Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs Tie for Coveted “Songwriter of the Year” Honor at 2023 BMI Country Awards

Country music’s biggest playmakers were once again honored at the 2023 BMI Country Awards held at the BMI HQ in Nashville, Tennessee last Tuesday (November 7), building on the anticipation for what was to come at the 57th CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena the following evening (November 8).

The 71st annual event celebrated the top songwriters and music publishers behind this past year’s 50 most-performed songs in Country music, which included BMI Icon Award recipient Matraca Berg, Country Songwriters of the Year Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen, Country Song of the Year “You Proof” by Morgan Wallen and Publisher of the Year Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Hosted by BMI’s President & CEO, Mike O’Neill and Nashville’s VP, Creative, Clay Bradley, artists like Cole Swindell, Priscilla Block, Jackson Dean, Colbie Caillat, Mackenzie Carpenter, Lauren Watkins, Josh Ross, Austin Snell, Greylan James, Ella Langley, Parker McCollum, Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, LOCASH, Tyler Hubbard, Kidd G, Kylie Morgan, Conner Smith, Riley Green, Ashley Cooke, Dylan Schneider, Ronnie Dunn, K Michelle, The War and Treaty and more were all in attendance to support their friends as well as reunite after a long year of touring.

“This town is built on songwriting, so I feel like it’s a chance as artists to wrap our arms to the songwriters that help make our career. Most of us are co-writers as well, but without Hillary Lindsey and Josh Kerr, these songs would never have been what they became,” Charles Kelley of Lady A tells Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder on the red carpet prior to the ceremony. “I can’t go too far without [Russell Dickerson] pinching my butt,” he continues with a laugh. “It’s a reunion.”

“I’m so happy to be here and one of these [medals] around my neck. This is just an incredible night. It’s a night everyone looks forward to,” Chris Young adds, who was honored for his song “At The End of the Bar” that he wrote with fellow honoree Mitchell Tenpenny. “Every single songwriter in this room that’s not wearing a medal — and every single artist who’s here that’s not wearing a medal — is here for all the songwriters. I think it’s something that gets lost sometimes. As much as we talk about how amazing songwriter are and how integral they are to the craft of creating music… to be able to set a night aside like this and be like, ‘hey, we’re putting a spotlight on the people that wrote these songs;’ shoutout to BMI for doing that because its incredible.”

From the moment the ceremony began, all eyes were on Matraca Berg, as she earned herself a seat next to an elite group of songwriters who have had an indelible influence on music makers overs generations including Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Dean Dillon, Hank Williams, Jr. and Stevie Nicks with the BMI Icon Award.

Lainey Wilson performed her own rendition of Deana Carter’s CMA Award-winning classic “Strawberry Wine,” while Ashley McBryde took to the stage for a gritty performance of Trisha Yearwood’s 1992 hit “Wrong Side of Memphis.” Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter closed out the tribute as they reunited for a powerhouse duet of their 3x Platinum award-winning single, “You and Tequila.”

Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen tied for the coveted BMI Songwriter of the Year award, as each songwriter co-wrote four of BMI’s most-performed songs in Country music. Combs co-wrote his three consecutive No. One singles “Doin’ This,” “Going, Going, Gone,” “The Kind of Love We Make” and Zac Brown Band’s “Out in the Middle.” Wallen serves as a co-writer on Keith Urban’s “Brown Eyes Baby,” Corey Kent’s No. One hit “Wild as Her,” as well as his record-breaking songs “Thought You Should Know” and “You Proof.” To commemorate the milestone, the two swapped songs as Combs performed “Thought You Should Know” and Wallen performed “Going, Going, Gone.”

The honors didnt stop for Wallen, as his smash hit “You Proof” was named 2023 BMI Country Song of the Year,  published by Big Loud Mountain, Bo Wallace Publishing, Ern Dog Music, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI’s most-performed Country song of the year was written by Wallen, Ernest Keith Smith and Charlie Handsome and became the first radio single in Country music history to spend 10 weeks at the top spot on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

The Publisher of the Year accolade went to Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., which published 25 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year, including megahits like Tyler Hubbard’s “5 Foot 9,” Maren Morris’ “Circles Around This Town,” Thomas Rhett’s “Slow Down Summer,” Zach Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” and Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place.”

