Songwriters are the backbone behind every hit song, and on Monday night (April 13), the Country Music Association honored dozens of songwriters behind some of the biggest country hits over the past year during the annual CMA Triple Play Awards, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
The evening, hosted by celebrated songwriter and CMA Board member Jim Beavers, celebrated 16 Triple Play honorees and recognized over 40 first-time No. 1 songwriters. CMA CEO Sarah Trahern also welcomed guests to the ceremony.
The CMA Triple Play Awards honor songwriters who earn three No. 1 hits within a 12-month period, measured by the Country Aircheck, Billboard Country Airplay and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
This year’s 16 CMA Triple Play honorees were Andy Albert, Louis Bell, John Byron, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Gorley, Riley Green, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Ella Langley, Chase McGill, John Morgan, Blake Pendergrass, Taylor Phillips, Austin Post (Post Malone), Ernest Keith Smith and Morgan Wallen.
“I am so shocked to get this again,” Dillon told the crowd in accepting her honor. “I’m blown away and pretty speechless, especially given the company I’m in. I admire all of you so very much.”
ERNEST thanked many of the cowriters he’s worked with along the way, including Wallen, HARDY and Handsome, and added, “Thank you to everybody that’s in this room, the publishers…anybody who’s believed in me along the way. I do not take this for granted. I love y’all, long live country music.”
Those earning their first CMA Triple Play Awards this year were Albert, Bell, Green, Kasher Hindlin, Langley, Morgan, Pendergrass and Post. Meanwhile, Ashley Gorley collected his 27th CMA Triple Play Award during the ceremony.
Nashville Songwriters Association International executive director Bart Herbison was honored with the 2025 CMA songwriter advocate award, which celebrates individuals who have considerably supported and advanced the art and careers of songwriters, and in the process, have made an enduring impact on country music and the songwriting community. Herbison has for decades been a strong supporter of songwriters, including advocating for advancements including the Music Modernization Act and long-term capital gains protections. He also spearheaded work that resulted in a 44% increase in mechanical royalties and helped establish the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
Songwriter and NSAI board member Josh Osborne performed a rendition of the Keith Urban-recorded “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” to honor Herbison.
“It was once said that Conway Twitty is a song’s best friend, but Bart Herbison is a songwriter’s best friend,” Osborne said.
Taking the stage, Herbison first praised Trahern, who will be retiring from the CMA at the end of the year. “What you’ve done to expand and elevate the CMA is profound,” Herbison said, before also praising Osborne.
“We’re going to keep hammering away until we finally control our own destiny,” Herbison told the crowd of the ongoing fight to ensure that songwriters are paid adequately, especially in a time when AI is significantly changing the industry. “Our trademark [at NSAI] is, ‘It all begins with a song.’ Here’s what I want it to say in the future: It all begins with a song, a song that a human being wrote, and a song for which they are paid fairly.”
The evening also honored several in the Nashville music industry who passed away over the past year, as songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Cary Barlowe and Gordie Sampson performed together onstage to honor those the industry has lost.
The CMA previously announced that songwriter Paul Overstreet will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year, but the revered songwriter was also celebrated during the CMA Triple Play Awards, in front of his songwriting peers. Trahern praised Overstreet’s songwriting, which has built “a legacy that shaped our genre.”
Overstreet is known for penning enduring country hits including the Keith Whitley (and later Alison Krauss & Union Station) hit “When You Say Nothing at All,” Tanya Tucker’s “I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love,” the George Jones/Oak Ridge Boys hit “Same Ole Me,” Blake Shelton’s “Some Beach,” Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and a slate of hits recorded by Randy Travis including “Diggin’ Up Bones,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “Deeper Than The Holler” and “On The Other Hand.”
During the ceremony, Overstreet was honored when his children Summer, Chord, Charity and Nash — all singer-songwriters in their own right — teamed up to perform several of their father’s hit songs, among them “On The Other Hand,” “Same Ole Me” and “When You Say Nothing At All.” They sang as Overstreet beamed with pride in the audience.
The evening also featured Lee Roy Parnell performing his 1993 song “They Don’t Know You.”
See the list of honored CMA Triple Play Award-honored writers and songs below.
Andy Albert
“Bigger Houses,” recorded by Dan + Shay
“Hometown Home,” recorded by LOCASH
“Somewhere Over Laredo,” recorded by Lainey Wilson
Louis Bell
“I Had Some Help,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
“Pour Me A Drink,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton
“Guy For That,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Luke Combs
John Byron
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” recorded by Dylan Scott
“What I Want,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae
“Just In Case,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Jessie Jo Dillon
“Lies Lies Lies,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“Am I Okay?,” recorded by Megan Moroney
“Happen To Me,” recorded by Russell Dickerson
Ashley Gorley
“Liar,” recorded by Jelly Roll
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” recorded by Dylan Scott
“Park,” recorded by Tyler Hubbard
Riley Green
“you look like you love me,” recorded by Ella Langley feat. Riley Green
“Worst Way,” recorded by Riley Green
“Don’t Mind If I Do,” recorded by Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
Charlie Handsome
“Guy For That,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Luke Combs
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” recorded by Dylan Scott
“What I Want,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae
Jacob Kasher Hindlin
“Beautiful As You,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Love Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“What I Want,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae
Ella Langley
“you look like you love me,” recorded by Ella Langley feat. Riley Green
“weren’t for the wind,” recorded by Ella Langley
“Choosin’ Texas,” recorded by Ella Langley
Chase McGill
“Happen To Me,” recorded by Russell Dickerson
“I Got Better,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“20 Cigarettes,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
John Morgan
“Friends Like That,” recorded by John Morgan
“Whiskey Drink,” recorded by Jason Aldean
“How Far Does A Goodbye Go,” recorded by Jason Aldean
Blake Pendergrass
“Just In Case,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“Heart of Stone,” recorded by Jelly Roll
“I Got Better,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Taylor Phillips
“Liar,” recorded by Jelly Roll
“This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” recorded by Dylan Scott
“Fix What You Didn’t Break,” recorded by Nate Smith
Austin Post
“I Had Some Help,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
“Pour Me A Drink,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Blake Shelton
“Guy For That,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Luke Combs
Ernest Keith Smith
“Guy For That,” recorded by Post Malone feat. Luke Combs
“Just In Case,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“I Got Better,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen
“I’m The Problem,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
“What I Want,” recorded by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae
“Just In Case,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
