Inductees Revealed For Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Class Of 2023
Five more songwriters will enter the esteemed Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) in its Class of 2023. Those inductees include Keith Urban, Kix Brooks, Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy and Rafe Van Hoy.
Beathard and Murphy will be inducted in the Contemporary Songwriter category. Van Hoy will be minted in the Veteran Songwriter category. Urban will enter as the Contemporary Songwriter/Artist and Brooks as the Veteran Songwriter/Artist.
The announcement was made Thursday morning (Aug. 3) by Rich Hallworth, Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors, and Mark Ford, its Executive Director. Hall of Fame members, family, friends and media attended the event at Nashville’s historic Columbia Studio A.
“Gathering for this occasion—to recognize and welcome the members of our incoming class—is always one of the highlights of our year,” said Hallworth. “To this stellar group of songwriters, we say thank you for your songs and for your artistry. You are exceptional talents, and we are proud to honor you this fall, when you officially join your legendary peers in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
The five inductees-elect will join 235 previously inducted members when they are formally inducted during the 53rd Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Music City Center.
Some of Beathard’s songwriting credits include “Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo” (Tracy Byrd), “Hell Of A View” (Eric Church) and “There Was Jesus” (Zach Williams & Dolly Parton). Murphy is known for his own “Dust On The Bottle” as well as “Living In Fast Forward” (Kenny Chesney) and “Big Green Tractor” (Jason Aldean). Van Hoy’s hits include “Golden Ring” (George Jones & Tammy Wynette), “Baby I Lied” (Deborah Allen) and “What’s Forever For” (Michael Martin Murphey). Urban popularized many of his self-penned hits such as “But For The Grace Of God,” “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” and “Days Go By.” Within Brooks & Dunn, Brooks recorded many of his own compositions including “Brand New Man,” “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” and “Only In America.”
