Radney Foster and Kelly Willis - Photo: Jasna Boudard
Just ahead of Valentine’s Day, SongwritingWith:Soldiers delivers a love song that’s as real as it is heartfelt. “The One They Call,” out now, is the product of a powerful collaboration between Army Sergeant First Class (Retired) Matthew Chapman and his wife Debbi, acclaimed singer-songwriter Radney Foster, and Kelly Willis, a track that Nashville insiders are already calling “stately and strong,” with two outstanding voices bringing a deeply personal story to life.
Written during a SongwritingWith:Soldiers retreat at Boulder Crest Foundation, the song tells a real-life tale of love under pressure. Matthew, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, had proposed twice before Debbi said yes. With his unit deploying after 9/11, the couple married at a courthouse in Fayetteville. The song’s central line, “I want to be the one they call” captures the gravity of choosing love when everything is on the line.
For Foster, who has been involved with SongwritingWith:Soldiers since 2012, the Chapmans’ story was a natural fit for Nashville storytelling. “I was so moved by the Chapmans’ story,” he says. “The love they share, it’s real. I asked Kelly to sing it with me, and it was a joy to record together.” Willis, whose father served as an Army officer, understands the sacrifices military families make, adding a personal depth to the performance.
The Chapmans admit they never imagined their story would become a song. “Even after so many years, those feelings put to paper still bring us to tears,” they say. “We are humbled, and thankful to Radney and Kelly for this amazing song.”
This release highlights SongwritingWith:Soldiers’s mission to connect veterans and military families with professional songwriters, creating music grounded in lived experience. Since 2012, SW:S has served more than 7,000 participants, giving them a platform to express what often goes unsaid. Every song is co-written with care, consent, and intention, and many are later shared with the public to build understanding of the veteran experience.
A Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital pilot study suggests that the SW:S songwriting method may reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression, showing the therapeutic power of storytelling through music. With a new program supported by The Johnson Family Fund, SW:S is releasing select songs from its retreat catalog on major streaming platforms, bringing these stories, and the Nashville songwriting spirit to wider audiences.
For Music City listeners, “The One They Call” isn’t just a Valentine’s Day release, it’s a reminder that the best country songs come from truth, sacrifice, and the love that holds strong when everything else is uncertain.
It’s authentic. It’s Nashville. And it’s a love song you won’t forget.