wˈʊdɹɪŋ pɚfˈɔːɹmd bɹˈiːfli wɪð dʒˈɑːn mˈɛləŋkˌæmp ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks, ɐ pɹˈɑːdʒɛkt wˌɪtʃ lˈɛd hˌɪm tə bɪɡˈɪn tˈʊɹɹɪŋ ænd ɹᵻkˈoːɹdɪŋ fɚðə nˈɛkst ˈeɪt jˈɪɹz wɪð kˈʌntɹi mjˈuːzɪk stˈɑːɹ dˈiːnə kˈɑːɹɾɚ.
Woodring performed briefly with John Mellencamp in 1996, a project which led him to begin touring and recording for the next eight years with country music star Deana Carter.