Country
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For a couple minutes there, Jelly Roll and Brooks & Dunn turned the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville into a church with a spiritual performance of âBelieveâ at the 2024 Country Music Association Awards Wednesday (Nov. 20). With Kix Brooks on piano and Ronnie Dunn sharing lead vocals with the âSon of a Sinnerâ singer, the […]
Shaboozey proved that there are way more colors in his musical palette than âA Bar Song (Tipsy)â when he took the stage at the 2024 Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 20). The singer, whose signature song has straddled the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 18 weeks so far â snagging the […]
Billy Ray Cyrus is part of the BeyHive. The âAchy Breaky Heartâ singer took to Instagram on Wednesday (Nov. 20) to reminisce on his past with the CMA Awards, which took place at Nashvilleâs Bridgestone Arena on the same day as his post. He shared two photos, a throwback snap in which he accepted the […]
Post Malone and Chris Stapleton opened the 2024 Country Music Association Awards Wednesday (Nov. 20) with a rockinâ performance of their duet âCalifornia Sober.â With both stars wearing cowboy hats and slinging guitars with a full band backing them up, the rapper-turned-country star and Kentucky native brought the energy right away. âShe said, âIâll take […]
The 2024 CMA Awards have arrived!
Going into Wednesdayâs (Nov. 20) ceremony at Nashvilleâs Bridgestone Arena, Morgan Wallen is the leading nominee, racking up seven nods, including for the nightâs top honor: entertainer of the year. Following Wallen, Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton have five nods each; Post Malone and Lainey Wilson each nabbed four; and Louis Bell, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves have three apiece.
But who will emerge the nightâs big winner? Follow along with Billboard all night as we keep track of the winners, updating live.
Entertainer of the year
Luke Combs
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Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Single of the year
Award goes to artist(s), producer(s) and mix engineer(s)
âA Bar Song (Tipsy)â â Shaboozey; Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry; Mix Engineer: Raul Lopez
âDirt Cheapâ â Cody Johnson; Producer: Trent Willmon; Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
âI Had Some Helpâ â Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen); Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins; Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
âWatermelon Moonshineâ â Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
âWhite Horseâ â Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
Album of the year Â
Award goes to artist, producer(s) and mix engineer(s)
Deeper Well â Kacey Musgraves; Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian; Mix Engineers: Shawn Everett, Konrad Snyder
Fathers & Sons â Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
Higher â Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
Leather â Cody Johnson; Producer: Trent Willmon; Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
Whitsitt Chapel â Jelly Roll; Producers: Andrew Baylis, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Jesse Frasure, David Garcia, Kevin âThrasherâ Gruft, Austin Nivarel, David Ray Stevens; Mix Engineers: Jeff Braun, Jim Cooley
Song of the yearÂ
Award goes to songwriter(s)
âBurn It Downâ; Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose
âDirt Cheapâ; Songwriter: Josh Phillips
âI Had Some Helpâ; Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters
âThe Painterâ; Songwriters: Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins
âWhite Horseâ; Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Dan Wilson
Female vocalist of the yearÂ
Kelsea Ballerini
Ashley McBryde
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
Male vocalist of the year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Vocal group of the year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
The Red Clay Strays
Zac Brown Band
Vocal duo of the year Â
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War and Treaty
Musical event of the yearÂ
Award goes to artists and producer(s)Â
âCowboys Cry Tooâ â Kelsea Ballerini (with Noah Kahan); Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
âI Had Some Helpâ â Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen); Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
âI Remember Everythingâ â Zach Bryan (ft. Kacey Musgraves); Producer: Zach Bryan
