Bobby Braddock receives Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award
By Preshias Harris
The 6th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards took over the hallowed stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, September 26, 2023. The glittering event honors and recognizes the extraordinary men and women who are the driving force behind the songs usually associated with the artists who perform them. The Awards show was produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and presented by City National Bank.
Back row L-R: Jimmy Yeary, Bart Herbison (NSAI, Executive Director), Ben Johnson, Dallas Wilson (NSAI 2023 ‘Song of the Year’ recipient), Ben Williams, Mark Holman, Hunter Phelps, David Fanning, Paul Jenkins. Photo credit: Jason Davis
Kentucky’s own Ashley Gorley seems to be setting an unmatchable level of achievement, receiving the Songwriter of the Year Award for a record seventh time. As of this writing, Ashley has notched up a record-breaking sixty-four Number One hits, a score that has probably increased by the time you read this.
Morgan Wallen was honored with the Songwriter-Artist of the Year and the NSAI Advocacy Award went to David Israelite, President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association. Tim McGraw was NSAI President’s Keystone Award recipient.
The Song of the Year Award went to Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Lainey Wilson for “Heart Like A Truck” recorded by Wilson.
Bobby Braddock is recognized as one of country music’s most prolific and successful songwriters, achieving Number One songs across five different decades. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011. During the Nashville Songwriter Awards, Bobby was honored with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award.
I caught up with Bobby Braddock on the red carpet and asked him if – of all the amazing and successful songs he’s written – he has a favorite. He quickly named “Time Marches On” which will be music to the ears of Tracy Lawrence who took the song to Number One on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1996.
Then Bobby’s daughter, Lauren Braddock Havey, reminded him about another of his lesser-known cuts that has a special place in his heart – and hers.
“There’s another song that’s one of your favorites too called “The Nerve,” she noted. “And coincidentally, 25 years ago tonight, a young Blake Shelton sang that at my wedding!”
To add to the coincidence, later in the evening Blake Shelton took the stage as part of the tribute to Bobby Braddock and sang the Braddock-penned George Jones classic, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
The annual tradition continued with the peer-voted “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” and the audience was treated to unique performances of ten songs that fellow members of NSAI wished they had on their own resumés.
But back on the red carpet, before the festivities got under way, I spoke with hit writer Emily Shackelton whose catalog includes cuts by Reba McEntire, Sara Evans, Jana Kramer, David Cook, Seth Ennis, Mickey Guyton and Cassadee Pope. Emily was set to perform “What He Didn’t Do”, one of the ’10 Songs…’ that she co-wrote with Ashley Gorley and Carly Pearce.
I asked Emily about her most memorable moment in 2023.
“One of the most memorable things was that my father was in town for the Number One party so I got to bring my dad as well as my husband and my children,” Emily told me. “That was the first time I got to celebrate a Number One with my whole family so that was really, really special. Also Carly invited me to sing on the ACM Honors for “What He Didn’t Do.” That was my very first time performing at the Ryman, so tonight will be my second time.”
I also caught up with Ben Johnson on the red carpet. Among his many cuts, Ben wrote “Best Thing Since Back Roads” (Jake Owen), “Beers on Me” (Dierks Bentley featuring HARDY and Breland), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “Gone” (Dierks Bentley), “New Truck” (Dylan Scott), “One of Them Girls” (Lee Brice), and “Take My Name” (Parmalee). I asked Ben about some of this year’s career highlights.
“Man, the last few years have really been such a blur!” he said. “Since 2020, it’s been pretty much non-stop and I’ve been really lucky to work with some amazing collaborators like Ashley Gorley of course and HARDY, and just getting to work with Hunter Phelps, getting to work with some of my best friends, I feel like I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’ve had so many great memories this year. I think getting to go the Grammys about a year ago now, that was pretty special. Honestly, getting to play on the stage at the Ryman, well, that might take the cake, too!”
- I also got to talk with ‘Song of the Year’ writers Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson, Tim McGraw, Nicolle Galyon, Megan Moroney, Josiah and the Bonnevilles, NSAI Preident Steve Bogard and Tracy Lawrence. You can read my red carpet interviews and much more in my ‘Preshias on the Row’ story at Center Stage Mag here.
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade association. Find out more about NSAI at their website and Facebook page. More about presenting partner City National Bank here.
Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com #PreshiasHarris