Tag: Brenda Lee

Nashville Songwriter Awards again show why this is truly Music City

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 Phillips for 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).

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Dolly Parton, Jeannie C. Riley, Brenda Lee songs enter Grammy HoF

Among 25 new Hall of Fame inductees

The songs of three of country music’s best-known artists are among the twenty-five works to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year.

Dolly Parton‘s “Coat of Many Colors,” Brenda Lee‘s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” and Jeannie C. Riley‘s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” are among the 2019 class. Some of the other recordings to be inducted are: “I’m Walking” (Fats Domino), “Full Moon Fever” (Tom Petty), “Walk This Way” (Aerosmith), “Wild Thing” (The Troggs), “Move On Up” (Curtis Mayfield) and “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” (The Platters).

Dolly Parton

“Coat of Many Colors,” originally released in 1971, has been a fan favorite for decades. The song also inspired the TV movie, “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” that aired in December 2015.

Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee’s 1958 holiday song, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” can be heard on radio and in shopping malls every Christmas. In December 2018, the song racked up more than 32 million on-demand streams.

Jeannie C. Riley

Jeannie C. Riley achieved a ‘first’ with her recording of “Harper Valley P.T.A.” The song made her the first female artist to reach No. 1 on both the country and all-genre pop charts with the same song.

1,088 recordings in Grammy Hall of Fame

The selections in the Class of 2019 include singles and albums that are at least 25 years old, and show “qualitative or historical significance.”  A total of 1,088 recordings (including the new inductees) are now part of the Grammy Hall of Fame.

“The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame is proud to be a pillar of musical excellence and diversity year after year, honoring some of the most iconic recordings of all time,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “We are proud to acknowledge the ever-changing landscape and evolution of musical expression for which the Academy has become known. We’re honored to add these masterpieces to our growing catalog and are delighted to celebrate the impact they’ve had on our musical, social, and cultural history.”

See a full list of all 1,088 recordings here.

The sixty-first Grammy Awards show airs Friday February 10 on CBS at 8:00 pm ET / 5:00 pm PT.

Preshias Harris  is a music journalist and 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