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An elite group of songwriters was honored by the NSAI in recognition of their achievements in songwriting over the last year.

On September 22nd, songwriters, recording artists, industry professionals, and more gathered at the renowned Ryman Auditorium for the 9th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards hosted by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).

The organization is the world’s largest non-profit songwriting trade association and exists to “protect the rights and future of the profession of songwriting, and to educate, elevate and celebrate the songwriter.”

Ashley McBryde, Riley Green, Chris Stapleton, and Ricky Skaggs were among the performers of the night.

See the full list of winners from the 2026 Nashville Songwriter Awards below!

SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Determined based on chart performance throughout the year.

• Riley Green

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Determined based on chart performance throughout the year.

• Blake Pendergrass

SONG OF THE YEAR

• “Choosin’ Texas” (written by Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Joybeth Taylor)

LEGENDARY SONG

• “The Gambler” Written by Don Schlitz (recorded by: Kenny Rogers)

NSAI PRESIDENT’S KEYSTONE AWARD: In recognition of significant contributions to the betterment of all songwriters, chosen by the current NSAI President.

• Paul Williams

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: In recognition of a songwriter whose works have made a significant contribution to the American songbook and who has inspired the careers of others.

• Vince Gill

“10 SONGS I WISH I’D WRITTEN” AWARDS

The ‘10 Songs I Wish I’d Written Awards’ are voted on by Professional Songwriter Members of NSAI and highlight the work of their songwriter peers. To be eligible for this award, the song must 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, 2025, and April 30, 2026.

The 2026 Nashville Songwriter Awards’ “10 SONGS I WISH I’D WRITTEN” are:

• “20 Cigarettes”
  Written by: Chris LaCorte, Chase McGill, Josh Miller, Blake Pendergrass
  (recorded by: Morgan Wallen)
• “Bar None”
  Written by: Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps, Lydia Vaughan
  (recorded by: Jordan Davis)
• “Backseat Driver”
  Written by: Jacob Davis, Jordan Walker
  (recorded by: Kane Brown)
• “Be Her”
  Written by: Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Ella Langley, Jordan Schmidt
  (recorded by: Ella Langley)
• “Country Song Came On”
  Written by: Dan Alley, Ryan Beaver, Neil Medley
  (recorded by: Luke Bryan)
• “Don’t Mind If I Do”
  Written by: Riley Green
  (recorded by: Riley Green ft. Ella Langley)
• “I’m The Problem”
  Written by: Grady Block, Charlie Handsome, Jamie McLaughlin, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen
  (recorded by: Morgan Wallen)
• “Just In Case”
  Written by: Alex Bak, John Byron, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Blake Pendergrass, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson, Morgan Wallen
  (recorded by: Morgan Wallen)
• “Somewhere Over Laredo”
  Written by: Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
  (recorded by: Lainey Wilson)
• “The Fall”
  Written by: Ray Fulcher, Bobby Pinson, Jeremy Stover
  (recorded by: Cody Johnson)
• “Weren’t For The Wind”
  Written by: Johnny Clawson, Ella Langley, Joybeth Taylor
  (recorded by: Ella Langley)

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