Keep scrolling to watch our interviews with artists, songwriters 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 2023 BMI Country Awards by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.

2023 BMI COUNTRY AWARDS – HONOREES

ICON AWARD

Matraca Berg

SONG OF THE YEAR

“You Proof”

Written By: Charlie Handsome, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen

Published by: Big Loud Mountain / Bo Wallace Publishing / Ern Dog Music, Songs of Universal, Inc. / Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Morgan Wallen

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Luke Combs – “Doin’ This,” “Going, Going, Gone,” “Out in the Middle,” “The Kind of Love We Make”

Morgan Wallen – “Brown Eyes Baby,” “Thought You Should Know,” “Wild as Her,” “You Proof”

PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR

Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

SONG HONOREES

“5 Foot 9”

Written by: Tyler Hubbard, Chase McGill

Published by: Family Farm Songs, Songs of Universal, Inc. / T Tree Music, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Tyler Hubbard

“7500 OBO”

Written by: Jenn Schott

Published by: Anthem Music Publishing I, Mile 25 Music, Songs Of The Red White And Blue School

Recorded by: Tim McGraw

“AA”

Written by: Walker Hayes

Published by: Me Gusta 30 Music, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Songs of SMACK / Spark In Your Pocket

Recorded by: Walker Hayes

“At The End Of A Bar”

Written by: Mitchell Tenpenny, Chris Young

Published by: Riser Ten Music / Sony/ATV Countryside, Sony/ATV Tree / They’ve Gone to Plaid Publishing LLC

Recorded by: Mitchell Tenpenny, Chris Young

“Brown Eyes Baby”

Written by: Rodney Clawson, Josh Thompson, Morgan Wallen

Published by: Big Loud Mountain / Bo Wallace Publishing, MV2 Music / Quiver Road Songs, Red Bandana Publishing / Sony/ATV Tree, Speakers Go Boom Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Keith Urban

“Circles Around This Town”

Written by: Ryan Hurd, Julia Michaels, Maren Morris

Published by: Big Music Machine / Heroes and Halos Music, I’ve Got Issues Music / Songs of Universal, Inc., The Buffalo Catalogue, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Maren Morris

“Country On”

Written by: David Frasier, Styles Haury, Mark Nesler

Published by: Beer Can Hill Music / Getyasome Music, MV2 Music / Sony/ATV Tree, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Luke Bryan

“Country’d Look Good On You”

Written by: Monty Criswell, Taylor Phillips

Published by: Rust and Chrome Music, Spirit of Nashville One Crescendo, TDP Publishing / Tune of Fluid, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Frank Ray

“Damn Strait”

Written by: Jim Collins, Trent Tomlinson

Published by: Big Mosquito Music / Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love Music, Naco/Nowhere Music / Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: Scotty McCreery

“Doin’ This”

Written by: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Rob Williford

Published by: Bootleg Lyrics / Chiffrobe Songs / Free Dive Music, Oak Tree Swing Publishing / SageQuinnJude Music, Smothered and Covered Entertainment, Songs of TriScore / Songs of Universal, Inc. / Sony/ATV Tree, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Luke Combs

“Don’t Come Lookin'”

Written by: Jackson Dean, Luke Dick

Published by: Emileon Songs / Little Louder Songs, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

Recorded by: Jackson Dean

“Down Home”

Written by: Cameron Bedell

Published by: Better Boat Music / Cameron Befell Music, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Jimmie Allen

“Fall In Love”

Written by: Austin Shawn, Bailey Zimmerman

Published by: Bailey Zimmerman Publishing / I Fart Creations, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Bailey Zimmerman

“Flower Shops”

Written by: Ben Burgess, Mark Holman, Ernest Keith Smith

Published by: Big Loud Mountain / Ern Dog Music, Jett Wide Songs / Songs of Universal, Inc. / This Songs For You Pops, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: ERNEST, Morgan Wallen

