COUNTRY MUSIC'S TOP SONGWRITERS HONORED AT 2023 NSAI NASHVILLE SONGWRITER AWARDS

Tuesday night, 9/26, was all about the song and the ones who create them at the 6th Annual NSAI Nashville Songwriters Awards ceremony held at the Ryman Auditorium and included dozens of performances to honor them.

David Israelite (Chairman & CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association) and Tim McGraw, were both honored with dedicated performances. Brett Young performed "Hallelujah" in honor of Israelite and hit songwriter Lori McKenna showed Tim McGraw her appreciation with a performance of their song, "Humble and Kind", which she wrote and he released as an artist.

Garth Brooks presented Bobby Braddock with the 2023 Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award. He was honored with performances by Jimmy Yeary and Sonya Isaacs, Tracy Lawrence and Blake Shelton.

Here is the complete list of the night's winners:

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Heart Like A Truck” - Lainey Wilson

Writers: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ashley Gorley

SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Morgan Wallen

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.

Bobby Braddock

NSAI PRESIDENT’S KEYSTONE AWARD

Given in recognition of significant contributions to the betterment of all songwriters, chosen by the current NSAI President.

Tim McGraw

NSAI ADVOCACY AWARD

Bestowed by the NSAI Board of Directors to an individual who has significantly served the American songwriting community

David Israelite – Chairman & CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA)

“10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” Award Winners

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, 2022, and April 30, 2023. The NSAI Song Of The Year is the highest vote-getter.

“Anti-Hero” - Taylor Swift

Writers: Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift 

“Flower Shops” - ERNEST featuring Morgan Wallen

Writers: Ben Burgess, Mark Holman, Ernest Keith Smith

“Give Heaven Some Hell” - HARDY

Writers: Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps

“Human” - Cody Johnson

Writers: Tony Lane, Travis Meadows

“Tennessee Orange” - Megan Moroney

Writers: David Fanning, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins, Ben Williams 

“Thought You Should Know” - Morgan Wallen

Writers: Nicolle Galyon, Miranda Lambert, Morgan Wallen

“Wait in the Truck” - HARDY featuring Lainey Wilson

Writers: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt“

"What He Didn’t Do” - Carly Pearce

Writers: Ashley Gorley, Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton

“You Proof” - Morgan Wallen

Writers: Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen