The 2024 nominees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) have been announced. The new group will be among those honored at the 54th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Music City Center.
In the Contemporary Songwriters category, the nominees are Al Anderson, Shawn Camp, Desmond Child, Jim Collins, Gordon Kennedy, Frank J. Myers, Annie Roboff and Liz Rose. Those in the Contemporary Songwriter/Artists category are Steven Curtis Chapman, Brad Paisley, Phil Vassar and Lucinda Williams.
“We congratulate this year’s nominees in our contemporary categories. Their nominations are so well deserved,” says NaSHOF Executive Director Mark Ford. “We look forward in several weeks to announcing those who will be inducted this fall as members of our Class of 2024.”
A total of two songwriters and one artist-songwriter will be elected from the contemporary categories by members of the Hall of Fame along with other professional songwriters and artists from a variety of genres who are prominently identified with Nashville and who have written/co-written at least one original and significant Nashville song.
In addition, three more will be named to the Class of 2024. A separate body of veteran voters will elect a Veteran Songwriter, a Veteran Songwriter/Artist and a Legacy Songwriter/Artist (deceased), all of whom experienced their first significant songs at least 30 years ago. As part of that process, nominees in those categories are not announced.
For biographical information on the 2024 nominees, see below:
Category 1 – Contemporary Songwriters
AL ANDERSON
“Big Al” Anderson was born in Windsor, Connecticut. Raised by his piano teacher mother and a radio that would get WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia, late at night, he devoured all genres of music. He was a member of The Wildweeds in the late 1960s. From 1971 to 1993 he was lead guitarist in the Rock band NRBQ, also releasing several solo albums. He was recognized as one of the top 100 guitar players of the 20th Century by Musician magazine. In the 1990s, Al shifted his focus to country music. In 1993 Al celebrated his first major hit as Carlene Carter took their co-written “Every Little Thing” to No. 3 country. Among Al’s best-known songs are “Should’ve Asked Her Faster” by Ty England, “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” by The Mavericks w/ Flaco Jiménez, “Unbelievable” by Diamond Rio, “Powerful Thing” by Trisha Yearwood, “Big Deal” by LeAnn Rimes, “The Cowboy In Me” by Tim McGraw, “Trip Around The Sun” by Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride (also No. 1 Bluegrass in 2024 for Bronwyn Keith-Hynes w/ Dierks Bentley), “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” by George Strait, and “Loving You Easy” by The Zac Brown Band. Al was named 2000 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year.
SHAWN CAMP
Shawn Camp grew up on a farm outside of Perryville, Arkansas. Shawn picked up a guitar at age five and by age 20 had moved to Nashville, where he found work in the late ’80s as a fiddle player in backing bands for The Osborne Brothers, Jerry Reed, Alan Jackson and Trisha Yearwood. After charting a pair of self-penned singles in 1993 as a Warner Bros. recording artist, Shawn turned his attention to writing songs for other artists—earning his first No. 1 hits in 1998 with “Two Piña Coladas” by Garth Brooks and “How Long Gone” by Brooks & Dunn. In 2006, he had top 5 singles with “Nobody But Me” by Blake Shelton and “Would You Go With Me” by Josh Turner. Shawn also co-wrote Turner’s “Firecracker,” as well as “River Of Love” by George Strait and “Love Done Gone” by Billy Currington. Shawn’s songs have also been hits for Bluegrass artists such as Ricky Skaggs, The Lonesome River Band and Don Rigsby. Shawn’s “We Know Where He Is” by The Del McCoury Band was a 2007 Gospel Music Association (GMA) bluegrass song nominee and his “My Quiet Mind” by The Gibson Brothers was a 2018 Society For The Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) song nominee. Shawn’s “My Love Will Not Change” by Aubrie Sellers with Steve Earle was an Americana Music Association (AMA) song nominee in 2020.
DESMOND CHILD
Desmond Child was born in Gainesville, Florida, but grew up in Miami. By the mid-1970s his obsession with music led him to New York City, where early co-writes with Paul Stanley of KISS yielded 1979’s “I Was Made For Loving You.” By 1986, Desmond’s co-writes with Bon Jovi provided the band with two of their biggest hits—“You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Livin’ On A Prayer.” Desmond continued his ’80s rock/pop success with songs such as “Dude Looks Like A Lady” by Aerosmith and “I Hate Myself For Loving You” by Joan Jett (tweaked in 2013 to become the NBC Sunday Night Football theme). Moving to Nashville in the early ’90s, Desmond celebrated more hits, including “Crazy” by Aerosmith, “Where Your Road Leads” by Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks, “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely” by Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera and “Waking Up In Vegas” by Katy Perry. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin was named 2000 ASCAP Pop Song of the Year and Billboard’s 1999 Latin Pop Track of the Year. Desmond is a 2008 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York and a 2022 inductee into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.
JIM COLLINS
Jim Collins grew up on a dairy farm in Nacogdoches, Texas. Gifted his first guitar at age 10, he played his first professional gig at 12, later moving on to various rock bands throughout high school. In the 1980s Jim began playing country music and writing original songs. He played the Texas music scene until 1995, when he moved to Nashville. Within a few months he had a publishing deal and was an in-demand demo singer. His first cut came in 1997 and his first top 10 two years later. By 2000 Jim had his first No. 1 song with “Yes!” by Chad Brock. Jim’s particular success with Kenny Chesney has yielded hits such as “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven,” as well as “The Good Stuff,” which was named the 2002 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Single of the Year and the 2003 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Other hits written by Jim include “Then They Do” by Trace Adkins, “It Just Comes Natural” by George Strait, “Big Green Tractor” by Jason Aldean, “I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today” by Gretchen Wilson (a 2006 Grammy nominee for best country song), “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” by Thompson Square (a 2011 Grammy nominee for best country song) and “Damn Strait” by Scotty McCreery. Jim is a 2020 inductee into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame.
GORDON KENNEDY
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Gordon Kennedy moved with his family to Nashville at age one. He grew up spending time at recording sessions with his father, musician/producer Jerry Kennedy. Receiving a Fender Telecaster at age 15, Gordon played his first recording session and wrote his first song while in high school. In 1984 he joined the Christian rock band White Heart, writing five of their top 5 hits, including “Fly Eagle Fly” and “Eighth Wonder.” By the mid-90s, he was a co-writer on the international hit “Change The World” — first recorded in 1995 by Wynonna, then again by Eric Clapton for the 1996 film, Phenomenon. The song spent 13 weeks at No. 1 and earned the 1997 Grammy for Best Song (and also for Record of the Year). Among Gordon’s dozen-plus Garth Brooks cuts are “You Move Me,” “Love Will Always Win” (duet with Trisha Yearwood), “Lost In You” and “It Don’t Matter To The Sun” (the latter two by Brooks’ alter ego Chris Gaines). Gordon has Adult Contemporary singles by Bonnie Raitt (including the top 15 “I Can’t Help You Now,”), as well as bluegrass singles by Ricky Skaggs (“You Can’t Hurt Ham” and “Return To Sender,” a Grammy Gospel song nominee).
