BREAKING: NSAI Crowns 2026 Nashville Songwriter Awards Winners [Full List]

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Songwriters, industry members and music fans gathered at the Ryman Auditorium this evening (Sept. 22) for NSAI’s eighth annual Nashville Songwriter Awards, presented by City National Bank.

Along with a night full of moving performances, the event celebrated winners in the Song, Songwriter and Songwriter-Artist of the Year categories, among others, including the coveted “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” honors.

Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Joybeth Taylor earned Song of the Year for global smash hit “Choosin’ Texas” recorded by Langley. Blake Pendergrass was named Songwriter of the Year, and Riley Green took home Songwriter-Artist of the Year.

The evening also saw NSAI present the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award to country legend Vince Gill, while Paul Williams received the NSAI President’s Keystone Award.

The Legendary Song award—which honors a song that has achieved timeless status—went to Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” solo-penned by Don Schlitz.

The full list of winners for the ninth annual Nashville Songwriter Awards is below:

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Choosin’ Texas” Written by Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Joybeth Taylor

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Blake Pendergrass

SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Riley Green

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Given in recognition to a songwriter whose works have made a significant contribution to the American songbook and who has inspired the careers of others.
Vince Gill

NSAI PRESIDENT’S KEYSTONE AWARD
Given in recognition of significant contributions to the betterment of all songwriters, chosen by the current NSAI President.
Paul Williams

LEGENDARY SONG
“The Gambler” Written by Don Schlitz

“10 SONGS I WISH I’D WRITTEN” AWARDS
Each year, the highly-coveted ‘10 Songs I Wish I’d Written Awards’ are voted on by Professional Songwriter Members of NSAI honoring the work of their songwriter peers. Songs eligible for the award have at least one Nashville-based writer and charted in the Top 20 of Billboard Airplay chart in the Christian, Country, Mainstream Top 40, and/or Rock genres between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026. The NSAI Song Of The Year is the highest vote-getter.

“20 Cigarettes”
Written by: Chris LaCorte, Chase McGill, Josh Miller, Blake Pendergrass
(recorded by: Morgan Wallen)

“Bar None”
Written by: Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps, Lydia Vaughan
(recorded by: Jordan Davis)

“Backseat Driver”
Written by: Jacob Davis, Jordan Walker
(recorded by: Kane Brown)

“Be Her”
Written by: Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Ella Langley, Jordan Schmidt
(recorded by: Ella Langley)

“Country Song Came On”
Written by: Dan Alley, Ryan Beaver, Neil Medley
(recorded by: Luke Bryan)

“Don’t Mind If I Do”
Written by: Riley Green
(recorded by: Riley Green ft. Ella Langley)

“I’m The Problem”
Written by: Grady Block, Charlie Handsome, Jamie McLaughlin, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen
(recorded by: Morgan Wallen)

“Just In Case”
Written by: Alex Bak, John Byron, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Blake Pendergrass, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson, Morgan Wallen
(recorded by: Morgan Wallen)

“Somewhere Over Laredo”
Written by: Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
(recorded by: Lainey Wilson)

“The Fall”
Written by: Ray Fulcher, Bobby Pinson, Jeremy Stover
(recorded by: Cody Johnson)

“Weren’t For The Wind”
Written by: Johnny Clawson, Ella Langley, Joybeth Taylor
(recorded by: Ella Langley)

Madison Hahnen
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