Josh Osborne

Co-writer of the viral hit "7 Summers" that broke streaming records and topped charts.

Williamodyer · via Wikipedia: Josh Osborne · CC-BY-SA-4.0

Josh Osborne is a key songwriter who collaborated with Morgan Wallen and Shane McAnally on the hit song "7 Summers." Released as a promotional single from Wallen's album Dangerous: The Double Album in August 2020, the track emerged after a demo went viral on TikTok. Osborne helped craft a melody blending 1980s country with soft rock, inspired by bands like Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. His work contributed to a song that broke Apple Music streaming records for a country track and debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs. The collaboration highlights how social media feedback directly influenced Wallen’s decision to include the song on his album after initially hesitating.

Quick Facts

Birthplace: Virgie, Kentucky, U.S.
Instrument: Vocals, guitar
Genre: Country
Occupation: Songwriter
Years active: 1998–present

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

The creation of "7 Summers" began with songwriter Shane McAnally, who conceived the title while visiting the beach for his seventh summer with his children. He pitched the idea to Morgan Wallen, who found it interesting and invited Osborne to join the writing process alongside McAnally. During the COVID-19 quarantine in April 2020, Wallen accepted a challenge from Jake Owen to record a demo on Instagram, performing what would become the song's first verse and chorus. Although Wallen was initially uncertain about including the track on his second studio album, the demo gained over 24 million views on TikTok prior to its official release. This overwhelming fan response convinced him to proceed. On August 4, responding directly to a fan on the platform, Wallen announced the song would drop the following week. The final track features suspended chords and layered guitars, with lyrics reflecting on a lost romance from seven summers ago.

Reader's Guide

Josh Osborne served as one of the three songwriters for "7 Summers," working alongside Morgan Wallen and Shane McAnally. The trio aimed to incorporate a wistful, bittersweet quality into the lyrics, distinguishing it from lighter songs. Osborne contributed to a composition described as a blend of 1980s style country and soft rock, utilizing ringing suspended chords and layered guitars to create a "shimmering mid-tempo groove." The song was produced by Joey Moi. Released on August 14, 2020, the track debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs and number six on the Hot 100. It broke the single-day Apple Music streaming record for a country song and was later certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA. Osborne's collaboration helped create a fan favorite that Wallen performed live on Saturday Night Live and featured in an eight-minute cinematic short film directed by Justin Clough.

Did You Know?

Morgan Wallen announced the official release date of "7 Summers" in direct response to a fan post on TikTok on August 4.
The track features suspended chords and guitar layering intended to create a maximalist element and a breezy melody.