Lambert, Musgraves, Clark, McAnally Celebrate No. 1

Pictured: ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel, Warner-Tamerlane Music Publishing’s Steve Markland, producers Frank Liddell and Glenn Worf, RCA Nashville’s Keith Gale, Songs of Parallel’s Tim Hunze, Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer, Vista Loma’s Stephanie Cox, BMI’s Clay Bradley, and producer Chuck Ainlay; (Front row, L-R): co-writers Brandy Clark and Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, and co-writer Kacey Musgraves. Photo credit: Rick Diamond

It was a star-studded event in Nashville yesterday (Sept. 11) as Brandy Clark, Kacey Musgraves and Shane McAnally were feted for penning the chart-topper “Mama’s Broken Heart,” recorded by Miranda Lambert. An industry crowd gathered at Nashville restaurant Cabana.

BMI’s Clay Bradley called “Mama’s Broken Heart” “the ultimate revenge song,” citing the tune’s dramatically different twist on the typical breakup song. “Mama’s Broken Heart” pits daughter against mother, instead of scorned woman against a failed lover. The PRO honored Musgraves with a BMI guitar, commemorating her first No. 1 song.

ASCAP honored Clark and McAnally; this marks Clark’s second No. 1 song as a co-writer (she also co-wrote The Band Perry’s “Better Dig Two”). It is McAnally’s sixth No. 1 song.

Among those being honored were producers Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay and Glenn Worf, RCA Nashville’s Keith Gale, Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer, Songs of Parallel’s Tim Hunze, Vista Loma’s Stephanie Cox and Warner-Tamerlane Music Publishing’s Steve Markland. Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox was on hand to speak about the company’s donation to the Starkey Hearing Foundation on behalf of the songwriters.

Blake Shelton and American Idol‘s Kree Harrison were among the supporters in the crowd.

Lambert revealed her passion for the song nearly usurped her own wedding to Shelton in 2011. “It was supposed to be on Kacey’s album,” said Lambert. “At my wedding rehearsal dinner, Kacey’s sister was taking photos and Kacey was there, too, and I told her, ‘I want to sing “Mama’s Broken Heart.”‘ The song is that important–the wedding can wait!” Lambert quipped. “The song was worth fighting for.” Musgraves struck a deal with her. “She said, ‘Well, okay, you can record it if I can sing background vocals on it.'” Indeed, that is co-writer Musgraves’ voice you hear backing Lambert on the song.

“I had dreams my whole life,” Clark told the crowd. She gave credit to McAnally, who is not only a co-writer on the song, but is an essential part of Clark’s upcoming album 12 Stories, which releases Oct. 22. “Some [dreams] came true, but now, a lot of dreams that I thought would remain dreams became reality.”

Earlier in the week, the songwriters found out that “Mama’s Broken Heart” was nominated for a CMA trophy for Song of the Year, as was “Merry Go Round,” co-written by Musgraves and McAnally, along with Josh Osborne. The honors were not lost on McAnally. “This is not about the CMAs, but hearing my name called at all was mind-blowing. I grew up watching it every year for a long time,” said McAnally.

For Musgraves, things came full-circle to have Lambert, a fellow Texan, record the song. “We grew up 10 miles down the road from each other. I remember meeting her down the road at the pizza shop when we were 12. I feel so lucky to write songs and call it a job.”