âMan Made a Barâ â Morgan Wallen (feat. Eric Church); Producer: Joey Moi
WINNER: âyou look like you love meâ â Ella Langley (feat. Riley Green); Producer: Will Bundy
Musician of the year
Tom Bukovac â Guitar
Jenee Fleenor â Fiddle
Paul Franklin â Steel Guitar
Rob McNelley â Guitar
Charlie Worsham â Guitar
Music video of the yearÂ
Award goes to artist(s) and director(s)
âDirt Cheapâ â Cody Johnson; Director: Dustin Haney
âI Had Some Helpâ â Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen); Director: Chris Villa
âIâm Not Prettyâ â Megan Moroney; Directors: Jeff Johnson, Megan Moroney
âThe Painterâ â Cody Johnson; Director: Dustin Haney
âWildflowers and Wild Horsesâ â Lainey Wilson; Director: Patrick Tracy
New artist of the year
Megan Moroney
Shaboozey
Nate Smith
Mitchell Tenpenny
Zach Top
Bailey Zimmerman
  Â
Weekly national
âAmerican Country Countdownâ (Kix Brooks) â Cumulus/Westwood One
âCountry Gold with Terri Clarkâ (Terri Clark) â Westwood One
WINNER: âCrook & Chase Countdownâ (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) â Jim Owens Entertainment
âHighway Hot 30 with Buzz Brainardâ (Buzz Brainard) â SiriusXM
âHonky Tonkinâ with Tracy Lawrenceâ (Tracy Lawrence and Patrick Thomas) â Silverfish Media
Daily national
WINNER: âThe Bobby Bones Showâ (Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, âLunchboxâ Dan Chappell, Eddie Garcia, Morgan Huelsman, âSZN Raymundoâ Ray Slater, âMike Dâ Rodriguez, Abby Anderson, âKick Off Kevinâ OâConnell, and Stephen âScuba Steveâ Spradlin) â iHeartMedia
âMichael J On Airâ (Michael J. Stuehler) â iHeartMedia
âNights with Elainaâ (Elaina Smith) â Westwood One / Cumulus Media
âPickleJar Up All Night with Patrick Thomasâ (Patrick Thomas) â PickleJar / Cumulus Media
âSteve Harmon Showâ (Steve Harmon) â Westwood One / Cumulus Media
Major market
âThe Andie Summers Showâ (Andie Summers, Jeff Kurkjian, Donnie Black, and Shannon Boyle) â WXTU, Philadelphia, Pa.
âChris Carr & Companyâ (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and Sam Sansevere) â KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
WINNER: âFrito & Katyâ (Tucker âFritoâ Young and Katy Dempsey) â KCYY, San Antonio, Texas
âThe Morning Wolfpack with Matt McAllisterâ (Matt McAllister, Gabe Mercer, and âCaptain Ronâ Koons) â KKWF, Seattle, Wash.
âThe Most Fun Afternoons With Scotty Kayâ (Scotty Kay) â WUSN, Chicago, Ill.
Large market
âDale Carter Morning Showâ (Dale Carter) â KFKF, Kansas City, Mo.
âHeather Froglearâ (Heather Froglear) â KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
WINNER: âJesse & Annaâ (Jesse Tack and Anna Marie) â WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
âMike & Amandaâ (Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry) â WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
âOn-Air with Anthonyâ (Anthony Donatelli) â KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
Medium market
âBrent Michaelsâ (Brent Michaels) â KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
âJoey & Nancyâ (Joey Tack, Nancy Barger, and Karly Duggan) â WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
âNew Country Mornings with Nancy and Woodyâ (Nancy Wilson and Aaron âWoodyâ Woods) â WHKO, Dayton, Ohio
âScott and Sarah in the Morningâ (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) â WQMX, Akron, Ohio
WINNER: âSteve & Gina In The Morningâ (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) â KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
Small market
âDan Austin Showâ (Dan Austin) â WQHK, Fort Wayne, Ind.
âDave and Jennâ (Dave Roberts and Jenn Seay) â WTCR, Huntington-Ashland, W. Va.
WINNER: âThe Eddie Foxx Showâ (Eddie Foxx and Amanda Foxx) â WKSF, Asheville, N.C.
âHilley & Hartâ (Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart) â KATI, Columbia, Mo.
âOfficer Don & DeAnnâ (âOfficer Donâ Evans and DeAnn Stephens) â WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky.
Major market
KCYY â San Antonio, Texas
KKBQ â Houston, Texas
KYGO â Denver, Colo.
WXTU â Philadelphia, Pa.
WINNER: WYCD â Detroit, Mich.
Large market
WIRK â West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
WMIL â Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
WINNER: WQDR â Raleigh-Durham, N.C.     Â
WSIX â Nashville, Tenn.
WWKA â Orlando, Fla.
Medium market
KXKT â Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
WBEE â Rochester, N.Y.
WIVK â Knoxville, Tenn.
WLFP â Memphis, Tenn.
WINNER: WUSY â Chattanooga, Tenn.
Small market
WCOW â La Crosse, Wis.
WKML â Fayetteville, N.C.
WKXC â Augusta, Ga.
WXFL â Florence-Muscle Shoals, Ala.
WINNER: WYCT â Pensacola, Fla.
