Cory Branan is a singer/songwriter, born in Southaven, Mississippi. He garnered comparisons to Ryan Adams, Pete Yorn, and Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst with the release of his 2002 debut album The Hell You Say.

By his teens, Branan was playing hard rock and heavy metal, eventually fronting a Black Sabbath cover band. In his early 20s he began to explore the music of John Prine, a move which urged him to pick up a guitar and start writing songs. In 2000, the Memphis chapter of NARAS awarded Branan with the Phillips Award for "Newcomer of the Year." He didn't even have a recording contract yet, and the acclaim started rolling in. Two years later, Branan made his label debut with Memphis' Madjack Records with the release of The Hell You Say. In 2003 he appeared on both The Late Show with David Letterman and Last Call With Carson Daly.

In March 2006, after almost four years, Branan released his second album 12 Songs again on Madjack Records. Blender Magazine, commenting on the time it took for Branan to record his sophomore effort, said, "12 Songs justifies the sabatical."