Nashville Songwriter Awards

Each year, the highly-coveted '10 Songs I Wish I’d Written' Awards are voted on by Professional Songwriter Members of NSAI honoring the work of their songwriting peers.

Songs eligible for the award 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 during the eligible period. The NSAI Song Of The Year is the highest vote-getter.

2023

“Anti-Hero” Written by: Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift (recorded by: Taylor Swift)

“Flower Shops”Written by: Ben Burgess, Mark Holman, Ernest K. Smith (recorded by: ERNEST)

“Give Heaven Some Hell” Written by: Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps (recorded by: HARDY)

“Human” Written by: Tony Lane, Travis Meadows

“Tennessee Orange” Written by: David Fanning, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins, Ben Williams (recorded by: Megan Moroney)

“Thought You Should Know” Written by: Nicolle Galyon, Miranda Lambert, Morgan Wallen (recorded by: Morgan Wallen)

“wait in the truck” Written by: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt (recorded by: HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson)

“What He Didn’t Do” Written by: Ashley Gorley, Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton (recorded by: Carly Pearce)

“You Proof” Written by: Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Ernest K. Smith, Morgan Wallen (recorded by: Morgan Wallen)

2022:

"23" (Sam Hunt, Chris LaCorte, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne / recorded by Sam Hunt)

"7500 OBO" (Matt McGinn, Jenn Schott, Nathan Spicer / recorded by Tim McGraw)

"abcdefu" (Sara Davis, GAYLE, Dave Pittenger / recorded by GAYLE)

"Fancy Like" (Cameron "Cambo" Bartolini, Walker Hayes, Josh Jenkins, Shane Stevens / recorded by Walker Hayes)

"Half of My Hometown" (Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Nicolle Glayon, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins / recorded by Kelsea Ballerini)

"Knowing You" (Kat Higgins, Adam James, Brett James / recorded by Kenny Chesney)

"Never Wanted to Be That Girl" (Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce/ recorded by Carly Pearce)

"Sand in My Boots" (Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne / recorded by Morgan Wallen)

"Things a Man Oughta Know" (Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson / recorded by Lainey Wilson)

"'Til You Can't" (Matthew J. Rogers, Ben Stennis / recorded by Cody Johnson)

 "You Should Probably Leave" (Ashley Gorley, Chris DuBois, Chris Stapleton / recorded by Chris Stapleton)

2021:

"7 Summers" (Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Morgan Wallen / recorded by Morgan Wallen)

"Ain't Always The Cowboy" (Brandon Kinney, Jon Pardi, Josh Thompson / recorded by Jon Pardi)

"Chasin' You" (Jamie Moore, Morgan Wallen, Craig Wiseman / recorded by Morgan Wallen)

"Die From A Broken Heart" (Taylor Dye, Maddie Marlow, Deric Ruttan, Jonathan Singleton / recorded by Maddie & Tae)

"Hell Of A View" (Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell / recorded by Eric Church)

"I Called Mama" (Marv Green, Lance Miller, Jimmy Yeary / recorded by Tim McGraw)

"I Hope" (Gabby Barrett, Zachary Kale, Jon Nite / recorded by Gabby Barrett)

"I Hope You're Happy Now" (Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton / recorded by Carly Pearce & Lee Brice)

"One Night Standards" (Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde / recorded by Ashley McBryde)
"Starting Over" (Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton / recorded by Chris Stapleton)

2020:

"Beer Never Broke My Heart"  (Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton)

"Heartache Medication" (Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Jon Pardi)

"Homemade" (Ben Goldsmith, Jared Mullins, Drew Parker, Bobby Pinson)

"Lover" (Taylor Swift)

"Old Town Road" (Billy Ray Cyrus, Jocelyn Donald, Montero Hill, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Kiowa Roukema)

"On My Way To You" (Brett James, Tony Lane)

"One Man Band" - (Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi)

"Prayed For You" (Ash Bowers, Allison Veltz Cruz, Matt Stell)

"Speechless" (Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers, Laura Veltz)

"The Bones" (Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz)

"What If I Never Get Over You" (Sam Ellis, John Green, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz)

2019: 

“Burning Man” (Bobby Pinson, Luke Dick)

“Drowns The Whiskey” (Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton, Josh Thompson)

