Fourteen Songwriters Honored With CMA Triple Play Awards

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Luke Laird, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Michael Carter; (third row, L-R) Josh Osborne, Cole Swindell, Brett Waren, Jon Nite; (second row, L-R): Ashley Gorley, Chris Tompkins, Brad Warren, Rodney Clawson; (front row, L-R): Jon Loba, Executive Vice President of BBR Music Group and CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Chairman; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and CMA Board member. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Fourteen of Nashville’s top tunesmiths were honored Tuesday (Feb. 3) with the CMA Triple Play Awards during the sixth annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon, held at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works.

These writers each penned at least three songs which reached No. 1 within a 12-month period. The songwriters and songs honored during the event include (in alphabetical order):

Rhett Akins: “It Goes Like This,” “When She Says Baby,” “Get Me Some Of That”
Michael Carter: “Get Me Some Of That,” “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Roller Coaster”
Rodney Clawson: “American Kids,” “Dirt,” “Burnin’ It Down,” “Helluva Life,” “Lettin’ The Night Roll,” “Bartender”
Dallas Davidson: “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Play It Again,” “I Don’t Dance”
Ashley Gorley: “Hey Girl,” “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Rewind”
Josh Kear: “Helluva Life,” “Drunk On A Plane,” “Neon Light”
Luke Laird: “Downtown,” “Beat This Summer,” “Give Me Back My Hometown”
Jon Nite: “We Were Us,” “Whatever She’s Got,” “Beachin’”
Josh Osborne: “Drunk Last Night,” “My Eyes,” “We Are Tonight”
Jason Sellers: “If I Didn’t Have You,” “Sunny And 75,” “Goodnight Kiss”
Cole Swindell: “Chillin’ It,” “Get Me Some Of That,” “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight”
Chris Tompkins: “Redneck Crazy,” “Helluva Life,” “Drunk On A Plane”
Brad Warren: “Highway Don’t Care,” “Little Bit Of Everything,” “Drink To That All Night”
Brett Warren: “Highway Don’t Care,” “Little Bit Of Everything,” “Drink To That All Night”

Pictured (L-R): Kerri Edwards, President of KP Entertainment and CMA Board member; Triple Play Award recipient Cole Swindell; and Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, gather at the Sixth Annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon Tuesday at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

“It’s an honor to host this event that shines the light on songwriters,” said Troy Tomlinson, former CMA Chairman of the Board and President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville. “Songwriters are the foundation of country music and today we get to honor their creative contributions.”

“Songwriters touch lives with their craft,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “It is their words and melodies and stories that connect with the millions of fans of country music. I want to congratulate all of the Triple Play Award winners for their amazing accomplishments.”

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.

Pictured (L-R): Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring and CMA Membership Committee Chairman; Kerri Edwards, President of KP Entertainment and CMA Board member; Frank Bumstead, Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy and CMA Board Chairman; Victoria Shaw, CMA Artist Relations Committee Chairman; Shane McAnally, CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Vice Chairman; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Jon Loba, Executive Vice President of BBR Music Group and CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Chairman; and Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and CMA Board member. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA