Pictured (L-R): Jenny Hall, Creative Director, Given Music Publishing; Reba; Michael Hollandsworth, VP/GM, Given Music Publishing; Cindy Owen, Given Founding Partner.

Reba McEntire has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Given Music Publishing,

McEntire’s professional relationship and friendship with Given Music founding partner Cindy Owen dates back to the early ’80s, when McEntire gave her a start in the music industry when Owen was in her teens. Owen later became McEntire’s VP of Creative Services, a position she held for 15 years before launching her own entertainment company in 2002 and then Given Entertainment with business partner Jim Kacmarcik in 2013.

“Signing Reba to Given is for sure a full circle moment for me,” Owen says. “One of my greatest blessings is having had a front row seat for all these years to watch her blaze new trails and become the icon she is. Her work ethic, talent and determination are unmatched and examples to us all. Reba has always made evident her lifelong passion for songs, songwriters and the songwriting community. We at Given look forward to being a part of her team as she continues to expand new horizons in entertainment and create opportunities for herself and other songwriters.”

“It has been said that it all begins with a song. For me, it starts with the songwriter,” McEntire says. “From their very talented and creative imaginations, they create something that can make you laugh, lift your mood, get you two-stepping or break your heart. What they write affects people in a way that few things can. Joining the Given team is something that excites me in a number of ways; first and foremost that I again get to work with my longtime friend and colleague Cindy Owen. I have great respect for the rest of the creative team, as well as the incredibly talented roster of songwriters who are part of the Given family. As I continue to explore new creative avenues, this is the perfect home for me as a writer.”

The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame has revealed its 12 nominees, in two categories.

In the Songwriter/Artist category are Ronnie Dunn, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Eddy Raven.

In the Songwriter category are Skip Ewing, Byron Hill, Ed Hill, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Kerry Kurt Phillips, Bob Regan, Jim Rushing and Steve Seskin.

Inductees will be announced in August.

Ewing has penned 11 No. 1 singles and has earned CMA Triple Play Awards and been named BMI Writer of the Year. He has had more than 250 album cuts, with hits including “You Had Me From Hello” (Kenny Chesney), “Love, Me” (Collin Raye), “Something That We Do” (Clint Black), and “I Believe” (Diamond Rio).

Since moving to Nashville and signing his first publishing deal in 1978, Hill’s songs have generated more than 700 recordings, and have been released on ninety-one industry certified Gold and Platinum albums and singles. His song include “Fool Hearted Memory” (George Strait), “Pickin’ Up Strangers” (Johnny Lee), “Politics, Religion, And Her” (Sammy Kershaw), “Nothing On But The Radio” (Gary Allan), “Born Country” (Alabama), “High-Tech Redneck” (George Jones), “Alright Already” (Larry Stewart), “If I Was A Drinkin’ Man” (Neal McCoy), “Size Matters” (Joe Nichols), “Nights” (Ed Bruce), “The Strong One” (Mila Mason), and “Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous” (Tracy Byrd), among others.

Hill has penned hits including “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” (Tracy Lawrence), “Just Fishin'” (Trace Adkins), “Georgia Rain” (Trisha Yearwood), “It Matters To Me” (Faith Hill), “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter” (Reba McEntire), “Be My Baby Tonight” (John Michael Montgomery), “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls” (George Strait), “Whatever You Say” (Martina McBride) and more. He also co-wrote “Most People Are Good,” recorded by Luke Bryan and earning a MusicRow Award for 2018 Song of the Year.

Kirkpatrick is known for his writing credits on Eric Clapton’s “Change The World,” Little Big Town’s “Boondocks” and “Bring It On Home,” Garth Brooks’ “Wrapped Up In You,” as well as numerous cuts for Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and numerous CCM artists.

Phillips is known for the hits “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair” and “Where The Tall Grass Grows” (George Jones), “Is It Cold In Here,” “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox,” “In My Own Backyard,” and “Pickup Man” (all recorded by Joe Diffie), “Down on The Farm” and “Maybe We Should Just Sleep On It” (both recorded by Tim McGraw), “Almost Home” (Craig Morgan), “It’s All The Same To Me” (Billy Ray Cyrus), “She Let Herself Go” (George Strait) and more.

Regan moved to Nashville in 1985 and has had more than 200 songs recorded, including “Dig Two Graves” (Randy Travis), “Busy Man” (Billy Ray Cyrus), “Your Everything” (Keith Urban) “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You” (Trisha Yearwood), “Everytime I Cry” (Terri Clark), “Steam” (Ty Herndon) and more.

Rushing is known for hits including “American Honky-Tonk Bar Association” (Garth Brooks), “Cheap Whiskey” (Martina McBride), “Feelin’ Good About Feelin’ Bad” (Patty Loveless), among others.

Seskin penned songs including “I Think About You” (Collin Raye), “Don’t Laugh At Me” (Mark Wills), three John Michael Montgomery hits including “Life’s A Dance,” “No Man’s Land,” and “If You’ve Got Love,” as well as Tim McGraw’s “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” Kenny Chesney’s “All I Need To Know,” Waylon Jennings’ “Wrong” and Alabama’s “She Can,” among others.