“Going, Going, Gone”

Written by: Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, James McNair

Published by: Bootleg Lyrics / Exit 183 Songs / Keep Choppin Publishing, Songs of Universal, Inc. / Sony ATV/Tree, Young Man Publishing

Recorded by: Luke Combs

“Gold”

Written by: Ross Copperman, Luke Dick

Published by: EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. / Emileon Songs, Little Louder Songs / Music of CTM Outlander Music LP, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

Recorded by: Dierks Bentley

“Half of Me”

Written by: Rhett Akins, Thomas Rhett, Josh Thompson

Published by: Big Machine / Cricket On The Line, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. / MV2 Music, Ritten by Rhettro / Sony/ATV Tree, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

Recorded by: Thomas Rhett, Riley Green

“Handle On You”

Written by: Monty Criswell, Parker McCollum

Published by: ParkerMac Publishing / Rust and Chrome Music, Spirit of Nashville One Crescendo / Tune of Fluid, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Parker McCollum

“Heart Like A Truck”

Written by: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson

Published by: Songs of Riser House / Songs of Wild Cat Well Music, Sony/ATV Countryside

Recorded by: Lainey Wilson

“Human”

Written by: Travis Meadows

Published by: It’s Killer / She and I, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Songs of Mighty Isis

Recorded by: Cody Johnson

“Last Night Lonely”

Written by: Jimi Bell, Dylan Marlowe

Published by: Songs of PIA Entertainment, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Jon Pardi

“Like I Love Country Music”

Written by: Kane Brown, Taylor Phillips

Published by: Kane Brown Music / Songs of Universal, Inc., TDP Publishing / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Kane Brown

“Never Say Never”

Written by: Chase McGill, Cole Swindell

Published by: Colden Rainey Music / Songs of Universal, Inc. / Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: Cole Swindell, Lainey Wilson

“New Truck”

Written by: Michael Hardy, Ben Johnson

Published by: Artist 101 Publishing Group, Ben There Wrote That Publishing, Relative Music Group, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: Dylan Scott

“No Body”

Written by: Rodney Clawson

Published by: Ford Drives A Chevy, Round Hill Composition, Shirt At Work

Recorded by: Blake Shelton

“Out In The Middle”

Written by: Luke Combs

Published by: Bootleg Lyrics / Songs of Universal, Inc.

Recorded by: Zac Brown Band

“Party Mode”

Written by: Roman Alexander, Ryan Beaver

Published by: Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Songs of SMACK / Twelve6 Red Oak Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Dustin Lynch

“Pick Me Up”

Written by: Gabby Barrett, Ross Copperman

Published by: EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. / GBF Music Global, Music of CTM Outlander Music LP / Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: Gabby Barrett

“Rock And A Hard Place”

Written by: Jacob Hackworth, Jet Harvey, Heath Warren

Published by: Goat Island Bay Music / Songs In the Key of Black, Speakers Go Boom Songs / T Vill Music, Vacant Heart Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Bailey Zimmerman

“She Had Me At Heads Carolina”

Written by: Jesse Frasure, Tim Nichols, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell

Published by: Be A Light Publishing / Colden Rainey Music, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., / Songs of Roc Nation Music, Sony/ATV Tree / Telemetry Rhythm House Music, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Cole Swindell

“She Likes It”

Written by: Russell Dickerson, Josh Kerr, Jake Scott

Published by: Big Hits N Gravy Music / Concord, Torches and Pitchforks Music / Tune of Black River, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Russell Dickerson, Jake Scott

“Slow Down Summer”

Written by: Rhett Akins, Sean Douglas, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett

Published by: Cricket On The Line / Eastman Pond Publishing, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. / Ritten By Rhettro, Songs of Influence / Songs of Roc Nation Music, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Thomas Rhett

“Something In The Orange”

Written by: Zach Bryan

Published by: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Zach Bryan

“Son Of A Sinner”

Written by: Jelly Roll, Ernest Keith Smith, David Ray Stevens

Published by: Bailee’s Ballads / Big Loud Mountain, BMG Platinum Songs US / Ern Dog Music, Me Gusta 30 Music / Songs of 78, Songs of Universal, Inc.

