Woody Bradshaw Wrote the Song Your Dog Would Write For You – “Bestest Ever Friend”

There are some moments you just never forget. For me, it’s the day my mom brought home a puppy—a clumsy, little golden retriever with giant paws and eyes that looked right into your soul. That feeling of a wet nose bumping your hand, of a bond forming in an instant, is something almost everyone understands. It’s a love so pure it’s hard to put into words. But every once in a while, an artist gets it just right. Music City’s Woody Bradshaw has done exactly that with his beautiful new song, “Bestest Ever Friend.”

You might know Woody from his chart-topping hit, “The Last Thing You Do,” or maybe even from his earlier days as an actor in New York and L.A. He’s a storyteller at heart, but the tale behind this new song isn’t about stage lights or fame—it’s about an 80-pound chocolate lab who changed his life. The story starts in 2013 in Woody’s hometown of Pensacola. He was going through a tough breakup and was at a friend’s house to talk business when he was greeted by the booming barks of two big dogs. One of them, a foster named Bailey, seemed to choose him right then and there.

As Woody and his friend talked, Bailey kept trying to get his attention. Woody gave him the polite-but-dismissive head pat we all give a dog when we’re busy, but Bailey was not giving up. In a move straight out of an I Love Lucy episode, the dog suddenly snatched a lighter from the coffee table and made a mad dash for the backyard. After a chaotic chase, Bailey trotted back inside, lighter still in his mouth. That’s when the magic happened. Woody looked at him and, in his best stern dad voice, said, “Bailey!” The dog stopped in his tracks. “Come here,” Woody commanded. Bailey slowly came over and dropped the lighter right in his hand. Before Woody could even react, the big dog jumped on the couch and wrapped himself around his neck in a giant, loving hug. His friend was floored. “He has never listened to anyone!” she said. She talked him into taking Bailey for just one night. That one night became the rest of Bailey’s life.

Woody Bradshaw, who’d never been a “dog person” because of childhood allergies, was suddenly a devoted dog dad. The two were inseparable in Nashville. Bailey was so in tune with Woody that they’d walk around the neighborhood without a leash. He was gentle and loving with every person and child he met, becoming a local celebrity at the park. Their bond went even deeper when Woody’s dad was moved into a memory care facility. Woody started bringing Bailey on his visits, and the sweet lab became a source of pure joy for his father and all the other residents, calmly making his rounds and spreading his unconditional love.

Through Bailey, Woody learned what true, unwavering love feels like. As he puts it, “People are conditional… but a dog’s love is pure perfection.” The heartbreak of losing his beloved Bailey, just two months after his father passed away, was a devastating blow. It was in that period of grief, thinking about movies like A Dog’s Purpose that are narrated by the dog, that an idea sparked. People write songs about their dogs all the time. But what if he wrote one from the dog’s perspective?

That’s the heart of “Bestest Ever Friend.” Woody channeled everything Bailey taught him into a song that captures the joyful, simple, and profound truth of a dog’s love for their person. It’s a celebration of the idea that to them, we are their entire world. The song feels like a warm hug, a wagging tail, and a happy bark all rolled into one. It’s not just Woody’s story—it’s the story of everyone who has ever been lucky enough to be loved by an animal.

If you’ve ever looked at your pet and felt that incredible, unspoken connection, this song is for you. It’s true that the greatest friendships sometimes come with four paws. Go listen to it. Seriously. You’ll be glad you did.

Follow Woody Bradshaw on social media for more: https://www.instagram.com/woodybradshaw