CMA Honors Songwriters With Triple Play Awards

Back row (L-R): Jimmy Robbins; Rhett Akins; Ben Hayslip; Dallas Davidson; Troy Tomlinson; CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern; Luke Laird; Natalie Hemby; Shane McAnally, who is also a member of the CMA Board; CMA Board member Rob Beckham. Front row (L-R): Chris DeStefano; Hunter Hayes; Troy Verges.

The CMA Triple Play Awards were handed out at today’s (Feb. 4) Fifth Annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon at Marathon Music Works. Fifteen of Nashville’s top tunesmiths received the award, which is presented to songwriters who pen three chart-topping hits in a 12-month period.

“I am thrilled to be able to host this event once again,” said Troy Tomlinson, former CMA Chairman of the Board and President, and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville. “Any opportunity I am afforded to honor songwriters is one that I look forward to with much respect and excitement.”

“Songwriters are the foundation of this industry,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The words they write touch our hearts. They make us laugh, cry, and dance. I want to congratulate all of the Triple Play Award winners for their amazing accomplishments.”

Attending today’s luncheon were honorees Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Hunter Hayes, Ben Hayslip, Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins, and Troy Verges. Also in attendance were hit tunesmiths from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, as well as songwriter members of CMA and representatives of some of the most successful publishers in Music City.

Songwriters Rodney Clawson and Chris Tompkins were awarded two Triple Play Awards during the ceremony as both had six songs make it to the top spot on the charts.

Absent from today’s ceremony were honorees Josh Kear and Hillary Lindsey.

In alphabetical order, the recipients of CMA’s Triple Play Award included:

• Rhett Akins: “Boys ‘Round Here,” “Point At You,” “Hey Girl”
• Rodney Clawson: “One of Those Nights,” “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” “Get Your Shine On,” “Crash My Party,” “Round Here,” “Southern Girl”
• Dallas Davidson: “The One That Got Away,” “Boys ‘Round Here,” “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight”
• Chris DeStefano: “Don’t Ya,” “Hey Girl,” “That’s My Kind of Night”
• Ashley Gorley: “Crash My Party,” “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” “Don’t Ya”
• Hunter Hayes: “Wanted,” “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” “I Want Crazy”
• Ben Hayslip: “The Only Way I Know,” “Anywhere With You,” “Point At You”
• Natalie Hemby: “Pontoon,” “Tornado,” “Downtown”
• Josh Kear: “Two Black Cadillacs,” “Highway Don’t Care,” “Redneck Crazy”
• Luke Laird: “Pontoon,” “One of Those Nights,” “Somebody’s Heartbreak”
• Hillary Lindsey: “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain),” “Two Black Cadillacs,” “See You Again”
• Shane McAnally: “Better Dig Two,” “Downtown,” “Mama’s Broken Heart”
• Jimmy Robbins: “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” “It Goes Like This,” “We Were Us”
• Chris Tompkins: “Drunk On You,” “Blown Away,” “One Of Those Nights,” “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” “Get Your Shine On,” “Round Here”
• Troy Verges: “Wanted,” “Beer Money,” “I Want Crazy”