2026 MusicRow Awards Nominees For Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 38th 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. 2.

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. 14 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here. 

 

Smith Ahnquist co-wrote the smash hit “Be Her,” recorded by Ella Langley, alongside Langley, Jordan Schmidt and HARDY. Ahnquist has also had other cuts with Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Lainey Wilson, John Morgan, Corey Kent, Jameson Rodgers, Chris Lane and others.

Dan Alley earned his first hits with Luke Combs’ “Be By You” penned with Nick Walsh and Sam Banks, the Hudson Westbrook-recorded “House Again” with Westbrook and Neil Medley, as well as Luke Bryan’s “Country Song Came On” with Medley and Ryan Beaver. Alley has also had songs cut by Luke Combs, Tyce Delk, Kenny Whitmire and others.

Beau Bailey scored two hits with “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” recorded by Blake Shelton and written with Drew Parker, Graham Barham and Sam Ellis, and “Favorite Country Song” recorded and written by HARDY alongside Ashley Gorley, Casey Brown, Nate Smith, Taylor Phillips and Zach Abend. Bailey has also had cuts with Hudson Westbrook, Graham Barham, Cole Swindell and others.

Sam Banks co-wrote the Luke Combs hit “Be By You” with Dan Alley and Nick Walsh. Banks has also had songs recorded by Craig Morgan, William Michael Morgan, Josh Ward and more.

Jeremy Bussey earned his first hit with the Scotty McCreery and Hootie & The Blowfish-recorded “Bottle Rockets,” which he wrote with McCreery, Bobby Hamrick, Brent Anderson, Darius Rucker, Dean Felber, Derek George, Frank Rogers, Jim Sonefeid, Mark Bryan and Monty Criswell. Bussey has also had cuts with Ashley McBryde, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean and more.

Jessica Farren scored her first hit with Josh Ross’ “Hate How You Look,” co-written with Chris McKenna, Christian Yancey and Nicholas Sainato. Farren has also had other cuts with Zach John King, Renee Blair, Faren Rachels, David J, JJ Wilde, Brian Fuller and more.

Austin Goodloe co-wrote the Corey Kent & Koe Wetzel hit “Rocky Mountain Low” with Kent, Michael Tyler and Thomas Archer. Goodloe has also had songs recorded by Ella Langley, Morgan Wallen, Gavin Adcock, Kameron Marlowe, Tucker Wetmore and others.

Jordan Gray earned his first hit with “Amen” by Shaboozey & Jelly Roll. The song was co-written by Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, Danny Majic, Nevin Sastry, Jackson Foote, Kevin Powers, Sean Cook and Seth Ennis. Gray has also had cuts with Kane Brown, Kassi Ashton, Walker Hayes and more.

Bobby Hamrick scored his first hit with Scotty McCreery and Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Bottle Rockets” with McCreery, Brent Anderson, Darius Rucker, Dean Felber, Derek George, Frank Rogers, Jeremy Bussey, Jim Sonefeid, Mark Bryan and Monty Criswell. Hamrick has also had songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, Joe Nichols, Elle King and others.

Jamie Kenney scored his first hit with “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes),” written with and recorded by Max McNown with Ava Suppelsa and Trent Dabbs. Kenney has also had additional with McNown as well as Ella Maddux, Odhran Murphy, Darren Kiely, Laci Kaye Booth and more.

Chris McKenna wrote the Josh Ross-recorded hit “Hate How You Look” with Christian Yancey, Jessica Farren and Nicholas Sainato. He has also had songs cut by Avery Anna, Emily Ann Roberts, Max Alan, Ian Harrison, Trevor Snider, Lori McKenna, Clayton Mullen and more.

David “Messy” Mescon earned his first hit with “6 Months Later,” recorded by Megan Moroney, written with Moroney, Ben Williams and Rob Hatch. Mescon has also had more cuts with Moroney across her discography.

Summer Overstreet co-wrote the Tucker Wetmore hit “3, 2, 1” with Jordan Reynolds and Josh Miller. Overstreet has also had songs recorded by Max McNown, Lainey Wilson, Zoe Clark, Tyler Braden, Brian Kelley, Logan Crosby, Sophia Scott, Karley Scott Collins and more.

Nicholas Sainato earned his first hit with the Josh Ross-recorded “Hate How You Look,” which he wrote with Chris McKenna, Christian Yancey and Jessica Farren. Sainato has also had cuts with Kane Brown, Ian Harrison, Scoot Teasley, Lindsay Ell and more. He is also ⅓ of alternative pop band, Nightly.

Ava Suppelsa scored her first hit with “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes),” recorded by and written with Max McNown, as well as Jamie Kenney and Trent Dabbs. Suppelsa also has cuts with Avery Anna, Carly Pearce, Randall King and others.

Driver Williams co-wrote the Jackson Dean hit “Heaven’s To Betsy” with Dean and Benjy Davis. Williams has also had other songs recorded by Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Riley Green, Jon Pardi, Max McNown and others.

Christian Yancey co-wrote the Josh Ross hit “Hate How You Look” with Chris McKenna, Jessica Farren and Nicholas Sainato. Yancey has also had other songs recorded by Austin Snell.