It was a long, hard road, but the dream of writing songs and making records was so big that the toughest roads weren¹t going to stop him. After sleeping in his car and eating potato salad sandwiches for a while, he got a job at a water heater factory. The future was not looking too bright, but somehow the dream stayed alive. Looking back now on the earlier years, Overstreet says, "It's amazing to realize that the reality is greater than the dreams that started the whole adventure." Overstreet believes that it was his talent and vision, given to him by God, that enabled him to reach his goals as a songwriter, artist, and producer.

As a songwriter, Overstreet has written and co-written 27 top ten songs, his first being George Jones', Same Ole Me. Numerous other artists have recorded his songs including Randy Travis, singing On the Other Hand, Diggin Up Bones and Forever and Ever, Amen. Tanya Tucker topped the charts with One Love at a Time and My Arms Stay Open All Night and then teamed up with Paul Davis and Overstreet with the hit, I Won't Take Less Than Your Love. The late Keith Whitley, and after him, Alison Kraus, recorded When You Say Nothing at All, The Judds sang Love Can Build A Bridge and Kenny Chesney belted out She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy. Other hits have been recorded by Glen Campbell, Pam Tillis, Mel Tillis, Travis Tritt, The Forester Sisters, Marie Osmond, Michael Martin Murphey, and countless others. When You Say Nothing at All was released in the major motion picture, Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It has also been released on the movie soundtrack, sung by the UK artist, Ronan Keating.

As an artist, Overstreet has written and recorded many songs himself. You Can't Stop Love was the debut single for the trio S.K.O. (Schuyler, Knobloch and Overstreet) on M.T.M. Records and neared the top of the charts. That album produced two other top ten hits as well. Overstreet¹s first solo project began when RCA released Sowin' Love. The five singles released from this album were all top ten hits, including the title cut, Sowin' Love, Paul's "signature" song All The Fun, and his first number one, Seein' My Father in Me. The second album, Heroes, included the hits Daddy's Come Around, If I Could Bottle This Up, Heroes and Billy Can't Read, which became the theme song for the CMA/CMT Project Literacy. The next album Love is Strong, gave Paul his first #1 song on Christian radio with the the cut and gave him another chart topper with There But For The Grace of God Go I.

Not only have Paul's songs been recorded by other artists, but they have earned him numerous awards. Overstreet, along with other co-writers, has earned two Grammy Awards, his first for Forever and Ever, Amen and the other for Love Can Build a Bridge. BMI honored Overstreet as Songwriter of the Year for five consecutive years from 1987-1991. This is a mark on the Music Row wall that has not been reached before or since. He also won CMA and ACM Song of the Year in 1987 and 1988. The Love Is Strong album earned Overstreet a Dove Award for Country Recorded Album of the Year in 1992. He also earned Dove Awards for Country Recorded Song of the Year in 1991 for Seein My Father in Me and There But For the Grace of God Go I in 1994. Overstreet has been awarded the TNN Viewer¹s Choice Award for Christian Country Artist and received the Christian Country Music Association Award for Mainstream Artist-of the Year as well.

Aside from being a writer and an artist, Overstreet is also an accomplished producer. He co-produced his own albums and was sole-producer for Christian country artist Suzie Luchsinger. This album launched her career. Overstreet also co-wrote many songs on the project, two of which topped the Christian country charts, one being a duet they performed together.

Overstreet is known for lyrics that encourage marriages and family. He has definitely lived that out in his own life, turning down many opportunities to be on the road, for opportunities to stay close to home as his children grow up. Having his own offices and recording studio on his farm outside of Nashville has made it a little easier. With six children ranging in age from 16 to 2-1/2, Overstreet and his wife Julie have lots of opportunity to live the lyrics of his songs.

Late in 1999, Overstreet founded Scarlet Moon Records, releasing A Songwriters Project - Volume 1 in August 2000. This project was a labor of love, and much awaited by those who love Overstreet¹s own rendering of hit songs previously recorded by other artists. In August, 2001, he released Living By The Book, a collection of new Overstreet penned Christian songs that demonstrate his positive, inspirational life outlook. His first holiday collection, Christmas, My Favorite Time of the Year, was released in September, 2001.

One of the most rewarding of Overstreet's many ventures is his involvement with his good friend, Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Overstreet has also had the distinct honor of traveling to areas such as Nicaragua and Honduras with Samaritan¹s Purse, a relief organization committed to meeting the spiritual and physical needs of people in crisis situations.
Paul in Honduras with Samaritan's Purse

Paul Overstreet, his wife Julie, their children, Nash, Summer, Chord, Harmony, Skye, and Charity, and a large and assorted pet menagerie, reside on a farm near a small town outside of Nashville.