Ashley Gorley, Jelly Roll, ‘The Painter’ Are Top Nashville Songwriter Awards Winners

The Nashville Songwriters Association International celebrated the songwriters in Nashville’s music community at the Nashville Songwriter Awards, held at the Ryman Auditorium, on Tuesday (Sept. 24).

Ashley Gorley was named songwriter of the year, while Jelly Roll was named songwriter-artist of the year. Meanwhile, the Cody Johnson-recorded “The Painter” — written by Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins — was named song of the year.

The evening also included two special honorees, as Alan Jackson was celebrated with the Kris Kristofferson lifetime achievement award, which recognizes a songwriter whose works have made a significant contribution to the American songbook and who has inspired the careers of others. In addition to contributing writing to the bulk of his 26 No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hits, Jackson has also written songs recorded by artists including Randy Travis and Faith Hill.

Meanwhile, songwriter-producer Buddy Cannon was feted with the NSAI president’s keystone award, which acknowledges the significant contributions for the betterment of all songwriters. The recipient is chosen by the current NSAI president. Cannon has produced chart-topping hits for Kenny Chesney and Reba McEntire, and has helmed several albums recorded by Willie Nelson. As a songwriter, Cannon credits include Vern Gosin’s “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” “Dream of Me” and “I’m Still Crazy,” George Strait’s “I’ve Come to Expect It From You” and “Give It Away,” which earned song of the year honors at the 2007 ACM Awards.

The inaugural Legendary Song Award, which is voted on by NSAI’s professional songwriting members, with the eligible criteria being songs from 1967-1983, was awarded to “Always on My Mind,” written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher and Mark James and recorded by artists including Brenda Lee, Elvis Presley, Nelson and Pet Shop Boys.

Several songwriters and artist-writers, including Jamey Johnson, Chris Young, Amanda Shires and Nate Smith, were on hand to honor this year’s winners. Josh Turner feted Jackson by lending his commanding rumble of a voice to Jackson’s “Midnight in Montgomery,” which Jackson wrote with Don Sampson. Hailey Whitters performed a sterling version of Jackson’s “Livin’ on Love,” while Lee Ann Womack performed Jackson’s “Here in the Real World.”

Each year, the Nashville Songwriter Awards also present the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written,” which are voted on by the professional songwriter members of NSAI. The songs eligible for the honor must have at least one Nashville-based writer and have charted in the top 20 of a Billboard Airplay chart in the genres of country, christian, mainstream top 40 and/or rock between May 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024. The highest vote-getter is named NSAI’s song of the year.

Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta and Rob Ragosta performed “Need a Favor,” which they co-wrote with Jelly Roll. Ryan Beaver and Jared Keim performed “Pretty Little Poison,” which they wrote with Warren Zeiders. Meanwhile, Jordan Dozzi, Larry Fleet and Brett Tyler performed the Morgan Wallen-Eric Church hit “Man Made a Bar.” Davis, Higgins and Larkins performed their song “The Painter.”

See this year’s “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” winners below:

“Handle On You”

Written by Monty Criswell, Parker McCollum (recorded by: Parker McCollum)

“I’m Not Pretty”

Written by Mackenzie Carpenter, Micah Carpenter, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams (recorded by: Megan Moroney)

“Last Night”

Written by John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Kasher Hindlin (recorded by: Morgan Wallen)

“Man Made a Bar”

Written by Rocky Block, Jordan Dozzi, Larry Fleet, Brett Tyler (recorded by: Eric Church and Morgan Wallen)

“Need a Favor”

Written by Jelly Roll, Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta, Rob Ragosta (recorded by: Jelly Roll)

“Next Thing You Know”

Written by Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne (recorded by: Jordan Davis)

“Pretty Little Poison”

Written by Ryan Beaver, Jared Keim, Warren Zeiders (recorded by: Warren Zeiders)

“Standing Room Only”

Written by Tommy Cecil, Patrick Murphy, Craig Wiseman (recorded by: Tim McGraw)

“Try That In a Small Town”

Written by Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher (recorded by: Jason Aldean)

“Where the Wild Things Are”

Written by Randy Montana, Dave Turnbull (recorded by: Luke Combs)

“White Horse”

Written by Chris Stapleton, Dan Wilson (recorded by: Chris Stapleton)