​Woody launched his career as a songwriter for Combine Music Publishing, where his songs were recorded by Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams Jr., Lynn Anderson, Lee Greenwood, The Osmond Bros., Big Al Downing, Rhonda Vincent, T.G. Sheppard and others. Both Conway Twitty and Jim Glaser scored number one hits with Woody’s songs before he transitioned to the other side of the desk to focus on music publishing. As Combine’s Creative Director, and later General Manager, he promoted the catalogs of such songwriters as Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Larry Gatlin, Billy Swan, Dennis Linde, and Tony Joe White. Woody was responsible for placing hit songs with major artists of the time, including The Judds, Restless Heart, Reba McEntire, and Ray Charles.  

After eight years at Combine, Woody departed to launch Little Big Town Music Group with partner Kerry O’Neil. Serving as President and General Manager, he nurtured the careers of legendary songwriters, including Bob DiPiero, Steve Seskin, John Scott Sherrill, and Randy Bachman. During its ten-year history, Little Big Town celebrated 15 number one hits, 30 top ten singles, and more than 500 major label cuts. The long list of artists who recorded Little Big Town songs includes George Strait, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Waylon Jennings, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Neil Diamond, Dusty Springfield, and Peter Frampton.

In 1998 Little Big Town was purchased by Sony Music Publishing Nashville, which installed Woody as Senior Vice President to reorganize and manage their Creative Department. During his eight-year tenure with Sony, the company consistently maintained the top country publisher position with both BMI and Billboard Magazine. During Woody's tenure they achieved 2,000 major label recordings, including 99 top ten singles and 46 number one hits. He and his team signed Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner, Marty Stuart, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, and the very first publishing deal for a then-14-year-old Taylor Swift. In addition to the new signings, Woody worked with an existing roster that included Brooks & Dunn, Tom Douglas, Dean Dillon, Rodney Crowell, Gretchen Peters, Bobby Braddock, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and many others.

In 2007 Woody returned to his love of independent music publishing with the launch of Green Hills Music Group. Green Hills has secured recordings by a long list of artists that includes George Strait, Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Rascal Flatts, Hunter Hayes, and Don Williams, as well as a cut on the GRAMMY-winning CCM album by Hillary Scott (of Lady A) and the Scott Family.

Woody is a member of the Country Music Association, the Americana Music Association, Leadership Music, The Copyright Society of the South, The Nashville Songwriters Association International, and ASCAP. He has served on the boards of The Copyright Society, Leadership Music, The Musicians Hall of Fame, Belmont University's Curb School of Music Business, the Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy, and the Nashville Songwriters Association. He is a two-time recipient of NSAI's President’s Award and is an inductee into Middle Tennessee State University's Mass Communications Department Wall of Fame. Additionally, he serves on the volunteer staff of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.