Megan Moroney, Warren Zeiders, Jaron Boyer and More Receive Top Honors at 2024 SESAC Nashville Music Awards

Music City has been buzzing all week with glitz and glamour thanks to the 58th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday (November 20), as artists, songwriters and music publishers have been coming together to celebrate their hard work on some of country music’s biggest hits this year.

To kick things off, SESAC Performing Rights hosted their annual Nashville Music Awards at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the heart of Downtown on Sunday (November 17) with a star-studded red carpet and ceremony featuring the union’s biggest names in both Country and Americana. Celeb Secrets was in attendance mingling with honorees, artists and other VIPs all evening — including Megan Moroney, Warren Zeiders, Lee Brice, Tyler Rich, Morgan Myles, Sammy Arriaga, Dawson Anderson, and Ana Cristina Cash— where we were able to get an inside look at what the night really means for some of the genre’s most talented.

Moroney kicked things off with a performance of her chart-topping tune and title track off her sophomore album Am I Okay? before accepting the “SESAC Spotlight Award” in recognition of her recent achievements. With critical acclaim from her latest release, a new headlining tour in 2025, a CMA Award win for New Artist of the Year and more, the future looks incredibly bright for the 27-year-old.

“Tonight, I feel like we’re celebrating songwriters and songwriting is my most favorite part of this job, so I’m just really happy to be here and say hi to everyone. It’s going to be a fun night and a fun week,” Megan tells Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony.

Jaren Boyer was also named SESAC’s “Songwriter of the Year” at the annual show, as he was recognized for penning hits like Jason Aldean‘s “Let Your Boys Be Country” and George Birge‘s “Mind On You.” To honor this achievement, Gibson created a custom guitar, and Jostens provided a one-of-a-kind ring.

To no surprise, Warren Zeiders’ breakout hit “Pretty Little Poison” was awarded SESAC’s “Song of the Year.” Zeiders was on hand to accept the new hardware with songwriters Jared Keim and Ryan Beaver as well as perform the song that earned both the 25-year-old and the writers’ his first No.1 single.

“I think it’s an honor. It’s my first time being here and I’ve said it a couple times tonight, but it doesn’t get old being around my boys here who we wrote ‘Pretty Little Poison’ with,” Zeiders tells Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder on the red carpet.

“It was all of our first number ones together and you can’t make it up. They’ve been in town for ten plus years, grinding away trying to get their first hit and I’m just glad we could all share it together,” he adds.

“Pretty Little Poison” also achieved No. 1 status on both Country Aircheck’s Mediabase Country Chart and Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart, peaking in the Top 24 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and earned him a second RIAA Platinum certified single. The track also earned Warren’s his first nomination — and first win — for “Breakthrough Male Video of the Year” at the 2024 CMT Awards.

In addition, Warner Chappell Music took home the title of Publisher of the Year after winning multiple awards throughout the night.

Keep scrolling to watch our interviews with artists and special guests on the red carpet, plus a full list of honorees from the big show. Don’t forget to let us know if you love the songs and artists honored at the 2024 SESAC Nashville Music Awards by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.

2024 SESAC Nashville Music Awards – Honorees

“PRETTY LITTLE POISON”
Written by Jared Keim
Published by Warner Chappell Music, Twelve6 Sequoia
Recorded by Warren Zeiders

“WE DON’T FIGHT ANYMORE”
Written by Pete Good
Published by Warner Chappell Music, King Pen Songs, SMACKWORKS Music
Recorded by Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton

“MIND ON YOU”
Written by Jaron Boyer, Michael Tyler
Published by Marlowe Sinclaire Songs, MTNoize, peertunes LTD, Melodies of CTM Outlander
Recorded by George Birge

“TUCSON TOO LATE”
Written by Josh Jenkins
Published by Follow Me Where I Go, SMACKWORKS Music
Recorded by Jordan Davis

“LET YOUR BOYS BE COUNTRY”
Written by Allison Veltz Cruz, Jaron Boyer
Published by Allison Veltz Sensations, Marlowe Sinclaire Songs, Hipgnosis Tunes, peertunes LTD, Songs of Porterfied Music
Recorded by Jason Aldean

“LOVE YOU AGAIN”
Written by Casey Brown
Published by Track & Feels, Warner Chappell Music, Tape Room Tunes
Recorded by Chase Matthew

“CREEK WILL RISE”
Written by Chris LaCorte
Published by Card Tables Music, Concord Tunes, Hang Your Hat Hits
Recorded by Conner Smith

“I’M NOT PRETTY”
Written by Megan Moroney
Published by Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by Megan Moroney

“INDIFFERENT”
Written by Megan Moroney
Published by Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by Megan Moroney

“CAN’T HAVE MINE”
Written by Matt Alderman
Published by Aldysongs, Curb Congregation Songs
Recorded by Dylan Scott

“GLORY DAYS”
Written by Seth Mosley
Published by M & M College Fund, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by Gabby Barrett

“WINE INTO WHISKEY”
Written by Justin Ebach
Published El Chapo Music
Recorded by Tucker Wetmore

“HEARTLESS YEAR”
Written by Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist
Published by Three Pisces Music, Vitrolacaster Music
Recorded by The Band of Heathens

“FOX HUNT”
Written by Sierra Ferrell
Published by Abel Elba, Pulse Worldwide
Recorded by Sierra Ferrell

“GOOD TOGETHER”
Written by Rachael Price
Published Warner Chappell Music, 17 Lake Street Music
Recorded by Lake Street Dive

“LOVE OF A GIRL”
Written by Seth Avett, Scott Avett, Bob Crawford
Published by First Big Snow Publishing, NemoIVMusic, Truth Comes True Publishing, Ramseur Family Fold Music
Recorded by The Avett Brothers

“AMERICAN DREAMING”
Written by Sierra Ferrell
Published by Abel Elba, Pulse Worldwide
Recorded by Sierra Ferrell

“ORION’S BELT”
Written by Seth Avett, Scott Avett, Bob Crawford
Published by First Big Snow Publishing, NemoIVMusic, Truth Comes True Publishing, Ramseur Family Fold Music
Recorded by The Avett Brothers