SESAC Celebrates Songwriters & Publishers At 2025 Nashville Music Awards

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Michael Tyler wins SESAC 2025 Songwriter of the Year. Photo: Katie Kauss

SESAC kicked off 2025 CMA Awards week in Nashville last night (Nov. 16) with its annual SESAC Nashville Awards. Held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the star-studded event honored the songwriters and publishers behind this year’s most-performed country and Americana songs. More than 500 songwriters, publishers and industry professionals attended the celebration, which was sponsored in part by Hatef Aesthetics.

Guests enjoyed charcuterie snacks, sliders, a salad station, the yearly favorite mac & cheese bar, and passed appetizers while socializing during cocktail hour. When the program began, SESAC’s Scott Jungmichel and Sam Kling welcomed attendees before introducing affiliate Stephen Wilson Jr. to open the evening’s performances.

Stephen Wilson Jr. performs onstage for the 2025 SESAC Nashville Music Awards. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for SESAC

Wilson Jr. captivated the room with a performance of his brand-new single, “Gary,” quickly drawing focus from the socializing crowd with his grunge-country stylings.

SVP, Head of Nashville Creative, Shannan Hatch then took the stage to host the evening alongside Senior Directors of Creative Services, ET Brown and Lydia Cahill. They first recognized Americana stalwarts Mumford & Sons, Hayes Carll, Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive), Margo Price and Jeremy Ivey, followed by affiliates Steve Bogard and Jim Lauderdale, who were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this fall. Singer-songwriter Emily Ann Roberts paid tribute with performances of Bogard’s “Carried Away” and Lauderdale’s “Hole in My Head.”

Then came the country awards. Among the many SESAC songwriters behind this year’s top-performed country hits, several received special presentations.

Kelsea Ballerini was on hand to present her longtime collaborator Alysa Vanderheym with her award for “Baggage.” Megan Moroney took the stage next to perform her latest release, “Beautiful Things,” building excitement for her upcoming third studio album, Cloud 9, due in February.

Megan Moroney and Jessie Jo Dillon onstage for the 2025 SESAC Nashville Music Awards. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for SESAC

Frequent co-writer Jessie Jo Dillon surprised Moroney by presenting her with SESAC’s Song of the Year award for her No. 1 hit “Am I Okay?” An emotional Moroney accepted the honor, sharing, “Songwriting is so therapeutic. I wouldn’t get through life and situations without it… thank you SESAC, my amazing team and country music.”

Warner Chappell Music earned the title of Publisher of the Year after taking home multiple awards throughout the night. The team joined SESAC executives onstage for a celebratory photo.

Michael Tyler was named SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year on the strength of hits including “Cowboy Songs” (recorded by George Birge), “Holy Smokes” (recorded by Bailey Zimmerman) and “This Heart” (recorded by Corey Kent). To mark the achievement, Gibson created a custom guitar and Jostens provided a one-of-a-kind ring.

Tyler was surprised with a video montage featuring his family as well as congratulatory messages from Birge and Kent. When he took the stage, he was stunned again to see his family in the audience—a surprise coordinated by SESAC. He grew emotional as he thanked Jesus, his family, and his team for their support.

See the full list of honorees below.

“AM I OKAY?”
Written by: Megan Moroney
Published by: Megan Moroney
Recorded by: Megan Moroney

“BOYS BACK HOME”
Written by: Joe Fox
Published by: Real Bad Songs, Liz Rose Music, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Dylan Marlowe and Dylan Scott

“COWBOY SONGS”
Written by: Lalo Guzman, Matt McGinn, Michael Tyler
Published by: MT Room, Boom Town Songs, Young Guns Tunes, SMACKWORKS Music, Warner Chappell Music, Melodies of CTM Outlander, Cinq Songs
Recorded by: George Birge

“I AM NOT OKAY”
Written by: Casey Brown
Published by: Track & Feels, Tape Room Tunes, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Jelly Roll

“HOLY SMOKES”
Written by: Michael Tyler
Published by: MT Room, Young Gunes Tunes, Melodies of CTM Outlander
Recorded by: Bailey Zimmerman

“RELAPSE”
Written by: Justin Ebach
Published by: El Chapo Music
Recorded by: Warren Zeiders

“SINGLE AGAIN”
Written by: Joe Fox
Published by: Real Bad Songs, Liz Rose Music, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Josh Ross

“TEXAS”
Written by: Lalo Guzman
Published by: SMACKWORKS Music
Recorded by: Blake Shelton

“THIS HEART”
Written by: Blake Bollinger, Michael Tyler
Published by: MT Room, I Like Big Cuts Publishing, Young Guns Tunes, Melodies of CTM Outlander, Combuster Bluth
Recorded by: Corey Kent

“TRUCK ON FIRE”
Written by: Justin Ebach
Published by: Phat Racoon, Universal Tunes
Recorded by: Carly Pearce

“WIND UP MISSIN’ YOU”
Written by: Chris LaCorte
Published by: Card Tables Music, Concord Tunes, Hang Your Hat Hits
Recorded by: Tucker Wetmore

“BAGGAGE”
Written by: Alysa Vanderheym
Published by: Vandeezy Songs, Warner Chappell Music, Songs of Rhythm House Black
Recorded by: Kelsea Ballerini

“BREAK IT RIGHT BACK”
Written by: Rob Hatch, Megan Moroney
Published by: Shannanigans Publishing, Georgiamo, Eclipse Three Music
Recorded by: Megan Moroney

“HAPPEN TO ME”
Written by: Chris LaCorte
Published by: Card Tables Music, Concord Tunes, Hang Your Hat Hits
Recorded by: Russell Dickerson

“CAROLINE”
Written by: Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett
Published by: Universal Polygram International Tunes Inc
Recorded by: Mumford & Sons

“RUSHMERE”
Written by: Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett
Published by: Universal Polygram International Tunes Inc
Recorded by: Mumford & Sons

“PROGRESS OF MAN (BITCOIN & CATTLE)”
Written by: Hayes Carll
Published by: Highway 87 Publishing
Recorded by: Hayes Carll

“ANY OTHER WAY”
Written by: Hayes Carll
Published by: Highway 87 Publishing
Recorded by: Hayes & The Heathens

“DANCE WITH A STRANGER”
Written by: Rachael Price
Published by: 17 Lake Street Music, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Lake Street Dive

“DON’T LET THE BASTARDS GET YOU DOWN”
Written by: Margo Price, Jeremy Ivey
Published by: Peach Pit, Fisheye, Good Songs We Love, RMM 416 Publishing
Recorded by: Margo Price

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