for a while, but when this coronavirus mess broke out, I thought it'd be a great way to connect with fans until we can all be together again," he said. "I have written so many songs over the years since moving to Nashville. This is a great way to both showcase my 'day job' as a writer and highlight some of the incredible songwriters I go to work with every day."

In the middle of recording his debut album for Sony Music Nashville when the "safer at home" order was released, the singer/songwriter has already notched 17 performances and shows.

"I have enough songs to take us all the way through 2025 if we have to," Ellis joked. "These live sessions have been great though...seeing the comments. Getting feedback from fans in real time will definitely help us decided what makes this album and what doesn't."

At 15, Ellis started the band Wayside with his cousin and some high school friends. The band gained a following throughout Ellis' high school and college years, playing venues across Louisiana and Mississippi. After graduating from University of Louisiana at Monroe, Ellis moved to Nashville. After a month of living out of hotels, he met singer/songwriters Jameson Rodgers and Hunter Phelps, who were looking for a third roommate. After less than a year of working part time jobs, writing most every evening and weekend and playing any writers' rounds, Ellis caught the attention of BMI's Bradley Collins.

A short time later, Ellis signed at Big Deal Music. In late 2017, the now 26-year-old storyteller was named Sirius XM's latest "Highway Find" with the release of his first single, "Home for the Weekend." Most recently, Ellis released the single "Ghosts."