The 2024 CMA Awards are officially here, with countryâs biggest and brightest stars taking over the red carpet at Nashvilleâs Bridgestone Arena.Morgan Wallen leads this yearâs nominees with seven nods. Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton follow with five nods each, while Post Malone and Lainey Wilson each got four. Louis Bell, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves all received three nominations.
The show â hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning and Wilson â will also feature a number of star-studded performances. Bryan, Combs, Johnson, Moroney, Musgraves, Malone, Stapleton, Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Eric Church, Riley Green, Sierra Hull, Jelly Roll, Noah Kahan, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Ella Langley, Ashley McBryde, Thomas Rhett, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, Molly Tuttle and Bailey Zimmerman are all set to take the stage.
Meanwhile, Simone Biles, Clint Black, Jeff Bridges, Mark Collie, Jordan Davis, Freddie Freeman, Don Johnson, Jackson Laux, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Katharine McPhee, The Oak Ridge Boys, Taylor Frankie Paul, Carly Pearce, Caleb Pressley, Nate Smith, Daniel Sunjata, Mitchell Tenpenny and Billy Bob Thornton will also join the fun as the eveningâs presenters.
The 58th Annual CMA airs live from Bridgestone Arena on ABC and next day on Hulu. To celebrate the country-filled night, check out our gallery of photos from the red carpet below.
Ashley Cooke
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Ashley Cooke at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Blanco Brown
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Blanco Brown at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Hunter Hayes
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Hunter Hayes at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Colbie Caillat
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Colbie Caillat at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Josh Phillips
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Josh Phillips at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Chapel Hart
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Trea Swindle, Danica Hart, Devynn Hart of Chapel Hart at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Tigirlily Gold
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Krista Slaubaugh, Kendra Slaubaugh of Tigirlily Gold at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Moriah Smallbone
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Moriah Smallbone at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Ian Bohen
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Ian Bohen at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Tiera Kennedy
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Tiera Kennedy at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Riley Green
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Riley Green at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Megan Moroney
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Megan Moroney at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Dax
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Dax at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Oak Ridge Boys
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Richard Sterban, William Lee Golden, Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Daniel Sunjata
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Daniel Sunjata at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Mitchell Tenpenny
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
c at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
O.N.E The Duo
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Prana Supreme Diggs, Tekitha Washington of O.N.E The Duo at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Sarah Trahern
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Sarah Trahern at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Cody Johnson
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Cody Johnson at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
The War and Treaty
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Dasha
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Dasha at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Jeff Bridges
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Jeff Bridges at The 58th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 20, 2024 in Nashville.
Jelly Roll is staying the course on his fitness goals. In a candid interview with People for his cover story published Wednesday (Nov. 20), the country star revealed that heâs lost a total of 110 pounds this year so far â 60 to 70 pounds of which he estimates have disappeared while heâs been on […]
At Wednesday nightâs (Nov. 20) CMA Awards, slated to air live on ABC from Nashvilleâs Bridgestone Arena, Eric Church is nominated for musical event of the year for his Morgan Wallen collaboration âMan Made a Bar.â
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Church is a CMA entertainer of the year winner and two-time CMA album of the year winner. But during his performance at the upcoming awards show, the focus wonât be about hit songs or career success. North Carolina native Church is using the awards showâs wide-reaching platform to perform his recent release, and solo-written, âDarkest Hour,â with the aim of continuing to shine a light on those who continue to be impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. It was previously revealed that Churchâs publishing royalties from âDarkest Hourâ will go to aid those who impacted by Hurricane Helene.
âI think the biggest thing that the people of North Carolina need after Helene is awareness,â Church tells Billboard ahead of the CMA Awards. âBecause as a society we tend to move on pretty quickly to other things. Thatâs just our nature and these people are going to need help for a long time. So the more that I can shine a light on the people there and the need that is going to still be there for a long time, the better off it it will be. And we can help the people there get back on their feet.â
Trending on Billboard
Since the category four Hurricane Helene wrought destruction in numerous communities in North Carolina and other states in September, with more than 100 storm-related fatalities in North Carolina alone, Church has been a leader in spearheading several efforts to help those in need.
He teamed with fellow artists including Luke Combs, James Taylor and Billy Strings to lead the âConcert For Carolinaâ in October, with the event also welcoming guests including Keith Urban, Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, Sheryl Crow and Chase Rice. Concert For Carolina raised over $24 million to help those impacted Hurricane Helene.