Recorded by: Jelly Roll

“Soul”

Written by: Tony Ferrari

Published by: Seven Summits Music / Tony Ferrari Publishing

Recorded by: Lee Brice

“Take My Name”

Written by: David Fanning, Ben Johnson, Matt Thomas

Published by: 33 Creative / Artist 101 Publishing Group, Ben There Wrote That Publishing, JM Thomas Music / Reservoir 416, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Countryside / Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: Parmalee

“Thank God”

Written by: Kyle Fishman, Jaxson Free, Jared Mullins

Published by: Dead Aim Music / Goat Island Bay Music, Jaded Muffins Music / Kyle Fishman Music, Play It Again Entertainment / Songs By 10K Hrs Publishing, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown

“That’s What Tequila Does:

Written by: John Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

Published by: BMG Platinum Songs US / High Noon Yellow Stars Music, IrishSonMusic / Songs of Double Down Music, Triple Play Music / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Jason Aldean

“The Kind Of Love We Make”

Written by: Luke Combs, Jamie Davis, Dan Isbell, Reid Isbell

Published by: 50 Egg Music / Big Music Machine, Bootleg Lyrics/ Lunkertown Music, Songs of Ten Point Publishing, Songs of Universal, Inc. / Song/ATV Countryside, Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: Luke Combs

“Thought You Should Know”

Written by: Nicole Gallyon, Miranda Lambert, Morgan Wallen

Published by: A Boy Named Ford / Big Loud Mountain, Bo Wallace Publishing / Pink Dog Publishing / Sony/ATV Tree / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Morgan Wallen

“Trouble With A Heartbreak”

Written by: Brett Beavers, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

Published by: BMG Platinum Songs US / IrishSonMusic, Songs of Double Down Music, Starfish Music / Triple Play Music, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Jason Aldean

“Truth About You”

Written by: Thomas Archer, Mitchell Tenpenny

Published by: Hits Like Hurricane / MV2 Music, Riser Ten Music / Sony/ATV Countryside, Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: Mitchell Tenpenny

“Wait In The Truck”

Written by: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy

Published by: Humerus Publishing Global/ Rednecker Music, Relative Music Group, Round Hill Versus Publishing, Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: HARDY, Lainey Wilson

“What He Didn’t Do”

Written by: Emily Shackelton

Published by: BMG Platinum Songs US / For The Kids Platinum, Songs of Yellow Room Music

Recorded by: Carly Pearce

“What My World Spins Around”

Written by: Ryan Hurd

Published by: Big Music Machine / The Buffalo Catalogue

Recorded by: Jordan Davis

“Whiskey On You”

Written by: Lindsay Rimes (Apra), Russell Sutton

Published by: Droptine Music / EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. / Sony/ATV Tree

Recorded by: Nate Smith

“Wild As Her”

Written by: Kelly Archer, Brett Tyler, Morgan Wallen

Published by: Anthem Extremely Combustible Music, Anthem Music Publishing, Big Loud Mountain / Concord, Downtown Music Publishing, Extremely Combustible Music, Seeker from the Speaker Music, Sonofgroceries Music, Stars and Stripes And Maple Leaf Music, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Corey Kent

“Wishful Drinking”

Written by: Ingrid Andress, Lucky Daye, JP Sale (Socan)

Published by: Modern Art Songs, Music By Lucky Day ePublishing, Music By Work of Art / Songs of Universal, Inc., Sony/ATV Ballad / Sony ATV Songs LLC, Straight from the Art Music, What Is An Ingrid

Recorded by: Ingrid Andress, Sam Hunt

“With A Woman You Love”

Written by: Chase McGill, Justin Moore

Published by: Big Music Machine, Double Barrel Ace Music, Family Farm Songs, Songs of universal, Inc.

Recorded by: Justin Moore

“You Proof”

Written by: Charlie Handsome, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen

Published by: Big Loud Mountain, Bo Wallace Publishing, Ern Dog Music, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Recorded by: Morgan Wallen

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