BMI Foundation Presents the Dolly Parton Songwriters Award to Audrey Ketter

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BMI Foundation Trustee and BMI Vice President, Creative, Clay Bradley and 2025 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award Recipient Audrey Ketter. photo: Erika Goldring for BMI

The BMI Foundation presented Flagstaff-based singer-songwriter Audrey Ketter with this year’s Dolly Parton Songwriters Award at the CMA Fest Ryman & BMI Block Party in Nashville on June 5th.

Established in 2015, the Dolly Parton Songwriters Award is an annual, national competition open to aspiring songwriters with a monetary prize of $10,000 for the best original song entry in the genres of Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk and roots. Ketter’s winning song “Golden Road” was selected from over 400 submissions by a panel of music industry experts.

“I’m so honored to be receiving the 2025 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award for my song ‘Golden Road,’” said Ketter. “I wrote ‘Golden Road’ about relationships that last throughout time, which I was able to watch in my grandparents’ and my parents’ lives, and I really hope that it resonates with you too. I want to say a huge thank you to BMI, the BMI Foundation and of course, Dolly Parton, for this huge opportunity.”

Surprising Ketter with her salutations, Parton said, “Congratulations to Audrey on being celebrated for her songwriting. Her song ‘Golden Road’ is a beautiful song that will touch many people, like it has me. Songwriting has always been my first love, and I have been with BMI since I published my first song as a very young girl. They have always been so supportive of me as well as all the young writers that come to town. I want to thank BMI for their support of the songwriters’ award named in my honor. We all wish you the very best Audrey and we look forward to hearing your songs throughout the years.”

Ketter wrote her first song at age five, and at eighteen is now releasing her debut album Close to Home. After graduating from high school, Ketter plans to pursue a degree in Commercial Music at Grand Canyon University.

Lauryn Sink
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