FRANK J. MYERS
Frank J. Myers grew up in Dayton, Ohio. His father taught him to play guitar, and by age 14, Frank had formed a band with his brother. After moving to Nashville in 1981, Frank was hired by Eddy Raven as a guitar player—later becoming Raven’s band leader and road manager. During that time, Frank co-wrote 10 top 10 singles for Raven, including “Bayou Boys,” “I Got Mexico” and “Sometimes A Lady.” In 1982, Frank’s “You And I” became a hit for Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle. Other hits from Frank’s catalog include “My Front Porch Looking In” by Lonestar, “Come In Out Of The Pain” by Doug Stone and “Once Upon A Lifetime” by Alabama. The John Michael Montgomery version of “I Swear” earned a slew of awards—1994 Grammy for Best Country Song, 1994 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Song and Single of the Year, 1994 Country Music Association (CMA) Single of the Year, 1994 NSAI Song of the Year, 1995 ASCAP Country Song of the Year—with the All 4 One version topping the Pop chart for 11 consecutive weeks. “I’m Already There” by Lonestar was the 2002 ASCAP Country Song of the Year and the 2002 BMI Country Song of the Year. “Tomorrow” by Chris Young was the 2011 SESAC Country Song of the Year.
ANNIE ROBOFF
Born in Greenburgh, New York, Annie Roboff began her music career writing songs for her bandmates in New York City a cappella group The Bondinis. When the group parted ways, Annie began writing/arranging sports themes for ABC. Soon she was creating music for TBS, CBS and ESPN (the original SportsCenter theme), as well as the Olympics and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Relocating to Los Angeles, Annie shifted her focus to writing songs. Following several pop and R&B cuts, she was signed to Almo/lrving Music in 1994. Later that year, after a writing trip to Nashville, she made the move to Music City and co-wrote her first hit, “Walking Away” by Diamond Rio. By 1998, Annie celebrated several more hits, including “Happy Girl” by Martina McBride, “There Goes My Baby” by Trisha Yearwood, “To Have You Back Again” by Patty Loveless and the multi-genre smash “This Kiss,” by Faith Hill which was honored as 1998 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Single of the Year, 1999 Country Music Association (CMA) Song of the Year and 1999 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Other hits from Annie’s pen include “That’s The Way” by Jo Dee Messina, “If I Fall You’re Going Down With Me” by the Dixie Chicks, “Unbroken” by Tim McGraw and the Faith Hill hits “If My Heart Had Wings” and “One.”
LIZ ROSE
Dallas-born Liz Rose was raised in Irving, Texas. A non-songwriter at that time, she moved with her songwriter husband to Nashville, where she found work as a songplugger. Encouraged by songwriters and other friends, Liz began writing songs at age 37, and by 2004 she had her first top 20 single, “Songs About Rain,” by Gary Allan. By mid-decade, Liz’s co-writes with newcomer Taylor Swift yielded her debut hits “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops On My Guitar,” which was named 2008 BMI Country Song of the Year. Their collaborations span nearly 20 cuts, including “You Belong With Me” (2010 BMI Country Song of the Year), “White Horse” (2010 Grammy for Best Country Song) and the 2022 Grammy-nominated “All Too Well (10-minute version from the short film).” Other hits from Liz’s catalog include “Cry Pretty” by Carrie Underwood and the 2019 Grammy-nominated “It All Comes Out In The Wash” by Miranda Lambert. “Crazy Girl” by Eli Young Band was named 2011 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Song of the Year. “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town earned the 2016 Grammy for Best Country Song, the 2015 Country Music Association (CMA) Song and Single of the Year, and the 2015 NSAI Song of the Year. Liz was the 2007 SESAC Country Songwriter of the Year. She is a 2018 inductee into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame and a 2023 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York.
Category 2 – Contemporary Songwriter/Artists
STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN
The most awarded artist in Christian music history, Steven Curtis Chapman grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, where he learned to play guitar at a young age by hanging out in his father’s music store. Following a brief college career as a pre-med student, Steven moved to Nashville to pursue music. The 1987 release of his debut album, First Hand, launched a flood of awards for his self-penned hits, including “His Eyes” (the Gospel Music Association’s (GMA) 1989 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “His Strength Is Perfect” (the GMA’s 1990 Inspirational Song of the Year), “The Great Adventure” (the GMA’s 1993 Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “Go There With You” (the GMA’s 1994 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “Heaven In The Real World” (the GMA’s 1995 pop/contemporary Song of the Year), “Let Us Pray” (the GMA’s 1998 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year) and “Dive” (the GMA’s 2000 pop/contemporary Song of the Year). Other award-winning songs from Steven’s catalogue include “I Can See The Hand Of God” by The Cathedrals (the GMA’s 1990 Southern Gospel Song Of The Year) and “Voice Of Truth” by Casting Crowns (the GMA’s 2005 Inspirational Song of the Year). One of the most-honored artists in the history of Christian music, Steven is a 10-time winner of the GMA’s Songwriter of the Year award (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2009), as well as NSAI’s 1999 Songwriter/Artist of the Year. A four-time BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year (2001, 2003, 2004, 2010), he is the first Christian music songwriter to receive the BMI Icon Award (2022). In 2023, “Don’t Lose Heart” became his 50th self-penned No. 1 single as an artist.
BRAD PAISLEY
Brad Paisley was born and raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He received his first guitar from his grandfather, who taught him to play at eight years old. At age 13, Brad wrote his first song, which he performed publicly, and which eventually led him to an eight-year stint performing on Wheeling’s Jamboree USA. After high-school graduation and two years at West Liberty State College, Brad was awarded a fully-paid ASCAP scholarship to Belmont University in Nashville where he majored in music business. A week after graduating from Belmont, Brad signed as a writer with EMI Music Publishing. Following cuts by David Kersh, David Ball and Tracy Byrd, Brad signed with Arista Nashville and soon began to record his own songs. As an artist, he has placed 33 self-penned top 20 songs on the Billboard charts, including 15 No. 1s and 14 more in the top 10. Among those compositions are “He Didn’t Have To Be,” “Alcohol,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Celebrity,” “Ticks,” “Letter To Me,” “Then,” “This Is Country Music,” “Water,” and his duet with Carrie Underwood “Remind Me.” A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Brad was ASCAP’s 2004 Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year. He was NSAI’s Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2002 and 2005.
