2025 MusicRow Awards Nominees For Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 37th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category.

The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year honors a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote their first top 10 country song via radio or streaming during the eligibility period. Outside nominations from Nashville’s publishing community are considered for this award.

This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

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

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 15 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here. 

Grady Block co-wrote the smash hit “I’m The Problem,” recorded by Morgan Wallen, alongside Wallen, Jamie McLaughlin, Ernest and Charlie Handsome. Block has also had other cuts with Wallen, Ernest, Josh Ross, Dylan Scott and more.

Blake Bollinger earned his first hit with the Corey Kent recorded “This Heart” with Michael Tyler, Thomas Archer and Jacob Hackworth. Bollinger has also had songs cut by Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, LOCASH, Parmalee, Jake Owen and others.

Johnny Clawson scored two hits with “Weren’t For The Wind,” recorded by and written with Ella Langley and Joybeth Taylor, and “Texas” recorded by Blake Shelton and written with Josh Dorr, Kyle Sturrock and Lalo Guzman. Clawson has also had cuts with Jon Pardi, Chris Young and McCoy Moore.

Abram Dean co-wrote the Parmalee hit “Gonna Love You” with the band’s Matt Thomas and Andy Sheridan and David Fanning. Dean has also had songs recorded by Lainey Wilson, Josh Ross, Ian Munsick, Dylan Marlowe and more.

Josh Dorr earned his first hit with the Blake Shelton-recorded “Texas,” which he wrote with Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock and Lalo Guzman. Dorr has also had cuts with Jordan Davis, Jon Pardi, Ella Langley, Lana Del Ray and Quavo.

Lalo Guzman scored his first hits with Blake Shelton’s “Texas,” co-written with Josh Dorr, Johnny Clawson and Kyle Sturrock, as well as “Cowboy Songs” co-written and recorded by George Birge with Michael Tyler and Matt McGinn. Guzman has also had other cuts with Jason Aldean, Nate Smith, Madeline Merlo and Dustin Lynch.

Lauren Hungate co-wrote the Bailey Zimmerman hit “Holy Smokes” with Zimmerman, Austin Shawn, Michael Tyler and Ben Stennis. Hungate has also had songs recorded by Carly Pearce, Tucker Wetmore, Mackenzie Porter, Lauren Watkins, Carter Faith and others.

Jenna Johnson earned her first hit with “All The Way” by BigXthaPlug featuring Bailey Zimmerman. The song was cowritten by BigXthaPlug, Ben Johnson, KK Johnson, Charles Nelson Forsberg and Krishon Gaines. Johnson has also had cuts with Nate Smith, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign and more.

KK Johnson scored her first hit with BigXthaPlug’s “All The Way” featuring Bailey Zimmerman, written with BigXthaPlug, Ben Johnson, Jenna Johnson, Charles Nelson Forsberg and Krishon Gaines. Johnson has also had songs recorded by Avery Anna, Kylie Morgan, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign and others.

Blake Pendergrass scored his first hit with “Just In Case,” written with and recorded by Morgan Wallen with ERNEST, John Byron, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Charlie Handsome, Josh Thompson and Alex Bak. Pendergrass has many more cuts on Wallen as well as Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Post Malone, HARDY, ERNEST, Warren Zeiders and more.

Josh Phillips wrote the Cody Johnson-recorded hit “Dirt Cheap” alone. He has also had songs cut by Chase Matthew, Dillon Carmichael, Chris Janson, George Birge and Brantley Gilbert.

Daniel Ross earned his first hit with “Lies Lies Lies,” recorded by Morgan Wallen, with Jessie Jo Dillon, Josh Miller and Chris Tompkins. Ross has also had more cuts with Wallen as well as Jelly Roll, Jon Pardi, Tim McGraw, Chase Matthew and others.

Andy Sheridan co-wrote the Parmalee hit “Gonna Love You” with the band’s Matt Thomas and Abram Dean and David Fanning. Sheridan has also had songs recorded by Chris Janson, Sam Barber and Avery Anna.

Kyle Sturrock earned his first hit with the Blake Shelton recorded “Texas,” which he wrote with Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr and Lalo Guzman. Sturrock has also had cuts with Dierks Bentley, Chris Young, Matt Stell and more.

Joybeth Taylor scored her first hit with “Weren’t For The Wind,” recorded by and written with Ella Langley and Johnny Clawson. Taylor also has cuts with Gavin Adcock, Kameron Marlowe, Josh Ross, BigXthaPlug, Vincent Mason, Chase Matthew, Wyatt Flores, Corey Kent, Warren Zeiders and others.

Nick Walsh co-wrote the Riley Green hit “Damn Good Day To Leave” with Green, Jonathan Singleton and Erik Dylan. Walsh has also had other songs recorded by Green, Jake Worthington and McCoy Moore.