Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inducts Five

Jackson, Schuyler, Conrad, Bettis, Shamblin, Brooks

Country stars GARTH BROOKS and ALAN JACKSON, along with songwriters JOHN BETTIS, THOM SCHUYLER and ALLEN SHAMBLIN, were inducted into the NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME last night (10/16) at the 41st Anniversary HALL OF FAME DINNER & INDUCTION CEREMONY, held at the RENAISSANCE NASHVILLE HOTEL.

BROOKS was inducted by manager BOB DOYLE and producer/HALL OF FAME songwriter ALLEN REYNOLDS. "The greatest award in the music business is to be called a songwriter," BROOKS said. Five of BROOKS' songwriter friends performed a medley of songs they co-wrote with BROOKS. PAT ALGER performed "The Thunder Rolls" and KENT BLAZY performed "If Tomorrow Never Comes." STEPHANIE DAVIS sang "We Shall Be Free," VICTORIA SHAW performed "The River" and JENNY YATES sang "When You Come Back To Me Again."

JACKSON was inducted by CAPITOL NASHVILLE label head MIKE DUNGAN. THE WRIGHTS presented a medley of JACKSON's songs, including "Good Time," "Remember When," "Chattahoochee," "Don't Rock the Jukebox" and "Here In The Real World," before TAYLOR SWIFT took the stage to perform "Where Were You."

BETTIS was inducted by songwriter MICHAEL CLARK. BRETT JAMES and WAYNE KIRKPATRICK performed a medley of the BETTIS compositions. Country great LYNN ANDERSON ended the set with "Top Of The World." SCHUYLER was inducted by DON SCHLITZ. FRED KNOBLOCH, TONY ARATA and JELLY ROLL JOHNSON performed a medley of the SCHUYLER songs. Country artist LACY J DALTON sang "16th Avenue."

SHAMBLIN was inducted by songwriter MIKE REID. Country artist LIONEL CARTWRIGHT performed a medley of SHAMBLIN-penned songs and WYNONNA closed out the set with "I Can't Make You Love Me."

The FRANCES WILLIAMS PRESTON MENTOR AWARD was given to publisher DAVID CONRAD.

'If I Die Young' Wins Song Of The Year At Songwriter Achievement Awards

At the event, the NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL (NSAI) also presented its annual “Songwriter Achievement Awards."

"If I Die Young," written by KIMBERLY PERRY of THE BAND PERRY was named "Song Of The Year." The "Songwriter of the Year" prize went to CHRIS DuBOIS. The "Songwriter/Artist of the Year" was presented for the fourth time in five years to TAYLOR SWIFT.

NSAI also singled out 10 songs and their writers for the organization's 2011 awards, informally dubbed "The Songs I Wish I'd Written."

Recipients were:

"American Honey" (CARY BARLOWE, HILLARY LINDSEY, SHANE STEVENS /recorded by LADY ANTEBELLUM)
“Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” (JIM COLLINS, DAVID LEE MURPHY / recorded by THOMPSON SQUARE)
“Hello World” (TOM DOUGLAS, TONY LANE, DAVID LEE / recorded by LADY ANTEBELLUM)
“Homeboy” (CASEY BEATHARD, ERIC CHURCH / recorded by ERIC CHURCH)
“Honey Bee” (RHETT AKINS, BEN HAYSLIP / recorded by BLAKE SHELTON)
“If I Die Young” (KIMBERLY PERRY / recorded by THE BAND PERRY)
“Mean” (TAYLOR SWIFT/ recorded by TAYLOR SWIFT)
“Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer” (TROY JONES / recorded by BILLY CURRINGTON)
“The Boys Of Fall” (CASEY BEATHARD, DAVE TURNBULL / recorded by KENNY CHESNEY)
“Who Are You When I'm Not Looking” (EARL BUD LEE, JOHN WIGGINS / recorded by BLAKE SHELTON)

For more information on the NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION, visit www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com/.

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