• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

2020 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Song Of The Year

July 14, 2020/by Sarah Skates


Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 32nd annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Song of the Year category. Nominees honor Nashville writers and publishers on the craft of songwriting, not necessarily chart performance, during the eligibility period of April 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

The MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Presenting Sponsor of the 2020 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 17 at 5 p.m..

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow member here.


“Bluebird”
Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby co-wrote Lambert’s lovely song “Bluebird,” offering an insightful message about moving forward even when life hands you lemons. (“And if the whole wide world stops singing / And all the stars go dark / I’ll keep the light on in my soul / Keep a bluebird in my heart”). Says the singer, “‘Bluebird’ was a song that had a little darkness to it, but it really was about hope.” It is from her current album Wildcard, recorded by Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce. Lambert is nominated for Artist of the Year, and was named MusicRow Critics’ Pick in 2005.

“Does To Me”
Luke Combs scored his eighth-consecutive No. 1 single—a first on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart— with “Does To Me” featuring Eric Church. Combs, who co-wrote the song with Ray Fulcher and Tyler Reeve, describes it this way: “I had a really regular childhood. We always had enough to eat and a roof over our head, but that definitely doesn’t mean that my parents weren’t struggling for money. They just did a really good job of living within their means. And so we kind of used that sentiment to [express what] the world doesn’t think of as really awesome achievements…But they’re still things that you should be proud of.” The track was produced by Producer of the Year nominee Scott Moffatt, and helped Combs earn a nomination for Artist of the Year.

“Monsters”
Eric Church and co-writer Jeff Hyde stand up to metaphorical monsters in the thought provoking song “Monsters.” Sings Church: “Anymore when a restless feelin’ keeps me up at night / Fallin’ on my knees is my new turnin’ on the light / I keep my faith intact, make sure my prayers are said / ’Cause I’ve learned that the monsters ain’t the ones beneath the bed.” The track is from Church’s sixth album, Desperate Man, which was helmed by Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce. Church is also the featured guest on Luke Combs’ hit “Does To Me,” which is a fellow contender for Song of the Year.

“More Hearts Than Mine”
Ingrid Andress, Derrick Southerland and Sam Ellis composed a modern classic about a family embracing their daughter’s new relationship with “More Hearts Than Mine.” Says Andress, “This is extra special because it’s a song about my family, who I love so much and who have been my No. 1 fans from the beginning. I’m beyond happy it has resonated with so many people, because that’s the whole beauty of country music; real stories that are told about real people living in this country.” Andress co-wrote and co-produced her entire debut album, Lady Like, and is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist-Writer and Breakthrough Artist.

“One Night Standards”
Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford and Shane McAnally expertly crafted a traditional country song of escaping loneliness with “One Night Standards.” The lead single from McBryde’s current album, Never Will, is full of somber desperation paired with clever lyrics (“I ain’t Cinderella but who is?/Call me what you want if the shoe fits”). The recording was produced by Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce. McBryde is the reigning MusicRow Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Song of the Year winner for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.”

“The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost”
Written and produced solely by Craig Morgan, “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost,” is this year’s only solo-written Song of the Year nominee. The intimate and emotional song explores the grief, faith and hope Morgan experienced following the unexpected passing of his son Jerry. “As difficult as this song was to write and as difficult as it is to sing, it gives me strength in my faith in God,” says Morgan. “My hope is it does the same for others.” The song was his first piece of new music in over three years, which he initially self-released before reuniting with Broken Bow Records, his former record label home.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates
Latest posts by Sarah Skates (see all)
  • MusicRow Reveals 2021 Next Big Thing Artists List - December 1, 2020
  • Zach Williams, for KING & COUNTRY Lead Dove Nominations - August 13, 2020
  • Gone West Parts Ways - August 13, 2020
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Category-8-Song-FB.jpg 1260 2400 Sarah Skates https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Sarah Skates2020-07-14 14:39:362020-07-28 11:15:072020 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Song Of The Year

RECENT NEWS

  • New IRS Rule Affects Concert Ticket Resellers September 29, 2023
  • Neil Medley Shares His Stories On Debut Project, ‘South End Kid’ September 29, 2023
  • Worldwide Stages Announces Investment Opportunity In Its Production Campus September 29, 2023
  • In Pictures: Coastal Country Jam Closes Summer With Star-Studded Lineup September 29, 2023
  • First-Ever ‘People’s Choice Country Awards’ Airs Live From Nashville [Recap] September 29, 2023
  • Fifth Annual Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards Raises $400K For U.S. Military Vets September 29, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Adds Multiple Nights In Several Markets For 2024 Tour September 29, 2023
  • Brittney Spencer Slates Debut Album ‘My Stupid Life’ For January September 29, 2023
  • Dylan Scott Earns MusicRow No. 1 With ‘Can’t Have Mine’ September 29, 2023
  • Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle Among Winners At 34th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards September 29, 2023
  • 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards Winners – Complete List September 29, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: The Late Jimmy Buffett ‘Encourages Optimism & Hope’ September 28, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Wasserman Music, Merle Travis, Equal Access, More September 28, 2023
  • Shania Twain’s Multi-Platinum ‘Greatest Hits’ Makes Vinyl Debut In November September 28, 2023
  • IBMA Honors 2023 Industry Awards Recipients September 28, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top