CMA Honors Writers With Triple Play Awards Trophies

CMA gathered some of the industry’s best and brightest writers together yesterday to honor their successes over the past year at the CMA’s Eighth Annual Songwriters Luncheon at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Twenty top songwriters were awarded with a Triple Play Awards trophy for penning three No.1 songs within a 12-month period by host Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville and CMA Board member. Former Chief Executive Officer of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Donna Hilley was also honored posthumously during the ceremony with the Irving Waugh Award of Excellence.

“Donna Hilley had a deep admiration for songwriters and artists. She played an instrumental role in so many iconic and legendary careers. Her tenacity, grace, and commitment to this industry won’t be forgotten,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

Ross Copperman upped the ante on the day, receiving two trophies for a whopping six No. 1 songs in a year and bringing his Triple Play Awards count to four.

“Songwriters are often honored for their creativity, and rightly so,” said Tomlinson. “The Triple Play Awards honor not only that creativity inherent in the craft, but also the work ethic it takes to achieve the milestone of three chart-topping songs in 12 months.”

Triple Play winners in attendance at the luncheon included Rhett Akins, Luke Bryan, Rodney Clawson, Copperman, Zach Crowell, Dallas Davidson, Brett Eldredge, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Matt Jenkins, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Niko Moon, Shay Mooney, Cole Swindell, and Craig Wiseman.

Each winner received a video message from a fellow recipient that played before each presentation. Triple Play recipients Zac Brown, Jon Nite, and Carrie Underwood joined in with fellow honorees by submitting special congratulatory video messages to winners. Among those receiving their first Triple Play honor were Brett Eldredge, Jesse Frasure, Matt Jenkins, Niko Moon, and Shay Mooney.

CMA Triple Play Award recipients:

• Rhett Akins: “Mind Reader,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day,” “I Know Somebody”
• Zac Brown: “Homegrown,” “Loving You Easy,” “Beautiful Drug”
• Luke Bryan: “Strip It Down,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day,” “Move”
• Rodney Clawson: “Confession,” “You Look Like I Need A Drink,” “May We All”
• Ross Copperman: “Break On Me,” “Drunk On Your Love,” “Confession,” “American Country Love Song,” “Setting The World On Fire,” “I Know Somebody”
• Zach Crowell: “Heartbeat,” “Church Bells,” “Middle Of A Memory”
• Dallas Davidson: “Tonight Looks Good On You,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day”
• Brett Eldredge: “Mean To Me,” “Lose My Mind,” “Drunk On Your Love”
• Jesse Frasure: “Crash And Burn,” “I Like The Sound Of That,” “Fix”
• Ashley Gorley: “Heartbeat,” “You Should Be Here,” “T-Shirt”
• Matt Jenkins: “Confession,” “Setting The World On Fire,” “Song For Another Time”
• Luke Laird: “Gonna,” “T-Shirt,” “Head Over Boots”
• Hillary Lindsey: “Smoke Break,” “Church Bells,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
• Shane McAnally: “John Cougar, John Deere, John3:16,” “Stay A Little Longer,” “T-Shirt”
• Niko Moon: “Homegrown,” “Loving You Easy,” “Beautiful Drug”
• Shay Mooney: “Nothin’ Like You,” “I Like The Sound Of That,” “From The Ground Up”
• Jon Nite: “Smoke,” “Strip It Down,” “Break On Me”
• Cole Swindell: “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey,” “Let Me See Ya Girl,” “You Should Be Here”
• Carrie Underwood: “Little Toy Guns,” “Smoke Break,” “Heartbeat”
• Craig Wiseman: “Anything Goes,” “Gonna,” “Came Here To Forget”