“Drunk Girl” (Chris Janson, Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas)

“God’s Country” (Devin Dawson, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy)

“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” (Chris Stevens, David Lee Murphy, Jimmy Yeary)

“Meant To Be” (Bebe Rexha, David Garcia, Josh Miller, Tyler Hubbard)

“Some Of It” (Bobby Pinson, Clint Daniels, Eric Church, Jeff Hyde)

“Tequila” (Dan Smyers, Jordan Reynolds, Nicolle Galyon)

“Up Down” (Brad Clawson, CJ Solar, Michael Hardy)

“Whiskey Glasses” (Ben Burgess, Kevin Kadish)
 

2018:

“Broken Halos” (Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton)

“Every Little Thing” (busbee, Carly Pearce, Emily Shackelton)

“Five More Minutes” (Monty Criswell, Scotty McCreery, Frank Rogers)

“I Could Use A Love Song” (Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz)

“I Lived It” (Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip)

“It Ain’t My Fault” ( Lee Thomas Miller, John Osborne, T.J. Osborne)

“Marry Me” (Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally, Thomas Rhett)

“Most People Are Good” (David Frasier, Ed Hill, Josh Kear)

“Written In The Sand” (Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi)

“Yours If You Want It” (Andrew Dorff, Jonathan Singleton)

2017:

“80s Mercedes” (busbee, Maren Morris / recorded by Maren Morris)

“Better Man” (Taylor Swift / recorded by Little Big Town)

“Body Like A Back Road” (Josh Osborne, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Zach Crowell / recorded by Sam Hunt)

“Different For Girls” (JT Harding, Shane McAnally / recorded by Dierks Bentley ft. Elle King)

“Dirt On My Boots” (Ashely Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Rhett Akins / recorded by Jon Pardi)

“Drinkin’ Problem” (Cameron Daddy, Jess Carson, Josh Osborne, Mark Wystrach, Shane McAnally / recorded by Midland)

“H.O.L.Y.” (busbee, Nate Cyphert, William Larsen / recorded by Florida Georgia Line)

“Kill A Word” (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Luke Dick / recorded by Eric Church)

“Peter Pan” (Forest Glen Whitehead, Jesse Lee, Kelsea Ballerini / recorded by Kelsea Ballerini)

“Vice” (Josh Osborne, Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally / recorded by Miranda Lambert)

2016:

“Break Up In A Small Town” (Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally / recorded by Sam Hunt)

“Burning House” (Jeff Bhasker, Cam, Tyler Johnson / recorded by Cam)

“Buy Me A Boat” (Chris DuBois, Chris Janson / recorded by Chris Janson)

“Die A Happy Man” (Sean Douglas, Joe London, Thomas Rhett / recorded by Thomas Rhett)

“I Got The Boy” (Connie Harrington, Tim Nichols, Jamie Lynn Spears / recorded by Jana Kramer)

“John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” (Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne / recorded by Keith Urban)

“Like A Wrecking Ball” (Casey Beathard, Eric Church / recorded by Eric Church)

“My Church” (busbee, Maren Morris / recorded by Maren Morris)

“Record Year” (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde / recorded by Eric Church)

“Sangria” (JT Harding, Josh Osborne, Trevor Rosen / recorded by Blake Shelton). 
 

2015:

“A Guy Walks Into A Bar” (Melissa Peirce, Jonathan Singleton, Brad Tursi / recorded by Tyler Farr)

“All About That Bass” (Kevin Kadish, Meghan Trainor / recorded by Meghan Trainor)

"American Kids” (Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally / recorded by Kenny Chesney)

“Diamond Rings And Old Bar Stools” (Barry Dean, Luke Laird, Jonathan Singleton / recorded by Tim McGraw w/ Catherine Dunn)

“Dirt” (Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins/ recorded by Florida Georgia Line)

“Girl In A Country Song” (Taylor Dye, Maddie Marlow, Aaron Scherz / recorded by Maddie & Tae)

“I Don't Dance” (Lee Brice, Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch / recorded by Lee Brice)

“Neon Light” (Andrew Dorff, Mark Irwin, Josh Kear / recorded by Blake Shelton)

“Raise 'Em Up” (Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele / recorded by Keith Urban w/ Eric Church)