PHIL VASSAR
Phil Vassar was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. During college, he began playing piano and singing in local clubs. Moving to Nashville, Phil found the going slow until 1997 when some of his initial songs were recorded by Blackhawk, Skip Ewing, and The Sons of the Desert. Then in 1998, Phil’s songs started gaining traction as singles for a variety of artists. During the next two years, he garnered six chart-topping hits from Collin Raye, Alan Jackson, Jo Dee Messina (including the #1 “Bye, Bye”) and Tim McGraw (including the No. 1 “My Next Thirty Years”). During that time, he was named NSAI’s 1998 Songwriter of the Year and ASCAP’s 1999 Country Songwriter of the Year. In late 1999, Phil signed a record deal with Arista Nashville. Released the following year, his debut album generated the self-penned hits “Carlene,” “Rose Bouquet,” “Six-Pack Summer,” “That’s When I Love You” and “Just Another Day In Paradise,” Phil’s first No. 1 as an artist. Propelled by that success, he was named ASCAP’s 2001 Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year. Other hits by Phil as an artist include “American Child,” “In A Real Love” and “Last Day Of My Life.” He was named NSAI’s 2006 Songwriter/Artist of the Year.
LUCINDA WILLIAMS
Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Lucinda Williams began writing songs at age six, playing guitar at age 12 and performing on stage at age 17. Dropping out of college to pursue music full-time, she played venues in Austin and Houston before moving to Jackson, MS, in 1978 to record her first album of cover songs. Her second album featured all original songs and her landmark self-titled third album produced three hits. The first, her breakout “Changed The Locks,” reached No. 16 rock in 1988 and would become a No. 20 rock hit for Tom Petty nearly a decade later. The second, “The Night’s Too Long,” became a No. 20 country hit for Patty Loveless in 1990. The third, “Passionate Kisses,” became a No. 4 country hit for Mary Chapin Carpenter and earned Lucinda the 1994 Grammy for Best Country Song. By 2001, she charted again as an artist with the No. 9 alternative hit “Essence.” She earned AMA nominations for her songs “Righteously” (2003), “Are You Alright?” (2007) and “East Side Of Town” (2015). She earned Grammy nominations for “Come On” (2007), “Kiss Like Your Kiss” (2010) and “Man Without A Soul” (2020). Lucinda was awarded the 2011 Americana Music Association (AMA) Lifetime Achievement Award (songwriting) and the 2022 BMI Troubadour Award. In 2021, she was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.
Canadian Country Music Association Reveals CCMA Award Nominees
/by John Nix ArledgePictured (clockwise): Jade Eagleson, MacKenzie Porter, Josh Ross and The Reklaws
The Canadian Country Music Association has revealed the nominees for the 2024 CCMA Awards, presented by TD.
The event will return to Edmonton for the first time in a decade, marking its eighth time in the city. Hosted by eight-time ACM and two-time CMA Award winner Thomas Rhett and two-time CCMA Award winner MacKenzie Porter, the ceremony will be broadcast live from Rogers Place on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Sporting six nominations each, Porter and Jade Eagleson lead the pack, with The Reklaws and Josh Ross close behind with five nominations apiece. Touting four nominations are High Valley, Owen Riegling and Dallas Smith.
CCMA’s Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year nominees include Hailey Benedict, Dax, Teigen Gayse, Matt Lang and Riegling. Also announced are the 2024 Fans’ Choice nominees, which include Dean Brody, Eagleson, High Valley, James Barker Band, Tyler Joe Miller, Steven Lee Olsen, Porter, The Reklaws, Ross and Smith.
Country Music Week 2024 kicks off in Edmonton on Wednesday, Sept. 11 with celebrations culminating with the 2024 CCMA Awards presented by TD featuring performances from Dasha, Brett Kissel, The Reklaws, Porter, Rhett and Smith, with more announcements to come.
Fans can vote for their favorite artist by casting their vote at ccmafanvote.com or by using the appropriate hashtag on X. Click here to see the list of nominees in the Musician, Radio and Industry categories.
2024 CCMA Awards Nominees:
Entertainer of the Year presented by Edmonton’s Best Hotels
Jade Eagleson
MacKenzie Porter
The Reklaws
Owen Riegling
Josh Ross
Ford F-150 Album of the Year
Complicated – Josh Ross
Dallas Smith – Dallas Smith
Do It Anyway – Jade Eagleson
Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart – MacKenzie Porter
Spillin’ My Truth – Tyler Joe Miller
Fans’ Choice
Dean Brody
Jade Eagleson
High Valley
James Barker Band
Tyler Joe Miller
Steven Lee Olsen
MacKenzie Porter
The Reklaws
Josh Ross
Dallas Smith
Female Artist of the Year
Lindsay Ell
Madeline Merlo
MacKenzie Porter
Tenille Townes
Alli Walker
Group or Duo of the Year
High Valley
Hunter Brothers
James Barker Band
The Reklaws
The Washboard Union
Musical Collaboration of the Year
Cowboy Boots (feat. Gord Bamford) – Chris Buck Band, Gord Bamford
Day After Day – Dallas Smith, Shawn Austin
Honky Tonkin’ About – The Reklaws, Drake Milligan
Take Me Backroad – Tim & The Glory Boys feat. High Valley
Two of Us – Brett Kissel, Cooper Alan
Male Artist of the Year
Dean Brody
Jade Eagleson
Owen Riegling
Josh Ross
Dallas Smith
Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year
Hailey Benedict
Dax
Teigen Gayse
Matt Lang
Owen Riegling
Alternative Country Album of the Year
12 to 6 Central – The Western Swing Authority
BOOTCUT – Bahamas
The Compass Project: West Album – Brett Kissel
Stand In The Joy – William Prince
A Way Through Time – JJ Shiplett
Single of the Year
Chasing Tornadoes – MacKenzie Porter
Meet Your Mama – James Barker Band
Outta Yours – Steven Lee Olsen
Rodeo Queen – Jade Eagleson
Trouble – Josh Ross
Songwriter(s) of the Year
Country Dance (Artist: Aaron Goodvin) – Aaron Goodvin, Catt Gravitt, Skip Black
Hey Mom I Made It (Artist: Sacha) – Sacha Visagie, Shawn Chambliss, Jake Saghi
Old Dirt Roads (Artist: Owen Riegling) – Owen Riegling
Rodeo Queen (Artist: Jade Eagleson) – Jade Eagleson, Daryl Scott
Whiskey In Colorado (Artist: Tony Stevens) – Tony Stevens, Dan Swinimer, Wes Mack, David Borys
Video of the Year
Chasing Tornadoes – MacKenzie Porter
Honky Tonkin’ About – The Reklaws, Drake Milligan
Take Me Backroad – Tim & The Glory Boys ft. High Valley
Trouble Is – The Prairie States
Two of Us – Brett Kissel & Cooper Alan
Third Annual Annapolis Songwriters Festival To Take Place In September
/by Liza AndersonThe Third Annual Annapolis Songwriters Festival is set to take place Sept. 12–15 in Annapolis, Maryland. Presented by Rams Head in partnership with BMI and Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, the four-day function will include ticketed performances and free showcases, inspired by its longstanding sister, the Key West Songwriters Festival.