âIt was an amazing night,â Church tells Billboard, reflecting on the event. âIâve done a lot of shows, but I donât know that Iâve ever felt a show like that. We had a lot of people come help â Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, James Taylor â and it just ended up being this redemptive revival night. But at the same time, we all knew why we were there. We knew that there was still a need. So we were there on a mission. The concert had a mission feel to it that we were organizing and weaponizing and we were there to help the people in North Carolina. It was a unique feel for any concert Iâve ever done.â
Additionally, the singer-songwriterâs Chief Cares Foundation launched the building initiative Blue Print for the Blue Ridge, pledging to build 100 homes for families in Avery County, North Carolina and surrounding areas whose homes were impacted by the hurricane. Church tells Billboard that heâs visited Avery County multiple times, surveying the damage and looking at sites for the project.
âIn this country, we do pretty well at the 911 â the food, the water, the diapers. We donât do as well at phase two, and thatâs keeping people in the community,â he says. âWe will never rebuild these communities if you donât keep the people there. So weâve committed to putting a hundred homes in Avery County and to give people a place that they can figure out whatâs next for them. They can stay in their county, their kids can stay in the local schools, they can stay involved in their church. It just gives âem a shelter that they can then figure out the next part of their life. And itâs all Iâve been doing every day, all day since the hurricane happened.â
Jelly Roll had a special connection to Taylor Swift long before their paths ever crossed â and at the 2024 Grammys, he finally got to tell her about it.
In his People cover story published Wednesday (Nov. 20), the 39-year-old country star opened up about feeling flustered when the âAnti-Heroâ singer made her way over to meet him at the February ceremony. âMy wife [podcaster Bunnie XO] said, âI think Taylorâs coming over to holler at you,’â he recalled. âIt was like the Red Sea parted for her.â
Jelly went on to explain his personal attachment to Swift, which involves his now 16-year-old daughter, Bailee. âI take a ridiculous, probably abnormal, amount of pride in being from Nashville, so anytime I can link a Tennessee connect, it tickles me,â he told the publication. âTaylor lived in Hendersonville for a while, and she had bought a playground. I used to push Bailee on that swing set that Taylor donated to Hendersonville.â
Trending on Billboard
However, the âSon of a Sinnerâ singer says he was âso nervousâ when he was actually face-to-face with the pop star, he âcouldnât even remember what swing set it was.â âIâm looking at Taylor Swift, and I have a reason to explain to her why I like her so much, and Iâm going, âYou built the swing set somewhere, my daughter, I pushed her on it,ââ Jelly said. âI did so bad! Definitely was at a loss for words in that moment.â
Even so, Swift looked thrilled to meet her fellow Tennesseean in a video Bunnie posted at the time. After snapping a picture with Jelly, the âKarmaâ artist wrapped him in a big hug.
âWhen your hubby gets to meet his crush finally,â the Dumb Blonde host captioned her clip.
That night, Swift won album of the year for her Billboard 200-topping album Midnights, while Jelly was nominated for best new artist (but ultimately lost to Victoria MonĂ©t). Both artists are nominated for more awards in 2025, with the Eras Tour headliner up for song, record and album of the year thanks to âFortnightâ and The Tortured Poets Department, while Jelly is in the running for best country song and best country solo performance for âI Am Not Okay.â
Since this yearâs Grammy night, Jelly has nabbed his first-ever No. 1 album with Octoberâs Beautifully Broken. Heâs currently touring in support of the record and, as announced Tuesday (Nov. 19), heâll soon join Post Malone on the road for a North American stadium tour kicking off in April.
See Jellyâs People cover below.
On Tuesday night (Nov. 19), performing rights organization BMI celebrated the songwriters and publishers behind 50 of the previous yearâs most-performed country songs during its annual BMI Country Awards, held at BMI Nashvilleâs offices.
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Among the songs honored were Jelly Rollâs âNeed a Favor,â Cody Johnsonâs âThe Painter,â Kane Brownâs âBury Me in Georgia,â Luke Combsâs âWhere the Wild Things Areâ and more. Leading the festivities were BMIâs President & CEO Mike OâNeill, BMI Nashvilleâs VP, Creative, Clay Bradley, and BMI Nashvilleâs executive director of creative Shannon Sanders.
