Hailing from Augusta, Georgia, Matt McKinney was immersed in music from an early age. Just two days after graduating from the University of Georgia, he made the move to Nashville to pursue a career in songwriting. In 2020, his journey took a significant leap when he signed a publishing deal with Rusty Gaston at Sony Music Publishing.

Since then, McKinney has earned a strong reputation in Nashville’s songwriting circles for his refined lyrical craft and innovative contributions to Music Row writing rooms. His works have been recorded by a diverse roster of artists, including Jordan Davis, Elle King, Tim McGraw, Jimmie Allen, Ella Langley, Jon Pardi, ERNEST, Lukas Nelson, and Trey Lewis—most notably for his role in co-writing the Billboard #1 and RIAA certified Double-Platinum hit “Dicked Down in Dallas.”