The festival will kick off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12 at Rams Head Tavern with four hours of free live music on the patio, and continue in over 15 venues across downtown Annapolis until Sunday, Sept. 15.
Those slated for ticketed shows include Johnnyswim, Natalie Hemby, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Kimberly Perry, Abby Cone, Lee Brice and Will Jones, among others. Free showcases will be scattered along a walkable “songwriters trail,” highlighting local restaurants, shops and landmarks from Maryland Hall to downtown’s City Dock. Along with BMI talent, the festival will feature more than 40 Annapolis songwriters. The full free-show schedule will be released in early September.
Additionally, this year’s event will introduce songwriting workshops at Maryland Hall as well as a Bose Sound Experience. More details will be announced at a later date.
“We are thrilled to present this event for a third year in Annapolis. This festival has grown to be a highlight of the fall season, and one both locals and tourists look forward to,” says Kyle Muehlhauser, Annapolis Songwriters Festival Co-Owner. “There’s nowhere else in this region where festival attendees can experience the faces, names and stories behind the industry’s biggest hits.”
Tickets are available now. For more information, click here.
Brooke Eden Refreshes ‘SEC Nation’ Theme Song
/by Lorie HollabaughThe SEC Network has tapped Brooke Eden to refresh the theme song and opening sequence for SEC Nation, its weekly, traveling pre-game show.
The update comes as the SEC Network celebrates its 10th anniversary as well as a new era for the Southeastern Conference with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas. SEC Nation debuted in 2014 with a customized rendition of Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s “Take The Party” as its opening theme song. Randolph worked with network producers to develop an SEC-centric version of the song that complemented the show’s goal of bringing the sights and sounds of a SEC football tailgate to viewers every Saturday. A decade later, Eden has put her twist on the tune with a new sound and original lyrics to include the Sooners and Longhorns.
“It’s such a privilege to get the opportunity to put my mark on the SEC Nation theme song and opening sequence,” she says. “I’m so grateful for the chance to engage with fans and celebrate the passion of college football through a song that means so much to each of us. I grew up right here in the SEC, so these games make me feel at home even when I’m on the road.”
Viewers will hear the full revamped number the night before the first show of the 2024 season, when Eden releases it across all streaming and music platforms at midnight on Aug. 30. The theme song and opening tease will premiere at 9 a.m. CT on Aug. 31, when SEC Nation travels to Gainesville to see the Florida Gators take on the Miami Hurricanes.
‘CMT Giants: Alabama’ Set To Air In August
/by Liza AndersonCMT Giants: Alabama, the two-hour special celebrating the career and music of the famous country group, is set to air Thursday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. CT exclusively on CMT.
During the celebration, stars such as Blake Shelton, Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan, Riley Green and Sam Hunt pay tribute to Alabama by performing some their biggest hits.
Evander Holyfield, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Vince Gill and more appear both in-person and virtually to share personal stories and detail the band’s impact on music. The special will also include rare photos, performance footage and interviews from the vault as well as a new discussion with Alabama themselves reflecting on their storied career.
The show’s Executive Producers include CMT’s Margaret Comeaux and Taillight’s Tom Forrest, and its Executives in Charge of Production consist of Jackie Barba and Heather D. Graffagnino. Leslie Fram serves as Executive in Charge of Talent, with Suzanne Bender and Donna Duncan as Talent Producers.
Additionally, Alabama is currently on their “Roll On II North America Tour,” which stops in Nashville tomorrow (July 19) with special guests Gary Allan and comedian Dusty Slay.
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Harper Grace & Kelsey Hart Impress With New Duet
/by Robert K OermannWe’ve got big country stars on tap today, but the listening session shows that the most innovative sounds are coming from the upstarts.
Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett are batting a thousand with their new releases. But Dasha, Kashus Culpepper, Kassi Ashton and Charley Crockett might have the most ear-catching new releases.
I’m a sucker for a great country duet, and we have one here. It’s “Freedom” by Curb’s Harper Grace and Kelsey Hart, and it wins the Disc of the Day.
The DisCovery awardee also sounds fresh and novel. It’s a cowboy named Mike Schikora. Lend him your ears.
HARPER GRACE & KELSEY HART / “Freedom”
Writers: Kelsea Ballerini/Justin Ebach/Charles Kelley; Producers: Cameron Jaymes, Ben West; Label: Curb
– They’ve broken up, but are far from over one another. Both singers sound simply splendid on this ultra-tuneful, ultra-rhythmic, pulsating rush of sound. The luscious harmonies and soaring melody alternate with conversational bits that catch your ear. I would love to hear this in my car on the radio. A lot.
THOMAS RHETT / “Overdrive”
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Jacob Kasher Hindlin/John Ryan/Julian Bunetta; Producers: Dan Huff, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan; Label: Valory
– The wooshing breeze of summer romance wafts through this bopping ride in the back of a pickup truck. Rhett’s effortless vocal exudes mellow confidence while the country-pop track thumps and crashes around him. Audio excellence.
KASHUS CULPEPPER / “Who Hurt You”
Writers: Kashus Culpepper/Mark Addison Chandler; Producer: Brian Elmquist; Label: Big Loud
– Armed with just his guitar and an extraordinary voice, this guy completely touches your heart. His lyric about an emotionally wounded guy whose parents divorced, whose lover left him and whose government sent his friends to war aches with honesty and believability. This guy is among the most traditionally “country” of the more than two dozen Black country artists now emerging. He shares that status with Dalton Dover, Scoot Teasley, Chapel Hart, Julie Williams, Aaron Vance and only a handful of others.
GRETCHEN WILSON / “Little Miss Runner Up”
Writers: Gretchen Wilson/Rivers Rutherford/George Teren; Producer: Gretchen Wilson; Label: Redneck Records
– A trashy hussy is on the loose and she’s after your man, so look out. Wilson is singing with as much moxie as ever, but I don’t like the muddy, messy, cluttered way this is mixed.
GRAHAM BARHAM / “Shoot the Lock”
Writers: Graham Barham/John Pierce/Lindsay Rimes/Michael Whitworth; Producers: none listed; Label: Sony
– Who thought it was a good idea to put this hillbilly vocal with hip-hop beats? Irritating to my ears.
