Bill Anderson Accepts 5 BMI Million-Air Awards

BMI’s David Preston, BMI singer-songwriter Bill Anderson, BMI’s Jody Williams, Sony ATV’s Terry Wakefield and Troy Tomlinson. Photo: Kat Harding

Bill Anderson visited the BMI Nashville office on Thursday (Aug. 11) to celebrate five of his songs achieving Million-Air milestones.

The awards are given to acknowledge the tracks’ millions of radio spins. Certificates were awarded for “Tips of My Fingers” for three million, “Whiskey Lullaby” for two million, “Give It Away” for two million, “Saginaw, Michigan” for one million and “Lord Knows I’m Drinking” (a No. 1 hit for Cal Smith in 1973) for one million.

Named a BMI Country Awards Icon in 2002, Anderson is the only country songwriter to have a Top 40 hit in seven consecutive decades. His autobiography, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson: An Unprecedented Life In Country Music, is due in September.