NSAI Songs of the Year

NSAI's 'Song of the Year' is determined by the song that receives the most votes during the "Ten Songs I Wish I'd Written" balloting.

2023 "Heart Like A Truck" By Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson (recorded by Lainey Wilson)

2022 "Buy Dirt" By Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins (recorded by Jordan David ft. Luke Bryan)

2021 "Bluebird" By Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert (recorded by Miranda Lambert)

2020 "More Hearts Than Mine" By Sam Ellis, Ingrid Andress, Derrick Southerland (recorded by Ingrid Andress)

2019 "Break Up In The End" By Chase McGill, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jon Nite (recorded by Cole Swindell)

2018 "I'll Name the Dogs" By Matt Dragstrem, Ben Hayslip, Josh Thompson

2017 "Blue Ain't Your Color" By Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen (recorded by Keith Urban)

2016 "Humble And Kind" By Lori McKenna (recorded by Tim McGraw)

2015 "Girl Crush" By Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose, Lori McKenna (recorded by Little Big Town)

2014 "Automatic" By Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby, Nicolle Galyon (recorded by Miranda Lambert)

2013 "I Drive Your Truck" By Connie Harrington, Jessi Alexander, Jimmy Yeary (recorded by Lee Brice)

2012 "I Will Always Love You” By Dolly Parton (recorded by Whitney Houston)

2011 "If I Die Young” By Kimberly Perry (recorded by The Band Perry)

2010 "The House That Built Me” By Allen Shamblin, Tom Douglas (recorded by Miranda Lambert)

2009 "Waitin' On A Woman” By Don Sampson, Wynn Varble (recorded by Brad Paisley)

2008 "You're Gonna Miss This” By Ashley Gorley, Lee Thomas Miller (recorded by Trace Adkins)

2007 "Bless The Broken Road” By Bobby E. Boyd, Jeff Hanna, Marcus Hummon (recorded by Selah w/ Melodie Crittenden)
[Note: With this version, recorded by Selah with Melodie Crittenden, this song made NSAI history by becoming the first song in the organization's history to earn song of the year honors in two different years with recordings by different artists. This song received the same honor in 2005 with the recording by Rascal Flatts.]

2006 "Jesus, Take The Wheel” By Brett James, Gordie Sampson, Hillary Lindsey (recorded by Carrie Underwood)

2005 "Bless The Broken Road” By Bobby E. Boyd, Jeff Hanna, Marcus Hummon (recorded by Rascal Flatts)

2004 "Live Like You Were Dying” By Craig Wiseman, Tim Nichols (recorded by Tim McGraw)

2003 "Three Wooden Crosses" By Doug Johnson, Kim Williams (recorded by Randy Travis)

2002 "I'm Movin' On" By D. Vincent Williams, Phillip White (recorded by Rascal Flatts)

2000-2001 "I Hope You Dance" By Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers (recorded by Lee Ann Womack)

1999 "Amazed" By Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, Marv Green (recorded by Lonestar)

1998 "Don't Laugh At Me" By Allen Shamblin, Steve Seskin (recorded by Mark Wills) -AND- "Holes In The Floor Of Heaven" By Billy Kirsch, Steve Wariner (recorded by Steve Wariner)

1997 "Something That We Do" By Clint Black, Skip Ewing (recorded by Clint Black)

1996 "Strawberry Wine" By Gary Harrison, Matraca Berg (recorded by Deana Carter)

1995 "I Can Love You Like That" By Jennifer Kimball, Maribeth Derry, Steve Diamond (recorded by John Michael Montgomery)

1994 "I Swear" By Frank J. Myers, Gary Baker (recorded by John Michael Montgomery)

1993 "The Song Remembers When" By Hugh Prestwood (recorded by Trisha Yearwood)

1992 "Achy Breaky Heart" By Don Von Tress (recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus)

1991 "Somewhere In My Broken Heart" By Billy Dean, Richard Leigh (recorded by Billy Dean)

1990 "Where've You Been" By Don Henry, Jon Vezner (recorded by Kathy Mattea)

1989 "If Tomorrow Never Comes" By Garth Brooks, Kent Blazy (recorded by Garth Brooks)

1988 "Chiseled In Stone" By Max D. Barnes, Vern Gosdin (recorded by Vern Gosdin)

1987 "Forever And Ever, Amen" By Don Schlitz, Paul Overstreet (recorded by Randy Travis)

1986 "On The Other Hand" By Don Schlitz, Paul Overstreet (recorded by Randy Travis)

1985 "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" By Bob McDill (recorded by Mel McDaniel)

1984 "Mama He's Crazy" By Kenny O'Dell (recorded by The Judds)

1983 "Holding Her And Loving You" By Tommy Brasfield, Walt Aldridge (recorded by Earl Thomas Conley)

1982 "Always On My Mind" By Johnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson (recorded by Willie Nelson)

1981 "You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma" By Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant, Larry Collins, Sandy Pinkard (recorded by David Frizzell & Shelly West)

1980 "He Stopped Loving Her Today" By Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman (recorded by George Jones)

1979 "She Believes In Me" By Steve Gibb (recorded by Kenny Rogers)

1978 "You Needed Me" By Randy Goodrum (recorded by Anne Murray)

1977 "Lucille" By Hal Bynum, Roger Bowling (recorded by Kenny Rogers)

1976 "Amanda" By Bob McDill (recorded by Don Williams)

1975 "Before The Next Teardrop Falls" By Ben Peters, Vivian Keith (recorded by Freddy Fender)

1974 "Country Bumpkin" By Don Wayne (recorded by Cal Smith)

1973 "Why Me, Lord?" By Kris Kristofferson (recorded by Kris Kristofferson)

1972 "Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine" By Tom T. Hall (recorded by Tom T. Hall)

1971 "Sunday Morning Coming Down" By Kris Kristofferson (recorded by Kris Kristofferson)

1970 "For The Good Times" By Kris Kristofferson (recorded by Kris Kristofferson)

1969 "Okie From Muskogee" By Merle Haggard, Roy Edward Burris (recorded by Merle Haggard)

1968 "Honey" By Bobby Russell (recorded by Bobby Goldsboro)

1967 "There Goes My Everything" By Dallas Frazier (recorded by Jack Greene)