The Franklin Theatre Songwriters Series: Black River Entertainment Presents Doug Johnson, Josh Kerr, and Dan Wilson

Doug Johnson

Doug Johnson is Vice President of A&R at Black River Entertainment and an award-winning songwriter with seven No. 1 hits, including Randy Travis' "Three Wooden Crosses" and Lee Brice's "Love Like Crazy." With decades of experience as a songwriter, producer, and music executive, Doug has helped shape the careers of some of country music's biggest artists while mentoring the next generation of Nashville talent.

Josh Kerr

Josh Kerr is a Grammy winning & CMA nominated hit-songwriter and music producer at Black River Publishing based in Nashville, TN. Kerr won Song of the Year twice as a co-writer of for KING & COUNTRY ’s multi-chart No. 1s, “God Only Knows” and “For God Is With Us” at the 2019 and 2021 K-Love Fan Awards respectively. He was nominated at the 2018 CMA’s for Album of the Year as a co-producer for Keith Urban’s Graffiti U, featuring “Never Comin Down,” the ­­­­Top 20 hit co-written and co-produced by Kerr. His multiple US No. 1 songs include for KING & COUNTRY’s “God Only Knows,” which claimed more than 10 weeks at the No. 1 spot, the RIAA Platinum-certified “My Girl” recorded by Dylan Scott, and the RIAA Platinum-certified “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Dibs” recorded by Kelsea Ballerini. As a songwriter and producer, Kerr has worked with a variety of artists spanning multiple genres including Camila Cabello, Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, Danielle Bradbery, Devin Dawson, Dolly Parton, for KING & COUNTRY, Hannah Kerr, Ingrid Michaelson, Jake Scott, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, Maddie & Tae, and more. Kerr began making music early on in life while growing up in upstate New York.

Dan Wilson

Born and raised in Greenville South Carolina, music has been in Dan’s blood from an early age. Starting on the drums at 5 years old, he taught himself to play. Songwriting became a passion once he learned a few chords on his father’s hand me down Ovation guitar. “The feeling of starting with nothing and then getting a song at the end of the day is incomparable, and the feeling we chase as songwriters, magic in three minutes or less is what I live for,” he says. Over the last couple of years, he has begun to win the respect of Music Row’s top songwriters and is building a name for himself among a new peer group of Nashville’s next hit makers. Named part of AIMP’s Class of 2021 and with his first radio single under his belt, as well as songs recorded by Tucker Wetmore, Bryce Leatherwood, Midland, Dylan Marlowe, MaRynn Taylor and more, he continues to be a first call collaborator for artists on Music Row.

Guest Performer: John Cooper Albright

Raised on the sounds of legends from various genres like Hank Williams Jr., Bon Jovi, Merle Haggard, and Elton John, emerging singer-songwriter John Cooper Albright moved to Nashville in 2025 to pursue his own Music City dream. A fresh voice with a Mississippi swamp-laden sound that evokes the aching rawness of honest, intimate storytelling, Albright’s music is rooted in emotional transparency and draws influence from artists like Chris Stapleton and Marcus King. Quickly becoming a regular in writers’ rooms and on stages of all sizes, he delivers soulful truth by way of his humble roots. Amassing more than 164k followers on TikTok, he has grown from performing in his hometown church to reaching a global audience, connecting listeners to songs that feel lived-in, vulnerable, and unmistakably real. Currently in the studio with frequent collaborator, Anthony Olympia, John Cooper Albright is readying music for a remarkable and impactful debut.

MaRynn Taylor is a fast-rising country powerhouse vocalist “Country Now” whose debut album MaRynn was released August 22, 2025 via Black River Entertainment. With more than 60 million career streams and 16 Telly Awards, the 25-year-old Michigan native has been hailed as “country’s rising star” (Star Magazine), praised for her “unassuming delivery and crystalline timbre” (Billboard), and celebrated for music that “embraces vulnerability” while offering “an authentic glimpse into her life” (MusicRow). 

The album features fan favorites “same girl same,” “season 2 of friends,” and “dirty blonde,” and follows her self-reflective EP Get To Know Me, marking another major milestone in her accelerating career. Named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country (2023) and an “artist to watch” by Country Now, Music Mayhem, and Wide Open Country, MaRynn continues to establish herself as a bold new voice in the genre.  She’s currently in the studio, recording for her next EP for release later this fall. 

In 2023, she made her Grand Ole Opry debut after being surprised with the invitation live on 650 AM WSM’s Coffee, Country & Cody by Opry member Jeannie Seely. This was a full-circle moment following her on-air signing with Black River Entertainment during the 53rd Annual CMA Awards in 2019. In 2025 alone, MaRynn opened for Kelsea Ballerini, Jake Scott, and Chris Young, after previously touring with Dylan Schneider in 2024.