The evening launched with Ella Langley, Lukas Nelson and Aaron Raitiere teaming for a rendition of âWith a Little Help From My Friends.â
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Zach Bryan and Chase McGill tied as honorees for the BMI songwriter of the year honor, with each songwriter co-writing six of BMIâs most-performed songs in country music. Bryanâs credits were âBurn, Burn, Burn,â âDawns,â âHey Driver,â âI Remember Everything,â âOklahoma Smokeshowâ and âSun to Me,â while McGill co-wrote Morgan Wallenâs âAinât That Some,â Luke Bryanâs âBut I Got a Beer in My Hand,â Conner Smithâs âCreek Will Rise,â Russell Dickersonâs âGod Gave Me a Girl,â Jordan Davisâs âNext Thing You Know,â and Thomas Rhettâs âMamawâs House.â Bryan was not in attendance, but McGill took the stage to thank his family and those who have been a part of his journey.
He also thanked his longtime music publisher, Universal Music Publishing Group, and recalled telling UMPG executive Terry Wakefield about his career aims. âTerry came to my house the day we started working together and he asked me, âWhat are your goals as a songwriter?â I said, âI donât have goalsâI have a goal: I want to be BMI writer of the year.â So Terry laid out a plan and here we are. So thank you.â
Morgan Wallenâs âLast Nightâ was named the 2024 BMI country song of the year, and was published by Big Loud Mountain, John Byron Music, Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. âLast Nightâ led the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 16 nonconsecutive weeks.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp was named publisher of the year, publishing 34 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year, including Parker McCollumâs âBurn It Down,â Tyler Hubbardâs âDancinâ in the Country,â Riley Greenâs âDifferent âRound Here,â Warren Zeidersâ âPretty Little Poisonâ and Bailey Zimmermanâs âReligiously.â
Alabama frontman Randy Owen was honored with the BMI Icon award, joining an elite group of fellow recipients that have included Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Bill Anderson, Dean Dillon and Kris Kristofferson. Owen is not only the lead singer for three-time CMA vocal group of the year winners Alabama, but his songwriting prowess is evidenced by some of the groupâs enduring hit songs including âChristmas in Dixie,â âTennessee River,â âFeels So Right,â and âMy Homeâs in Alabama.â Along the way, Owen has won 25 BMI Million-Air Awards and in 2000, he was honored with the BMI presidentâs award.
âOne thing I learned early on, when I signed to BMI under [former BMI Nashville president/CEO] Frances Preston,â Owen told Billboard on the red carpet. âHonestly, I had no idea that you could make money writing songs. I just wrote songs that I enjoyed writing, songs that I felt like I had to write.â
Dolly Parton and Kenny Chesney offered tributes to Owen via video, while Riley Green honored Owen by performing âMy Homeâs in Alabama.â Luke Bryan offered a superb vocal rendering on the soulful and sultry âFeels So Right.â The evening recognized not only Owenâs work as a songwriter, but his dedication to giving back to others, most notably through his work in launching the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids program, which recently reached its milestone 35th anniversary and celebrated raising $1 billion for St. Jude Childrenâs Research Hospital since 1989.
One of the highlights of the evening came when Blake Shelton performed a rendition of Alabamaâs 1982 hit âMountain Music.â
âCongratulations, you deserve this,â Shelton told Owen.
Shelton welcomed Bryan back to the stage to join him, backed by guitar and searing fiddle. The crowd of songwriters, publishers and other industry members, all garbed in suits and elegant dresses, immediately rose to their feet, clapping and singing along to Owenâs lyrics of flowing rivers, rustic Cajun hideaways and playing baseball with chert rocks. As artists performed their tributes, Owen could often be seen wiping away tears as he watched from the audience.
Owen and his wife Kelly took the stage, with Kelly offering insights into Owenâs songwriting and praising how his songs have impacted not only their family, but so many music fans. Owen himself then thanked those who have been essential to the groupâs success, including producer Harold Shedd, who was in attendance. âYou may be 115 years old, but youâre still a stud to me,â Owen told Shedd with a chuckle.
Owen honored his late Alabama bandmate Jeff Cook, calling Cook âa musical genius.â He also welcomed his Alabama bandmate Teddy Gentry to the stage alongside him, thanking him for their friendship, and praising Gentryâs work in crafting the groupâs harmonies.
âTeddy, I love you and I appreciate you being here tonight. It means the world to me and my family. I appreciate you, and weâre still rockinâ,â Owen said, ending by thanking the musicians who played on all of Alabamaâs records.
âThank you for this night. Itâs a highlight.â