For the next five days, Margaritaville is being invaded by Nashville.

Nearly 90 performing songwriters -- with credits featuring hits for such country megastars as Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker -- have come to Key West for the 12th annual Hog's Breath Songwriters' Festival.
There are 29 shows at 16 venues during the 12th annual Hog's Breath Key West Songwriters' Festival. The chart-topping writers scheduled to play their hit songs and preview new tunes include Brett James, who authored Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel"; the legendary Don Schlitz, who penned "The Gambler" and Scotty Emerick.

“The first song that I played was a song that a buddy of mine, Toby Keith, and I wrote a few years ago called Beer for My Horses and had a big hit with it and it was real exciting especially because Willy Nelson sang on it and for Toby and I Willy’s always been a hero of ours.”

The 2007 festival includes 30 shows -- each featuring multiple writers who sing, play, and tell the stories behind their songs. The Hog’s Breath Songwriter’s Festival runs today through Sunday in Key West.

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The Key West Songwriters' Festival runs today through Sunday with a sunset performance overlooking Key West Harbor. More than 70 of the United States' top performing songwriters are showcasing their original music in intimate, audience-friendly tropical settings.
They include Scotty Emerick, whose writing triumphs include "Beer for My Horses" recorded by Willie Nelson and Toby Keith.

“My favorite thing – the world famous Hog’s Breath Saloon – there’s an upstairs listening room of about 150-200 people. It’s a great place to play. It’s one of my favorite places I’ve ever played around the country. There’s a lot of great songwriters that come down and play there also and that’s the favorite spot.”

Others who play during the songwriter’s festival include legendary writers Chuck Cannon, who co-wrote "How Do You Like Me Now?" and "American Soldier" with Toby Keith; and Wendell Mobley, whose megahits include “I Melt,” recorded by Rascal Flatts.