JASON ALDEAN / “Whiskey Drink”
Writers: John Edwards/John Morgan/Kurt Allison/Tully Kennedy; Producer: Michael Knox; Label: BBR/BMG
– A broken hearted man begs “Jack,” his whiskey drink, to blot out his thoughts and memories about her. Very well written: Roaring desperation and barroom misery have never sounded better.
KASSI ASHTON / “Son of a Gun”
Writers: Kassi Ashton/Jason Nix/Driver Williams; Producers: Luke Laird, Kassi Ashton; Label: MCA Nashville/Interscope
– Rollicking country rock with a charming tomboy lyric. This gal has always had the goods, vocally. Now she’s found a sound that suits her pipes.
MIRANDA LAMBERT / “Ain’t In Kansas Anymore”
Writers: Miranda Lambert/Jesse Frasure/Jenee Fleenor; Producers: Jesse Frasure; Label: Atlantic
– This crunchy, dynamite blast plays under the end scene of the new cinema thrill ride Twisters. Love the whirling production as well as her feisty vocal. This much-awarded woman still rules my heart.
CHARLEY CROCKETT / “America”
Writers: Billy Horton/Charley Crockett; Producers: Billy Horton, Charley Crockett; Label: Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers
– Crockett has been hitting the road with superhuman energy for years, as well as recording more prolifically than any other country act. He issues his 14th album in less than a decade this month. Meanwhile, we have this excellent, bluesy, horn-embellished meditation on his home. The lyric waits patiently for America to make good on her promises while the singer traverses the land. Also: His cover of “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky” is on the Twisters soundtrack. Crockett’s two Ryman shows next weekend (July 26 and July 27) are both sold out.
MIKE SCHIKORA / “Last Rose of Summer”
Writers: Mike Schikora/Rory Payne; Producers: Michael Bonagura, Kathie Baillie; Label: MS
– Vocal harmonies by Baillie & The Boys and wafting harmonica accents embellish this gentle waltz. It’s a sweet, simple, touching marriage proposal that is very emotionally affecting. Also check out Schikora’s light yodeling on his equally nice track “Back Under Montana Skies.”
T. GRAHAM BROWN & ZACH WILLIAMS / “When a Man Loves a Woman”
Writers: Calvin Lewis/Andrew Wright; Producers: T. Graham Brown, Cole Johnstone, Billy Lawson; Label: Warner/ADA
– Brown’s upcoming album is titled From Memphis to Muscle Shoals. It features collaborations with Wynonna, Dwight Yoakam, Randy Houser, Delbert McClinton and previously-reviewed Tanya Tucker (”Dark End of the Street”), as well as a cluster of soul stars. This new Opry member is always worth listening to. Here, he swaps lines effectively with CCM star Zach Williams on a 1966 Percy Sledge classic, previously brought to the country hit parade by John Wesley Ryles in the 1970s and by Narvel Felts in the 1980s.
DASHA / “Didn’t I”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Emily Weisband/Anna Dasha Novotny; Producer: Ben Johnson; Label: Warner
– Against her better intentions, she’s back with the lousy guy she already dumped. Written with wit. Produced with merry banjo plunking and thumpy dance beats. Very clever pop country. Her dance moves in the video are ace, too. The irresistibly catchy “Austin” remains the single, and its video has her out on the dancefloor as well. I have a hunch she’s big fun in concert.
Charley Crockett Unveils ‘$10 Cowboy Chapter II: Visions Of Dallas’ Out July 22
/by John Nix ArledgeJust three short months after releasing $10 Cowboy, neo-traditional country artist Charley Crockett will drop his second album of 2024 titled $10 Cowboy Chapter II: Visions of Dallas on July 22 via Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers.
The album will function as a companion piece to $10 Cowboy and feature 10 new songs and two favorites “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “How Low Can You Go.” Along with this, Crockett will drop a cover of “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky” on the Twisters soundtrack, releasing tomorrow (July 19) via Atlantic records.
“We recorded the songs during the same sessions as $10 Cowboy down at Arlyn Studios in Austin,” explains Crockett. “Could have released a double record. But then Taylor Grace wrote ‘Visions of Dallas’ in a hotel room overlooking that city. She thought about my relationship to Dallas and the great state of Texas in general, and suggested we do a second album where all the songs tie back to Dallas and Texas. The result is ‘Visions of Dallas.'”
“For a truly independent artist like myself, there are no rules anymore,” Crockett continues. “Why release ‘Visions of Dallas’ now? To indulge myself in artistic freedom. The days of 18-to-24-month release cycles have gone the way of the dinosaur. I’ll have my 14th studio album out next week, and every single one has been released how and when I wanted them to. I see no reason to change now.”
Along with $10 Cowboy’s impressive No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, Crockett will continue his banner year headlining “The $10 Cowboy Tour” at venues such as Red Rocks, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, the Salt Shed in Chicago, the new Brooklyn Paramount and the Ryman Auditorium.
Industry Ink: Jesse Atwell, Cody Johnson, Eric Church, More
/by Lorie HollabaughJesse Atwell Launches Atwell Management
Jesse Atwell
Jesse Atwell has launched Atwell Management, a new artist management firm. Prior to launching his new company, he held positions at Sony Music Entertainment, Triple 8 Management and Razor & Tie Records. Most recently, he was CMO at SongVest.
“I look forward to serving talented artists who seek to make change and challenge the status quo,” says Atwell. “It’s more important than ever—in this rapidly changing landscape—to utilize all available tools, strategies, and resources to break new artists and grow existing careers. Atwell Management is committed to using data and cutting-edge marketing strategies to serve artists in new and engaging ways to help them grow their overall businesses.”
Atwell can be reached at jesse@atwellmgmt.com.
Cody Johnson Performs National Anthem at 2024 MLB All-Star Game
Cody Johnson Performed National Anthem at MLB All-Star Game on July 17 at Globe Life Field. Photo: Jay Trevino
Cody Johnson performed the National Anthem at the 2024 MLB All-Star game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas last night (July 17).
He will return to the home of the Texas Rangers when he brings his “Leather Tour” to the stadium on Nov. 9. Jon Pardi joins the date as special guest.
Eric Church’s SiriusXM Outsiders Radio Makes Its IndyCar Debut
Eric Church with the No. 60 Honda Indy Car of Meyer Shank Racing. Photo: Meyer Shank Racing
Eric Church was at the Indy Car races in Iowa Speedway last weekend, where he checked 0ut the No. 60 Honda Indy Car of Meyer Shank Racing, which bore the logo of his SiriusXM channel, Outsiders Radio.
SiriusXM’s Outsiders Radio channel is curated by Church himself, and is a journey through his musical experiences and showcases music from his career, including his vast catalog of nearly two decades. Prior to having his own SiriusXM channel, Church hosted an exclusive monthly show, Outsiders Radio, that launched in 2015 on SiriusXM’s The Highway.
