Nashville Songwriter Awards fill Ryman Auditorium with music and memories
By Preshias Harris and Kayla Slater
The 2025 Nashville Songwriter Awards, held traditionally in September, is always an opportunity to recognize the best of the best, and this year’s event was no exception. In addition to naming the Songwriter of the Year and Songwriter-Artist of the Year, other presentations included the Song of the Year Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Legendary Song Award and the President’s Keystone Award, as well as the unique Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written Awards. The event was staged by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) at the famed Ryman Auditorium and presented by City National Bank.
Such a great evening, and you can read my full story about the Awards (and some of the red carpet interviews that my colleague Kayla Slater and I carried out) here at Center Stage Magazine.
2025 Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley (left) meets up on the red carpet with Alabama’s Randy Owen. Photo Kayla Slater
The Song of the Year Award went to Josh Phillipsfor his solo-write (something of a rarity these days) of “Dirt Cheap” recorded by Cody Johnson. Phillips had written the song with Luke Combs in mind, but when Combs chose not to cut it, Phillips passed it on to Cody Johnson. The song, produced by Trent Willmon, peaked at No. 5 on Country Airplay and No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.
Josh Phillips (left) receives the Song of the Year Award for “Dirt Cheap” presented to him by NSAI Board President Lee Thomas Miller. Photo: Jason Davis/NSAI
Ashley Gorley was named Songwriter of the Year for the fourth consecutive year and nine years in total (so far!) – an unparalleled achievement – in the same year as he was elevated to the national Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in NYC. Tyler Hubbard performed “Park” (written by Gorley, Hubbard, Jesse Frasure and Canaan Smith), and Dylan Scott performed “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” (written by Gorley, Scott, John Byron, Charlie Handsome and Taylor Phillips).
Inside Track on new albums, singles, videos, songwriter awards and more!
By Preshias Harris
It’s finally Fall – and here’s what you need to know about new music from Drew Baldridge, Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Matt Cooper, Daniella Cotton, Colt Ford, Charles Wesley Godwin, Vince Gill, HARDY, Joy Holden, Trace Nixon, Kody Norris, Thomas Rhett, Runaway June, Lauren Watkins, Tucker Wetmore – plus ‘listen/play’ links to the albums and singles and more. It’s all here, so keep scrolling!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I wrote [Every Rose Has Its Thorns] in a mini-Winnebago outside a honky-tonk in Dallas, where we had played to maybe 50 or 100 people. I came back to the bus, me and my girl at the time had broken up and it just sparked me. Music saved my life.” -Bret Michaels of Poison, speaking of the group’s 1988 Number One hit in an interview with USA Today.
BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13
ALBUM & EP NEWS
DIERKS BENTLEY
DIERKS BENTLEY: Following a summer packed with standout performances and fan-favorite collaborations, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley is expanding his 11th studio album with Broken Branches Extended, released October 3. Bentley continues to grow his signature blend of against-the-grain creative courage, offering two brand new tracks, including the rowdy standout “IYKYK” and the driving, dobro-laced “All Night to Figure It Out.” Listen/save Broken Branches Extended here.
The punchy foot-stomper “IYKYK” comes out swinging with a spirited mandolin riff, courtesy of Charlie Worsham, that hits like a honky tonk anthem on overdrive. With lyrical nods to fiddle, steel guitar, Natty Light and Friday nights, Bentley leans into a defiant celebration of the country way of life—one that doesn’t need explaining if you already live it. Meanwhile, “All Night to Figure It Out” sets the (acoustic) mood for a little romantic research. Burning with slow-grooving, stomp-and-clap desire, the dobro-drenched jangle rocker features a loose, casual sway, with Bentley’s easy vocal in no hurry for the moment to end.
The two new tracks join Broken Branches’ original 11. Rooted in raw honesty and storytelling, the album embraces life’s outliers and underdogs with songs about resilience, change, and connection. Praised for its “distinctive and daring sound” (Esquire), the original collection features a cross-generational lineup of collaborators—including John Anderson, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, and Stephen Wilson Jr. More at Dierks.com, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
LUKE COMBS
LUKE COMBS: Global superstar Luke Combs released The Prequel, a new 3-song EP, October 3 via Sony Music Nashville— listen-save here. Produced by Combs and Chip Matthews, The Prequel features “My Kinda Saturday Night,” which is already highly anticipated by fans after being teased online, as well as “15 Minutes” and “Days Like These.”
Of the project, Combs shares, “Still working on my new album that’ll be out early next year, but 3 songs from it are ready now and I couldn’t wait to get y’all some new music, so I’m releasing them this Friday, October 3 as The Prequel. Songs will be ‘Days Like These,’ ‘15 Minutes’ and ‘My Kinda Saturday Night,’ which next year’s tour will be named after. I’ll have more news on that very soon.”
The release adds to yet another monumental year for Combs, who recently made history as the first country artist ever to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Additionally, Combs released his latest single, “Back in the Saddle,” earlier this summer, which is currently #8 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and rising. Combs is a multi-diamond, award-winning artist from Asheville, NC. In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Combs is nominated for three awards at the 2025 CMA Awards. Tour updates at LukeCombs.com and TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
COLT FORD
COLT FORD: Country music trailblazer Colt Ford has announced the release of his brand-new album, Little Out There, available everywhere on November 7, 2025 (pre-save here) via Average Joes Entertainment. The project marks Ford’s first full-length release since his near-fatal heart attack in April 2024 – a powerful comeback story underscored by resilience, passion, and a renewed creative fire.
Along with the album announcement, the multi-platinum artist dropped a new single, “Country AF” featuring Jay Webb, available now on all streaming platforms. The rowdy, unapologetic anthem channels Ford’s signature country swagger, blending hip-hop energy, Southern grit, and sharp lyricism––penned by Michael Hardy, Jaren Johnston, and Jesse Frasure.
