One of the Nashville music industry’s most festive weeks launched on Sunday night (Nov. 16), as performing rights organization SESAC honored the songwriters and music publishers behind the year’s most-performed country and Americana songs during its annual Nashville Music Awards. The soiree welcomed more than 500 songwriters, music publishers and other music creatives at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville.
Stephen Wilson, Jr., who is up for new artist of the year at Wednesday night’s CMA Awards, opened the show by offering a powerful rendition of his song “Gary.”
“That was the best way to start a show,” said SESAC Sr. VP, Head of Nashville Creative Shannan Hatch, who spearheaded the evening along with SESAC senior directors, creative services ET Brown and Lydia Cahill.
Emily Ann Roberts performed in honor of SESAC affiliates Jim Lauderdale and Steve Bogard’s recent induction to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, with her renditions of the Bogard-written “Carried Away” (recorded by George Strait) and Lauderdale’s “Hole in My Head,” which was also recorded by The Chicks on their 1999 Fly album.
“This song raised me up and made me love country music,” Roberts said of “Hole in My Head.”
Kelsea Ballerini took part in the evening, honoring her longtime co-writer and producer Alysa Vanderheym with her honor for the song “Baggage,” from Ballerini’s current Grammy-nominated project Patterns.
“She’s one of the most inspired, hard-working and fearless people I’ve ever had the pleasure to know and make music with, and as her friend, it makes me really happy to see her honored by SESAC tonight,” Ballerini said of Vanderheym.
Megan Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” earned the song of the year title, and Moroney was honored for her role in writing, publishing and performing the song. Moroney is up for six CMA nominations this year, with three of those nominations being for “Am I Okay?” During the evening, Moroney was also honored for her work on the song “Break It Right Back.”
Songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon honored Moroney, saying, “You are an absolute force. There is no one like you in the country music genre right now. We are so lucky to have you not only as an artist but a songwriter… I’m blessed to watch how much your music connects to fans.”
Standing alongside Dillon, Moroney was visibly emotional in accepting the honor, telling the industry audience, “I don’t think I would get through life without this outlet [songwriting]… country music, hell yeah.”
Moroney also performed her recent release “Beautiful Things,” from her upcoming album Cloud 9, set to be released in February.
Warner Chappell Music was named publisher of the year, marking the music publisher’s fifth win in the last eight years. Among the hit songs the company was honored for publishing are “Cowboy Songs,” “I Am Not Okay,” “Single Again” and “Baggage.”
Michael Tyler was named songwriter of the year. Tyler has written hits including George Birge’s “Cowboy Songs,” Bailey Zimmerman’s “Holy Smokes” and Corey Kent’s “This Heart.” He was celebrated by receiving a custom-created Gibson guitar, while Jostens provided a custom ring.
“Thank you, Jesus, because without Jesus, I would be hanging shingles on a roof somewhere in Missouri right now,” Tyler said, before thanking his family (who were in attendance) and his publishers. He thanked some of his first co-writers in Nashville, Jaron Boyer and Ben Stennis. “They took me under their wing and how write a song and sing a demo vocal and most importantly, they taught me about Jesus and showed me what it means to be a good husband and father and friend… you don’t know how much it shaped me as a person.”
For a full list of honorees, visit sesac.com.