“Shake It Off ” (Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift / recorded by Taylor Swift)

“She Don't Love You” (Eric Paslay, Jennifer Wayne / recorded by Eric Paslay)

2014:

"All Kinds Of Kinds" (Phillip Coleman, Don Henry / recorded by Miranda Lambert)

"Boys 'Round Here" (Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Craig Wiseman / recorded by Blake Shelton)

"Cop Car" (Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Matt Jenkins / recorded by Keith Urban)

"Drink A Beer" (Jim Beavers, Chris Stapleton / recorded by Luke Bryan)

"Drunk On A Plane" (Dierks Bentley, Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins / recorded by Dierks Bentley)

"Follow Your Arrow" (Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves / recorded by Kacey Musgraves)

"Give Me Back My Hometown" (Eric Church, Luke Laird / recorded by Eric Church)

"I Hold On" (Dierks Bentley, Brett James / recorded by Dierks Bentley)

"Meanwhile Back At Mama's" (Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele / recorded by Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill)

"Mine Would Be You" (Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Deric Ruttan / recorded by Blake Shelton)

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

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)

2023 Ashley Gorley

2022 Ashley Gorley

2021 Ethan Hulse

2020 Ashley Gorley

2010-2019 ASHLEY GORLEY SONGWRITER OF THE DECADE

2019 Josh Osborne

2018 Ashley Gorley

2017 Ashley Gorley

2016 Ashley Gorley

2015 Rodney Clawson

2014 Ashley Gorley

2013 Rodney Clawson

2012 Dallas Davidson

2011 Chris DuBois

2010 Chris DuBois

2000-2009 CRAIG WISEMAN - SONGWRITER OF THE DECADE

2009 Wynn Varble

2008 Casey Beathard

2007 Dave Berg

2006 Jeffrey Steele

2005 Jeffrey Steele

2004 Scotty Emerick

2003 Jeffrey Steele

2002 Troy Verges

2000-2001 Darrell Scott

1990-1999 TOM SHAPIRO - SONGWRITER OF THE DECADE

1999 Diane Warren

1998 Phil Vassar

1997 Craig Wiseman

1996 Mark D. Sanders

1995 Mark D. Sanders

1994 Gary Burr

1993 Dennis Linde

1992 TIE: Gary Burr & Susan Longacre

1991 Pat Alger

1990 Jon Vezner

1989 Kostas

1988 Bob McDill

1987 Don Schlitz

1986 Paul Overstreet

1985 Bob McDill

1984 Kenny O’Dell

1983 TIE: Jeff Silbar & Larry Henley

1982 TIE: Kye Fleming & Dennis Morgan

1981 TIE: Kye Fleming & Dennis Morgan

1980 Bob Morrison

1979 Sonny Throckmorton

1978 Sonny Throckmorton

1977 Roger Bowling

1976 Bob McDill

1975 Ben Peters

1974 Don Wayne

1973 Kris Kristofferson

1972 Tom T. Hall

1971 Kris Kristofferson

1970 Kris Kristofferson

1969 Merle Haggard

1968 Bobby Russell

1967 Dallas Frazier

2023 Morgan Wallen

2022 Matthew West

2021 Luke Combs

2020 Luke Combs

2010-2019 TAYLOR SWIFT - SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE DECADE 

2019 Luke Combs

2018 Brandon Lancaster

2017 Luke Bryan

2016 Cole Swindell

2015 Taylor Swift

2014 Jack White

2013 Taylor Swift

2012 Taylor Swift

2011 Taylor Swift

2010 Taylor Swift

2000-2009 TOBY KEITH - SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE DECADE

2009 Taylor Swift

2008 TIE: Alan Jackson & Brad Paisley

2007 TIE: Alan Jackson & Taylor Swift

2006 TIE: Toby Keith & Phil Vassar

2005 Brad Paisley

2004 Toby Keith

2003 Toby Keith

2002 Alan Jackson

2000-2001 Brad Paisley

1990-1999 VINCE GILL - SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE DECADE 

1999 Steven Curtis Chapman

1998 Shania Twain

1997 Vince Gill

1996 Vince Gill

1995 Vince Gill

1994 Vince Gill

1993 Clint Black

1992 TIE: Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson

1991 Alan Jackson

1990 Vince Gill

1989 Clint Black