CMA Celebrates Songwriting Excellence At 2026 Triple Play Awards

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CMA Triple Play Award recipients with the CMA’s Tiffany Kerns, host Jim Beavers, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern and songwriter advocate of the year Bart Herbison at CMA’s Triple Play Awards. Photo: Alyssa Barker/CMA

The Country Music Association brought together some of country music’s most accomplished songwriters Monday night (April 13) at the 2026 CMA Triple Play Awards, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The annual event recognizes the elite achievement of writing three No. 1 songs within a single year.

The full list of honorees includes Andy Albert, Louis Bell, John Byron, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Gorley, Riley Green, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Ella Langley, Chase McGill, John Morgan, Blake Pendergrass, Taylor Phillips, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith and Morgan Wallen. Many of the honorees were in attendance, each taking a few moments to thank their families, teams and collaborators.

Jim Beavers, a CMA Board member and acclaimed songwriter, emceed the evening, infusing the event with his trademark wit and warmth. Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO, opened the ceremony with remarks, saying “CMA exists to celebrate excellence, to support and advocate for the people who make this music possible, and to help expand the reach of country music.”

Bart Herbison at the 16th Annual CMA Triple Play Awards. Photo: Alyssa Barker/CMA

CMA also honored 43 songwriters who earned their very first No. 1 hit since the last Triple Play celebration, may of whom were in attendance and received a commemorative medallion.

The annual in memoriam segment paid tribute tho those who the music community has lost over the past year, and was accompanied by a performance of The High Kings’ “The Parting Glass” performed by Cary Barlowe, Gordie Sampson and Hillary Lindsey.

One of the evening’s standout moments came as NSAI’s Executive Director Bart Herbison was honored with the 2025 CMA Songwriter Advocate Award, recognizing his decades of impact on the songwriting community. Ahead of the presentation, a video tribute featured messages from songwriters, and industry peers impacted by Herbison’s continuous advocacy for songwriters.

Before Herbison took the stage, Josh Osborne took the stage to perform one of Herbison’s favorite tunes, Keith Urban’s “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.”

Taking the stage to a standing ovation, Herbison highlighted different legislation passed for songwriters and more on the horizon. He also thanked his family, team and mentors. Herbison closed with a statement that sent applause through the room: “Our trademark is ‘it all begins with a song.’ Here’s what I want it to say in a few years: ‘It all begins with a song, a song that a human wrote, a song from which they were fairly paid.’”

A surprise performance from Lee Roy Parnell followed, performing “They Don’t Know You” in honor of Herbison.

In the last surprise of the night, CMA honored Paul Overstreet for his pending induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame by bringing together four of his children, Chord, Nash, Harmony and Summer, to perform a medley of his hits. The medley captivated the room, and included hits such as Randy Travis’ “On The Other Hand,” Blake Shelton’s “Some Beach,” Paul’s own “Seein’ My Father In Me,” and many more.

Hillary Lindsey, Cary Barlow, and Gordie Sampson perform the In Memoriam tribute at the 16th Annual CMA Triple Play Awards. Photo: Alyssa Barker/CMA

Josh Osborne plays a tribute to Songwriter Advocate Award winner Bart Herbison at CMA’s Triple Play Awards. Photo: Alyssa Barker/CMA

Lee Roy Parnell plays a tribute to Songwriter Advocate Award winner Bart Herbison at CMA’s Triple Play Award. Photo: Alyssa Barker/CMA

Summer, Chord, Nash, and Charity Overstreet perform a medley in recognition of their father, Paul Overstreet at the CMA Triple Play Awards. Paul Overstreet is the 2026 Songwriter Inductee into the Country Music Hall of Hame. Photo: Alyssa Barker/CMA

Madison Hahnen
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