Chris Janson Closes Out Hodag Country Festival
Chris Janson performs at the Hodag Country Festival
Chris Janson recently closed out the Hodag Country Festival, where the fans were in high spirits chanting along to every word of his multi-Platinum hit “Buy Me A Boat.” While finishing his set, he invited all side-stage and VIP attendees to join him on stage to join in the fun.
“Country music is for the fans, and I have the best fans! This is real America,” said Janson. “This is real country music. The energy all around me felt so united and wonderful I just decided to have them all on stage.”
Avery Anna Hosts Immersive Breakup Over Breakfast Event
Avery Anna with fans
Avery Anna hosted a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience on Tuesday (July 16) that gave attendees a peek inside the world of her forthcoming debut album, Breakup Over Breakfast, out this Friday (July 19).
The all-day event at FlyghtHouse in Nashville welcomed industry partners and influencers on a self-guided, open-house walk-through exploring each uniquely themed floor: Sweet, Sour & SAVERY. Anna also invited a select number of lucky fans to attend an exclusive “AntipiTEAparty” at day’s end, featuring a first-listen of her album from start to finish.
BMI’s ‘Rooftop On The Row’ Series Features Ella Langley & Redferrin
/by Lorie HollabaughElla Langley performing at BMI’s “Rooftop On The Row” series event. Photo: Erika Rock for BMI
BMI hosted its third “Rooftop On The Row” event of the year, featuring Ella Langley and Redferrin, on Tuesday night (July 16) for a packed house of industry professionals.
Redferrin performing at BMI’s “Rooftop On The Row” series event. Photo: Erika Rock for BMI
Langley kicked off the evening with “Paint the Town Blue,” followed by two unreleased tracks “Better Be Tough” and “Cowgirl Don’t Cry” from her debut album, Hungover, out Aug. 2. Langley surprised the crowd by welcoming Kameron Marlowe onstage for their current single “Strangers,” and treated everyone to a solo rendition of her viral hit with Riley Green, “You Look Like You Love Me.”
DJ Smoke kept the energy high between each set, and BMI’s Mason Hunter served as emcee. Free food and beverages were provided by the evening’s sponsors Delta Air Lines, Gallagher Insurance, ONErpm, Red Bull Jukebox, Texas Roadhouse, Topo Chico, White Claw and Yeti.
Redferrin closed out the night with a blend of traditional country and modern influences. The Tennessee native performed tracks from his debut EP, Old No.7, such as “Lose Her For Nothin,'” “Champagne In The Morning” and “Just Like Johnny,” which has already garnered 30 million streams. He also teased a string of unreleased songs, including “As Long As There’s A Bar.”
Presented by George Dickel, the “Rooftop On The Row” series returns on Aug. 13 with Josh Ross and Lauren Watkins. The final event on Sept. 17 will officially kick off AmericanaFest. Those set to perform will be announced in the coming weeks.
Pictured (L–R): BMI’s Claire Dodelin, Josh Tomlinson, Leslie Roberts, Clay Bradley, Ella Langley, Redferrin, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Mason Hunter and Nina Carter. Photo: Erika Rock for BMI
JUST IN: 2024 Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Nominees Revealed
/by LB CantrellThe 2024 nominees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) have been announced. The new group will be among those honored at the 54th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Music City Center.
In the Contemporary Songwriters category, the nominees are Al Anderson, Shawn Camp, Desmond Child, Jim Collins, Gordon Kennedy, Frank J. Myers, Annie Roboff and Liz Rose. Those in the Contemporary Songwriter/Artists category are Steven Curtis Chapman, Brad Paisley, Phil Vassar and Lucinda Williams.
“We congratulate this year’s nominees in our contemporary categories. Their nominations are so well deserved,” says NaSHOF Executive Director Mark Ford. “We look forward in several weeks to announcing those who will be inducted this fall as members of our Class of 2024.”
A total of two songwriters and one artist-songwriter will be elected from the contemporary categories by members of the Hall of Fame along with other professional songwriters and artists from a variety of genres who are prominently identified with Nashville and who have written/co-written at least one original and significant Nashville song.
In addition, three more will be named to the Class of 2024. A separate body of veteran voters will elect a Veteran Songwriter, a Veteran Songwriter/Artist and a Legacy Songwriter/Artist (deceased), all of whom experienced their first significant songs at least 30 years ago. As part of that process, nominees in those categories are not announced.
For biographical information on the 2024 nominees, see below:
Category 1 – Contemporary Songwriters
AL ANDERSON
“Big Al” Anderson was born in Windsor, Connecticut. Raised by his piano teacher mother and a radio that would get WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia, late at night, he devoured all genres of music. He was a member of The Wildweeds in the late 1960s. From 1971 to 1993 he was lead guitarist in the Rock band NRBQ, also releasing several solo albums. He was recognized as one of the top 100 guitar players of the 20th Century by Musician magazine. In the 1990s, Al shifted his focus to country music. In 1993 Al celebrated his first major hit as Carlene Carter took their co-written “Every Little Thing” to No. 3 country. Among Al’s best-known songs are “Should’ve Asked Her Faster” by Ty England, “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” by The Mavericks w/ Flaco Jiménez, “Unbelievable” by Diamond Rio, “Powerful Thing” by Trisha Yearwood, “Big Deal” by LeAnn Rimes, “The Cowboy In Me” by Tim McGraw, “Trip Around The Sun” by Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride (also No. 1 Bluegrass in 2024 for Bronwyn Keith-Hynes w/ Dierks Bentley), “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” by George Strait, and “Loving You Easy” by The Zac Brown Band. Al was named 2000 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year.
SHAWN CAMP
Shawn Camp grew up on a farm outside of Perryville, Arkansas. Shawn picked up a guitar at age five and by age 20 had moved to Nashville, where he found work in the late ’80s as a fiddle player in backing bands for The Osborne Brothers, Jerry Reed, Alan Jackson and Trisha Yearwood. After charting a pair of self-penned singles in 1993 as a Warner Bros. recording artist, Shawn turned his attention to writing songs for other artists—earning his first No. 1 hits in 1998 with “Two Piña Coladas” by Garth Brooks and “How Long Gone” by Brooks & Dunn. In 2006, he had top 5 singles with “Nobody But Me” by Blake Shelton and “Would You Go With Me” by Josh Turner. Shawn also co-wrote Turner’s “Firecracker,” as well as “River Of Love” by George Strait and “Love Done Gone” by Billy Currington. Shawn’s songs have also been hits for Bluegrass artists such as Ricky Skaggs, The Lonesome River Band and Don Rigsby. Shawn’s “We Know Where He Is” by The Del McCoury Band was a 2007 Gospel Music Association (GMA) bluegrass song nominee and his “My Quiet Mind” by The Gibson Brothers was a 2018 Society For The Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) song nominee. Shawn’s “My Love Will Not Change” by Aubrie Sellers with Steve Earle was an Americana Music Association (AMA) song nominee in 2020.
