For most people, 20 years is a long time.

"It's really hard to believe how much time has gone by since that song first came out," reminisced songwriter Kirsti Manna.

In the music business, 20 years is an eternity.
 
So you can imagine how Poland native Manna feels celebrating 20 years since Blake Shelton took her song "Austin" to the top of the charts.
 
"I went to write one morning with a friend of mine and he had left on his answering machine 'if this is Austin, I still love you...' because he had a girlfriend who had moved back to Austin, Texas," said Manna. "So I was like 'oh my gosh, we have got to write this idea', and he was like 'no, I don't want to write it, I've written too many songs about jilted love affairs, you can have the idea'."
 
Which Manna took to fellow songwriter and fellow Ohioan David Kent.
 
Eventually, it found its way to Blake Shelton, who was looking for his first big hit.
 
"Blake initially wasn't too excited about cutting the song," said Manna. "But he changed his mind."
 
The rest is Billboard chart history. The song stayed at #1 for five weeks.
 
"Now that he's become such a big superstar...we're getting to hear the song on TV and a lot of different settings and he's really excited to share the story of 'Austin," says Manna.
 
A story that could only become reality in Nashville.
 
After 20 years in an industry where few things last longer than the latest fad, it's a story Manna still marvels.
 
"It really helped me gain confidence as a writer, really trust your ideas and of course it opens doors," she said.
 
Manna is still writing songs, and she's helping lead a new record label in Nashville.
 
Its new artist Tori Martin has a single out that Manna co-wrote, and they're hoping it will soon make it onto the Billboard country chart.
 
In the meantime, Manna encourages anyone from her hometown who has a dream to follow it, but to do their homework.
 
"I think you need to know what your goals are," Manna said. 
 
Manna holds songwriting workshops and works with artists in addition to her writing; you can learn more about that HERE.