Sherrill Named BMI Icon

BMI will honor Billy Sherrill as a BMI Icon during its its 58th annual Country Awards, slated for Tuesday, November 9 at the organization’s Music Row offices in Nashville. The black-tie ceremony will celebrate songwriters and publishers of the past year’s fifty most-performed country songs from the BMI catalog. BMI will also award the Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year.

Sherrill joins a list of past honorees that includes John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Isaac Hayes, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, the Bee Gees, Ray Davies, James Brown, and more.

The eight-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year has earned 84 BMI Country, Pop and R&B Awards for penning jewels including “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” “Stand By Your Man,” “’Til I Can Make It on My Own,” “My Elusive Dreams,” “I Don’t Wanna Play House,” “Almost Persuaded,” and “Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High).” Yet, Sherrill’s place in musical history would be assured even if he had never written a word. The Grammy-winning architect of countrypolitan produced standards including Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors,” Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” and George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Sherrill has received more BMI Country Awards than any other songwriter in history, and was named BMI Country Songwriter of the 20th Century in 1999. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, while the Country Music Hall of Fame welcomed Sherrill earlier this year.