DESMOND CHILD
Desmond Child was born in Gainesville, Florida, but grew up in Miami. By the mid-1970s his obsession with music led him to New York City, where early co-writes with Paul Stanley of KISS yielded 1979’s “I Was Made For Loving You.” By 1986, Desmond’s co-writes with Bon Jovi provided the band with two of their biggest hits—“You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Livin’ On A Prayer.” Desmond continued his ’80s rock/pop success with songs such as “Dude Looks Like A Lady” by Aerosmith and “I Hate Myself For Loving You” by Joan Jett (tweaked in 2013 to become the NBC Sunday Night Football theme). Moving to Nashville in the early ’90s, Desmond celebrated more hits, including “Crazy” by Aerosmith, “Where Your Road Leads” by Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks, “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely” by Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera and “Waking Up In Vegas” by Katy Perry. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin was named 2000 ASCAP Pop Song of the Year and Billboard’s 1999 Latin Pop Track of the Year. Desmond is a 2008 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York and a 2022 inductee into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.
JIM COLLINS
Jim Collins grew up on a dairy farm in Nacogdoches, Texas. Gifted his first guitar at age 10, he played his first professional gig at 12, later moving on to various rock bands throughout high school. In the 1980s Jim began playing country music and writing original songs. He played the Texas music scene until 1995, when he moved to Nashville. Within a few months he had a publishing deal and was an in-demand demo singer. His first cut came in 1997 and his first top 10 two years later. By 2000 Jim had his first No. 1 song with “Yes!” by Chad Brock. Jim’s particular success with Kenny Chesney has yielded hits such as “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven,” as well as “The Good Stuff,” which was named the 2002 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Single of the Year and the 2003 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Other hits written by Jim include “Then They Do” by Trace Adkins, “It Just Comes Natural” by George Strait, “Big Green Tractor” by Jason Aldean, “I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today” by Gretchen Wilson (a 2006 Grammy nominee for best country song), “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” by Thompson Square (a 2011 Grammy nominee for best country song) and “Damn Strait” by Scotty McCreery. Jim is a 2020 inductee into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame.
GORDON KENNEDY
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Gordon Kennedy moved with his family to Nashville at age one. He grew up spending time at recording sessions with his father, musician/producer Jerry Kennedy. Receiving a Fender Telecaster at age 15, Gordon played his first recording session and wrote his first song while in high school. In 1984 he joined the Christian rock band White Heart, writing five of their top 5 hits, including “Fly Eagle Fly” and “Eighth Wonder.” By the mid-90s, he was a co-writer on the international hit “Change The World” — first recorded in 1995 by Wynonna, then again by Eric Clapton for the 1996 film, Phenomenon. The song spent 13 weeks at No. 1 and earned the 1997 Grammy for Best Song (and also for Record of the Year). Among Gordon’s dozen-plus Garth Brooks cuts are “You Move Me,” “Love Will Always Win” (duet with Trisha Yearwood), “Lost In You” and “It Don’t Matter To The Sun” (the latter two by Brooks’ alter ego Chris Gaines). Gordon has Adult Contemporary singles by Bonnie Raitt (including the top 15 “I Can’t Help You Now,”), as well as bluegrass singles by Ricky Skaggs (“You Can’t Hurt Ham” and “Return To Sender,” a Grammy Gospel song nominee).
FRANK J. MYERS
Frank J. Myers grew up in Dayton, Ohio. His father taught him to play guitar, and by age 14, Frank had formed a band with his brother. After moving to Nashville in 1981, Frank was hired by Eddy Raven as a guitar player—later becoming Raven’s band leader and road manager. During that time, Frank co-wrote 10 top 10 singles for Raven, including “Bayou Boys,” “I Got Mexico” and “Sometimes A Lady.” In 1982, Frank’s “You And I” became a hit for Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle. Other hits from Frank’s catalog include “My Front Porch Looking In” by Lonestar, “Come In Out Of The Pain” by Doug Stone and “Once Upon A Lifetime” by Alabama. The John Michael Montgomery version of “I Swear” earned a slew of awards—1994 Grammy for Best Country Song, 1994 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Song and Single of the Year, 1994 Country Music Association (CMA) Single of the Year, 1994 NSAI Song of the Year, 1995 ASCAP Country Song of the Year—with the All 4 One version topping the Pop chart for 11 consecutive weeks. “I’m Already There” by Lonestar was the 2002 ASCAP Country Song of the Year and the 2002 BMI Country Song of the Year. “Tomorrow” by Chris Young was the 2011 SESAC Country Song of the Year.
ANNIE ROBOFF
Born in Greenburgh, New York, Annie Roboff began her music career writing songs for her bandmates in New York City a cappella group The Bondinis. When the group parted ways, Annie began writing/arranging sports themes for ABC. Soon she was creating music for TBS, CBS and ESPN (the original SportsCenter theme), as well as the Olympics and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Relocating to Los Angeles, Annie shifted her focus to writing songs. Following several pop and R&B cuts, she was signed to Almo/lrving Music in 1994. Later that year, after a writing trip to Nashville, she made the move to Music City and co-wrote her first hit, “Walking Away” by Diamond Rio. By 1998, Annie celebrated several more hits, including “Happy Girl” by Martina McBride, “There Goes My Baby” by Trisha Yearwood, “To Have You Back Again” by Patty Loveless and the multi-genre smash “This Kiss,” by Faith Hill which was honored as 1998 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Single of the Year, 1999 Country Music Association (CMA) Song of the Year and 1999 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Other hits from Annie’s pen include “That’s The Way” by Jo Dee Messina, “If I Fall You’re Going Down With Me” by the Dixie Chicks, “Unbroken” by Tim McGraw and the Faith Hill hits “If My Heart Had Wings” and “One.”
