Nashville Songwriter Awards Honor George Strait And Loretta Lynn

George Strait (Photo Credit: Jason Davis)

The annual NASHVILLE SONGWRITER AWARDS, voted by members of the NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL (NSAI), took place last night (9/17) at the city's RYMAN AUDITORIUM. The show, comprised of artist-songwriter performances, paid tribute to LORETTA LYNN and GEORGE STRAIT, who both were in attendance.

Country artists REBA MCENTIRE, KELLIE PICKLER and LYNN’S granddaughter, TAYLA LYNN, performed solo tributes to the songwriting icon, who received the night’s KRIS KRISTOFFERSON Lifetime Achievement Award. LYNN was accompanied onstage by KID ROCK, TAYLA, and her son, ERNEST RAY LYNN, to accept her award.

STRAIT was honored with performances by songwriters DEAN DILLON, STEVE BOGARD and JEFF STEVENS, who each have written some of the superstar's well-known hits. During his President’s Keystone Award acceptance speech, STRAIT told the audience, "I believe songwriting is a gift from GOD, and I think GOD has truly blessed all of you songwriters in here. I want to thank you all for sharing that talent with me over the years."

Additional award recipients included JOSH OSBORNE (Songwriter Of The Year), LUKE COMBS (Songwriter-Artist Of The Year), and U.S Senator from TENNESSEE LAMAR ALEXANDER (The White Hat Award).

SAM HUNT made an appearance to perform the #1 KENNY CHESNEY song, "Come Over," that he co-wrote with honoree OSBORNE and SHANE MCANALLY. HUNT said, "I was going to play a new song [that] we had recently written for a new project of mine, but I thought it would be more perfect to perform a song that was our first cut." OSBORNE then joked onstage, with STRAIT in the front row, “The only [goal] that’s left for me is I really, really want a GEORGE STRAIT cut ... If anybody in this room would happen to know what GEORGE STRAIT is looking for …"

Closing out the program, various songwriters were recognized under the category, “10 Songs I Wish I'd Written,” which featured performances from JASON ALDEAN, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, DIERKS BENTLEY, COLE SWINDELL, HARDY, CHRIS JANSON, and DAN + SHAY, alongside their song's respective writers or co-writers.

Find the complete winners list below. 

Song Of The Year:
"Break Up In The End" 
Written by CHASE MCGILL, JESSIE JO DILLON, JON NITE

Songwriter-Artist Of The Year:
LUKE COMBS

Songwriter Of The Year:
JOSH OSBORNE

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON Lifetime Achievement Award:
LORETTA LYNN

The White Hat Award:
U.S. Senator LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-TN)

President's Keystone Award:
GEORGE STRAIT

10 Songs I Wish I'd Written:
“Burning Man” – Written by: BOBBY PINSON and LUKE DICK
 “Drowns The Whiskey” – Written by: BRANDON KINNEY, JEFF MIDDLETON, and JOSH THOMPSON
 “Drunk Girl” – Written by: CHRIS JANSON, SCOOTER CARUSOE, and TOM DOUGLAS
 “God’s Country” – Written by: DEVIN DAWSON, JORDAN SCHMIDT, and HARDY
 “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” – Written by: CHRIS STEVENS, DAVID LEE MURPHY, and JIMMY YEARY
 “Meant To Be” – Written by: BEBE REXHA, DAVID GARCIA, JOSH MILLER, and TYLER HUBBARD
 “Some Of It” – Written by: BOBBY PINSON, CLINT DANIELS, ERIC CHURCH, and JEFF HYDE 
 “Tequila” – Written by: DAN SMYERS, JORDAN REYNOLDS, and NICOLLE GALYON
 “Up Down” – Written by: BRAD CLAWSON, CJ SOLAR, and HARDY
 “Whiskey Glasses” – Written by: BEN BURGESS and KEVIN KADISH

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