LIZ ROSE
Dallas-born Liz Rose was raised in Irving, Texas. A non-songwriter at that time, she moved with her songwriter husband to Nashville, where she found work as a songplugger. Encouraged by songwriters and other friends, Liz began writing songs at age 37, and by 2004 she had her first top 20 single, “Songs About Rain,” by Gary Allan. By mid-decade, Liz’s co-writes with newcomer Taylor Swift yielded her debut hits “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops On My Guitar,” which was named 2008 BMI Country Song of the Year. Their collaborations span nearly 20 cuts, including “You Belong With Me” (2010 BMI Country Song of the Year), “White Horse” (2010 Grammy for Best Country Song) and the 2022 Grammy-nominated “All Too Well (10-minute version from the short film).” Other hits from Liz’s catalog include “Cry Pretty” by Carrie Underwood and the 2019 Grammy-nominated “It All Comes Out In The Wash” by Miranda Lambert. “Crazy Girl” by Eli Young Band was named 2011 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Song of the Year. “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town earned the 2016 Grammy for Best Country Song, the 2015 Country Music Association (CMA) Song and Single of the Year, and the 2015 NSAI Song of the Year. Liz was the 2007 SESAC Country Songwriter of the Year. She is a 2018 inductee into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame and a 2023 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York.
Category 2 – Contemporary Songwriter/Artists
STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN
The most awarded artist in Christian music history, Steven Curtis Chapman grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, where he learned to play guitar at a young age by hanging out in his father’s music store. Following a brief college career as a pre-med student, Steven moved to Nashville to pursue music. The 1987 release of his debut album, First Hand, launched a flood of awards for his self-penned hits, including “His Eyes” (the Gospel Music Association’s (GMA) 1989 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “His Strength Is Perfect” (the GMA’s 1990 Inspirational Song of the Year), “The Great Adventure” (the GMA’s 1993 Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “Go There With You” (the GMA’s 1994 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year), “Heaven In The Real World” (the GMA’s 1995 pop/contemporary Song of the Year), “Let Us Pray” (the GMA’s 1998 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year) and “Dive” (the GMA’s 2000 pop/contemporary Song of the Year). Other award-winning songs from Steven’s catalogue include “I Can See The Hand Of God” by The Cathedrals (the GMA’s 1990 Southern Gospel Song Of The Year) and “Voice Of Truth” by Casting Crowns (the GMA’s 2005 Inspirational Song of the Year). One of the most-honored artists in the history of Christian music, Steven is a 10-time winner of the GMA’s Songwriter of the Year award (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2009), as well as NSAI’s 1999 Songwriter/Artist of the Year. A four-time BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year (2001, 2003, 2004, 2010), he is the first Christian music songwriter to receive the BMI Icon Award (2022). In 2023, “Don’t Lose Heart” became his 50th self-penned No. 1 single as an artist.
BRAD PAISLEY
Brad Paisley was born and raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He received his first guitar from his grandfather, who taught him to play at eight years old. At age 13, Brad wrote his first song, which he performed publicly, and which eventually led him to an eight-year stint performing on Wheeling’s Jamboree USA. After high-school graduation and two years at West Liberty State College, Brad was awarded a fully-paid ASCAP scholarship to Belmont University in Nashville where he majored in music business. A week after graduating from Belmont, Brad signed as a writer with EMI Music Publishing. Following cuts by David Kersh, David Ball and Tracy Byrd, Brad signed with Arista Nashville and soon began to record his own songs. As an artist, he has placed 33 self-penned top 20 songs on the Billboard charts, including 15 No. 1s and 14 more in the top 10. Among those compositions are “He Didn’t Have To Be,” “Alcohol,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Celebrity,” “Ticks,” “Letter To Me,” “Then,” “This Is Country Music,” “Water,” and his duet with Carrie Underwood “Remind Me.” A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Brad was ASCAP’s 2004 Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year. He was NSAI’s Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2002 and 2005.
PHIL VASSAR
Phil Vassar was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. During college, he began playing piano and singing in local clubs. Moving to Nashville, Phil found the going slow until 1997 when some of his initial songs were recorded by Blackhawk, Skip Ewing, and The Sons of the Desert. Then in 1998, Phil’s songs started gaining traction as singles for a variety of artists. During the next two years, he garnered six chart-topping hits from Collin Raye, Alan Jackson, Jo Dee Messina (including the #1 “Bye, Bye”) and Tim McGraw (including the No. 1 “My Next Thirty Years”). During that time, he was named NSAI’s 1998 Songwriter of the Year and ASCAP’s 1999 Country Songwriter of the Year. In late 1999, Phil signed a record deal with Arista Nashville. Released the following year, his debut album generated the self-penned hits “Carlene,” “Rose Bouquet,” “Six-Pack Summer,” “That’s When I Love You” and “Just Another Day In Paradise,” Phil’s first No. 1 as an artist. Propelled by that success, he was named ASCAP’s 2001 Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year. Other hits by Phil as an artist include “American Child,” “In A Real Love” and “Last Day Of My Life.” He was named NSAI’s 2006 Songwriter/Artist of the Year.
LUCINDA WILLIAMS
Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Lucinda Williams began writing songs at age six, playing guitar at age 12 and performing on stage at age 17. Dropping out of college to pursue music full-time, she played venues in Austin and Houston before moving to Jackson, MS, in 1978 to record her first album of cover songs. Her second album featured all original songs and her landmark self-titled third album produced three hits. The first, her breakout “Changed The Locks,” reached No. 16 rock in 1988 and would become a No. 20 rock hit for Tom Petty nearly a decade later. The second, “The Night’s Too Long,” became a No. 20 country hit for Patty Loveless in 1990. The third, “Passionate Kisses,” became a No. 4 country hit for Mary Chapin Carpenter and earned Lucinda the 1994 Grammy for Best Country Song. By 2001, she charted again as an artist with the No. 9 alternative hit “Essence.” She earned AMA nominations for her songs “Righteously” (2003), “Are You Alright?” (2007) and “East Side Of Town” (2015). She earned Grammy nominations for “Come On” (2007), “Kiss Like Your Kiss” (2010) and “Man Without A Soul” (2020). Lucinda was awarded the 2011 Americana Music Association (AMA) Lifetime Achievement Award (songwriting) and the 2022 BMI Troubadour Award. In 2021, she was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.
UMPG Nashville Signs Solon Holt
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L–R): UMPG Nashville’s Roxy King, Solon Holt and UMPG Nashville’s Troy Tomlinson. Photo: Courtesy of UMPG Nashville
UMPG Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Solon Holt to an exclusive global publishing agreement.
The 20-year-old got his start in the Piney Woods of Texas. As the youngest in a family with a rich musical heritage, Holt was exposed to various genres, including classical, blues, jazz, folk, pop, country and bluegrass. However, it was the time he spent as a teen playing gospel music in an all-Black church each Sunday that helped him to curate his sound.
“Solon exemplifies wisdom beyond his years in every aspect. His songwriting and musical prowess are a true reflection of his upbringing and have an authenticity that cannot be taught,” says Roxy King, Senior Director, A&R, UMPG Nashville. “Solon has an amazing journey ahead of him, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.”
“I would like to thank UMPG for their vision and belief in me,” adds Holt. “I am truly honored to be a part of such a writer-focused team. It means everything to me.”